EPSO AD5 2026 Exam Timeline: Official Stages and Dates

The EPSO AD5 2026 selection procedure (officially EPSO/AD/427/26, published 5 February 2026) uses a new all-remote format. Understanding the stages and scoring helps you plan your preparation effectively.

Stage 1: Admission and Eligibility Check

EPSO verifies that candidates meet the eligibility criteria from the competition notice:

• EU citizenship (of any Member State) with full rights
• University degree (minimum 3 years), diploma by 30 September 2026
• No professional experience required

Application deadline was 10 March 2026. Supporting documents must be uploaded by 7 October 2026.

Stage 2: Remote Proctored Tests

All tests are administered remotely via the TAO assessment platform. There is no in-person test centre. The tests consist of five components:

Verbal Reasoning (Language 1)

35 minutes. Minimum: 10/20. Weighted 40% in preliminary ranking, 35% in final ranking.

Numerical + Abstract Reasoning (Language 1)

30 minutes combined. Minimum: 10/20. Pass/fail only — does not count toward the weighted ranking.

EU Knowledge MCQ (Language 2)

40 minutes. Minimum: 15/30. Weighted 30% in preliminary ranking, 25% in final ranking.

Digital Skills MCQ (Language 2)

30 minutes. Minimum: 20/40. Weighted 30% in preliminary ranking, 25% in final ranking.

EUFTE: Free-Text Essay on EU Matters (Language 2)

40 minutes. Minimum: 5/10. Only counted in the final ranking (15% weight).

Scoring and Ranking

Candidates must pass ALL minimum thresholds. The preliminary ranking uses three weighted scores: verbal reasoning (40%), EU knowledge (30%), and digital skills (30%). The final ranking adds the EUFTE essay (15%) and adjusts the other weights.

Stage 3: Reserve List

The top 1,490 candidates from the final ranking are placed on the reserve list. Being on the reserve list is not a job offer but confirms eligibility to be recruited by EU institutions.

What to Focus On

With 174,922 candidates competing for 1,490 spots, every point matters. Verbal reasoning carries the highest weight (35-40%). EU knowledge and digital skills are also heavily weighted. The EUFTE essay can make the difference in close rankings.

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