EPSO Abstract Reasoning exam-day guide
EPSO Abstract Reasoning · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the same identity document you used when registering (typically a valid passport or national ID card). The name must match your registration exactly. If you have changed your name or your ID is expired, contact the test provider before test day. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted for your test centre.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Have your booking confirmation, candidate number, and any test-centre instructions printed or saved offline on your phone. You may not be allowed to use a phone inside the test room, so a paper copy is safest. Confirm with the provider whether printed confirmation is mandatory.
Test-centre address, route and arrival time
Look up the exact building entrance, not just the street address, and plan to arrive with a comfortable buffer. Check local transport disruptions the day before. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival time and the cut-off after which you may be refused entry.
Know the test format and timing
Be clear on how many abstract-reasoning items you will face, whether they are timed as one block or per item, and whether you can flag and revisit items. Practise under the same timing at least once. Confirm with the provider the current format, since the EPSO competition structure can change between competitions.
Practice on screen, not on paper
Do your final practice sessions on a computer screen with a mouse, in a quiet room, using a timer. Familiarity with scrolling, clicking, and moving between items reduces avoidable errors on the day.
Personal timing strategy written down
Write a one-line plan: target seconds per item, a maximum time to spend on any single item before guessing and moving on, and a rule for when to skip. Keep it simple enough to recall under pressure.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Stay hydrated and eat something familiar and light beforehand. Avoid heavy meals, excessive caffeine, or new energy drinks on test day. Check the centre's rules on bringing food and drink into the test room. Confirm with the provider.
Layered clothing
Test rooms can be warm or cold. Dress in layers so you can adapt without distraction. Avoid clothing with large logos or slogans if the centre has dress restrictions. Confirm with the provider.
Leave prohibited items at home or in storage
Phones, smart watches, notes, and study materials are normally not allowed in the test room. Plan where you will leave them. Confirm with the provider the exact list of prohibited items and whether lockers are available.
Read the provider's candidate handbook
The handbook covers ID rules, security checks, conduct, and what happens if you arrive late or your equipment fails. Read the current version rather than relying on forum posts. Confirm with the provider.
Backup plan for technical failure
If you test remotely, check your connection, webcam, microphone, and power supply, and know the provider's helpline number. If you test at a centre, note that centre staff handle equipment problems; report any issue immediately rather than trying to fix it yourself.
A calm pre-test routine
Decide in advance what you will do in the 15 minutes before starting: a short walk, slow breathing, a final glance at your timing plan. Avoid last-minute cramming of new question types, which tends to raise anxiety without improving performance.
Plan the day
Stop learning new question types. Do two or three timed sets of abstract-reasoning items under realistic conditions, then review every error and near-miss: identify the rule you missed (rotation, alternation, counting, superposition, movement of a single element) and write it in a short error log. Re-read your timing plan. Check your ID's validity and that your name matches the registration. Confirm the test-centre address, arrival time, and what you may bring. Get normal sleep, and do not schedule late-night study in this window.
Do one short, low-stakes practice set early in the day, mainly to stay sharp, then stop. Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, candidate number, water and snack for afterwards, layers. Charge your phone and any devices, but plan to store them during the test. Set two alarms. Avoid alcohol and heavy exercise late in the day. Go to bed at your usual time; extra sleep the night before matters less than not being sleep-deprived across the preceding week.
Eat a normal breakfast and limit caffeine to your usual amount. Recheck the route and leave earlier than you think necessary. Arrive at the centre with a buffer, allow time for security checks and ID verification, and use the waiting time for slow breathing rather than last-minute practice. If testing remotely, complete any system check early, clear your desk, and tell household members not to disturb you.
Read the instructions and note the number of items and the time limit. Work at a steady pace against your target seconds per item. When an item does not yield a rule quickly, eliminate the options that clearly break the most obvious pattern, make your best guess, and move on; never let one item consume several others' worth of time. Use flag-and-review only if the format allows it, and only for items where a second look is likely to help. Keep an eye on the clock at roughly the quarter, half, and three-quarter points. If equipment fails, raise your hand or contact the invigilator immediately and note the time. Before submitting, check that no item has been left blank if guessing is not penalised. Confirm with the provider whether incorrect answers carry a penalty.
Write down, while it is fresh, which item types you found hardest and what tripped you up. This is useful if you progress to further stages or retake. Do not spend the afternoon comparing answers with other candidates; recollection of specific items is unreliable and the comparison adds stress without information.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID that matches your registration exactly. If your ID is expired, lost, or shows a different name, contact the test provider before test day rather than arriving and hoping to be admitted.
Arrive by the time stated in your instructions. Centres commonly refuse entry to candidates who arrive after a cut-off, and late arrival is usually treated as your responsibility. Confirm with the provider the exact cut-off and whether any exception applies.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or study materials into the test room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Follow all instructions from invigilators during security checks and seating.
Follow the provider's rules on breaks. Some tests allow a scheduled break during which you may leave and re-enter under supervision; others do not. Do not leave your seat unannounced. Confirm with the provider what breaks are available and what you may access during them.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not attempt to copy, photograph, or reconstruct test items. Sharing item content afterwards may breach the provider's confidentiality terms.
Treat the scoring rules as something to verify, not assume: check whether incorrect answers are penalised, whether items are weighted equally, and how results are reported. Confirm with the provider, because guessing strategy depends on this.
If a technical problem occurs, report it immediately to the invigilator or helpline and note the time. Do not attempt repairs yourself, and do not continue silently, as unresolved issues are harder to remedy later.
Plan to comply with any reasonable instruction from test-centre staff, including seating, clothing, and storage of belongings. If you have a disability or medical need requiring an adjustment, request it well before test day through the provider's official procedure.