What Is the EPSO AD5 Competition? Complete Guide for 2025/2026

The EPSO AD5 generalist competition is the main entry point for working as an administrator at the European Union institutions. If you want to work at the European Commission, the European Parliament, or the Council of the EU, this is the exam you need to pass.

What Is EPSO?

EPSO stands for the European Personnel Selection Office. It is the body responsible for selecting staff for EU institutions. The AD5 competition — officially referenced as EPSO/AD/427/26 — selects candidates for grade AD5, the standard entry level for EU administrators.

This competition seeks 1,490 successful candidates to be placed on a reserve list.

Who Can Apply?

To apply for the EPSO AD5 competition you must:

• Be a citizen of an EU member state
• Have completed a full university degree (at least 3 years)
• Have a thorough knowledge (minimum C1 level) of one EU official language and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum B2 level) of a second EU official language
• Meet the general conditions for EU staff (good conduct, no criminal record, etc.)

There is no specific field of study required for the generalist profile. Law, economics, political science, communication, and many other backgrounds are all eligible.

The application deadline is 10 March 2026 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time.

The Selection Process

The EPSO/AD/427/26 competition is entirely test-based. There is no Assessment Centre. The process has the following phases:

1. Application
2. Testing — five tests taken remotely from home using online proctoring
3. Test scoring and eligibility check
4. Establishment of the reserve list

Candidates who pass all tests with the required scores are ranked by their final combined score. The top 1,490 eligible candidates are placed on the reserve list.

The Five Tests

All tests are taken remotely from home using the TAO platform with online proctoring, EPSO's proprietary testing software.

Test	Language	Questions	Time	Pass score
Verbal Reasoning	Language 1	20	35 min	10/20
Numerical Reasoning	Language 1	10	20 min	Combined 10/20
Abstract Reasoning	Language 1	10	10 min	Combined 10/20
EU Knowledge	Language 2	30	40 min	15/30
Digital Skills	Language 2	40	30 min	20/40

In addition, candidates also complete a written essay (EUFTE) in Language 2 (40 minutes). The EUFTE is scored for the top-ranked candidates after the multiple-choice tests.

Note on languages: Language 1 is your main EU language (C1 level). Language 2 is your second EU language (B2 level). You choose both in your application.

Note on Numerical and Abstract Reasoning: These two tests share a combined pass score of 10/20. You must pass both individually to contribute to the combined score.

How Scoring Works

The final ranking that determines who enters the reserve list is based on a final combined score with the following weightings:

Test	Weight in final score
Verbal Reasoning	35%
EU Knowledge	25%
Digital Skills	25%
EUFTE	15%

The Numerical and Abstract Reasoning tests are scored separately for pass/fail purposes but do not contribute to the final combined score — they are gatekeeping tests only.

The EUFTE — What Is It?

The EUFTE (Free-Text Essay on EU Matters) is a written assignment based on documentation related to EU topics. The documentation is made available on the EPSO website ahead of the test date and is also provided during the test.

The EUFTE is not a language test and not a factual knowledge test. It assesses written communication skills. It is scored for a limited number of candidates (in principle not more than 1.5 times the number of successful candidates sought — approximately 2,235 candidates) taken in the descending order of their preliminary combined score from the multiple-choice tests.

Pass score: 5/10.

What Score Do You Need to Reach the Reserve List?

You must:

1. Pass the Verbal Reasoning test: 10/20 or above
2. Pass the combined Numerical + Abstract Reasoning: 10/20 or above
3. Pass the EU Knowledge test: 15/30 or above
4. Pass the Digital Skills test: 20/40 or above
5. Pass the EUFTE: 5/10 or above
6. Rank among the top 1,490 eligible candidates by final combined score

The Tests — What to Expect

Verbal Reasoning tests your ability to read a passage of text and evaluate statements as True, False, or Cannot Say based solely on the information given. Taken in Language 1.

Numerical Reasoning tests your ability to interpret data tables and charts and perform calculations. An on-screen calculator is available. Taken in Language 1.

Abstract Reasoning tests your ability to identify patterns in sequences of visual shapes. Taken in Language 1.

EU Knowledge covers EU institutions, history, treaties, and policies. Taken in Language 2.

Digital Skills covers digital literacy aligned with the DigComp framework — information management, communication tools, cybersecurity, content creation, and problem solving. 40 questions in 30 minutes. Taken in Language 2.

EUFTE is a written essay on EU topics based on provided documentation. Assesses written communication skills. Taken in Language 2.

How to Prepare

1. Understand the format — knowing what to expect removes anxiety and saves time during the test
2. Practice under timed conditions — all tests have strict time limits
3. Review your mistakes — understanding why an answer was wrong is more valuable than doing more questions
4. Use the TAO interface — practising in the same environment as the real test helps avoid surprises

EPSOready provides over 1,500 practice questions across all five EPSO AD5 test categories, including a faithful simulation of the TAO interface used in the real exam.