EPSO Guide · Published 10 July 2026

EPSO AD5 Testing Split Into Two Parts: What Changed and How to Prepare

On 30 June 2026, EPSO announced that the AD/427/26 Graduate Administrators competition will no longer test candidates in a single sitting. Reasoning tests move to October–November 2026; EU knowledge, digital skills and the EUFTE essay move to early 2027. Here is the full breakdown, what it means for the 174,922 registered candidates, and how to adapt your preparation.

🗓️ 10 July 2026 ⏱️ 9 min read 📁 EPSO Guide · AD5 · AD/427/26

1. What exactly changed on 30 June 2026?

Until 30 June 2026, the AD5 competition was scheduled as a single testing day where each candidate would sit reasoning, EU knowledge, digital skills and the EUFTE essay one after another. EPSO now splits the process into two independent phases separated by roughly three to four months.

The official rationale given by EPSO is short — "to ensure the smooth organisation of the ongoing AD5 Graduates competition" — but the operational reason is easy to read between the lines: with 174,922 registered candidates, staffing a same-day full session across dozens of testing centres across Europe was logistically impossible. Splitting lets EPSO gate candidates through reasoning first, then scale the second phase to whatever number survives the cut-offs.

AD/427/26 testing structure — before vs after
Before 30 Jun 2026
All six tests in one sitting
Single day · late 2026 · verbal + numerical + abstract + EU knowledge + digital skills + EUFTE
After 30 Jun 2026
Part 1 — Reasoning
Part 2 — Knowledge
Oct–Nov 2026 · verbal + (numerical + abstract) Early 2027 · EU knowledge + digital skills + EUFTE
Figure 1 — Testing structure before and after the 30 June 2026 announcement.

2. Part 1 — reasoning tests (October–November 2026)

All three cognitive tests happen on a single day per candidate, but candidates are spread across many dates in the October–November window. Individual invitation letters arrive several weeks in advance with the exact date, time and centre.

⚠️ Rescheduling is not possible. EPSO's announcement is explicit. Plan any professional or personal obligations conservatively during the entire October–November 2026 window until you receive your slot.

Cut-offs you must clear

Verbal reasoning
10 / 20

Independent threshold. This is also the score that drives your ranking at this stage.

Numerical + abstract (combined)
10 / 20

Combined pass/fail. A weak numerical can be compensated by a strong abstract (and vice-versa). Combined score above 10/20 = pass, but does not boost ranking.

This is a critical scoring insight: verbal is both a threshold and a ranker; numerical + abstract are just a threshold. If you have limited study time before October, prioritise verbal.

3. Part 2 — knowledge tests (early 2027)

Only candidates who cleared both Part 1 thresholds are invited to Part 2. Exact dates will be published on EU Careers later; expect January–March 2027 based on historical EPSO patterns.

Part 2 covers:

4. The scale you are competing against

EPSO/AD/427/26 attracted 174,922 applicants for approximately 1,490 reserve-list places. That is a base pass-through rate of roughly 0.85%. Splitting the exam does not change the reserve-list target, but it does change how quickly cohorts thin out.

5. How this helps — or hurts — you

✅ Ways this helps

  • Focused prep. You can dedicate July–September entirely to reasoning without splitting attention across four skill areas.
  • Two chances to recover. A weak numerical can still be compensated by abstract inside a single combined score.
  • Time to rebuild EU knowledge. If you pass Part 1, you get 2–3 additional months for policy revision — which is where AD5 candidates typically lose the most points.
  • Reduced same-day stress. Six long tests in one sitting was cognitively brutal; three focused reasoning tests are more manageable.

❌ Ways this hurts

  • No safety net for Part 1. Miss verbal ≥10/20 or the combined N+A ≥10/20 and you are eliminated — regardless of how strong you would be in EU knowledge or EUFTE.
  • Longer waiting. Reserve list slips from end 2026 to late 2027. Add up to another year before recruitment.
  • Cannot reschedule. A single-day slot in Oct–Nov 2026 you can't move to another date. If life happens, you lose the year.
  • Verbal weighs more. The change concentrates ranking power into verbal reasoning + EU knowledge. Weak in either → very hard to rank in the top 1,490.

6. Preparation strategy — a study plan you can actually execute

Between now (July 2026) and Part 1 (October 2026)

  1. Weeks 1–4 (July): diagnostic + verbal-first. Take a full 20-question verbal set to identify your current level. Aim to work on the most frequent trap patterns: excess universal quantifier, direction inversion, plausible external fact, temporal confusion. On EU Testing Sets 1–2 you already have 40 verbal questions to calibrate.
  2. Weeks 5–9 (August): verbal deep dive + numerical mechanics. Verbal daily (10 questions minimum); numerical every other day focusing on percentages, ratios, index numbers, and table-reading speed. Timing is critical — under 90 seconds per numerical question.
  3. Weeks 10–13 (September): abstract patterns + full simulations. Abstract benefits most from pattern-recognition practice; commit 30 minutes daily to varied patterns (rotation, reflection, series, matrix). End each week with one Exam Simulator full run of reasoning tests, timed.
  4. Final week before your slot: cool-down. No new material 48 hours before. Sleep, hydrate, and re-read your notes on trap patterns.

Between Part 1 (November 2026) and Part 2 (early 2027)

  1. Do not wait for results. Start EU knowledge revision the day after Part 1. Results take weeks; every day matters.
  2. Bible-first EU knowledge. Cover treaties, institutions, ordinary legislative procedure, and the European Semester before diving into current affairs.
  3. Digital skills = DigComp 2.2. Focus on the five DigComp competence areas and their proficiency levels. Practical scenarios are common.
  4. EUFTE = practice writing. The essay is 40 minutes. Aim for one full essay per week from November onwards, self-graded against the rubric or via automated grading.
💡 Pro tip — track your verbal score every week. Verbal reasoning is the single most important score in the new structure. A simple spreadsheet with weekly score, average time per question, and top 3 trap types you fell for will tell you exactly where to focus.

7. Frequently asked questions

Can I appeal to reschedule my Part 1 slot?

No. EPSO explicitly stated that rescheduling is not possible. Force majeure exceptions are handled case-by-case but should not be assumed.

Are Part 1 questions the same as previous years?

The format (three reasoning tests, timed, multiple-choice) and thresholds are unchanged from previous AD5 competitions. Item difficulty is calibrated by EPSO to normalise the pass rate each year.

What happens if I pass Part 1 but fail Part 2?

You are eliminated from EPSO/AD/427/26. You may apply to future competitions (AD5 opens roughly annually).

Does my supporting documents deadline change?

No. Supporting documents (diploma, language declarations) remain due by 7 October 2026, 12:00 Brussels time — before Part 1 begins.

Will my Part 1 result travel to Part 2?

Only as a pass/proceed signal. Your Part 1 verbal score contributes to overall ranking after Part 2 is completed, together with your EU knowledge score.

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