EPSO specialist competitions: get past the reasoning tests
AD7 and AST3 competitions rank you on your field. But first you must pass verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning: miss them, and your field score counts for nothing. That gate, and the written test, is what we train.
How a specialist competition works
Specialist competitions recruit people with a degree, and often experience, in one field: audit, ICT, law, data management. Most follow the same pattern: reasoning tests, a field-related multiple-choice test, then a written test on EU matters. Some replace the last two with tests of their own: the lawyer-linguists, for example, sit an EU law test and translation tests.
The reasoning tests are a gate. You need 10/20 in verbal reasoning and 10/20 in numerical and abstract combined, or your other tests do not count. Above the pass mark they do not move you up the list: your field test does.
Verbal reasoning
20
questions in 35 min
Pass mark 10/20
Numerical reasoning
10
questions in 20 min
Pass mark 10/20, numerical and abstract combined
Abstract reasoning
10
questions in 10 min
Pass mark 10/20, numerical and abstract combined
The format is the one used in AD5 and CAST, with tight timing: about 1 minute 45 seconds per verbal question, 2 minutes per numerical question and 1 minute per abstract question. Reasoning under time pressure can be trained, and the pass marks do not forgive slowness.
Specialist competitions right now
The AD7 and AST3 competitions open or under way in autumn 2026, with their tests as EPSO lists them. A tick means you can practise that test on EPSO Genius.
Lawyer-linguists, Court of Justice (8 languages)
AD 7EPSO/AD/431/26 · 154 places · apply by 25 November 2026
- Reasoning tests
- EU law test
- Translation test
- Translation review test
Data management assistants (3 fields)
AST 3EPSO/AST/158/26 · 964 places · apply by 11 November 2026
- Reasoning tests
- Field-related test
- Written test (EUFTE)
ICT experts (4 fields)
AD 7EPSO/AD/429/26 · 782 places · tests from December 2026 (indicative, EPSO)
- Reasoning tests
- Field-related test
- Written test (EUFTE)
Auditors
AD 7EPSO/AD/428/26 · 448 places · tests held from 30 September 2026
- Reasoning tests
- Field-related test
- Written test (EUFTE)
Source: EPSO competition pages, read on 22 October 2026. The notice of each competition is the reference for its tests.
More specialist competitions open in December and through 2027: lawyers, translators, finance, ICT and others. See the calendar →
What we cover, and what we don't
Reasoning tests: fully
Verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning in the EPSO format and timing, an explanation for every answer, practice and timed exam modes, and a method page for each type of numerical question.
Written test: with a simulator
The EUFTE simulator gives you a subject with its documents, 40 minutes and a correction on the 5 EPSO criteria. Every account gets 1 free correction. In specialist competitions you need 5/10; the mark does not change your ranking.
Field-related test: no
Audit standards, ICT, EU law, archiving: this is specialist material, and we do not pretend to teach it. Rely on your professional experience and on the syllabus annexed to your notice of competition.
What your competition tests, without paying for the rest
Specialist competitions have no EU knowledge or digital skills test. So instead of the full Pro plan, take the Reasoning Pack, and add written test corrections if your competition has a written test.
Reasoning Pack
€59One payment · VAT included
- Unlimited verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests
- Timed exam mode: 20 questions in 35 minutes, 10 in 20, 10 in 10
- Step-by-step explanation for every answer
- Lifetime access, 14-day money-back guarantee
Written test corrections
€3910 corrections, one payment, they never expire
- EPSO-style subjects with a dossier of documents
- A mark out of 10 on the 5 EPSO criteria
- Works with any plan, the free plan included
Want both? Pro lifetime (€89) includes the reasoning tests, exam mode and 5 written test corrections. See Pro
Frequently asked questions
Is EPSO Genius useful for an AD7 or AST3 competition?▼
Yes for the reasoning tests, which every competition on this page includes and which are eliminatory, and for the written test where your notice has one. No for the field-related test, the one that ranks you: that part depends on your expertise and on the syllabus in your notice.
Are the reasoning tests the same as in AD5?▼
Yes, same format: verbal reasoning 20 questions in 35 minutes, numerical 10 in 20, abstract 10 in 10. The pass marks are 10/20 in verbal and 10/20 for numerical and abstract combined. You take them in your Language 1.
Why the Reasoning Pack and not Pro?▼
Pro (€89 for life) adds EU knowledge and digital skills, which only the AD5 generalist competition tests. For a specialist competition, the Reasoning Pack (€59) covers every test you can train for here. If you also want written test corrections, compare the pack plus 10 corrections (€39) with Pro, which includes 5.
When are the AD7 tests?▼
It depends on the competition. The auditors (EPSO/AD/428/26) sat theirs from 30 September 2026. For the ICT experts (EPSO/AD/429/26), EPSO gives December 2026 as indicative. The lawyer-linguists (EPSO/AD/431/26) can apply until 25 November 2026, and their test dates are not published yet. EPSO sends each candidate the exact date through their candidate account.
What is different for the lawyer-linguists?▼
EPSO/AD/431/26 has no field-related multiple-choice test and no EUFTE. After the reasoning tests come an EU law test, a translation from your Language 2 into your Language 1, and the review of a machine translation. EPSO says all tests will very likely take place on the same day. On EPSO Genius you can prepare the reasoning tests only.
Can I start for free?▼
Yes. The diagnostic test takes about 15 minutes, without an account. A free account then gives you 7 days of unlimited practice, 10 questions a day after that, and 1 free written test correction.
The reasoning tests come first
Free diagnostic: 25 questions, about 15 minutes, no account. You will know which reasoning test to work on first.
Take the free diagnostic testFree forever · No credit card required