Comments on: Revamping the Test http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/ Interesting sights along the road of life. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:43:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Consul-At-Arms http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-318 Consul-At-Arms Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:33:30 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-318 Good post, I've linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2007/01/re-revamping-test.html Good post, I’ve linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2007/01/re-revamping-test.html

]]> By: Slip http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-196 Slip Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:20:05 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-196 Disregard the bot spam artist jv. (Just kidding jv is one of the smart ones out there) I'm not bot spam. But the LSAT and the FSWE test for very different skill sets. As Shawn indicated the FSWE is testing for breadth of knowledge. There are also some free association problems that test your conflict resolution skills. The LSAT is not concerned with conflict resolution or breath of knowledge. The LSAT is for testing logic, problem solving, and analysis. By the way shawn....still waiting for certain state secrets to be posted. Cheers, Disregard the bot spam artist jv. (Just kidding jv is one of the smart ones out there)

I’m not bot spam.

But the LSAT and the FSWE test for very different skill sets.

As Shawn indicated the FSWE is testing for breadth of knowledge. There are also some free association problems that test your conflict resolution skills. The LSAT is not concerned with conflict resolution or breath of knowledge. The LSAT is for testing logic, problem solving, and analysis.

By the way shawn….still waiting for certain state secrets to be posted.

Cheers,

]]> By: Shawn http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-168 Shawn Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:36:28 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-168 Rumor is this first year it will be offered 4 or 5 times with the first one being in June I think? Rumor is this first year it will be offered 4 or 5 times with the first one being in June I think?

]]> By: jv http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-167 jv Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:17:55 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-167 Shawn is right - the tests are very different. But having taken both, I found the LSAT much, much harder. The logic games and all that nonsense killed me. The FSWE was more general knowledge, personal stuff, and basic English grammar. I'm curious to see how this new testing procedure works out as well. I'd particularly like to know how often we'll all be able to take the exams. Shawn is right - the tests are very different. But having taken both, I found the LSAT much, much harder. The logic games and all that nonsense killed me. The FSWE was more general knowledge, personal stuff, and basic English grammar.

I’m curious to see how this new testing procedure works out as well. I’d particularly like to know how often we’ll all be able to take the exams.

]]> By: Shawn http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-154 Shawn Thu, 21 Dec 2006 23:11:17 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-154 Hi p11, Thanks for your comments. I've been overwhelmed with bot spam comments lately so it is nice to have a real person comment (or at least a damn good bot program.) I think it is difficult to compare the FSWE to the LSAT. I haven't taken the LSAT but I did look through some of the test prep books when I though getting into the Foreign Service was looking hopeless. My impression was that the LSAT looked much more challenging. However, like you said, it is the breadth of the the FSWE that makes it challenging. You go from a question on the executive powers of the president to the baseball World Series of 1986. It does appear that they increased the difficulty of the test the last few years. I passed the written test in 2004, but failed it in 2005 and I found it had increased in difficulty. Luckily, I did well enough on my first oral assessment to get in. Everyone probably has their own weaknesses, but I think the best bang for your buck as far as studying is to focus on the U.S. Constitution and how our government really works. There were a lot of questions on that and I found many of them quite difficult. Keeping up with world news really helps also. Good luck! Shawn Hi p11,

Thanks for your comments. I’ve been overwhelmed with bot spam comments lately so it is nice to have a real person comment (or at least a damn good bot program.)

I think it is difficult to compare the FSWE to the LSAT. I haven’t taken the LSAT but I did look through some of the test prep books when I though getting into the Foreign Service was looking hopeless. My impression was that the LSAT looked much more challenging.

However, like you said, it is the breadth of the the FSWE that makes it challenging. You go from a question on the executive powers of the president to the baseball World Series of 1986. It does appear that they increased the difficulty of the test the last few years. I passed the written test in 2004, but failed it in 2005 and I found it had increased in difficulty. Luckily, I did well enough on my first oral assessment to get in.

Everyone probably has their own weaknesses, but I think the best bang for your buck as far as studying is to focus on the U.S. Constitution and how our government really works. There were a lot of questions on that and I found many of them quite difficult. Keeping up with world news really helps also.

Good luck!

Shawn

]]> By: p11 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-149 p11 Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:44:42 +0000 http://greatdiversions.com/2006/12/20/revamping-the-test/#comment-149 Diversions, I've been reading your blog for a while now, in hopes of gaining a glance into the life of a FSO. It's been very interesting, and I'm seriously considering applying at some point (probably won't be until I'm near finishing my current degree). This change is definitely interesting... I think it probably will accomplish State's goal of speeding up the process. I was wondering if you felt the test to be extremely difficult when you took it. I've read some horror stories online about how hard the test is, and how some people take it up to three or four times. Any advice for preparing for it? I can't imagine it being any more difficult or time-tested than the LSAT. I know the LSAT tests reasoning as opposed to breadth of knowledge, but the curve on the LSAT is pretty steep as it's meant to weed out those with "superior reasoning skills" (or at least that's what LSAC says). That's been the most arduous testing experience for me personally as I took it twice and really didn't hit my target goal. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. p11 Diversions,

I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, in hopes of gaining a glance into the life of a FSO. It’s been very interesting, and I’m seriously considering applying at some point (probably won’t be until I’m near finishing my current degree).

This change is definitely interesting… I think it probably will accomplish State’s goal of speeding up the process.

I was wondering if you felt the test to be extremely difficult when you took it. I’ve read some horror stories online about how hard the test is, and how some people take it up to three or four times. Any advice for preparing for it?

I can’t imagine it being any more difficult or time-tested than the LSAT. I know the LSAT tests reasoning as opposed to breadth of knowledge, but the curve on the LSAT is pretty steep as it’s meant to weed out those with “superior reasoning skills” (or at least that’s what LSAC says). That’s been the most arduous testing experience for me personally as I took it twice and really didn’t hit my target goal.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

p11

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