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EPSO tests

multiple choice tests

EPSO competitions or selection procedures include a series of tests aimed at assessing general and specific competencies. 

The Notice of Competition is the only official document that contains detailed information about the actual tests used by EPSO for a given competition.
All notices are published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This page contains some examples of tests that may be used by EPSO in its competitions, aimed solely at making prospective candidates more familiar with their structure and content. This page is not aimed at training candidates to pass our selection tests. This is outside of EPSO’s mandate.

If you would like to find out more about EPSO’s selection procedures, we suggest that you also check the EPSO Tests: Myths and Facts page.

We also invite you to read EPSO’s general competency framework for more information about the competencies considered to be essential to perform effectively in any given job, by the EU institutions and bodies that EPSO serves. Some of those competencies are assessed by EPSO during the selection phase, others are assessed by the EU institutions and bodies themselves during the recruitment phase. 

 

EPSO TESTS – NEW COMPETITION MODEL (AS OF 2023)

​Learn more about test standardisation under EPSO’s new competition model

Below for each profile you can find the list of possible tests and some samples of questions that candidates may encounter.

Administrators (AD-Generalists)

Administrators (AD–Specialists)

Assistants (AST-Generalists)

Assistants (AST-Specialists)

Assistants (AST-SC)

Lawyer-linguists (AD)

Lawyer-linguists (AD) - Court of Justice

Translators (AD)

 

Sample mock-test for an EPSO competition – Part 1: Reasoning skills

Sample mock-test for an EPSO competition – Part 2: EU knowledge

Sample mock-test for an EPSO competition – Part 3: Digital skills

EPSO TESTS - FORMER COMPETITION MODEL (UNTIL 2022)

Main steps

  • Eligibility - evaluation of eligibility criteria and minimum requirements is done by the Selection Board.
  • Talent screener- only used for specialist competitions. In their application form, candidates are asked to list all their professional skills, experience and qualifications, which will then be assessed by the Selection Board.
  • Computer based multiple-choice tests - verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning tests and, for certain specialist competitions, tests on field-related competencies. All tests are remotely proctored. Please read carefully our notes on the IT Requirements for passing EPSO’s remotely proctored tests | EU Careers (europa.eu) and on Corporate computers and online tests | EU Careers (europa.eu).
  • Assessment centre phase - the final stage for the testing of general and field-related competencies under EPSO’s former competition model (published until the end of 2022). Through various tests, Selection Board members evaluate skills such as analysis and problem-solving, communicating, prioritising and organising, delivering quality and results, and others. The Assessment Centre tests are organised in an online format (remote) and the tests usually take place on different dates.

Types of tests

Below for each profile you can find the list of possible tests and some samples of questions that candidates may encounter.

Administrators (AD-Generalists)

Administrators (AD–Specialists)

Assistants (AST)

Assistants (AST-SC)

Interpreters (AD)

Lawyer-linguists (AD)

Translators (AD)

CONTRACT AGENTS/ CAST PERMANENT

On this page you will find some sample tests that candidates may have to pass when taking part in the Contract Agents / CAST Permanent selection procedure.

All these tests will be computer-based and you will take them at the same time via remotely proctored testing. Please read our information note on the core IT requirements for remotely proctored tests.

Reasoning skills tests:

  • Verbal (assesses your ability to think logically and understand verbal, numerical information).
  • Numerical (assesses your ability to think logically and understand numerical information).
  • Abstract (assesses your ability to think logically and understand the relations between concepts involving no linguistic, spatial or numerical elements).

Reasoning skills for FG I, II and III (CAST P).

Reasoning skills for FG IV ( CAST P).

Competency test for each profile

Pending adjustments in the testing system, EPSO will be responsible only for organising the reasoning tests, but not for the competency tests. The recruiting services of the EU institutions will adapt the selection procedure of Contract Agents accordingly, and keep their relevant services informed of the applicable procedure.