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100+ Free CBSA OTEE Practice Questions

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In a coded system, 'BORDER' is written as 'CPSEFS'. Using the same rule, how is 'AGENT' written?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CBSA OTEE Exam

117

Multiple-Choice Questions

Canada Border Services Agency

135 min

Exam Duration

Canada Border Services Agency

4

Competencies Assessed

CBSA

$0

Cost to Candidate

CBSA

1 year

Wait to Rewrite After a Fail

CBSA

Indefinite

Validity of a Pass

CBSA

The CBSA Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE) is an online, 117-question multiple-choice test completed in 135 minutes. It assesses four competencies: reasoning skills, analytical thinking, client service orientation, and writing skills. There is no cost to the candidate, and the CBSA does not publish a pass mark. A passing result is valid indefinitely; a failed attempt requires a one-year wait before rewriting.

Sample CBSA OTEE Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CBSA OTEE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What number comes next in the sequence: 3, 9, 4, 16, 5, 25, 6, ___ ?
A.30
B.36
C.49
D.12
Explanation: This is an interleaved pattern: the counting numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 alternate with their squares (9 = 3 squared, 16 = 4 squared, 25 = 5 squared). After the 6, the next term is 6 squared = 36.
2Compare these two traveller ID codes for an exact match: Record A = 'BX7K-9920-PLM' and Record B = 'BX7K-9920-PIM'. Which character makes them differ?
A.The codes are identical
B.A '1' vs an 'L' in the final block
C.An 'L' vs an 'I' in the final block
D.A '9' vs a '0' in the middle block
Explanation: Reading character by character, the only difference is in the final block: Record A has 'PLM' while Record B has 'PIM'. The second character is 'L' in A and 'I' in B. Discrepancy-identification items reward slow, position-by-position comparison.
3A manifest lists 240 cartons. A second count finds 18 cartons short and then 6 cartons found in a misplaced pallet. How many cartons are accounted for after both adjustments?
A.216
B.228
C.222
D.234
Explanation: Start with 240, subtract the 18 shortage to get 222, then add the 6 recovered cartons to get 228. Working adjustments one step at a time avoids errors when reconciling counts against a manifest.
4All goods entering a warehouse must be inspected. Some inspected goods are flagged for re-examination. Which conclusion is logically guaranteed?
A.All flagged goods entered the warehouse
B.All goods entering the warehouse are flagged
C.No inspected goods are flagged
D.Goods that are flagged were never inspected
Explanation: If all entering goods are inspected, and flagged goods are a subset of inspected goods, then every flagged item was inspected and therefore entered the warehouse. This is a valid deductive chain.
5In a coded system, 'BORDER' is written as 'CPSEFS'. Using the same rule, how is 'AGENT' written?
A.BHFOU
B.BHEOU
C.AHFOU
D.BGFOU
Explanation: Each letter is shifted forward by one position in the alphabet (B to C, O to P, R to S, and so on). Applying a +1 shift to A-G-E-N-T gives B-H-F-O-U.
6A traveller's declared value is $1,200 and the duty rate is 8%. How much duty is owed?
A.$96
B.$108
C.$84
D.$120
Explanation: Duty equals 8% of $1,200. Multiply 1,200 by 0.08 to get $96. Converting the percentage to a decimal before multiplying keeps the calculation clean.
7Which figure does NOT belong with the others: a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a triangle?
A.Square
B.Rectangle
C.Rhombus
D.Triangle
Explanation: A square, rectangle, and rhombus are all four-sided figures (quadrilaterals). A triangle has only three sides, making it the odd one out. Classification items test the rule that unites the majority.
8If today is Wednesday, what day will it be 100 days from now?
A.Thursday
B.Friday
C.Saturday
D.Sunday
Explanation: Divide 100 by 7 to get 14 weeks with a remainder of 2 (14 x 7 = 98; 100 - 98 = 2). Counting two days past Wednesday lands on Friday. Using the remainder after dividing by 7 is the fast way to solve day-of-week problems.
9Four officers are ranked by seniority. Priya is senior to Sam. Liam is junior to Sam. Nadia is senior to Priya. Who is the most senior?
A.Priya
B.Sam
C.Liam
D.Nadia
Explanation: From the clues: Nadia is above Priya, Priya is above Sam, and Sam is above Liam. The full order is Nadia, Priya, Sam, Liam, so Nadia is the most senior. Ordering items reward building a single chain from the comparisons.
10A pattern shows shapes rotating 90 degrees clockwise each step. If an arrow currently points up (north), where will it point after three steps?
A.East
B.South
C.West
D.North
Explanation: Each 90-degree clockwise turn moves north to east, then east to south, then south to west. After three steps the arrow points west. Tracking each rotation in order prevents over- or under-counting turns.

About the CBSA OTEE Exam

The Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE) is one of the first steps to becoming a Canada Border Services Agency officer trainee. It is an online exam composed of 117 multiple-choice questions completed in 135 minutes, with one week from the invitation to begin; once started, it must be finished in a single sitting. The exam assesses four required competencies — reasoning skills, analytical thinking, client service orientation, and writing skills — using hypothetical, scenario-based questions that require no prior knowledge of the CBSA. Successful results are valid indefinitely, while an unsuccessful result terminates the candidacy and triggers a mandatory one-year wait before rewriting.

Questions

117 scored questions

Time Limit

135 minutes

Passing Score

Not published

Exam Fee

No cost to the candidate (Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), administered online)

CBSA OTEE Exam Content Outline

~25%

Reasoning Skills

Drawing conclusions and inferences to solve problems: discrepancy identification, number sequences, pattern recognition, spatial and map-based reasoning, and logical deduction

~25%

Analytical Thinking

Breaking down situations logically: message prioritization on an urgency-and-importance matrix, data interpretation, and numerical reasoning

~25%

Client Service Orientation

Serving internal and external clients: situational judgement on de-escalation, professionalism, integrity, communication, and report review

~25%

Writing Skills

Writing clearly and correctly in plain language: grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and sentence construction or word arrangement

How to Pass the CBSA OTEE Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Not published
  • Exam length: 117 questions
  • Time limit: 135 minutes
  • Exam fee: No cost to the candidate

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CBSA OTEE Study Tips from Top Performers

1Practice list discrepancy identification by comparing codes and records character by character — transposed digits and swapped letters are the most-missed differences.
2Drill the urgency-and-importance matrix until you can instantly sort messages into urgent/important, important/not urgent, urgent/not important, and neither.
3Build pacing of roughly 69 seconds per question so the 135-minute clock for 117 items never becomes the obstacle.
4Anchor client-service answers in de-escalation, fairness, integrity, and plain communication rather than aggression or personal preference.
5Review plain-language writing rules: subject-verb agreement, synonyms and antonyms, punctuation, and word-arrangement (sentence-building) items.
6Practice spatial and map-based reasoning with grid coordinates, compass turns, and simple distance calculations.
7Plan ahead: you have only one week to start the exam after invitation, and a failed attempt means a one-year wait before you can rewrite.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CBSA OTEE?

The Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE) is an online exam used by the Canada Border Services Agency as one of the first steps to becoming an officer trainee. It has 117 multiple-choice questions completed in 135 minutes and assesses reasoning skills, analytical thinking, client service orientation, and writing skills.

How many questions are on the OTEE and how long is it?

The OTEE has 117 multiple-choice questions and a duration of 135 minutes. You have one week from your invitation to start the exam, but once you begin you must finish it in a single sitting.

How much does the OTEE cost?

There is no cost to the candidate for the OTEE. The Canada Border Services Agency covers the exam and the officer training program. Candidates may later pay for items such as first aid certification and any required PARE fitness testing.

What score do I need to pass the OTEE?

The CBSA does not publish the OTEE pass mark. The agency informs all applicants whether they passed or failed but does not provide a numeric score or detailed feedback.

What competencies does the OTEE assess?

The OTEE assesses four competencies: reasoning skills, analytical thinking, client service orientation, and writing skills. The questions are hypothetical and scenario-based, so no prior knowledge of the CBSA is required.

Can I retake the OTEE if I fail?

If you receive unsuccessful results, your candidacy is terminated and you must wait one full year after your initial attempt before rewriting the OTEE. Rewriting before the waiting period ends invalidates the new results and restarts the wait.

How long are OTEE results valid?

Successful OTEE results are valid indefinitely. You do not need to rewrite the exam if you pass and later continue or reapply within the border services officer process.

What comes after passing the OTEE?

After passing the OTEE, candidates proceed to an interview, followed by a psychological assessment, firearms safety courses, a medical exam, second language evaluation for bilingual positions, physical fitness evaluation, and security clearance before the Officer Induction Training Program.