DSS Special Agent Test case studies
DSS Special Agent Test · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The DSS Special Agent Test is the written assessment used by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security as one step in screening candidates for the Special Agent role. The DSS Special Agent Test case studies are 5 cases and about 3,656 words.
1The 22:40 Gate Call
It is 22:40 on a Tuesday and you are the after-hours duty officer at a mid-sized overseas post. The contract guard sergeant calls: a man at the pedestrian gate has been there 25 minutes, is speaking loudly, and says his sister's immigrant visa was refused this afternoon and she is booked on a flight in 14 hours.
828 words, about 4 min2The Paragraph Nobody Can Act On
A subordinate drafts the following for an interagency coordination cable: "It was determined by the undersigned that a meeting that was held on 14 April, which was attended by representatives of the contractor as well as personnel from the logistics office, was one at which concerns were raised regarding the aforementioned delays, and it is recommended that, going forward, consideration be given to the possibility of perhaps revising the schedule, which is something that all stakeholders should be involved in." The underlying facts: the 14 April meeting raised concerns about shipment delays. No decision was made.
682 words, about 3 min3The Missing Page
A classified page was found missing from a binder at 14:30; an audit at 12:30 confirmed it was present. The records room has one door with a badge-in reader.
738 words, about 4 min4Fifteen Business Days
You lead a two-analyst financial review supporting a grand jury that convenes in 15 business days. Investigators flagged 1,284 transactions.
667 words, about 3 min5What the Memo Actually Says
Read the following surveillance summary once, then work from it without re-reading until you are told to verify. Kalani departed 14 Coral Way at 08:12 driving a gray 2019 sedan, plate KRT-4471, confirmed as a Budget rental.
741 words, about 4 min