Wednesday, April 6, 2011

April 2011 - Preliminary Answers

Determining potential answers for the broker's exam questions after the test is different in a few key ways from taking the test, but none is more key than the fact that we have more than four hours. That means that we can take the time to research as much as we need to in order to get the most accurate (though still unofficial) document possible to all of you. This first attempt is not 100% complete, but this will be corrected and more answers added as new updates are posted.

Click here for our preliminary unofficial exam answers.


As always, remember that these answers represent only our opinion. The official answers will come from Customs and Border Protection in a few weeks and will be posted on their site. In other words, we probably answered the majority of the questions correctly, but these answers do not guarantee whether or not you've passed; it merely is presented as a helpful tool for broker students who are (quite understandably) eager to have any idea of where they stand.

If you would like to share your answers, explanations and comments, we invite you to post them as comments to this blog; however, we ask that comments be professional and to the point. We cannot respond to all of the comments, but this forum will provide you an opportunity to converse with each other.

Happy browsing!

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

#5 It doesn't state in the question that it was released under the immediate delivery procedure, therefore, I'd cite 141.68a1, correct answer "D".

#54 159.52 states that liquidation of a warehouse entry shall be suspended until all merchandise covered by the entry has been accounted for...by withdrawl... Correct answer "E"

Otherwise, I agree w/ all. Would be interested in you comments. Thanks for posting!

Anonymous said...

On number 5, I put answer as d) January 3, 3011 which is the date of the release. According to 141.68 it should be the date of release. I feel like the question is very misleading because the IT entry was placed on December 29. Then another entry was filed without entry summary on December 31, 2010 which would place the time of entry according to 141.68(a).

Anonymous said...

62,28,14 I see confused a couple people including my self.

Anonymous said...

I believe your answer to question 36 is wrong, the uppers are composition leather and note 3(b) to chapter 64 excludes composition leather from the definition of leather. 6405.10.0060 provides for women's shoes with uppers of composition leather.

Anonymous said...

Also queston 31, Note 1.(g) excludes articles of section XVII, the bell is designed to be attached to a bicycle, I believe it would be classified under 8714.99.8000

Anonymous said...

Thank you soo much. This is really helpful! # 11 was hard for me to find. Does anyone know where that is in the regulation book?

Anonymous said...

It seemed like a straight-forward exam.

I do have a question. Why did you choose D as the answer for #28?

Why not E? - 4421.90.9400 "edge-glued lumber"

Anonymous said...

54 is D, all the entries show they were withdrawn by Dec 2, so it sould not be suspended until all the merchadise has been accounted for since, in the senario, all merchandise was already accounted for.
#5 should be D, just because the broker dcided to pay duties a bit early is not the same thing as the entry date. The entry date is Jan 3 (the day Customs released since it was beyond the date of arrival at final destination)

Anonymous said...

If your answers are right I missed 14 questions. Which is a 82.5%

Thank you for providing this information

4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 28, 32, 33, 56, 58, 62,73, 77, 78.

Anonymous said...

For #31 I answered "E" 8714.99.8800.In my opinion it gives more detail, and also Note 1 Chapter 83 says that parts of base metal are to be classified with their parent articles.

Anonymous said...

I can't find the answer for Q#39. I know is between C or D, but I don't see the answer in Chapter 61 Note 3(a). Help!!!

Anonymous said...

This exam seemed very easy.
I got 70 questions right based on preliminary answers.
Good luck to everyone!

Anonymous said...

Hi all. I will not cite my source but 6 of the Boskage April 2011 Preliminary Answers are incorrect.

5
14
20
28
32
36

Unknown said...

Answers are on the Customs Website

Comrade said...

I believe number 20 should be E. 100% Silk baby garments do not take a textile category per:
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/legal/informed_compliance_pubs/icp036.ctt/icp036.pdf

page 7

Does anyone else think this should be protested?

jk

Comrade said...

Sorry I am adding the pertinent text from the CBP pdf (from page 7) regarding question 20.

Wool babies’ garments and clothing accessories are classified in provisions that take a unique “babies’” textile category 439 whereas babies’ garments and clothing accessories of silk and non-cotton vegetable fibers, except those containing 70 percent or more by weight of silk or silk waste, are classified in provisions that take a unique “babies’” textile category 839. To date, categories 439 and 839 are infrequently used. Heading provisions also exist which capture garments and apparel accessories containing 70 percent or more by weight of silk or silk waste. These provisions do not take a textile category number.

Anonymous said...

What is the pass rate for April 2011 exam?

Anonymous said...

Now that the answer key is posted, how long should it take to get the official results letter? According to the answer key posted on CBP website, I passed with 70/80, but I'm afraid to feel good about it until I see the letter!

Boskage Staff said...

@Anonymous 4/27: Given the occasionally ambiguous nature of test questions, getting a 100% is not guaranteed (though it occasionally does happen), so we're careful to state up front that these are preliminary answers only.

For what it is worth, we now know that Q20 and Q36 of our preliminary answers were incorrect with us and presumably correct with your source, but 5, 14, 28, and 32 were correct with us and wrong with your source. Incidentally, this is no knock on whoever your source is -- as we mentioned, the nature of the test makes getting all 100% a significant challenge.

Anonymous said...

Comrade is correct. The question should have been "credit all", since E is not literally correct either. It is probably not right to make someone who did not answer D go through the appeal process if she would have passed otherwise. The appeal process typically takes four months, and this would force the person to expend money and resources because of a question that is so obviously flawed.

Anonymous said...

The Official CBP Answer key should be revised to invalidate Question numbers 5, 20, and 40. Even though these questions can be successfully appealed, it would be wrong to require an appeal when it is already understood that these questions are invalid. This would mean not only that some people who would have passed would have to undergo the uncertainty and re-take preparation. It would also mean that some people who don't bother to appeal should have passed.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard anything about questions that will be given credit similar to Q5 Q20 Q40. Also Q43 Lacy Act would be an additional requirement for lumber into the US correct?

Comrade said...

Ok - I got my letter. I missed by one question. I am going to appeal question 20. I believe that CBP's answer (d) is incorrect and that answer E is the best possible answer given the options.

Does anyone have any advice or experience protesting an answer? Does anyone know how long the appeal process takes?

Anonymous said...

Does any one know the national pass rate for April exam? and how many people took it nationwide?

Anonymous said...

Anyone have any comments on possible protestable questions????

Anonymous said...

Comrade, I don't have experience protesting, but I've heard that you should protest more questions then required to pass - for what it's worth. Hope this gives you a better shot at passing.

Anonymous said...

anything questions that are protestable?

Anonymous said...

what do you all think on any protestable questions??

Unknown said...

Has anyone or everyone received their answer sheet and the answer key? I learned that I did not pass (by 1) but need to know what my answers were in order to determine whether any of my answers are protestable. I neglected to mark many of them in my test booklet. Thanks

Unknown said...

Hi Wizard,

I took the customs broker exam and passed. I submitted my application and have already had my interview for my background search. All of my contacts have been called. I am moving to a new address in two weeks. I let the agent conducting my background search know the address and date I would be moving. As I do not have my license yet, who should I contact at customs to notify my change of address?

Thanks for your help!

Anonymous said...

I have not received my answer booklet yet either.. still waiting and checking which I can protest..any thoughts?

Anonymous said...

Has anyone received their answer booklets?

Anonymous said...

Tamara im on the same boat ( missed by 2) I spoke with someone from D.C. on Tuesday 5/24, and he said the they should have been mailed by now, but the ppl responsible for this had not done so, and that he was going to speak to them that day about it.

Knowing our gov't, by the time the answer sheets are mailed, the time period for an appeal will have expired, and you will be shelling out another $200 for the Oct. exam.

Comrade said...

received my answer sheet today. Now to finalize my protest argument. Is anyone else going to protest?

Anonymous said...

I want to appeal questions 20, 43, and 78.
20 - There is no correct answer for this question.
43 - Lacey Act - My company imports many lumber products, we have never been required to have (A.), but many tmes have had to submit Lacey PPQ 505
78 - I think should be C

I missed the exam by one question. Has anyone filed a protest before? Do you have pointers for getting a positive result?

Anonymous said...

Has anyone received a reply back for your protest?

Comrade said...

I protested Q. 20 and won the appeal! CBP called and told me that I passed and the letter stating such is in the mail!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone received their results for protest questions?

Anonymous said...

Did anyone get protest letters yet?

Anonymous said...

Did anyone get a letter back from Customs on April 2011 protests?

Have you receive your letter Comrade?

Wizard, how can I find out?

Comrade said...

I have still not received my letter - now nearly a month since I got the phone call saying that my appeal was upheld.

I just spoke to CBP. Evidently the letters have not been sent yet and are stuck up in the gummy works of bureaucracy.

I did however receive assurances that I did indeed pass.