EPSO AD5 2026: No Assessment Centre, How the New Online Test Format Works

Updated 29 September 2026. EPSO split the AD5 testing into two parts (30 June) and gave the timing on 18 September: the reasoning tests start in November 2026, and EU knowledge, digital skills and the essay follow in 2027. This article reflects the new format; see the EPSO AD5 2026 dates and 4-week plan.

For the first time in a major EPSO generalist competition, there is no Assessment Centre. No trip to Brussels. No in-person group exercises. The entire AD5 2026 selection process happens online, and this changes how you should prepare.

What Changed and Why It Matters

In previous EPSO competitions, the selection process had two distinct phases: computer-based tests (CBTs) at Prometric test centres, followed by an Assessment Centre in Brussels with case studies, group exercises, and structured interviews.

The AD5 2026 competition notice (EPSO/AD/427/26) eliminates the Assessment Centre entirely. Instead, it introduces:

• Part 1 (from November 2026): the three reasoning tests in a single remotely proctored online session
• Part 2 (2027): EU knowledge, digital skills and a written essay (EUFTE), only for candidates who pass Part 1

This is a fundamental shift. The competencies that were previously tested through in-person exercises, oral communication, teamwork, prioritisation, are no longer part of this competition. The selection is now entirely based on cognitive tests and written skills.

Part 1: The Reasoning Tests (from November 2026)

The three reasoning tests are taken back-to-back in one online session, in your Language 1:

• Verbal Reasoning: 20 questions, 35 minutes
• Numerical Reasoning: 10 questions, 20 minutes
• Abstract Reasoning: 10 questions, 10 minutes

That is 40 questions in 65 minutes of testing time. Candidates are spread over several weeks: about three weeks before the first session, your invitation in the Single Candidate Portal gives your test week, and the exact date and time appear at least two weeks before your test.

To move on, you need at least 10/20 in verbal reasoning and at least 10/20 in numerical and abstract reasoning combined.

The Remote Proctoring Setup

You take the tests from home (or any quiet, private location). Here is what you need:

• A desktop or laptop computer (not a tablet or phone)
• A working webcam and microphone: you will be monitored throughout
• A stable internet connection: wired is strongly recommended
• A clean desk and quiet room, no notes, books, phones, or other people visible

EPSO will send detailed technical requirements and a link to test your setup before the exam date. Take the system check seriously, technical issues on test day can cost you the session.

Part 2: EU Knowledge, Digital Skills and the Essay (2027)

Candidates who pass Part 1 are invited to the remaining tests in 2027, on dates EPSO has not yet announced. They are taken in your Language 2:

• EU Knowledge: 30 questions, 40 minutes. EPSO publishes the references used for the questions about two months before the test.
• Digital Skills: 40 questions, 30 minutes
• Free-Text Essay on EU Matters (EUFTE): a 40-minute essay on a general European topic, worth 15% of the final score. It is marked for the best-ranked candidates (2,235 according to the notice).

The EUFTE tests your ability to construct a coherent, well-structured argument on EU-related topics in your second language. It is not a knowledge test, it is a writing skills test.

How to Prepare for the Online Format

The shift to fully online testing changes the preparation game. Here is what matters:

1. Rehearse the Part 1 Session

Part 1 is short but dense: 40 reasoning questions in 65 minutes, with no second chance. Most candidates practise one test type at a time, that is not enough. In the last weeks, practise full mock sessions of verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning in sequence, as on test day.

2. Optimise Your Environment

Your test environment directly affects your performance. Before test day:

• Run the EPSO system check on the exact computer and internet connection you will use
• Test with your webcam and microphone active for extended periods
• Ensure your room is well-lit, quiet, and free from interruptions
• Have a backup internet option ready (e.g., mobile hotspot)

3. Plan for Two Languages

The reasoning tests are in your Language 1; EU knowledge, digital skills and the essay (Part 2, 2027) are in your Language 2. Put Part 1 first now, but keep reading EU news in your Language 2: it builds the vocabulary you will need next year.

4. Time Each Section Independently

The time pressure varies dramatically across sections:

• Abstract reasoning: 60 seconds per question, extremely tight
• Verbal reasoning: 105 seconds per question, moderate
• Numerical reasoning: 120 seconds per question, comfortable if you estimate first
• Digital skills: 45 seconds per question, tight, but questions are shorter
• EU knowledge: 80 seconds per question, reasonable for prepared candidates

Know which sections will be your bottleneck and allocate your preparation time accordingly.

5. Prepare for Proctoring Constraints

During the test, you cannot:

• Look away from the screen for extended periods
• Leave the camera frame
• Use any external materials or devices
• Have other people in the room
• Use headphones (unless required for accessibility)

These constraints add psychological pressure. Practise under them so they feel normal on test day.

The Strategic Advantage

The elimination of the Assessment Centre simplifies the competition in one important way: your fate is determined entirely by how well you perform on standardised tests. There is no subjective evaluation of your "EU competencies" by assessors.

This means targeted, systematic practice has a higher return on investment than ever before. Every additional point in verbal reasoning, EU knowledge, or digital skills translates directly into a better ranking position.

The format has changed. The opportunity has not. Prepare for the test you are actually taking.