Checked on October 20, 2026, against the official Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide (Publication # 5301-1225, posted January 8, 2026), the current USAJOBS Announcement BPA DH 27-1 (open October 1 to 31, 2026), the previous Announcement BPA DH 26-10 (closed 07/31/2026) and two older closed announcements, BPA 23-11 and BPA VRA 25-5.
The Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam is the computer test that applicants for entry-level Border Patrol Agent jobs must pass, and CBP's 2026 preparation guide is the official study guide for it. This guide explains how the Border Patrol exam works in 2026: the two parts and their time limits, the adaptive Logical Reasoning Test, testing at home or at a test center, the pass score, retakes and how to prepare. Some job sites call it the Border Patrol test or the Border Patrol assessment test; it is the same entrance exam. Where CBP does not publish a fact, such as how many questions are on the exam, we say so.
Who takes the Border Patrol entrance exam, and when
Announcement BPA DH 27-1 (open to the public from October 1 to 31, 2026, at GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11) says applicants selected at GL-5 or GL-7 must complete and pass the Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam. It lists the exam among the conditions of employment, next to the polygraph, medical exam, fitness test, interview, background investigation and drug test. All of these pre-employment steps are conducted in English.
BPA DH 27-1 replaced BPA DH 26-10, which was open in July 2026 at GL-5 to GL-7. CBP does not publish a schedule of future openings, so if DH 27-1 has closed, check USAJOBS for the next one, and read the announcement you apply under, because it sets the steps for your application. The full path from application to the academy is in the Border Patrol hiring process guide.
The exam is given by a test vendor, not by USAJOBS. You create a separate account with the vendor and verify your email address, and the vendor's emails give you the links and the testing window.
The two parts and their time limits
- Experience Record (up to 40 minutes): measures background experience related to success as a Border Patrol Agent. CBP says it needs no prior knowledge of the job and no preparation.
- Logical Reasoning Test (up to 120 minutes): measures reasoning, decision-making, judgment and problem-solving.
These times are maximums, and the guide says many test takers finish each part in less time. There is no other part in the 2026 guide: no language test, no writing test and no arithmetic.
How the adaptive Logical Reasoning Test works
The Logical Reasoning Test is a computer adaptive test. The first question is of average difficulty, and later questions are matched to your estimated ability. The rules that matter on test day:
- You cannot go back to a question after you submit an answer.
- You cannot skip a question, so give your best guess when you are unsure.
- Do not try to judge how you are doing from how hard the questions seem.
The guide does not say whether wrong answers cost points or how the test is scored.
How many questions are on the Border Patrol test?
CBP does not publish a question count in the 2026 guide. It gives pacing advice instead: you have 120 minutes, and on average you should spend about three minutes on a question. Some websites divide one number by the other and print the result as the number of questions. CBP does not state a count, so we do not give one. The 2018 version of the guide said the test had 31 questions; that guide is out of date, so do not plan around it.
What the Logical Reasoning Test covers
Each question gives a paragraph drawn from written material about CBP or government work. You accept every fact in the paragraph as true and use no outside knowledge. Each question has five answer choices and one of two lead-ins:
- Positive: "From the information given above, it can be validly concluded that." One choice is valid, and four are not.
- Negative: "it CANNOT be validly concluded that." Four choices are valid, and one is not.
The guide teaches how to read "all" and "every" statements (do not reverse them), "none" and "not" statements, "some" (it means at least some), "most," "many" and "a few" (they say nothing about the rest) and if-then statements, where the contrapositive is valid, but the converse is not. It also warns about negative words such as "never" and "prohibited," prefixes such as "non-" and "un-," connectors such as "unless" and "except," double negatives and the word "only." One tip runs against common test advice: do not avoid choices with "all" or "none," because those words appear in right and wrong answers on this test. The guide's practice set has 8 questions with a suggested time of no more than 20 minutes, with explanations of why each choice is right or wrong.
The Experience Record
The Experience Record measures background experience, and CBP says no preparation is needed. Announcement BPA 23-11 (2023) called it the Candidate Experience Record, an online questionnaire. CBP does not publish how it is scored or whether it counts toward your exam result. Answer it honestly about your own background. We explain it, and we do not offer practice for it.
Is there a Spanish test on the Border Patrol exam?
No. The 2018, 2022 and 2026 versions of the official guide list only the Experience Record and the Logical Reasoning Test. An undated OPM qualification standard for the Border Patrol series still describes an artificial language test or a Spanish test and an older age limit of 37, but the current guide and announcement govern. Spanish still matters for the job: the most recent announcement says "Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish, as well as English," and Spanish is taught at the academy. The hiring process guide covers the academy.
Taking the exam at home or at a test center
- At home: the link stays active for the testing cycle, but once you click it, you cannot reschedule or cancel. You can switch to a test center up to 24 hours before an appointment. Be alone in a quiet space, and use no outside aids unless they are approved as a reasonable accommodation. A desktop, laptop or tablet is recommended.
- At a test center: you can reschedule or cancel at no cost up to 24 hours before, or switch to testing at home up to 24 hours before. Arrive 15 minutes early with your confirmation email and a valid ID. No cellphone is allowed in the room, and your wallet and keys may also be barred. Bottled water is allowed.
- Accommodations: request them through the test vendor's instructions.
Plan carefully. If you cancel a test center slot less than 24 hours ahead, do not check in or do not complete the exam, your application is considered abandoned, and you may reapply in the next open period.
Scoring and the pass score
The 2026 guide and Announcements BPA DH 26-10 and BPA DH 27-1 do not state a pass score. The last announcement we found that did was BPA 23-11 (August 2023), which required a score of at least 70. CBP does not publish how the two parts combine into one result.
Retakes: the official wait is not consistent
The current guide and the most recent announcement do not say how long to wait before a retest. Two closed announcements disagree: BPA 23-11 (2023) said six months from the date you failed, and BPA VRA 25-5 (2025) said three months. Check your announcement or ask the vendor before you plan a retest.
How long is a Border Patrol exam score good for?
CBP does not publish a current rule. Announcement BPA 23-11 said a passing result from after March 2021 remained valid and results from before March 2021 were no longer valid. No newer official source we checked gives an expiration period.
What changed in the official guide over the years
- Testing at home. The 2018 guide put the Experience Record at home and Logical Reasoning at a test center. The 2022 and 2026 guides allow both parts at home or at a test center.
- Question count. The 2018 guide said 31 questions. The 2026 guide gives no count, only pacing.
- Hiring chart. The 2022 guide had a 7-step hiring chart; the 2026 guide drops it.
- Scratch paper. The 2018 guide said the proctor gives scratch paper. The 2026 guide does not say whether scratch paper is allowed.
Common mix-ups, checked against the official guide
Border Patrol exam study guide and practice test: how to prepare
- Read the official preparation guide. The 2026 Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide explains each reasoning rule and has 8 practice questions with full explanations.
- Learn the reasoning rules. Practice "all," "some," "none" and if-then statements until the valid and invalid forms are automatic.
- Practice at CBP's pace. Aim for about three minutes per Logical Reasoning question.
- Answer every question. You cannot skip or go back, so make your best choice and move on.
- Take a practice test. Our original Logical Reasoning practice tests, with five choices like the real test, will be on the Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam page.
- Set up your test space. A quiet room where you can be alone and a desktop, laptop or tablet.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Border Patrol entrance exam?
CBP does not publish a question count. The 2026 guide says to spend about three minutes on a question, on average, over the 120-minute Logical Reasoning Test.
How long is the Border Patrol exam?
Up to 40 minutes for the Experience Record and up to 120 minutes for the Logical Reasoning Test. These are maximums.
What score do I need to pass?
Announcement BPA 23-11 (2023) required a score of at least 70. The 2026 guide and the most recent announcement do not state a pass score.
How soon can I retake the Border Patrol test?
The current guide does not say. Closed announcements said six months (BPA 23-11, 2023) and three months (BPA VRA 25-5, 2025).
Can I take the Border Patrol exam at home?
Yes. The 2026 guide lets you take both parts at home or at a test center, and you can switch between them up to 24 hours before an appointment.
Is there a Spanish test on the Border Patrol entrance exam?
No. The official guides from 2018 on list only the Experience Record and the Logical Reasoning Test. Spanish is taught at the academy.
Is the Border Patrol assessment test the same as the entrance exam?
Yes. CBP calls it the Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam; "assessment test" is another name searchers use for the same two-part test.
Is there an official Border Patrol exam study guide?
Yes. CBP publishes the Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide (2026), with lessons and an 8-question Logical Reasoning practice set.
Official sources
- CBP: Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide, Publication # 5301-1225 (posted January 8, 2026)
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA DH 27-1 (open October 1 to 31, 2026)
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA DH 26-10 (closed 07/31/2026)
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA 23-11 (closed)
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA VRA 25-5 (closed)
- CBP: Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide (2022, superseded, PDF)
- CBP: Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam Preparation Guide (2018, historical, GovInfo PDF)
- OPM: Qualification Standard, Border Patrol Enforcement Series 1896 (undated, outdated in parts)
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol or the Department of Homeland Security. Always confirm the rules in the current USAJOBS announcement and the current CBP preparation guide.
Last updated October 2026