Understand the published BFORT assessments and prepare for the skills they measure.
By the Game Assessment Prep research teamUpdated September 14, 2026How we research
The BFORT pack names Gridlock, Numbubbles and Proof It within Cognify, plus the Emotify activities below. Links provide independent format practice.
Closest practice only
Cognify measures problem solving, numerical reasoning and written accuracy through short game tasks. Practice careful piece placement, accurate mental calculations and spotting errors in text; build consistency before pushing speed.
Source: Criteria: Cognify overview
Explore Cognify: spatial, numerical and written accuracyClosest practice only
Criteria distinguishes identifying facial emotion, anticipating emotional consequences and choosing ways to manage emotions in connected scenarios. Practice using the evidence in each situation instead of projecting how you personally would feel.
Source: Criteria: Emotify
Explore Emotify: Matching Faces, Emotional Ties and Emotions in ActionAustralian Border Force recruitment includes different entry routes and specialist work. Start by checking that your advertisement is for BFORT before applying this assessment outline. Marine recruitment and general vacancies should not automatically inherit the same tests.
Preparation should cover both accurate task performance and clear communication. Keep the assessment invitation alongside your application information so that the current campaign’s dates, equipment requirements and instructions control your plan.
ABF’s entry-level guidance distinguishes BFORT from its marine cadet pathway. Confirm the advertised route before using a recruit assessment guide.
Source: ABF: Entry level
ABF’s entry-level page separately identifies Border Force Officer recruits and Marine Tactical Officer–Cadets. A sea-going application requires its own role information; do not transfer requirements between these pathways.
Source: ABF: Entry level
The wider careers overview includes marine specialists and general roles alongside recruit training. It also describes employment-suitability screening concerning character and integrity.
Source: ABF: A career with us
Criteria describes Cognify as measuring problem solving, numerical reasoning and written accuracy. Prepare for objective tasks rather than treating it as a work-preference questionnaire.
Source: Criteria: Cognify overview
The BFORT pack describes reading source material and responding in writing and verbally, alongside behavioral video interviewing. Prepare to extract relevant information and explain your reasoning.
Source: ABF: BFORT Candidate Information
Criteria describes Illustrait as an adaptive assessment of job-relevant behavioral competencies and work preferences. Its format should not be treated as an arithmetic or memory test.
Source: Criteria: Illustrait
The careers overview lists Australian citizenship, a minimum age of 18 and education or relevant-experience routes. Check the exact advertisement for the criteria that apply to your campaign.
Source: ABF: A career with us
Neither a sample provider report nor an independent practice score establishes an ABF pass mark. The reviewed candidate material does not disclose a universal selection threshold.
Source: ABF: BFORT Candidate Information
The pack describes progression between assessment stages.
Source: ABF: BFORT Candidate Information
The recruit-training page explains arrangements that matter after selection.
Source: ABF: Recruit Training
An application closing date, an invitation deadline and a training schedule are separate pieces of information. No single end-to-end recruiting duration is promised here.
| Cycle | Application dates | Likely assessment window | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| BFORT campaign application | Use the advertised campaign closing date | Use the Criteria invitation deadline | Official source ABF directs candidates to Department of Home Affairs Career Opportunities and APS Jobs. Check the actual campaign; this guide does not establish that an intake is currently open. Source: ABF: BFORT — How To Apply |
| Training arrangements after selection | Confirmed through the offer | Recruitment tests precede training assessments | Official source The dedicated training page says the verbal offer confirms the training breakdown and location. Use those arrangements for your own appointment; training duration is not a measure of the recruitment timeline. Source: ABF: Recruit Training |
Use these practice suggestions to train relevant skills before the live assessment. They are not predictions of questions or a scoring formula.
Alternate short arithmetic, spatial fitting and proofreading drills. Review why each error occurred: calculation, misunderstanding a rule, overlooking a detail or rushing. Improvement comes from correcting the cause rather than repeatedly chasing a higher score.
Read a short factual account, then write a concise summary and give a spoken version. Separate what the text says from your assumptions. Include the key people, sequence, evidence and unresolved points without adding details.
Choose real examples of applying an unfamiliar procedure, handling a difficult interaction, supporting a teammate and admitting an error. Explain the situation, your responsibility, your actions and the result. Make your personal contribution clear.
For emotion scenarios, identify the person’s situation and the clues provided before selecting a response. For work-preference items, answer about your usual behavior. Avoid applying one rehearsed personality profile across unrelated formats.
Check camera, microphone, internet and input equipment against the invitation. Record each deadline separately and leave time for technical support. Review the role’s location and duties so that your motivation reflects the work you could actually be offered.
The named-provider evidence applies to BFORT. Marine, specialist and general vacancies require their own instructions.
Criteria describes it as an ability-based emotional assessment. Illustrait separately concerns behavioral competencies and workplace preferences.
No. They are independent preparation for the documented formats, and their scores do not establish an ABF result.
No. Recruitment, suitability requirements and training have separate schedules. Confirm campaign dates and offer arrangements directly from the official information supplied to you.
Practice extracting facts from text, writing clearly and explaining real behavioral examples. Also check the role’s eligibility and location requirements.
The sources below support this guide. Claim labels distinguish official information, candidate reports, and research inferences.
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Criteria Corp · Accessed
Criteria Corp · Accessed
Criteria Corp · Accessed
4,700+ candidates from MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Yale and 100+ universities have run 68,000+ practice sessions here · median +25% score improvement by the fifth attempt · 84% of 6,000+ game ratings say “Great”.
Understand the published BFORT assessments and prepare for the skills they measure.
By the Game Assessment Prep research teamUpdated September 14, 2026How we research
The BFORT pack names Gridlock, Numbubbles and Proof It within Cognify, plus the Emotify activities below. Links provide independent format practice.
Closest practice only
Cognify measures problem solving, numerical reasoning and written accuracy through short game tasks. Practice careful piece placement, accurate mental calculations and spotting errors in text; build consistency before pushing speed.
Source: Criteria: Cognify overview
Explore Cognify: spatial, numerical and written accuracyClosest practice only
Criteria distinguishes identifying facial emotion, anticipating emotional consequences and choosing ways to manage emotions in connected scenarios. Practice using the evidence in each situation instead of projecting how you personally would feel.
Source: Criteria: Emotify
Explore Emotify: Matching Faces, Emotional Ties and Emotions in ActionAustralian Border Force recruitment includes different entry routes and specialist work. Start by checking that your advertisement is for BFORT before applying this assessment outline. Marine recruitment and general vacancies should not automatically inherit the same tests.
Preparation should cover both accurate task performance and clear communication. Keep the assessment invitation alongside your application information so that the current campaign’s dates, equipment requirements and instructions control your plan.
ABF’s entry-level guidance distinguishes BFORT from its marine cadet pathway. Confirm the advertised route before using a recruit assessment guide.
Source: ABF: Entry level
ABF’s entry-level page separately identifies Border Force Officer recruits and Marine Tactical Officer–Cadets. A sea-going application requires its own role information; do not transfer requirements between these pathways.
Source: ABF: Entry level
The wider careers overview includes marine specialists and general roles alongside recruit training. It also describes employment-suitability screening concerning character and integrity.
Source: ABF: A career with us
Criteria describes Cognify as measuring problem solving, numerical reasoning and written accuracy. Prepare for objective tasks rather than treating it as a work-preference questionnaire.
Source: Criteria: Cognify overview
The BFORT pack describes reading source material and responding in writing and verbally, alongside behavioral video interviewing. Prepare to extract relevant information and explain your reasoning.
Source: ABF: BFORT Candidate Information
Criteria describes Illustrait as an adaptive assessment of job-relevant behavioral competencies and work preferences. Its format should not be treated as an arithmetic or memory test.
Source: Criteria: Illustrait
The careers overview lists Australian citizenship, a minimum age of 18 and education or relevant-experience routes. Check the exact advertisement for the criteria that apply to your campaign.
Source: ABF: A career with us
Neither a sample provider report nor an independent practice score establishes an ABF pass mark. The reviewed candidate material does not disclose a universal selection threshold.
Source: ABF: BFORT Candidate Information
The pack describes progression between assessment stages.
Source: ABF: BFORT Candidate Information
The recruit-training page explains arrangements that matter after selection.
Source: ABF: Recruit Training
An application closing date, an invitation deadline and a training schedule are separate pieces of information. No single end-to-end recruiting duration is promised here.
| Cycle | Application dates | Likely assessment window | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| BFORT campaign application | Use the advertised campaign closing date | Use the Criteria invitation deadline | Official source ABF directs candidates to Department of Home Affairs Career Opportunities and APS Jobs. Check the actual campaign; this guide does not establish that an intake is currently open. Source: ABF: BFORT — How To Apply |
| Training arrangements after selection | Confirmed through the offer | Recruitment tests precede training assessments | Official source The dedicated training page says the verbal offer confirms the training breakdown and location. Use those arrangements for your own appointment; training duration is not a measure of the recruitment timeline. Source: ABF: Recruit Training |
Use these practice suggestions to train relevant skills before the live assessment. They are not predictions of questions or a scoring formula.
Alternate short arithmetic, spatial fitting and proofreading drills. Review why each error occurred: calculation, misunderstanding a rule, overlooking a detail or rushing. Improvement comes from correcting the cause rather than repeatedly chasing a higher score.
Read a short factual account, then write a concise summary and give a spoken version. Separate what the text says from your assumptions. Include the key people, sequence, evidence and unresolved points without adding details.
Choose real examples of applying an unfamiliar procedure, handling a difficult interaction, supporting a teammate and admitting an error. Explain the situation, your responsibility, your actions and the result. Make your personal contribution clear.
For emotion scenarios, identify the person’s situation and the clues provided before selecting a response. For work-preference items, answer about your usual behavior. Avoid applying one rehearsed personality profile across unrelated formats.
Check camera, microphone, internet and input equipment against the invitation. Record each deadline separately and leave time for technical support. Review the role’s location and duties so that your motivation reflects the work you could actually be offered.
The named-provider evidence applies to BFORT. Marine, specialist and general vacancies require their own instructions.
Criteria describes it as an ability-based emotional assessment. Illustrait separately concerns behavioral competencies and workplace preferences.
No. They are independent preparation for the documented formats, and their scores do not establish an ABF result.
No. Recruitment, suitability requirements and training have separate schedules. Confirm campaign dates and offer arrangements directly from the official information supplied to you.
Practice extracting facts from text, writing clearly and explaining real behavioral examples. Also check the role’s eligibility and location requirements.
The sources below support this guide. Claim labels distinguish official information, candidate reports, and research inferences.
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Australian Border Force · Accessed
Criteria Corp · Accessed
Criteria Corp · Accessed
Criteria Corp · Accessed
4,700+ candidates · 68,000+ practice sessions across Game Assessment Prep.