Landing a career with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is a goal for many, and the Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE) is the critical first step on that journey.
As Kevin Wagner, Managing Director of the CBSA exam preparation company anEDGE, I receive daily inquiries asking the same urgent question: “How exactly do I pass the CBSA OTEE?” This isn’t just any test—it’s a high-stakes, time-sensitive assessment that determines whether you move forward in one of the country’s most respected law enforcement careers.
If you’re preparing for the 2025–2026 OTEE cycle, this guide is your definitive, up-to-date roadmap.
We’ll break down the official exam format, give you a taste of the types of questions you’ll face, and share the proven strategies we use here at anEDGE to help you not just pass, but excel and secure your spot in the next cohort.
The CBSA OTEE Exam Format (2025–2026 Breakdown)
The Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE) is a mandatory, online, multiple-choice test that assesses key competencies required for the Border Services Officer (BSO) role. It is designed to be completed in a single session, and once you start, you must finish it.
- Total Time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes (135 minutes)
- Total Questions: 117 Multiple-Choice questions (The official number may vary slightly, but this is the current, most common structure.)
- Format: Online, timed, multiple-choice
- Prior Knowledge: Not required. The questions are situational and cognitive, designed to assess your aptitude, not your knowledge of the CBSA or specific laws.
- Passing Grade: Your results will simply be “Successful” or “Unsuccessful.”
- Re-write Rule: If you fail, you must wait one full year from the date of the attempt to re-write the exam.
The Four Core Competencies Assessed
The 117 questions are spread across four main sections, each targeting a crucial skill set:
- Reasoning Skills: Your ability to analyze information, draw logical conclusions, and infer facts from given text and data to solve problems.
- Analytical Thinking: Your skill in using a logical thought process to break down complex situations or problems into manageable parts and arrive at an effective solution.
- Client Service Orientation: Your judgment and approach to providing the best possible service—quality, fairness, and professionalism—to both internal and external clients (the public).
- Writing Skills: Your ability to produce written documents, reports, and correspondence that are clear, correct, and use plain language suitable for the intended audience.
Sample CBSA OTEE Questions and Scenarios
Since the CBSA does not release its official test bank, preparation must focus on mastering the types of questions in each competency. The following examples reflect the structure and cognitive skills tested on the OTEE.
A. Reasoning and Analytical Thinking Sample
Scenario: You are reviewing a manifest for an incoming cargo shipment. The manifest lists 150 boxes of “Textile Products.” The accompanying declaration states that 40% of the boxes contain Cotton Apparel, and the remainder contain Mixed Linens. Upon initial inspection, you randomly examine 15 boxes and find that 6 of them contain Mixed Linens.
Question: If the sample inspection perfectly reflects the total contents, how many boxes of Cotton Apparel are actually in the shipment?
(A) 60 (B) 70 (C) 80 (D) 90
Breakdown: Official Declared Cotton: 40% of 150 = 60 boxes.
- Sample Mixed Linens: 6 out of 15 boxes = 40% (since $6/15 = 0.40$).
- Inference: If 40% of the shipment is Mixed Linens, then 60% must be Cotton Apparel.
- Actual Cotton Apparel: 60% of 150 = 90 boxes.
(Correct Answer: D) ###
B. Client Service Orientation Sample (Situational Judgment)
Scenario: You are processing a busy lane at a land border crossing. An elderly traveler approaches your booth, is clearly flustered, and, after a long silence, hands you an expired passport and an envelope of unfamiliar foreign documents, stating, “I need to get to my grandson’s wedding right now.”
Question: What is the most effective first action you should take?
(A) Immediately inform the traveler that the passport is invalid and they must turn back. (B) Politely direct the traveler to a secondary inspection area to relieve pressure on the primary lane. (C) Calmly acknowledge the situation, and ask simple, open-ended questions to clarify their purpose and destination. (D) Radio your supervisor to report a non-compliant traveler and wait for instructions.
Assessment: The BSO role requires balancing enforcement with professionalism. The most effective first step is to de-escalate, show empathy, and gather necessary information.
(Most Effective Answer: C) ###
C. Writing Skills Sample
Question: Which of the following sentences is written clearly and correctly, suitable for an official report?
(A) The officer decided to waive the fee due to the traveler’s extenuating circumstances, which we felt was appropriate. (B) Because the security breach was a result of a major oversight, the entire team was reprimanded. (C) To ensure the smooth, safe, and efficient movement of goods, the procedure was revised and implemented. (D) Although the goods were declared, we still felt like we needed to refer them for further examination.
Assessment: Option (A) is too informal (“felt was appropriate”). Option (B) is a common run-on mistake (a dependent clause followed by an independent clause with incorrect conjunction/punctuation). Option (D) uses informal phrasing (“felt like we needed”).
(Correct Answer: C) —
Proven Tips for OTEE Success (The anEDGE Strategy)
Passing the OTEE is not about cramming facts; it’s about developing a strategic approach that master’s the test environment and format.
Tip 1: Master Time Management (The 1-Minute Rule)
The biggest challenge is the time limit. With 117 questions in 135 minutes, you have roughly 1 minute and 10 seconds per question.
- Practice Timed Sets: Do not just practice questions; practice them under strict time limits. You must train yourself to move on quickly when stuck.
- Don’t Dwell on Details: In the Reasoning and Analytical sections, you will be given more information than necessary. Focus only on the data needed to answer the specific question.
Tip 2: Study the CBSA Competency Model
While you don’t need CBSA knowledge, you must understand the mindset the agency is testing for. Every situational question will have an answer that reflects the core values of the Public Service and the BSO role (integrity, professionalism, decisiveness, and client service).
- Prioritize: When answering situational questions, the most effective answer is often the one that balances Safety/Security and Policy Adherence with Professionalism/Client Service.
Tip 3: Develop a Targeted Writing Skills Review
Many candidates underestimate the Writing section. A strong, professional writing ability is essential for report generation.
- Review Core Grammar: Focus on common errors: subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, proper use of commas and semi-colons, and eliminating passive voice.
- Focus on Clarity: Practice rephrasing verbose or confusing sentences into concise, plain language. An official report must be unambiguous.
Tip 4: Treat the OTEE as a Job Interview
The Situational Judgment (Client Service/Analytical Thinking) questions are effectively a written, multiple-choice interview. They are testing your judgment.
- Eliminate Extremes: Options that are too aggressive, too passive, or involve immediately jumping to the highest level of authority (unless safety is an immediate risk) are usually incorrect. The answer that demonstrates measured judgment and independent action is usually the right one.
Your Next Steps with anEDGE OTEE
The CBSA OTEE is a major step, and preparing effectively is non-negotiable, especially with the one-year waiting period for a re-write.
Our anEDGE OTEE Preparation Course is specifically designed to simulate the 2025–2026 exam conditions, offering hundreds of practice questions and detailed explanations in all four competency areas. Don’t leave your career to chance. Start preparing with anEDGE OTEE today and confidently take control of your journey to becoming a Border Services Officer.
Start your OTEE preparation now
Access full CBSA OTEE practice exams here:
https://www.anedge.ca/cbsa-otee-practice-test/