Free EPSO AD5 Exam Prep
EPSO Graduate Administrators Open Competition (AD5)
Prepare for the EPSO AD5 exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
Quick Facts
Buy on AmazonExplore More EU & European Civil Service Exams
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
EPSO EU & European Civil Service Exams License: Complete Roadmap
Follow this path to organize your licensing and exam preparation
Phase 1: Competition MapYou are here
Read the competition notice (EPSO/AD/427/26), confirm eligibility, languages, test structure, pass marks, and weightings.
Phase 2: Verbal Reasoning
Practice reading comprehension and deduction from passages; aim for accuracy under the 35-minute, 20-question limit.
Phase 3: Numerical & Abstract
Drill percentages, ratios, data interpretation, and pattern/series logic to clear the combined 10/20 pass mark.
Phase 4: EU Knowledge
Study EU institutions, treaties, procedures, the MFF/budget, and key policies (Green Deal, single market, eurozone, Schengen).
Phase 5: Digital Skills
Master the five DigComp 2.2 areas: information literacy, communication, content creation, safety, and problem solving.
Phase 6: Timed Mixed Review
Run full timed mock tests across all five components, review weak areas, and rehearse the EUFTE essay for later stages.
Can You Take the EPSO AD5 Exam?
Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements
- •Citizenship of an EU Member State.
- •Knowledge of at least two official EU languages: Language 1 at C1 and Language 2 at B2.
- •Language 2 may be any official EU language (no longer restricted to English, French, or German).
- •Compliance with any national obligations regarding military service.
EPSO AD5 Quick Facts
Time to Get Licensed
8-16 weeks for most candidates
From start to license in hand
Exam Provider
EPSO via the EU's TAO online testing platform with remote AI-assisted proctoring
Retake Policy
There is no per-attempt retake fee. AD Generalist competitions are run periodically (the previous AD5 was in 2019 before the 2026 competition), so candidates reapply when EPSO publishes a new relevant competition.
Total Cost Breakdown
Free EPSO AD5 Prep Tools
Reported exam pass rate: Not published as a single figure; the 2026 AD5 competition (EPSO/AD/427/26) drew about 174,922 applicants for 1,490 reserve-list places, an overall success rate below 1%.. These figures describe exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep user outcomes. Check the exam sponsor’s website for published statistics.
Exam Topic Review
Practice verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning, EU knowledge, and DigComp digital skills — the AD5 computer-based components.
Reflects the 2026 Reform
Matches EPSO's remote, single-session AD5 format used for competition EPSO/AD/427/26 in 2026.
Timed Practice
Drill items under realistic per-test time pressure to build CBT speed and accuracy.
Free Access
Use all EPSO AD5 practice resources free of charge.
What You'll Study
16 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide
Chapter 1: Competition Overview, Notice EPSO/AD/427/26 & Two-Part Remote Testing
3 sections
Chapter 2: Verbal Reasoning: Core Deductive Logic & Text Interpretation
3 sections
Chapter 3: Verbal Reasoning: Advanced Administrative Passages & Pacing
3 sections
Chapter 4: Numerical Reasoning: Arithmetic, Data Interpretation & Speed Math
3 sections
Chapter 5: Abstract Reasoning: Sequences, Matrices & Attribute Tracking
3 sections
Chapter 6: Foundations of EU Law: Treaties, Principles & Legal Sources
3 sections
Chapter 7: The Political Institutions: Commission, Council & European Parliament
3 sections
Chapter 8: The Judiciary, Financial Oversight & Advisory Bodies
3 sections
Chapter 9: EU Law-Making, Delegated Acts & The Multi-Annual Financial Framework
3 sections
Chapter 10: The Internal Market, Competition Policy & Economic Governance
3 sections
Chapter 11: EU Strategic Policies: Green Deal, AFSJ, External Action, the 2024–2029 Agenda & Main Spending Policies
5 sections
Chapter 12: DigComp Areas 1 & 2: Information Literacy, Communication & Collaboration
3 sections
Chapter 13: DigComp Area 3: Digital Content Creation, Copyright & Data Workflows
3 sections
Chapter 14: DigComp Areas 4 & 5: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy & Technical Problem Solving
3 sections
Chapter 15: The Free-Text Essay on EU Matters (EUFTE): Architecture & Drafting
3 sections
Chapter 16: Comprehensive Mock Simulation, Error Remediation & Exam-Day Strategy
3 sections
EPSO AD5 Exam Details
EPSO Graduate Administrators Open Competition (AD5)
Administered by European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) content outline
20 questions in 35 minutes; pass mark 10/20; 35% of the final score
30 questions in 40 minutes on the EU, its institutions, procedures and main policies; pass mark 15/30; 25% of the final score
40 questions in 30 minutes across the five DigComp 2.2 areas; pass mark 20/40; 25% of the final score
40-minute written-communication essay on EPSO-supplied EU documentation, scored 0-10 (pass 5/10); 15% of the final score; not a language or factual-knowledge test
10 numerical questions in 20 minutes plus 10 abstract questions in 10 minutes; combined pass mark 10/20; eliminatory only, not counted in the ranking
What's Included
16 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
Free to Start
No credit card required
Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds
I'm Ran Chen, an engineer with 20+ years of coding experience. I passed my Life Insurance license, EA exam, SIE, Series 6, 63, 65, and finally the CFP® exam.
Through all these exams, one thing became clear: exam prep is expensive. But with AI, we can change that. Quality preparation can now be free for everyone.
EPSO AD5 Exam FAQ
Official European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) Resources
Verify information with these official sources
More Free Resources
Ready to Start Your Free EPSO AD5 Prep?
Review the study guide, practice key concepts, and use the free tools at your own pace.