1.1 Competition Format, Eligibility & Selection Rules
Key Takeaways
EPSO/AD/428/26 seeks 448 successful candidates for an AD7 audit reserve list from which EU institutions, bodies and agencies may recruit; reserve-list inclusion is not a job guarantee.
The three education-and-experience routes are three years of university study plus seven relevant years, four years plus six, or five years plus five; every route requires at least four years in audit.
Language 1 may be any official EU language at C1; Language 2 is a different one of the remaining official EU languages at B2. Reasoning is in Language 1; the field MCQ and EUFTE are in Language 2.
The field MCQ has 30 questions in 40 minutes, a 15/30 pass mark and the competitive ranking role. The EUFTE lasts 40 minutes, is scored 0–10 with a 5/10 pass mark, and assesses written communication only.
As of 4 October 2026, the application and supporting-document deadlines have passed and the single online testing date of 30 September 2026 has taken place; the competition remains ongoing.
1.1 Competition Format, Eligibility & Selection Rules
The legally controlling source for this competition is the Notice of Open Competition EPSO/AD/428/26, published as C/2026/1979 on 14 April 2026. It seeks 448 successful candidates for a reserve list at grade AD7 in the field of audit. EU institutions, bodies and agencies may recruit from that list. The notice does not limit recruitment to the European Court of Auditors or the Commission, and inclusion on the list does not create a right to a job.
The notice publishes typical duties, but it does not publish a weighted syllabus for the field-related MCQ. The audit chapters in this guide therefore teach the Annex II duties and relevant professional background; they must not be read as an EPSO promise that a named standard, framework or topic will receive a particular number of questions.
Current competition snapshot
The official competition page reports 7,025 candidates. Applications closed on 19 May 2026. The deadline for supporting documents was noon Brussels time on 30 September 2026, and EPSO confirmed 30 September 2026 as the online testing date. As of this guide's 4 October 2026 review date, those events have passed and the competition is still shown as ongoing. Candidates should use their EPSO account and the official competition page for personal results or later updates; a study guide cannot predict the result timetable.
General and specific eligibility
On the application closing date, a candidate had to be an EU Member State national enjoying full citizens' rights, meet any military-service obligations, and meet the character requirements for the duties. The education and experience test has three alternative routes:
| University-level studies completed | Minimum relevant experience after the diploma decision | Minimum audit experience within that total |
|---|---|---|
| At least 3 years | 7 years | 4 years |
| At least 4 years | 6 years | 4 years |
| At least 5 years | 5 years | 4 years |
The notice does not restrict the diploma to a short list of subjects. It defines a broad set of relevant experience, including audit; accounting and financial-resource management; procurement and grants; internal control, anti-fraud and risk management; banking and financial analysis; statistics, modelling and data analytics; specified IT fields; taxation and customs; funded programme management or evaluation; related consulting; and legal practice. The Selection Board determines eligibility from the application declarations and timely supporting documents.
Language regime
Language 1 is any one of the 24 official EU languages at minimum C1. Language 2 is a different language chosen from the remaining 23 official languages at minimum B2. Language 1 is used for verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning. Language 2 is used for the field-related MCQ and the EU Free-Text Essay on EU Matters (EUFTE). English and French are possible choices, not the only choices.
Tests and pass marks
All candidates who submitted on time were invited to the remotely proctored tests. EPSO stated that the operational order could differ from the order in the notice. The official parameters are:
| Test | Questions / duration | Score and threshold | Selection role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | 20 / 35 minutes | 10/20 | Qualifying threshold only |
| Numerical reasoning | 10 / 20 minutes | Combined with abstract: 10/20 | Qualifying threshold only |
| Abstract reasoning | 10 / 10 minutes | Combined with numerical: 10/20 | Qualifying threshold only |
| Field-related MCQ | 30 / 40 minutes | 15/30 | Competitive ranking |
| EUFTE | 40 minutes | 5/10 | Qualifying written-communication threshold |
The numerical and abstract tests have a combined threshold; neither has a separate individual pass mark. Reasoning answers are scored first. For candidates who pass reasoning, the field MCQ is scored. Candidates who pass the field MCQ are ranked by that score.
Selective EUFTE scoring and eligibility check
EUFTE scoring and eligibility checks are performed in parallel for a limited group taken in descending field-MCQ order. In principle, this group does not exceed 1.5 times the number sought, although the Selection Board may enlarge it for ties. The EUFTE does not add a second competitive ranking score: it is checked against its 5/10 threshold. The Board then adds eligible candidates who passed every threshold in descending field-MCQ order until it reaches 448 or exhausts the qualifying pool. Everyone tied for the last available place is included, and the final list is alphabetical.
This sequence matters. A candidate can complete every test yet have the EUFTE script and eligibility documents left unprocessed if the field-MCQ ranking is below the scoring group. Conversely, passing the EUFTE does not cure a failure in reasoning, the field threshold or eligibility.
Remote-test tools and source discipline
The notice specifies remote proctoring. EPSO's March 2026 online-testing instructions describe platform tools such as an on-screen calculator and, when enabled, a digital scratchpad. Candidates should follow their invitation and the current instructions rather than assume that personal paper, a physical whiteboard, an external calculator or a test-centre arrangement is permitted.
Finally, separate three categories while studying: official rules in the notice; current operational information on the competition page and invitation; and preparation methods in this guide. Only the first two control the competition.
Which education-and-experience route is stated in the notice?
Five years of university study plus five years of relevant experience, including at least four years in audit
A four-year audit degree plus two years of any experience
A three-year accounting diploma with no professional experience
A professional certification in place of university study
How are the competition languages chosen?
Language 1 and Language 2 must both be English
Language 1 is any official EU language at C1 and Language 2 is a different official EU language at B2
Language 1 must be French and Language 2 must be English
The Selection Board assigns both languages after testing
Which test supplies the competitive ranking used to select the group whose EUFTE and eligibility are processed?
Verbal reasoning
The combined numerical and abstract score
The field-related MCQ
The EUFTE score
What does placement on the reserve list guarantee?
Immediate appointment at the ECA
An interview within 30 days
A permanent post at any EU institution
Eligibility to be considered for recruitment, but no right or guarantee of appointment
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.