Crack the FBI Special Agent Exam: Master Real-World Strategies & Practice Tests Designed for Your Success

The FBI exam—also known as the FBI Special Agent Selection System (SASS)—is a multi-phase assessment process designed to evaluate candidates for the role of FBI Special Agent. The exam includes both written and physical components, assessing cognitive abilities, personality traits, situational judgement, and physical fitness. Successfully passing the FBI exam is a key step in joining one of the most elite law enforcement agencies in the world.

Aspiring special agents in the FBI are required to pass two challenging assessments as part of their hiring process. The first is the Phase I Test, also named the FBI Special Agent Exam. It is a three-hour written test with cognitive and behavioral questions.  The top 30% who pass this test will move on to the FBI phase 2 exam.

The full FBI exam is divided into several phases:

1. FBI Phase 1 Exam – A computer-based assessment covering logic-based reasoning, figural reasoning, personality assessment, and situational judgement.

2. FBI Phase 2 Test– Includes a written assessment (report writing based on a given scenario) and a structured panel interview.

3. Physical Fitness Test (PFT) – A series of exercises including sit-ups, 300-meter sprint, push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run to assess your physical readiness.

4. Background Check & Polygraph – A comprehensive review of your personal, professional, and criminal background.

5. Medical & Vision Exam – Final medical clearance required before training.

6. FBI Academy Training – If accepted, you’ll begin your official training at Quantico.

This section of the FBI exam contains 11 questions, each presents a set of facts within a paragraph based on which you must determine the correct conclusion out of 5 options. 

For example, this question is taken from our complete FBI phase 1 preparation: 

Such questions can get very confusing under time pressure. To be able to solve these quickly and accurately, it is highly useful to be rely on general rules, such as: 

• The fact that "all A are B", does not mean that "all B are A" (let's say all birds are blue, it does not mean that all blue things are birds). This means that if you are given a B (blue thing), it is not necessarily an A (bird).
• However, "Some B are A" is derived from the first statement and must be true. 

For more logic-based reasoning assessing exams, check out our Secret Service (SAEE) Tests Preparation.

There are 19 questions in this section of the FBI exam. Each question contains a description of a work scenario, followed by a list of possible responses. The challenge here is correctly rate the effectiveness of each response (from most effective to ineffective), so it aligns with the core values and capabilities expected of special agents.

For example, this question is taken from our complete FBI phase 1 preparation: 

This question measures abilities related to effective relationships with other co-workers. Other questions examine the ability to adapt to changing environments, organize and prioritize, and evaluate information in order to make decisions. 

This section assesses your ability to identify shape or image patterns and complete them accordingly. There will be 9 questions, each containing a sequence of shapes or symbols with one missing shape.

To practice different types of patterns and sharpen the ability to notice them, our practice pack contains a variety of questions with thorough explanations and solving tips, just like you've seen above. These will help you learn the most efficient solving techniques for each and every question.

The personality assessment measures aspects of your personality to identify those that possess traits necessary to be a successful FBI special agent. There will be 100 statements in this section.

For each question, you will be shown a pair of statements with a scale of 4 options between them: Agree with A/Slightly Agree with A/Slightly Agree with B/Agree with B.

Note that this personality test is adaptive, which means your responses affect the questions that will be shown to you during the test.

 To try more questions, go to our free FBI Phase I Practice Test or visit our Special Agent Practice for additional information.

The FBI Phase 1 Test evaluates your cognitive abilities, professional judgment, and personality, while the Phase 2 Test focuses on your ability to communicate effectively. It includes a writing assessment that lasts 150 minutes and a structured interview that lasts 1 hour. If you purchase the FBI Phase 1 Test, you can also opt for Phase 2 Test preparation by checking the box on the right.

Click here to learn more about the FBI Phase II Test Preparation

The FBI Entrance Exam has a 30% passing rate. If you fail to pass the test for the first time, you'll have a second chance to retest 90 days after your final test session. If you fail it for the second time, your application for the FBI Special Agent position will be permanently deactivated.

The hiring process and testing for FBI Special Agent roles are lengthy and may take anywhere between several months to more than a year. Here's a breakdown of the process:

• Application

The first step in the hiring process for FBI special agents is submitting your online application. When filling out the form, be prepared to answer questions about specialized skills, professional experiences, and your willingness to commit to the FBI and its mission. Additionally, you must complete a physical fitness evaluation, in accordance with the FBI's physical fitness requirements, as part of the initial application. 

• FBI Phase 1 Test

Those who meet initial pre-screening and eligibility requirements are asked to take the Phase I Test. The FBI Phase 1 testing is a three-hour exam consisting of cognitive, behavioral, and logical reasoning tests. If you pass, you will be invited to a "Meet and Greet" interview. During the meeting, you will learn more about the Special Agent Selection System and be evaluated by a recruitment team.

• Internal Review 

After passing Phase I testing and completing the "Meet and Greet," you will be reviewed by an internal FBI hiring board regarding your ability to meet the current needs of the FBI.

• Phase 2 Test & Interview 

After passing this review, you will be contacted to complete Phase II, which consists of two parts—a writing task and a structured interview. Phase II Writing is a 90-minute written exam meant to test your ability to analyze data and prepare a comprehensive report. At the beginning of the exercise, you will be given a set of background materials to use. The Phase II Structured Interview is a one-hour, structured oral panel interview. This interview is designed to measure critical skills and abilities.

• Conditional Job Offer and Physical Fitness Test

Once you pass the FBI Phase II testing, you are extended a conditional job offer (CJO). Upon accepting the CJO, you will be scheduled to take the official physical fitness Test (PFT)—a rigorous physical examination administered in accordance with strict FBI protocol. CJOs are contingent upon successfully passing the PFT, physical, and background investigation.