Final Fantasy VIII SeeD Test Answers: What Most People Get Wrong

So, you've finally made it. You're sitting in that classroom in Balamb Garden, looking at Squall’s desk, and you realize you need cash. Lots of it. In the world of Final Fantasy VIII, you don't just find gold falling out of a monster's pocket like in every other RPG. You get a salary. And that salary is entirely dependent on your SeeD rank.

Most players think they just have to grind through the Dollet mission and hope for the best. Honestly, that's the hard way. The real trick to keeping your wallet fat is using the written exams. You can take these tests at literally any time by opening your menu and heading to the Tutorial section. Each one you pass bumps your rank up by one level.

But here is the catch: the game loves to throw curveballs. Some of these questions are about deep lore, and others are about weird mechanical quirks you might never notice. If you miss even one question, you fail the whole test. No partial credit. No second chances for that specific level until you restart.

Final Fantasy VIII SeeD Test Answers: Levels 1 to 30

I’ve spent way too many hours staring at these menus, so I've put together the definitive list. To keep things simple, I’ve broken them down into the Yes (Y) and No (N) sequences you need. Just tap through them and watch your rank soar.

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The Early Ranks (Levels 1–10)

These are basically a tutorial for the tutorial. They cover the basics of Junctioning and Guardian Forces (GFs).

• Level 1: Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, N, N
• Level 2: Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N, N
• Level 3: N, N, Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, N
• Level 4: N, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, N
• Level 5: N, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y
• Level 6: Y, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, Y
• Level 7: Y, Y, Y, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N
• Level 8: N, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, N
• Level 9: N, Y, N, N, N, N, N, N, Y, Y
• Level 10: Y, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, Y, N

Moving Up (Levels 11–20)

This is where the game starts asking about specific monster weaknesses and the internal politics of the Gardens.

• Level 11: Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N, Y, N, N, Y
• Level 12: N, Y, N, N, Y, N, Y, N, Y, N
• Level 13: Y, N, N, N, Y, N, N, N, N, N
• Level 14: Y, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N, Y, N
• Level 15: Y, Y, N, N, N, N, N, Y, N, Y
• Level 16: Y, N, N, Y, N, Y, N, N, Y, N
• Level 17: Y, N, N, N, Y, N, N, Y, N, N
• Level 18: Y, N, N, N, Y, N, N, N, N, N
• Level 19: Y, N, N, Y, N, N, N, N, N, Y
• Level 20: Y, Y, N, Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, N

Reaching Rank A (Levels 21–30)

If you want that "Rank A" status (and the 30,000 Gil salary that comes with it), you've got to nail these.

• Level 21: Y, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y, N
• Level 22: N, N, N, Y, N, N, N, Y, Y, N
• Level 23: Y, N, N, N, N, Y, Y, Y, Y, Y
• Level 24: Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, N, Y
• Level 25: Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, N, N
• Level 26: Y, Y, N, Y, N, Y, N, Y, N, N
• Level 27: N, Y, N, N, N, N, Y, N, Y, N
• Level 28: Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, N, N
• Level 29: N, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, N, Y, N
• Level 30: N, Y, N, N, N, N, Y, N, N, N

Why Your Rank Keeps Dropping

It's super frustrating. You take the tests, you hit Rank 30, and then suddenly you're back down to Rank 28. What gives?

Basically, SeeD rank isn't a permanent achievement; it’s a living stat. The game uses a hidden "SeeD Experience" point system. Every time you get paid, you lose some points. To keep your rank up, you have to kill enemies. Specifically, you need to defeat enemies with physical attacks or magic—kills made by summoning a GF don't count toward your rank.

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There are also a bunch of "hidden" actions that can tank your rank. If you hang out in the Fire Cavern and let the timer run down to the last second, your judgment score takes a hit. If you talk to too many people during a mission, or if you show off your Gunblade to students in the hallway (looking at you, 2F students), you’ll get a deduction.

Pro-Tips for Maximizing Your Salary

If you're playing the Remastered version, you might be tempted to use the "High Speed" or "No Encounters" cheats. Be careful. If you have "No Encounters" on for too long, you aren't killing monsters, which means your SeeD experience is only going one way: down.

Here is what I usually do:

1. Don't take all the tests at once. If you're already at a high rank from the Dollet mission, save the written tests. Use them as "refills" for when your rank inevitably drops later in the game.
2. Kill stuff manually. It’s easy to spam GFs early on, but try to finish fights with Squall’s trigger (R1) or regular magic to keep your EXP up.
3. The X-ATM092 Secret. Most people run away from the big mechanical spider in Dollet. If you actually stay and destroy it, you get a massive point bonus that can jump-start your rank to Level 10 immediately.

The whole system is sort of a metaphor for the game’s story—it’s about discipline and professionalism. Squall is a mercenary, after all. If you act like a professional, the game rewards you with enough Gil to buy all the Elixirs and weapon upgrades you could ever want.

For your next move, go into your menu and check your current rank. If it's below 10, take the first five tests right now to get an immediate cash injection before your next salary payment triggers.