100+ Free EPSO AD5 Practice Questions

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Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: EPSO AD5 Exam

110

Multiple-Choice Questions

EPSO AD5 2026 competition structure

5 tests

Computer-Based Components

EPSO / EU Careers

1,490

Reserve-List Places (2026)

EPSO/AD/427/26 notice

EUR 0

Application Fee

EU Careers

35%

Verbal Reasoning Weight (final)

EPSO AD5 scoring rules

5 areas

DigComp 2.2 Digital Skills

European Commission DigComp

EPSO AD5 is the EU's graduate administrator open competition. Its computer-based phase has 110 MCQs across five tests: verbal reasoning (20 Q/35 min), numerical plus abstract reasoning (20 Q/30 min, pass/fail), EU knowledge (30 Q/40 min), and digital skills (40 Q/30 min). Verbal (35%), EU knowledge (25%), and digital skills (25%) are scored toward the final ranking. There is no application fee, and a separate written essay follows for top candidates.

Sample EPSO AD5 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your EPSO AD5 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read the passage: 'The European Commission holds the sole right to initiate most EU legislation. The Parliament and Council may request proposals, but only the Commission can formally draft and table them.' Based only on this passage, which statement is correct?

A.The Commission is the principal initiator of most EU legislation

B.The Parliament can formally table its own legislative proposals

C.The Council drafts most EU legislation independently

D.Member States individually draft EU legislation

Explanation: EPSO verbal reasoning requires answers derived strictly from the passage. The text states the Commission holds the 'sole right to initiate most EU legislation,' so it is the principal initiator. Other actors may only request, not table.

2Passage: 'All Member States participating in the eurozone use the euro. Not all EU Member States are in the eurozone, but every eurozone country is an EU Member State.' Which conclusion necessarily follows?

A.A country using the euro within the eurozone is an EU Member State

B.Every EU Member State uses the euro

C.No EU Member State remains outside the eurozone

D.Eurozone membership is identical to EU membership

Explanation: Verbal reasoning tests valid deduction. The passage states 'every eurozone country is an EU Member State,' so any eurozone country (using the euro) must be an EU Member State. The other options overstate or reverse the relationship.

3Passage: 'The report notes that renewable energy capacity grew in all surveyed regions, though growth was slowest in regions with the lowest initial investment.' Which statement is supported?

A.Every surveyed region recorded some growth in renewable capacity

B.Regions with low investment recorded no growth at all

C.The fastest growth occurred where investment was lowest

D.Renewable capacity declined in at least one region

Explanation: The passage says capacity 'grew in all surveyed regions,' so every region had some growth. The slowest growth merely correlated with lowest initial investment, not zero or negative growth.

4Passage: 'Only candidates who submitted their application before the deadline and uploaded a valid diploma were admitted to the testing phase.' A candidate was NOT admitted. Which must be true?

A.The candidate failed at least one of the two requirements

B.The candidate missed the deadline

C.The candidate uploaded no diploma

D.The candidate met neither requirement

Explanation: Admission required both conditions ('and'). Failing to be admitted means at least one condition was not met, but we cannot determine which one specifically. Only the inclusive statement is logically necessary.

5Passage: 'The ordinary legislative procedure requires agreement between the European Parliament and the Council. If they disagree after the second reading, a Conciliation Committee is convened.' What follows if Parliament and Council agree at first reading?

A.No Conciliation Committee is needed

B.A Conciliation Committee must still convene

C.The Commission vetoes the act

D.The Council decides alone

Explanation: The Conciliation Committee is triggered only by disagreement after the second reading. Agreement at first reading means the procedure concludes earlier, so no committee is required.

6Passage: 'Some agencies are based in Brussels; all Brussels-based agencies report annually to the Commission. Agency X reports annually to the Commission.' Which conclusion is valid?

A.It cannot be concluded that Agency X is in Brussels

B.Agency X must be based in Brussels

C.Agency X cannot be in Brussels

D.All agencies reporting to the Commission are in Brussels

Explanation: The statement is one-directional: Brussels agencies report annually, but not every annually reporting agency must be in Brussels. Reporting does not prove location, so no firm conclusion about Agency X's location is valid.

7Passage: 'The directive must be transposed into national law within two years. Member States that fail to transpose on time may face infringement proceedings.' What does the passage allow us to infer?

A.Late transposition can expose a Member State to infringement proceedings

B.Directives apply directly without national transposition

C.All Member States always transpose on time

D.Infringement proceedings are automatic on day one

Explanation: The passage explicitly links failure to transpose on time with possible infringement proceedings. The word 'may' indicates a possibility, not automatic or guaranteed action.

8Passage: 'The survey found that staff who attended the training reported higher satisfaction. However, the study did not control for prior experience.' Which criticism is best supported?

A.The higher satisfaction may be explained by factors other than the training

B.The training definitely caused higher satisfaction

C.Prior experience had no effect on the results

D.Satisfaction was unrelated to the training

Explanation: Because prior experience was not controlled, an uncontrolled variable could explain the difference. EPSO verbal reasoning rewards recognizing that correlation without controls does not prove causation.

9Passage: 'Every proposal reviewed by the committee was either approved or deferred. No proposal was rejected outright.' A proposal was not approved. What follows?

A.The proposal was deferred

B.The proposal was rejected outright

C.The proposal was withdrawn

D.The proposal was never reviewed

Explanation: The passage gives only two outcomes for reviewed proposals: approved or deferred. If a reviewed proposal was not approved, it must have been deferred, since outright rejection is excluded.

10Passage: 'The Court of Justice of the European Union ensures EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly across Member States.' Which statement is most consistent with the passage?

A.The Court promotes uniform interpretation of EU law

B.The Court drafts new EU legislation

C.The Court sets Member States' national budgets

D.The Court elects the European Commission

Explanation: The passage describes the Court's role as ensuring uniform interpretation and application of EU law. The other roles belong to different institutions and are not in the text.

About the EPSO AD5 Exam

The EPSO AD5 Graduate Administrators open competition is the main entry route into a permanent administrator (AD) career in the EU institutions, with the 2026 competition referenced as EPSO/AD/427/26 targeting 1,490 places on a reserve list. The computer-based phase consists of five multiple-choice tests: verbal reasoning (20 questions, 35 minutes), numerical reasoning (10 questions) and abstract reasoning (10 questions) combined in 30 minutes, EU knowledge (30 questions, 40 minutes), and digital skills (40 questions, 30 minutes) based on the DigComp 2.2 framework. Top-ranked candidates then complete a separate written EU-matters essay (EUFTE), which is not multiple-choice. All tests are taken remotely in a single proctored session, with no in-person assessment centre in the 2026 reform.

Questions

110 scored questions

Time Limit

Verbal 35 min; numerical + abstract 30 min; EU knowledge 40 min; digital skills 30 min (single remote session)

Passing Score

Verbal 10/20; combined numerical + abstract 10/20; EU knowledge 15/30; digital skills 20/40

Exam Fee

No application fee (European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), via the EU's TAO platform with remote proctoring)

EPSO AD5 Exam Content Outline

35%

Verbal Reasoning

20 questions in 35 minutes; reading comprehension and logical deduction from passages. Pass mark 10/20; scored in the final ranking.

25%

EU Knowledge

30 MCQ in 40 minutes on EU institutions, treaties, decision-making, budget/MFF, and policies. Pass mark 15/30.

25%

Digital Skills

40 questions in 30 minutes across the five DigComp 2.2 areas. Pass mark 20/40.

Pass/fail

Numerical & Abstract Reasoning

10 numerical + 10 abstract questions combined in 30 minutes; combined pass mark 10/20, not scored in the ranking.

How to Pass the EPSO AD5 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Verbal 10/20; combined numerical + abstract 10/20; EU knowledge 15/30; digital skills 20/40
Exam length: 110 questions
Time limit: Verbal 35 min; numerical + abstract 30 min; EU knowledge 40 min; digital skills 30 min (single remote session)
Exam fee: No application fee

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

EPSO AD5 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Treat verbal reasoning as your highest-value reasoning test — it carries 35% of the score, so drill timed passages for accuracy and speed.

2Build a fast mental toolkit for numerical reasoning: percentage change, ratios, averages, and reading values from tables, charts, and pie sectors.

3For abstract reasoning, learn to spot multiple simultaneous rules (rotation, colour alternation, count changes) and identify the odd one out quickly.

4Study EU knowledge from primary sources: institutions and their roles, the Rome/Maastricht/Lisbon treaties, ordinary legislative procedure, the MFF, and policies like the Green Deal.

5Master the five DigComp 2.2 areas with a focus on safety (phishing, MFA, backups, GDPR rights) and information literacy (evaluating sources, spotting misinformation and AI errors).

6Simulate the remote CBT conditions: practise under each test's exact time limit and check your device, webcam, and connection before the proctored session.

7Remember the EUFTE essay for later stages — practise writing a clear, structured EU-matters response in 40 minutes from a background document.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EPSO AD5 competition?

EPSO AD5 (Graduate Administrators) is the main open competition for entry-level administrator posts in the EU institutions. The 2026 edition is referenced as EPSO/AD/427/26 and targets 1,490 places on a reserve list from which the institutions recruit.

How many tests and questions does the AD5 exam have?

The computer-based phase has five multiple-choice tests totalling 110 questions: verbal reasoning (20), numerical reasoning (10), abstract reasoning (10), EU knowledge (30), and digital skills (40). A separate free-text essay (EUFTE) follows for top-ranked candidates.

What are the pass marks?

You must score at least 10/20 in verbal reasoning, 10/20 combined in numerical plus abstract reasoning, 15/30 in EU knowledge, and 20/40 in digital skills to remain in the competition.

Which tests count toward the final ranking?

Verbal reasoning (35%), EU knowledge (25%), digital skills (25%), and the EUFTE essay (15%) are scored. Numerical and abstract reasoning are pass/fail only — you must clear the 10/20 hurdle, but the score does not affect your ranking.

Is there an application fee?

No. There is no fee to apply for or sit the EPSO AD5 competition. You need a suitable device and internet connection for the remotely proctored online tests.

Who is eligible to apply for AD5?

You need EU citizenship, a completed university degree of at least three years, and knowledge of two official EU languages (Language 1 at C1, Language 2 at B2). No work experience and no age limit are required.

Is the AD5 exam taken remotely?

Yes. Under the 2026 reform, all five multiple-choice tests are taken online in a single remotely proctored session on the EU's TAO platform, with webcam, screen sharing, and identity checks. There is no in-person assessment centre.

What is the digital skills test based on?

The digital skills test is based on the European Commission's DigComp 2.2 framework, covering five areas: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem solving.