Free CBSA OTEE Practice Exam
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Which picture is an exact match to the reference image?
Explanation: Picture B is the exact match because it preserves the same vehicle body shape, cabin windows, front light area, side markings, rear attachment details, and background elements shown in the reference picture. Picture A is different because the narrow vertical detail beside the lower front light assembly has been changed. Picture C is different because the small rectangular detail in the upper-right background area has been changed from dark to white. Picture D is different because the small rear-top detail on the service unit behind the cab has been altered. In this type of question, the wrong pictures usually contain one small but deliberate change, so the fastest method is to compare fixed zones one by one—front section, cab, rear attachment, and background—rather than relying on the overall look.
2 / 16
Five case files—Cedar, Fraser, Laurent, Mackenzie, and Rideau—must be reviewed one at a time in five consecutive positions.
The following rules apply:
Question: Which review order satisfies all the rules?
Explanation: The valid order is Fraser, Mackenzie, Cedar, Laurent, and Rideau. Fraser comes before Mackenzie, Laurent is immediately before Rideau, Cedar occupies neither endpoint, and Mackenzie is the single file positioned between Fraser and Cedar. Every condition is therefore satisfied without requiring an unstated assumption. The distractors respectively place Cedar fifth, separate Laurent from Rideau, or place Fraser after Mackenzie. In an OTEE-style ordering question, check every option against the rules in the same fixed order and reject an arrangement as soon as one condition fails.
3 / 16
The control list and verification list below are intended to contain identical initials and reference codes. A record counts as different if the initials or any character in the reference code does not match.
Question: How many records are different?
Explanation: Four records differ: Leblanc contains 73064 versus 73046, Morgan ends in C versus G, Tremblay contains 34790 versus 34709, and Wilson contains 40937 versus 49037. The Chen, Singh, Okafor, and Patel records match exactly. This task measures controlled comparison, so the position of every character matters just as much as the character itself. The distractors result from overlooking a transposition or incorrectly counting an unchanged record. In an OTEE-style question, compare one fixed segment at a time—initials, location code, digits, and final letter—while keeping a running total.
4 / 16
Which picture is not identical to the reference picture?
Explanation: Picture D is the picture that is not identical to the reference picture. The difference appears on the service unit behind the cab: the small detail near the upper front part of that unit has been changed. In the reference picture and in Pictures A, B, and C, that detail appears dark, while in Picture D it appears light. The rest of the vehicle, including the cab, front light area, side markings, and background, remains the same, which makes the discrepancy easy to overlook. Pictures A, B, and C are not correct because they match the reference picture in that area as well as in the rest of the visible image. The fastest way to solve this type of question is to compare one fixed section at a time—such as the front area, cab, rear service unit, and background—instead of relying on the overall appearance.
5 / 16
Question: Which option most clearly and concisely preserves the meaning of the following sentence?
Applicants who are in possession of incomplete documentation are advised that they will be unable to proceed until such time as all required materials have been received.
Explanation: This revision preserves both essential points: applicants cannot proceed, and the restriction remains until every required document has been received. It removes unnecessary phrases such as “are in possession of,” “are advised that,” and “until such time as” without weakening the meaning. The result is direct, concise, and easier to understand under time pressure. The distractors change the requirement by referring to most documents, allowing progress during review, or requiring only identification of missing material. For revision questions, remove inflated wording first, then verify that the shorter sentence preserves every condition and level of certainty in the original.
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A person has requested an update on an application. The request has been received, but the final decision will not necessarily be available this week. A status update can be provided by Friday, 14 August.
Question: Which sentence is clearest and most professional?
Explanation: This sentence confirms receipt, describes the next action, and provides a specific date without promising that the final decision will be ready. Its tone is neutral, respectful, and appropriately confident about the information that is known. The wording also distinguishes a status update from a completed decision. The distractors discourage reasonable contact, make an unsupported prediction, or use vague and overly casual language. When selecting professional wording, choose the option that gives the audience precise information without sounding dismissive, uncertain, or more definite than the facts allow.
7 / 16
Question: Arrange all the following words to form one complete and grammatically correct sentence:
again / although / accurate / appeared / figures / Nadia / the / them / verified
After arranging the sentence, identify the fourth letter of the word immediately before “again.”
Explanation: The correctly arranged sentence is: “Although the figures appeared accurate, Nadia verified them again.” The word immediately before “again” is them, and its fourth letter is m. Both parts of the task must be completed in order: first construct the sentence, then apply the letter-position instruction. The distractors are letters found elsewhere in the relevant words or selected before the sentence is fully arranged. To work quickly, write the complete sentence first and only then perform the second instruction using the final word order.
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Question: Which sentence is grammatically correct and uses parallel structure?
Explanation: The correct sentence presents three coordinated clauses in the same grammatical form: the names are accurate, the dates are complete, and the reference numbers are formatted correctly. This parallel structure makes the relationships among the three checks clear and easy to follow. Each listed element also connects logically to the introductory verb “confirm.” The distractors mix nouns, clauses, participles, and indirect questions in structures that are not grammatically parallel. For long lists, isolate the words following each comma and check whether every item completes the opening phrase in the same grammatical way.
9 / 16
A client arrives with an appointment-confirmation email, but the appointment does not appear in the local scheduling system. The client has waited for 35 minutes and is speaking firmly because another time-sensitive commitment is approaching.
You can verify the confirmation number and contact the scheduling team, but you cannot guarantee when the client will be served.
Question: Which response would be the most effective?
Explanation: This response acknowledges the client’s concern without becoming defensive or making an unsupported promise. Verifying the booking addresses the actual problem, while explaining the next step and providing a realistic estimate reduces uncertainty. It also shows that the concern is being taken seriously even though immediate service cannot be guaranteed. The distractors escalate tension, promise an outcome before checking the facts, or dismiss evidence that the client may have a valid appointment. When emotions are high, first recognize the concern, then move promptly to facts, options, and a realistic next step.
10 / 16
You told a client that a corrected document would be ready by 3:00 p.m. At 2:35 p.m., you learn that an external verification will not be completed in time. The client needs the document for another appointment the following morning.
You are still responsible for the file and expect verification to be completed by 10:00 a.m. the next day.
Explanation: Proactive contact gives the client time to adjust plans before the missed deadline creates a larger problem. Explaining the confirmed status, providing a realistic revised time, and continuing to monitor the file demonstrate ownership without promising an outcome outside your control. This response also preserves trust by addressing the delay before the client has to ask about it. The distractors wait passively, provide an incomplete document, or transfer responsibility without ensuring continuity. When a commitment cannot be met, communicate before the deadline, give an accurate revised expectation, and remain responsible for the next step.
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A client emails to ask whether a submitted request has been approved. The system confirms that all required documents were received, but the assessment is still in progress. The next status update is expected within five business days.
You are not authorized to predict the final decision.
Question: Which response would be the most appropriate?
Explanation: This response gives the client every confirmed fact that can appropriately be shared: the documents were received, the assessment is still underway, and another update is expected within five business days. It is clear and useful without predicting an outcome that has not been decided. Providing a timeframe also reduces the need for unnecessary follow-up enquiries. The distractors speculate about approval, provide generic information instead of file-specific assistance, or withhold useful information that is available. When the final answer is unknown, communicate what is confirmed, what remains pending, and when the client can reasonably expect the next update.
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A service centre normally assists clients in arrival order. A client may be moved ahead only for a confirmed urgent service need or an approved accessibility accommodation.
A client asks to move ahead because a parking meter will expire in 20 minutes. The client has not mentioned an urgent service need or an accessibility requirement.
Question:
Which response would be the most effective?
Explanation: This response applies the queue rules consistently while leaving room to identify a legitimate need that has not yet been disclosed. It also treats the client respectfully by explaining the decision and exploring practical alternatives rather than giving a blunt refusal. The outcome remains fair to the other waiting clients and does not shift responsibility for the decision onto them. The distractors grant an unsupported exception, provide an unnecessarily dismissive refusal, or invite other clients to decide how the service rules should be applied. When a client requests an exception, check for qualifying circumstances, explain the boundary clearly, and offer realistic options without weakening fair treatment.
13 / 16
A regional operations unit uses the following priority framework:
A message is time-sensitive when action is required within 90 minutes or the affected work cannot continue until the issue is resolved.
A message is high-impact when it may affect the accuracy of official records, delay service for five or more clients, or cause a confirmed operational deadline to be missed.
Messages must be classified using only the confirmed information provided.
At 8:20 a.m., the unit receives this message:
A batch-upload report indicates that 18 client records may contain duplicate reference numbers. Employees can continue processing unrelated files. The data-quality team has requested confirmation by the end of the following business day.
Question: How should the message be classified?
Explanation: The message is high-impact because duplicate reference numbers may affect the accuracy of official records. It is not time-sensitive because confirmation is not required within 90 minutes and employees can continue processing unaffected files. The record issue remains important even though work has not stopped and the deadline is not immediate. The distractors either treat the issue as urgent without evidence or overlook its effect on record accuracy. To solve this quickly, assess time sensitivity and impact separately before combining them into the correct priority level.
14 / 16
Four records refer to the same afternoon review assignment:
Question: Which records contain outdated assignment information?
Explanation: The briefing note and team roster incorrectly assign Lot 42 to Team Delta. The approved change log moved Lot 42 to Team Echo, and the later handover email confirms that the reassignment remains in effect. The change log and handover email therefore reflect the current approved arrangement. The distractors overlook one outdated record or incorrectly identify documents that accurately record the change. When sources conflict, locate the approved decision first and then check which later records were properly updated to reflect it.
15 / 16
Four interviews—Aspen, Birch, Cedar, and Douglas—must be scheduled at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m., with one interview in each time slot.
The following conditions apply:
Question: Which schedule satisfies all the conditions?
Explanation: This schedule places Douglas at an available room time, Cedar while the interpreter is available, and Birch after Aspen. Aspen is scheduled at 10:00 a.m., so the restriction against placing Aspen at 9:00 a.m. is also satisfied. Every stated condition is met in the same arrangement. The distractors place Birch before Aspen, schedule Cedar without the interpreter, place Douglas outside the available room times, or assign Aspen to the prohibited slot. To solve scheduling questions faster, place the most restricted appointments first and use the remaining rules to fill the open positions.
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The table summarizes pending files at four regional offices. No files were transferred into these offices during the day.
An office’s closing pending workload is calculated as:
Opening pending + new files received − files completed − files transferred out
Question: Which office achieved the greatest reduction in its pending workload from opening to closing?
Explanation: Victoria closed with 25 pending files: 50 plus 12, minus 29 and 8. Its workload therefore fell from 50 to 25, a reduction of 25 files, which is larger than Halifax’s reduction of 18, Ottawa’s reduction of 14, and Regina’s reduction of 13. All four offices must be assessed using the same net-workload calculation. The distractors result from comparing completed files alone or overlooking the effect of incoming and transferred files. For table questions, calculate the required measure consistently for every row before comparing the results.
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