EPSO AD5 cheat sheet

Argument structure = premises + conclusion; only the inference links them, so restating a premise is never a conclusion.

'A only if B' means A implies B (B is necessary); 'A if B' means B implies A (B is sufficient); 'if and only if' asserts both directions.

Contradictories cannot share a truth value: 'All A are B' versus 'Some A are not B'. Contraries may both be false: 'All A are B' versus 'No A is B'.

'Some' means at least one and possibly all; 'some ... not' entails 'not all' but never entails 'most' or 'none'.

Scope rule: read ambiguous quantifier sentences in both the widest and narrowest sense before judging an inference valid.

Statistical claim checks: percentage versus percentage point, absolute versus relative figures, base size, sample and time period.

Named flaw labels: straw man, false dilemma, ad hominem, circular reasoning, hasty generalisation, post hoc, appeal to authority.

An option that adds information absent from the passage is wrong even if the added statement is true in the real world.

Percentage change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100; a percentage point is the simple arithmetic difference between two percentages.

Percentage multipliers: +15% → ×1.15; −15% → ×0.85; successive changes multiply, so ×1.15 then ×0.85 leaves the value below the start.

To recover an original amount after a percentage change, divide by the multiplier rather than subtracting the same percentage.

Compound growth: FV = PV × (1 + r)^n; discounting divides instead of multiplying, and the rate period must match the period count.

Weighted mean = Σ(w × x) ÷ Σw; averaging group means without weighting is wrong whenever group sizes differ.

Index number = current value ÷ base value × 100; an index of 120 corresponds to a 20% increase, and chained ratios multiply.

Two sets: |A∪B| = |A| + |B| − |A∩B|; three sets: add singles, subtract the three pairwise intersections, add back the triple intersection.

Rate problems: work = rate × time, combined rates add, and units must cancel before multiplying or dividing.

Table and graph routine: read title and units, note footnotes and totals, compute, then sanity-check order of magnitude and last digit against the options.

Rotation preserves size and orientation (handedness); reflection preserves size but reverses orientation, so a mirrored figure can never be produced by rotation alone.

If one series rule does not fit, split the sequence into odd and even positions, or into two independent element streams.

Count attributes (sides, dots, intersections, enclosed regions); counts typically form arithmetic, repeating or increasing-difference sequences.

Superposition rules: OR keeps all elements, AND keeps only elements common to both, XOR keeps only non-common elements and cancels overlaps.

Movement rule: element i advances n positions clockwise with n increasing by one per frame; confirm on two frames before extrapolating.

Matrices: test each attribute separately (shape, fill, size, rotation) along rows first, then verify along columns.

Inversion pattern: alternating frames swap fills (black/white) when consecutive figures are identical in outline but opposite in shading.

Elimination filter: a valid option must satisfy every confirmed rule, so any option breaking a single established rule is discarded.

Priority order when ranking options: legality and ethical compliance first, then institutional interest and service impact, then relationships and speed.

For a team problem, the first proportionate move is a direct, private, factual conversation with the person concerned before any escalation.

Escalate when the matter exceeds your competence or involves legal, financial, safety or reputational risk, or misconduct that persists after a direct attempt.

Passive options ('wait and see', 'do nothing', 'let it resolve itself') rank low unless intervention would cause clearly disproportionate harm.

Conflicts of interest and gifts: declare in writing promptly and follow the hierarchy's instruction; the decisive criterion is transparency.

Confidentiality: share information on a need-to-know basis inside the institution only, and never externally without authorisation.

Highest-scoring answers complete the task while protecting people and the institution; options sacrificing either dimension rank lower.

Reprioritisation rule: order tasks by deadline, impact on others and irreversibility, then inform affected parties of the change.

Article 13 TEU lists seven institutions: European Parliament, European Council, Council, Commission, Court of Justice, ECB and Court of Auditors; the EESC and CoR are advisory bodies.

The Union has 27 member states since 1 February 2020; the Parliament has 720 seats from the 2024 term, elected every five years by degressive proportionality.

Ordinary legislative procedure: Commission proposal, then Parliament and Council co-decide through up to three readings and a conciliation committee of equal delegations.

Council qualified majority: at least 55% of member states (15 of 27) representing at least 65% of the EU population; a blocking minority needs at least four states.

Commission: 27 commissioners with a five-year mandate; the President is elected by Parliament on a proposal of the European Council.

Legal acts: regulation (binding, directly applicable), directive (binding as to result, transposition required), decision (binding on addressees), recommendation and opinion (non-binding).

Subsidiarity (Article 5 TEU): the EU acts only where objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by member states; national parliaments scrutinise via yellow and orange cards.

Drafting structure: title, legal basis (TFEU article), recitals ('Whereas'), numbered operative articles, annexes; one rule per article.

Drafting style: present tense, 'shall' for obligations, terms defined once and used consistently, short sentences, no national idioms.

Answers must be behavioural: real past examples with an 'I' focus rather than opinions, intentions or hypotheticals.

STAR structure: Situation (one or two sentences), Task (your specific responsibility), Action (what you did and why), Result (measurable outcome).

Analysis and problem solving: define the problem, find the root cause, gather evidence, weigh options against explicit criteria, decide, then monitor.

Communication: adapt to the audience, state the conclusion first, use plain language, listen actively and verify understanding.

Teamwork: clarify roles early, share information, give credit publicly and address conflict directly and constructively.

Leadership: set direction and standards, delegate with a clear mandate and deadline, give timely feedback and take responsibility for outcomes.

Resilience: accept setbacks and criticism objectively, adapt the plan, maintain standards and keep supporting colleagues.

Quantify results wherever possible (time saved, percentage improvement, budget, number of people) because unquantified outcomes score weakly.