1.2 Remote Testing on TAO & Proctorio: Setup, Rules & Incident Procedure

1.2 Remote Testing on TAO & Proctorio: Setup, Rules & Incident Procedure

Sources: Notice EPSO/AD/427/26, Annex I (Sections 5–7), and EPSO's Instructions for online testing (TAO), March 2026 edition, which is sent with each invitation letter. The invitation letter and instructions for your own session always prevail. Read them in full when they arrive.

Both parts of the AD5 competition are held and proctored remotely. There is no test centre. Two tools run at the same time:

• TAO, a secure online testing platform provided by Open Assessment Technologies S.A. (OAT). You open your sessions, answer questions, use the on-screen tools and submit in TAO.
• Proctorio, an automated proctoring extension for Chrome or Edge. Before TAO opens, it checks your browser, identity and environment. It then records audio, video and screen activity for the whole test. It is not an automated decision-making tool: after the test, EPSO and the Selection Board review the Proctorio data before deciding whether a breach occurred. EPSO states that no biometric data are collected.

Treat technical compliance as part of the exam. A complaint does not automatically lead to a retest if the problem comes from your own setup.

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Before Test Day: The Mandatory Prerequisite Check

• The invitation arrives in the Single Candidate Portal. You reach TAO through the portal link and sign in with EU Login.
• The technical prerequisite check is mandatory. Run it before the deadline in the invitation, on the same computer, peripherals, settings and preferably location you will use for the test. You get one attempt per competition and must click Submit and proceed at the end.
• If you skip the check, you may be unable to start. Under Annex I, Section 7.1(5), complaints about technical problems are then inadmissible unless force majeure applies.
• You can practise the interface in anonymous public TAO sessions and with EPSO's sample tests, available in all 24 languages.

System and Peripheral Requirements (March 2026 instructions)

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Test Day: Check-In and Desk Rules

The check-in sequence is: open the invitation, go to the TAO portal, log in with EU Login a few minutes early, click Start, and let Proctorio run its system diagnostics, webcam image test and ID capture. The ID must show your name and photo on the same side. If it does not, upload a PDF of both sides via the Single Candidate Portal by 23:59 CET on the day after the test, or you risk disqualification. Next comes a 20–60 second environment scan: a slow 360° turn showing walls, doors and windows, then the desk, under the desk, around the chair and behind the screen. You then accept the exam agreement, and the test starts automatically.

Your phone must be muted, off the desk and out of reach. It may be used only to call TAO support, and you must stay seated in front of the camera during the call. You must also not stand up, leave the camera view, talk or read aloud, cover your face, or open other browser tabs. Remove personal items that could reveal religion, politics or lifestyle from the camera's view. EPSO says this protects your privacy.

Automatic termination. Proctorio ends the test if you revoke camera, microphone or screen permissions; connect an extra screen; lose the Proctorio connection for more than two minutes; change network or use a proxy; close or reload the test tab; exit full-screen mode (including by clicking an "X" in the browser bar or interacting with a pop-up notification); or open system tools such as Task Manager. Keep the charger plugged in from the start, because a charger pop-up can itself trigger termination.

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On-Screen Tools

TAO provides a calculator, which you operate with the keyboard or its buttons, pressing "=" rather than Enter. It also provides a scratchpad where enabled, with text, brush, shape and eraser tools. Further tools are a highlighter, a line reader, answer elimination and answer masking, zoom, accessibility themes, and an attached-documents viewer for PDFs such as essay documentation. You can move freely between questions within the same test part, bookmark questions and check the overview panel. A timer shows the time left for the current part, and a warning appears if you submit with unanswered questions. Settings from the prerequisite check are not carried over, so set up your tools again at the start. Extra breaks exist only where EPSO has approved them in advance for special needs. When a break ends, the system moves on automatically.

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If Something Goes Wrong: The Official Incident Route

1. During the test: restart the computer first. If the problem persists, call TAO support (Intelcia) on +351 211 554 559, Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00 CET, in English or French. Stay on the line. Take screenshots only if an agent asks, using a separate device.
2. Inform EPSO in writing, via the Single Candidate Portal only, within 3 calendar days counting from the day after the test (Annex I, Section 7.1(3)). Give a detailed description and attach proof, such as a photo of your interaction with support or a phone bill excerpt showing the call. Complaints are rejected if you did not complete the prerequisite check, did not contact TAO support at the time, or missed the deadline.
3. Other remedies (Annex I, Section 7):

Force majeure must be reported immediately with evidence (for example a medical certificate or a power-outage attestation). Professional or private obligations do not count. Candidates can be disqualified for cheating, recording online tests, false declarations, or contacting Selection Board members (Annex I, Section 6).