EPSO AD5
EPSO AD5 - Administrator (AD 5) open competition
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
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Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
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Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The EPSO AD5 competition is the European Personnel Selection Office's entry-level route into the administrator (AD 5) function group of the EU institutions - the grade at which most graduates join the Commission, Parliament, Council and other bodies as policy, legal, scientific, financial or communication staff. It is open to candidates who meet the published eligibility conditions for the competition concerned, and it is competitive: a large applicant pool is filtered through computer-based reasoning tests, a situational judgement test and a field-related written exercise before a small shortlist reaches the assessment centre.
The selection process rewards two different things at once. The reasoning tests measure speed and accuracy under time pressure on verbal, numerical and abstract material; the written case study and the assessment centre measure whether you can structure an argument, prioritise, work with others and communicate in your chosen field. Preparation therefore splits into drilling format-specific reasoning practice until it is automatic, and building genuine fluency in EU policy, institutional procedure and drafting. Because each competition publishes its own notice of competition with its own field, eligibility rules and test arrangements, treat the official notice and EPSO's website as the authoritative source for every procedural detail, and use practice material only to build the underlying skills.
What you'll study
About EPSO AD5 preparation
What does the EPSO AD5 exam actually consist of?
Typically a first stage of computer-based multiple-choice reasoning tests (verbal, numerical, abstract) plus a situational judgement test, then a field-related written case study, then an assessment centre with a group exercise, oral presentation and structured interview. The exact mix and weighting are set in the notice of competition for your specific field, so read that document first.
How hard is it?
The reasoning tests are not intellectually exotic - the difficulty is pace and precision. Most candidates who fail do so on timing, not on concepts. The written case study is the real differentiator: it rewards clear structure, correct prioritisation and concise drafting under a word limit, which takes practice to do reliably.
How long does preparation take?
Most candidates need several weeks of regular practice rather than a few intense days. Reasoning accuracy improves with short, repeated timed sets; drafting improves with full written exercises marked against a structure checklist. Plan backwards from the test date and leave at least a fortnight for the written component alone.
Can I retake the tests if I fail?
Retake and re-application rules depend on the competition and on EPSO's current policy, which changes over time. There is no figure worth guessing at here - check the notice of competition and EPSO's official website for the rules that apply to your candidacy.
In what order should I study the sections?
Start with reasoning, because it is the gate and it responds fastest to practice. Move to the situational judgement test once you understand EPSO's competency framework, since it is judged against those competencies. Leave the written case study and interview preparation for last, when you can rehearse structure and timing end to end.
How many questions are there and how much time do I get?
These vary by competition and EPSO revises test formats periodically. The official body publishes the current figures in the notice of competition and on its website; use those rather than any third-party summary, which is often out of date.
What are the most common failure modes?
Running out of time on the numerical section because of unnecessary manual calculation; reading verbal passages for subject matter instead of for the precise claim being tested; writing a case study that describes everything and prioritises nothing; and giving generic, unstructured answers in the competency interview instead of specific examples.
Do I need to know a lot about EU policy?
For the written case study and interview, yes - you need working familiarity with how the institutions decide things and with the policy area of your competition. You do not need encyclopaedic detail. Knowing the decision-making procedure, the main actors and a handful of live dossiers well beats shallow coverage of everything.
What score do I need to pass?
Pass marks and thresholds are set per competition and published by EPSO. They are not stable across years or fields, so any number quoted outside the official notice should be treated as unreliable. Check EPSO's site for the current thresholds applicable to your competition.
Is this an official EPSO product?
No. This material is independent preparation content. It is not produced, endorsed or reviewed by EPSO or any EU institution, and it does not reproduce official test items. Always verify procedural rules and dates against the notice of competition and the official EPSO website.