The Customs Broker Exam is usually 80 multiple choice questions. You are allowed to use the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, the Code of Federal Regulations, any other written materials, and a calculator. You are given 4 hours to finish the exam and you only need to score 75% in order to pass. Most people, when they hear those details, think “Wow, this is going to be easy. With multiple choice and an open book test I can get 75% with no problem.” Yet, on average, the failure rate is 85% to 90% and higher. Why?
- Tight Time Restrictions - While four hours seems like a lot of time, that is only 3 minutes per question, or LESS if you take any bathroom breaks or get distracted.
- Vast amount of material - Questions on the Customs Broker Exam cover material from hundreds of pages of rules and regulations.
- Tricky wording & Customs "Lingo" - Many of the test questions are worded in a difficult manner, or even contain technical and legal language that may be unfamiliar. Even if you know this material, some questions are still difficult or somewhat tricky because of the way they are worded.
In short, the test is so difficult that most students who take it don’t have time to finish all 80 questions. Many of the students who do finish 80 questions just guessed on some of the answers.
Try a Previous Test Question
Here is a question from a previous US Customs Broker License Exam. Can you answer this question in three minutes? (The answer is at the bottom.)
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Noel Express of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, imports glass Christmas ornaments from an unrelated French company, Mirabel. Noel Express has sold, to Mirabel, at its regular price of $10,000, special paint and glitter for use in the manufacture of the ornaments. The terms of sale for the ornament transaction are FOB Paris. Noel Express pays a $2,000 buying commission to R. Jones separately. You are reviewing the invoice to determine the correct entered value. The invoice contains the following details:
200 dozen glass specialty glitter ornaments
$100,000 - Special export packing
$1,000 - Sales commission
$5,000 - Insurance
$4,000 - Freight (Paris to Pittsburgh)
Which ONE of the following reflects the correct transaction value of the ornaments?
A) $100,000
B) $106,000
C) $122,000
D) $120,000
E) $116,000
Let the Customs Broker Exam Prep Course give you the information you need to answer this question quickly and correctly. Select a Customs Broker Exam study option and be on your way to getting your US Customs Broker License!
The answer is B. Did you answer this question in three minutes or less??