Master the AM for Svs Off, 3/e (Arco Master the American Foreign Service Officer Exam) [Paperback]

Arco (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Arco; 3 edition (September 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0768907055
• ISBN-13: 978-0768907056
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading, Unhelpful, Not worth the money, March 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Master the AM for Svs Off, 3/e (Arco Master the American Foreign Service Officer Exam) (Paperback)

I have not taken the test yet, but the questions in this book do not even resemble the question style of the study published by ACT (the company that publishes the official study guide and publishes the test). I have been leaving messages with someone at ARCO and no one has returned my calls. Like one of the other reviewers, I would like my money back.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not representative of the exam--barely adequate preparation, April 24, 2004

By 

3M "three-m" (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master the AM for Svs Off, 3/e (Arco Master the American Foreign Service Officer Exam) (Paperback)

I took the Foreign Service Written Examination (FSWE) on 24 Apr 04 and used this book as a means of preparation. I was sorely disappointed. It is not representative of the examination at all.

The sample examinations do not match the FSWE in the types or number of questions for the job knowledge or English expression sections. There are no examples of essays in the book that are required for the FSWE. Either this edition (2001) is grossly outdated or it never was representative of the FSWE. Additionally, there are numerous errors in the book, including missing multiple-choice answers and poor grammar.

The majority of the book is dedicated to information that already is available free on the State Department web site or through its free test registration booklet, such as explanations about the Foreign Service, lists and examples of forms, et al.

The only value the book provides is to ask questions that generally are related to "current" affairs (again, this edition dates to 2001) and American government. It also provides a reasonable guide to grammar, but then asks questions in the English expression section solely related to the rules it presents in the grammar guide.

The problem is that aside from a $15 online exam guide, there is no other book, to my knowledge, that claims to prepare one for the FSWE. The online version is produced by the same company that produces the examination, but it is far too brief to be of any use.

Buy either at your own risk. You're welcome to have my copies.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Use the Study Guide from State Department, December 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Master the AM for Svs Off, 3/e (Arco Master the American Foreign Service Officer Exam) (Paperback)

Not sure you need any guide at all, as it is mostly intuitive.

If you need help passing the test, you would be better served using the official study guide. It is cheap and updated annually.

Best of luck!!