EPSO Translator exam-day guide
EPSO Translator · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID matching your registration
Bring the exact identity document named in your invitation (passport or national ID card). Check that the name and spelling match your EPSO account. If you are unsure which document is accepted for your test centre, confirm with the provider before travelling.
Printed or downloaded invitation/booking confirmation
Keep the message containing your test date, time, address and candidate number accessible offline (screenshot or printout). Some centres ask to see it at reception; if the invitation does not state this explicitly, confirm with the provider.
Candidate number and login details
Know your EPSO candidate number and the credentials for any testing-platform account by heart or on paper. Do not rely on autofill or on a password stored only in a phone you may have to switch off.
Route and travel plan to the test centre
Rehearse the journey, note the nearest public-transport stop and add a 30-minute buffer for security checks and registration. Arrive early; late arrival rules differ by centre, so confirm with the provider whether admission after the start is possible.
Know the test structure and section order
Be able to state from memory how many sections your competition has, how many questions each contains, the time limit per section and whether wrong answers are penalised. Only trust the official notice for your specific competition.
Practice translation under timed conditions
Complete at least one full mock in the days before, using the same source and target languages as your competition and the same tool restrictions (no dictionaries, no internet, no spell-checker unless the platform provides one).
Language and terminology warm-up material
Prepare a short, self-made list of recurring EU terminology, acronyms and standard institutional names in your target language. Review it in the final days rather than learning new material on the morning.
Rest, food and hydration plan
Plan a normal night's sleep, a light meal before the test and water for any permitted break. Avoid new caffeine doses or unfamiliar food on the day.
Clothing and comfort items for a long session
Wear layers, since room temperature varies, and check whether earplugs, tissues or a watch are allowed. Items not explicitly permitted may be refused; confirm with the provider if in doubt.
Storage plan for phone and personal belongings
Expect to switch off and store your phone and any smart device. Assume notes, books and dictionaries are not allowed at the workstation unless the invitation says otherwise; confirm with the provider.
Access arrangements confirmed in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room or assistive equipment, make sure it has been formally approved and appears in your invitation. Last-minute requests are usually not possible; confirm with the provider.
Backup plan for disruption
Save the test centre's contact details and know what to do if transport fails or you fall ill. Keep any evidence (tickets, medical certificate) in case you must request an alternative sitting, and confirm the procedure with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the official notice for your competition and write a one-page summary: sections, question counts, time limits, scoring and permitted tools. Take one full timed mock translation and mark it yourself against the source text for accuracy, completeness and target-language fluency. Identify your two weakest habits (for example, over-literal syntax or inconsistent terminology) and decide a concrete correction for each.
Do a second, shorter timed exercise focused on your weakest area, then stop heavy practice. Build or review your terminology sheet in both directions and check standard names of EU institutions, legal acts and programmes in your target language. Confirm travel times, ticket purchase and what you will carry, including the exact ID document.
Check the test centre address, arrival time and any registration instructions once more. Prepare clothes, ID, invitation and any permitted items in one place. Do a light review of terminology only, avoid new topics, keep the evening calm and go to bed at your usual time. Do not attempt a full mock this late.
Eat a normal breakfast, leave with a large time buffer and arrive at the centre early. At registration, present your ID and invitation, store your phone and belongings as instructed, and locate the washrooms before you are seated. Once at the workstation, read the on-screen instructions and check the keyboard and input method for your target language before the timer starts.
Read each task fully before typing, allocate time per section according to the number of questions and the clock, and keep a few minutes at the end for a final check. Watch for meaning errors, omissions, numbers, names and negations first, then style. If a technical problem occurs, raise your hand immediately and ask for it to be logged rather than trying to fix it yourself.
Note down what you found difficult while it is fresh, keep your candidate number and any incident report, and check your EPSO account for the results timetable. Do not discuss specific test content with other candidates in a way that could breach confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document specified in your invitation and be ready for it to be checked at registration and possibly again at the workstation. A different document, an expired document or a copy may not be accepted; confirm with the provider what counts as valid ID.
Follow the centre's rules on personal belongings. Phones and smart devices must normally be switched off and stored away from the workstation, and unauthorised material such as dictionaries, notes or a second device may lead to exclusion; confirm with the provider which items, if any, are permitted.
Respect the confidentiality of the test. Do not copy, photograph, record or later reproduce questions or translation passages, and do not share them with third parties. Breaching this can invalidate your results.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun, and follow invigilator instructions immediately. Any suspicion of cheating or of impersonation is normally handled under the competition's conduct rules.
Ask about breaks before the test starts. Whether you may leave the room, and whether the clock stops, depends on the platform and centre; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Understand the scoring before you sit: check whether each section has a pass mark, whether wrong answers are penalised, and whether results are ranked or threshold-based for your competition. Only the official notice for your competition is authoritative.
If something goes wrong, technical or personal, report it to the invigilator at the time and ask for it to be recorded. Requests for a re-sitting are usually much harder to support without a contemporaneous report; confirm the appeal procedure with the provider.
Plan for the possibility that your performance in one section determines whether later sections are marked. Check the official notice for your competition, and if it is unclear, confirm with the provider before the test day.