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100+ Free EPSO Translator Practice Questions

Pass your EPSO Translators Open Competition (AD) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Language comprehension: "The text relies heavily on technical jargon, which may hinder accessibility for a general audience." What is the writer's concern?

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Key Facts: EPSO Translator Exam

AD5

Grade Recruited

EPSO Notice of Competition

30 MCQ

Reasoning Questions (V+N+A)

EPSO Notice of Competition

13/25

Language Knowledge Pass Mark

EPSO Notice of Competition

6/12

Language Comprehension Pass Mark

EPSO Notice of Competition

Free

Application & Test Fee

EPSO / EU Careers

3 languages

Minimum EU Languages Required

EPSO Notice of Competition

The EPSO Translators (AD5) competition uses multiple-choice reasoning (verbal 10, numerical 10, abstract 10; combined pass mark 22/40), a 25-question language knowledge test in Language 1 (pass 13/25) and a 12-question language comprehension test in Language 3 (pass 6/12). Open-response translation (60 min) and revision (30 min) tests follow. There is no fee and EPSO publishes no overall pass rate.

Sample EPSO Translator Practice Questions

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

1EPSO verbal reasoning rule: an answer is correct only if it is fully supported by the passage. A text states: "The agency's budget rose in 2023 after two years of cuts." Which conclusion is best supported?
A.The 2023 budget was higher than in any previous year
B.The agency had reduced its budget in 2021 and 2022
C.The budget will continue to rise in 2024
D.The cuts were caused by poor management
Explanation: "After two years of cuts" directly entails that the budget was cut in the two years before 2023, i.e. 2021 and 2022. EPSO verbal items reward conclusions that follow strictly from the text with no added assumptions.
2Passage: "All translators in the unit who attended the terminology workshop received the new style guide. Marta is a translator in the unit but did not attend the workshop." Which statement must be true?
A.Marta did not receive the new style guide
B.Marta may or may not have received the new style guide
C.Everyone who received the style guide attended the workshop
D.Marta is not a translator in the unit
Explanation: The text says attendees received the guide, but says nothing about non-attendees. Marta's non-attendance leaves her status undetermined, so she may or may not have the guide. EPSO verbal reasoning treats unstated cases as undetermined, not as the opposite.
3In EPSO verbal reasoning, distractors are often "too strong." A passage notes that "a study suggested a possible link between the two factors." Which option is the safest, best-supported reading?
A.The study proved the two factors are causally linked
B.The study found no relationship between the factors
C.A study indicated a potential association between the factors
D.The two factors are definitely unrelated
Explanation: "Suggested a possible link" is tentative language; the safest paraphrase preserves that hedging by saying "potential association." EPSO penalises options that strengthen tentative claims into certainties.
4Passage: "The Commission may, but is not obliged to, consult the committee before adopting the measure." Which conclusion follows?
A.The Commission must consult the committee
B.Consultation of the committee is optional for the Commission
C.The committee can block the measure
D.The measure cannot be adopted without consultation
Explanation: "May, but is not obliged to" expresses a discretionary power, so consultation is optional. EPSO verbal items test careful reading of modal verbs such as may, must, and shall.
5Passage: "Renewable capacity grew fastest in Country A, while Country B added the largest absolute amount of new capacity." Which is best supported?
A.Country A added more capacity in absolute terms than Country B
B.Country B had a higher growth rate than Country A
C.Country A had the highest percentage growth, but not necessarily the largest absolute increase
D.Both countries grew at the same rate
Explanation: "Grew fastest" refers to rate (percentage), while "largest absolute amount" refers to volume. A high growth rate from a small base can still mean a smaller absolute increase, so the two facts are consistent.
6Passage: "No proposal was rejected, although several were sent back for revision." Which statement must be true?
A.Every proposal was accepted in its original form
B.At least one proposal required changes before approval
C.All proposals were withdrawn
D.The committee approved no proposals
Explanation: "Several were sent back for revision" means at least some proposals needed changes, even though none were ultimately rejected. EPSO verbal reasoning rewards distinguishing "not rejected" from "accepted unchanged."
7Passage: "Most respondents preferred option X; a minority preferred option Y; no respondent was undecided." Which conclusion is supported?
A.Every respondent chose either X or Y
B.More than half of respondents chose Y
C.Some respondents chose neither option
D.The two options were equally popular
Explanation: If no respondent was undecided and only X and Y are mentioned, then every respondent chose X or Y. "Most" preferred X and a "minority" preferred Y, accounting for all respondents.
8Passage: "The directive entered into force on the day after its publication and must be transposed within 24 months." If it was published on 1 March 2024, by when must Member States transpose it?
A.By 1 March 2025
B.By 2 March 2026
C.By 1 March 2024
D.By 2 March 2025
Explanation: Entry into force is the day after publication (2 March 2024), and the 24-month transposition period runs from entry into force, giving 2 March 2026. EPSO verbal items often combine date logic with careful reading of "the day after."
9Passage: "Whereas earlier reports were criticised for being vague, this report sets out specific, measurable targets." What does the passage imply about the earlier reports?
A.They contained specific, measurable targets
B.They were praised for their precision
C.They lacked specific, measurable targets
D.They were never published
Explanation: The contrast word "whereas" sets the earlier vague reports against the current specific one, implying the earlier reports lacked specific, measurable targets. EPSO verbal reasoning relies heavily on contrast and concession cues.
10Passage: "Funding is available to any applicant who is established in a Member State and has been active for at least three years." A new organisation established last year in a Member State applies. Based only on the text:
A.It is eligible because it is in a Member State
B.It is not eligible because it has not been active for at least three years
C.It is eligible because no time limit applies
D.Its eligibility cannot be determined from the text
Explanation: Eligibility requires both being established in a Member State and at least three years of activity. An organisation active only one year fails the second condition, so it is not eligible.

About the EPSO Translator Exam

The EPSO Translators open competition selects translators (grade AD5) for reserve lists from which the EU institutions, bodies and agencies recruit. Its multiple-choice components are a reasoning skills test in Language 1 — verbal reasoning (10 questions, 18 minutes), numerical reasoning (10 questions, 20 minutes) and abstract reasoning (10 questions, 20 minutes), with a combined pass mark of 22/40 — a language knowledge test in Language 1 (25 questions, 25 minutes, pass mark 13/25) covering vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, expressions, idiomatic usage and register, and a language comprehension test in Language 3 (12 questions, 25 minutes, pass mark 6/12). Candidates who pass these stages then sit open-response translation (L2 to L1, 60 minutes) and revision (L2 to L1, 30 minutes) tests, which are not multiple-choice. Failing the pass mark of any scored test ends a candidate's participation.

Questions

67 scored questions

Time Limit

Reasoning ~58 min; Language knowledge 25 min; Language comprehension 25 min (plus translation 60 min and revision 30 min open-response tests)

Passing Score

Reasoning combined 22/40; Language knowledge 13/25; Language comprehension 6/12

Exam Fee

Free — no application or test fee (European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), administered online through EPSO's contracted computer-based testing provider)

EPSO Translator Exam Content Outline

~15%

Verbal Reasoning (L1)

10 MCQs in 18 minutes; conclusions must be fully supported by the passage, part of the combined 22/40 reasoning pass mark

~14%

Numerical Reasoning (L1)

10 MCQs in 20 minutes on percentages, ratios, per-capita and density figures from tables and graphs

~14%

Abstract Reasoning (L1)

10 MCQs in 20 minutes on figure sequences, matrices and analogies testing logical pattern recognition

~37%

Language Knowledge (L1)

25 MCQs in 25 minutes on vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, idiomatic usage and register; pass mark 13/25

~20%

Language Comprehension (L3)

12 reading-comprehension MCQs in 25 minutes answered only from the text; pass mark 6/12

How to Pass the EPSO Translator Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Reasoning combined 22/40; Language knowledge 13/25; Language comprehension 6/12
  • Exam length: 67 questions
  • Time limit: Reasoning ~58 min; Language knowledge 25 min; Language comprehension 25 min (plus translation 60 min and revision 30 min open-response tests)
  • Exam fee: Free — no application or test 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 Translator Study Tips from Top Performers

1Treat every verbal reasoning answer as correct only if it is fully supported by the text — EPSO penalises options that add assumptions or overstate tentative claims.
2Drill numerical reasoning for speed: percentages on the base value, ratios, per-capita and density figures, using the on-screen calculator since paper is not allowed.
3For abstract reasoning, formulate the transformation rule first, then test it against every figure before choosing.
4Build language knowledge in your Language 1 by reviewing tricky spelling, punctuation, idioms and formal register found in EU documents.
5For language comprehension in Language 3, answer strictly from the passage and resist using outside knowledge.
6Memorise the pass marks (22/40 reasoning, 13/25 language knowledge, 6/12 comprehension) and pace each timed test to clear them.
7Read the official Notice of Competition for your language profile, since test structure and language requirements vary by profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EPSO Translators competition?

It is an EU open competition run by the European Personnel Selection Office to recruit translators at grade AD5 onto reserve lists. The selection includes multiple-choice reasoning, language knowledge and language comprehension tests, followed by open-response translation and revision tests.

Which parts of the exam are multiple-choice?

The reasoning skills test (verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, 30 questions total), the language knowledge test (25 questions) and the language comprehension test (12 questions) are all multiple-choice. The translation and revision tests are open-response, not MCQ.

What are the pass marks?

The reasoning tests share a combined pass mark of 22/40. The language knowledge test requires 13/25 and the language comprehension test requires 6/12. Failing the pass mark of any scored test ends participation in the competition.

How much does it cost to apply?

Nothing. EPSO does not charge an application or test fee for its open competitions, including the translators competition.

What languages do I need?

You need at least three official EU languages: Language 1 (your profile language) at C2, Language 2 (usually English or French, with profile-specific exceptions) at C1, and Language 3 at C1. Language 3 must be different from Languages 1 and 2.

Are the tests taken online?

Yes. Since EPSO's 2022 overhaul the computer-based tests are administered online through EPSO's contracted testing provider. Translators may have their tests spread over more than one testing day.

What happens after I pass all the tests?

Successful candidates are ranked by their overall score, their eligibility is verified against their supporting documents, and the highest-scoring eligible candidates are placed on a reserve list. Being on a reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.

Can I retake the exam if I fail?

There is no individual retake. Candidates who do not succeed apply again when EPSO publishes a new translators competition. Any exceptional retest, such as the one in 2025 for a technical testing error, is separate from normal policy.