Australian Border Force Officer Recruit (BFORT): free practice test
Border Force Officers process travellers and cargo, search baggage, detect prohibited goods and enforce customs and immigration law at airports, seaports and mail centres. BFORT recruitment starts with Criteria Corp online testing (Cognify mini-games, Emotify and Illustrait), then a one-way video interview with a written and a verbal task, followed by medical and fitness requirements, an Employment Suitability Clearance and at least a Baseline security clearance. Recruits are paid at APS3 (A$66,839 plus 15.4% super as at 5 May 2025) through a 12-month program of classroom and on-the-job training.
Watch the free 4:17 video lesson: the key ABF Officer (BFORT) concepts →
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
- Lesson 2: Is BFORT right for you: the real jobDuties, shifts, powers and locations of a Border Force Officer, honestly explained.
- Lesson 3: Eligibility checklist and reading the advertisementCitizenship, age, education and region rules, and how ads change between rounds.
- Lesson 4: Writing an application that gives evidenceRésumé, application questions and referees using the APS cracking the code approach.
- Lesson 5: Cognify overview and test-day setupTiming, device, browser and pacing strategy across the three mini-games.
- Lesson 6: Gridlock: spatial puzzle techniquesCorner-first placement, piece shapes and recovering fast from a wrong fit.
- Lesson 7: Numbubbles: fast mental arithmetic drillsTimes tables, order of operations and spotting equations that hit the target.
- Lesson 8: Proof It: spelling and punctuation scanningCommon misspellings, apostrophes and a one-pass scanning routine.
- Lesson 9: Emotify Matching Faces: reading expressionsDistinguishing similar emotions quickly and accurately under time pressure.
- Lesson 10: Emotify Emotional Ties: predicting reactionsHow everyday situations lead to specific emotions, with worked scenarios.
- Lesson 11: Emotify Emotions in Action: best responsesRanking management options in workplace scenarios and avoiding escalation traps.
- Lesson 12: Illustrait: answering job-fit questions honestlyWork style, consistency and how the role's realities shape your answers.
- Lesson 13: The written task: extracting pertinent factsTurning a text into a clear, factual written response within the countdown.
- Lesson 14: The verbal task: structured spoken summariesSummary, key facts, then recommended action, delivered clearly on camera.
- Lesson 15: One-way video interview setup and deliveryLighting, camera, practice questions and using preparation time well.
- Lesson 16: STAR answers that scoreBuilding Situation, Task, Action, Result stories with measurable outcomes.
- Lesson 17: APS Values and the Integrated Leadership SystemMapping your stories to the APS Values and ILS capabilities.
- Lesson 18: Model answers: integrity and rules questionsWorked answers on following rules, honesty and handling a mistake.
- Lesson 19: Model answers: conflict and public contactWorked answers on upset members of the public and team pressure.
- Lesson 20: Medical and fitness preparationPreparing for the role's medical and fitness requirements and shift work demands.
- Lesson 21: Employment Suitability Clearance: what to declareThe declaration categories, forms and how to disclose without harming your chances.
- Lesson 22: Baseline security clearance and ongoing reportingHow AGSVA vetting works and which declarable circumstances you must report.
- Lesson 23: BFORT training: passing every blockThe five classroom blocks, assessments, task book and on-the-job phase.
Keep going after the free lesson. Every topic gets its own lesson, plus the full question bank, timed simulations and study tools.
About the ABF Officer (BFORT) exam
Border Force Officers process travellers and cargo, search baggage, detect prohibited goods and enforce customs and immigration law at airports, seaports and mail centres. BFORT recruitment starts with Criteria Corp online testing (Cognify mini-games, Emotify and Illustrait), then a one-way video interview with a written and a verbal task, followed by medical and fitness requirements, an Employment Suitability Clearance and at least a Baseline security clearance. Recruits are paid at APS3 (A$66,839 plus 15.4% super as at 5 May 2025) through a 12-month program of classroom and on-the-job training.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the ABF Officer (BFORT) exam
- Cognify gives 15 minutes for three mini-games that get harder as you go; it rewards both speed and accuracy. Practise on Criteria Corp's own demo pages and train mental arithmetic and proofreading.
- The video interview is one-way and auto-records when preparation time runs out. Use STAR, look at the camera, and practise with a timer until you can finish a full example in the time given.
- The written task tests whether you can pull the key facts from a text, because officers write notebook entries and statements that may be used in court. Read the whole text first, then answer in short, accurate, error-free sentences.
- Start the Employment Suitability Self-Assessment on the Home Affairs jobs site before you apply. The ESC asks about drug use, criminal associations, conflicts of interest and border-law breaches, and honesty matters more than a clean record.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the Hiring Process Cheat Sheet.
What's in the premium ABF Officer (BFORT) prep
Premium ABF Officer (BFORT) prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1The Job and Eligibility8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Cognitive Ability (Cognify)8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3Emotional Intelligence (Emotify) and Illustrait8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Written and Verbal Task8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Medical, Fitness and the Employment Suitability Clearance7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6Video Interview, STAR and the APS Values7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Application Strategy and Timeline7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8BFORT Training and the First Year7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
Read the complete ABF Officer (BFORT) study notes for “The Job and Eligibility”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: What Border Force Officers do · Who can apply · The integrity screen · Pay, location and the program, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. In a Numbubbles-style item the target is 36. Which bubble's equation equals the target?
2. In a Numbubbles-style item the target is 18. Which equation does NOT equal 18?
3. In a Proof It-style item, which sentence has no spelling or punctuation errors?
4. How many spelling errors are in this line: 'The officer recieved the declaration and noted the goverment seal was not genuine.'?
5. A Gridlock-style puzzle has a 4 x 4 grid (16 squares). You have already placed pieces covering 3, 4 and 5 squares. Which remaining piece fills the grid exactly, if its shape fits?
6. In an Emotional Ties-style item, a traveller is told her flight connection has closed while she is still in a long screening queue. What emotion is she most likely to feel?
7. In an Emotions in Action-style item, a colleague is visibly upset after an aggressive traveller swore at her. What is the most effective response?
8. Read: 'At 0915 Officer Lee inspected a red suitcase belonging to Mr Tan, arriving from Bangkok on flight TG465. She found 3 cartons of cigarettes not declared on his Incoming Passenger Card. Mr Tan said a friend had packed the bag.' Which notebook summary is accurate and complete?
9. Which sentence is the clearest for a written statement?
10. A traveller you know from your local sporting club arrives at your counter and asks you to 'go easy' on his bags. What should you do?
11. In the one-way video interview you are asked: 'Tell us about a time you had to follow a rule you disagreed with.' Which plan scores best?
12. Which is one of the APS Values every Border Force Officer must uphold under the Public Service Act 1999?
13. Which of the following must you declare in the Home Affairs Employment Suitability Clearance (ESC)?
14. What is the BFORT recruit salary published on the ABF traineeship page (as at 5 May 2025)?
15. Your BFORT offer is for the Perth classroom course, but you live in Melbourne. What does the ABF say about this?
Get the full ABF Officer (BFORT) prep
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- One career of your choice: any police force, APS, Defence, border, corrections, fire or state public service career
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: hiring process cheat sheet, interview answer builder, fitness test table and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews monthly until you cancel. Cancel in two clicks from your account; you keep access until the end of the month you've paid for. No minimum term.
Premium Yearly
- One career of your choice: any police force, APS, Defence, border, corrections, fire or state public service career
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: hiring process cheat sheet, interview answer builder, fitness test table and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Certification guide
Australian security clearances explained: Many federal careers, including the AFP, Border Force, Defence, ASIO and much of the APS, need an Australian Government security clearance, issued in most cases by the [Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA)](https://www.agsva.gov.au/). A clearance isn't something you can get on your own: the employer sponsors it once you're offered a role that needs it. Here is what each level allows, how long it takes and what vetting looks at.
ABF Officer (BFORT) exam FAQ
How many questions are on the ABF Officer (BFORT) exam?
Cognify: 3 timed mini-games (Gridlock, Numbubbles, Proof It). Emotify: 3 parts (Matching Faces, Emotional Ties, Emotions in Action). Illustrait: a behavioural job-fit questionnaire. Criteria Corp does not publish item counts, with a time limit of cognify 15 minutes in total; emotify about 20 minutes. video interview answers and the written task are timed per question with an on-screen countdown. Format: unsupervised online assessments. use a computer with mouse and keyboard, a stable connection, chrome or safari, a working camera and microphone, and a quiet, well-lit room with a plain background. practice games and practice video questions are offered before the live tests.
What is the passing score for ABF Officer (BFORT)?
No published pass mark. Criteria Corp sends results to the ABF and Home Affairs emails you whether you progress. If unsuccessful you can practise the assessments and reapply in the next recruitment round.
How much does the ABF Officer (BFORT) exam cost?
No fee to apply or test. Most government agencies charge no application fee, but some tests and checks cost money (for example Victoria Police's entrance exam, medicals, first aid certificates and police checks). Confirm current costs on the agency's recruiting website before you apply.
Which languages is the ABF Officer (BFORT) exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the ABF Officer (BFORT) exam?
Online, at home, on the Criteria Corp platform: capability testing (Cognify, Emotify, Illustrait), then a one-way video interview with a written and a verbal task. Later: medical, fitness, Employment Suitability Clearance and security clearance.
Is this ABF Officer (BFORT) practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full ABF Officer (BFORT) prep is Premium at A$89 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium ABF Officer (BFORT) prep?
3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (The Job and Eligibility: 375; Cognitive Ability (Cognify): 375; Emotional Intelligence (Emotify) and Illustrait: 375; Written and Verbal Task: 375; Medical, Fitness and the Employment Suitability Clearance: 375; Video Interview, STAR and the APS Values: 375; Application Strategy and Timeline: 375; BFORT Training and the First Year: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
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Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. The recruiting agency changes formats and fees, so confirm with Australian Border Force (ABF), part of the Department of Home Affairs, recruiting through jobs.homeaffairs.gov.au before you book. AusGovCareer is an independent career-prep service, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.