The European Commission assessment process, explained

EPSO competitions, CAST contract roles and Blue Book traineeships follow separate selection routes; no shared game battery is established.

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By the Game Assessment Prep research teamUpdated September 28, 2026How we research

Key takeaways

  • EPSO competitions, CAST contract roles and Blue Book traineeships are separate routes; no shared game battery exists.
  • Graduate AD5 competitions test verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, EU knowledge, digital skills and the EUFTE written assessment.
  • 2026 internal competitions for Commission staff open with a 24-question, 36-minute adaptive reasoning test; the staff association identifies it as SHL Interactive G+.
  • The AD7 and AD5 internal notices set the pass line at the 60th percentile; Blue Book has two application periods a year.

The European Commission hiring process at a glance

  1. 1Identify the route — Start with the competition or vacancy reference, staff category and programme name.
  2. 2Read the application requirements — Save the relevant instructions and organize evidence before submitting.
  3. 3Prepare the appropriate assessment — Use the route-specific guidance below to choose your preparation priorities.Assessment formats Internal competition SHL test EPSO AD5 reasoning practice
  4. 4Follow the selection outcome — Keep track of account messages and any further recruitment instructions.Selection routes Timing

What to expect in the European Commission assessment

No reviewed source establishes one game-based assessment shared by all European Commission applicants. Staff taking the 2026 internal competitions sit a 24-question, 36-minute cognitive reasoning assessment, which the Commission staff association Generation 2004 identifies as SHL Interactive G+. Identify the named test in your invitation before selecting practice.

Practice for this assessmentEPSO AD5 reasoning practice SHL Verify G+ practice

Staff internal competitions: SHL test

Similar format

Multiple sources

The AD7, AD5 and AST3 internal competitions for Commission staff open with an adaptive assessment of numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning: 24 questions in 36 minutes. The AD7 notice names neither the company nor the test. The Commission staff association Generation 2004 identifies it as SHL Interactive G+, and the format matches SHL’s published specification for Verify Interactive G+, which our Verify Interactive G+ practice follows. EPSO’s open competitions use different reasoning tests.

Source: Generation 2004 — New cognitive testing in the AD7 internal competition; EU Training — COM/AD/107/2026

The Commission SHL test Practice SHL Verify G+
Good to know: Game practice is not a substitute for competition-specific preparation. EPSO does not endorse external training services or publications.

Which European Commission roles and programs does this guide cover?

A useful preparation plan begins with the exact opportunity. Copy its reference into your notes and separate mandatory requirements from desirable experience. This prevents time being spent on an assessment that belongs to another route.

This guide distinguishes official process information from suggested exercises. The exercises help you organize practice; they are not leaked questions, predictions of your interview or an official EPSO preparation product.

Permanent officials

EPSO competitions produce reserve lists for EU institutions. Graduate AD5 competitions require no previous professional experience; specialist competitions have different requirements.

Official source

Source: Permanent staff selection

Contract and temporary staff

The Commission also recruits non-permanent staff. Recruiting services use CAST to find and shortlist contract-agent profiles matching their vacancies.

Official source

Source: Apply for temporary jobs

Blue Book traineeships

Initial assessment considers education, language skills and other experience. Supporting documents are checked before successful applicants enter the Virtual Blue Book.

Official source

Source: Blue Book process overview

How does the European Commission assessment work?

Graduate AD5 tests

Official source

The current AD5 guidance lists reasoning, EU knowledge, digital skills and the EUFTE written assessment. Reasoning includes verbal, numerical and abstract questions. Confirm the exact conditions in your competition notice.

Source: Graduates (Administrators – AD5)

Internal competitions start with a cognitive reasoning test

Multiple sources

The Commission’s 2026 internal competitions for staff (AD7 COM/AD/107/2026, AD5 COM/AD/108/2026 and AST3 COM/AST/109/2026) open with an adaptive cognitive reasoning assessment: 24 questions in 36 minutes covering numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning, carried out by an external company with expertise in psychometric tests. The AD7 notice names neither the company nor the test; the Commission staff association Generation 2004 identifies it as SHL Interactive G+. The AD7 and AD5 notices set the pass line at the 60th percentile of the benchmark population.

Source: EU Training — COM/AD/107/2026; Generation 2004 — COM/AD/107/2026 notice analysis, COM/AD/108/2026 and the AD7 SHL Interactive G+ article

What the written task assesses

Official source

EUFTE evaluates written communication using supplied material: logical organization, concision, clarity, audience awareness and effective use of information. It is not presented as a factual-knowledge or language test.

Source: Graduates (Administrators – AD5)

CAST reasoning

Official source

EPSO describes multiple-choice verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests for contract-staff selection. Its sample materials support familiarity with the format.

Source: EPSO testing

Archived assessment-centre advice

Official source

EPSO announced in June 2024 that all competitions under its former assessment-centre model had concluded. Older descriptions of that model should not be treated as a current universal procedure.

Source: EPSO concludes competitions under the former competition model

What happens in the European Commission hiring process?

Permanent competition and recruitment

EPSO selection and an institution’s subsequent recruitment are separate steps.

  1. 1Read the Notice of Competition and apply through the specified candidate portal.
  2. 2Complete the competition tests and eligibility checks.
  3. 3Successful candidates enter a reserve list; institutions can then shortlist and interview for vacancies. Inclusion does not guarantee employment.

Source: Permanent staff selection

Blue Book ADMIN selection

The university-graduate administrative traineeship has its own application rounds.

  1. 1Candidates in the Virtual Blue Book may apply for up to three positions, one in each round.
  2. 2Prepare a general motivation statement and a separate PDF cover letter for each position.
  3. 3Recruiting units may hold an informal interview. Only the official placement offer confirms selection.

Source: Virtual Blue Book: administrative traineeship for university graduates

When is the European Commission assessment?

Maintain separate reminders for application closure, documents, testing and decisions. Copy times and time zones exactly; a programme start date is not an application deadline.

CycleApplication datesLikely assessment windowEvidence
Permanent competitionsCheck the individual competition noticeFollow the testing invitationOfficial source

The competition notice and its webpage are the essential references for the procedure. Do not transfer dates from another competition.

Source: Permanent staff selection

Blue Book sessionsCheck the current session calendarSelection follows preselectionOfficial source

The programme describes two application periods each year, followed by document verification and selection for specific placements. Preselection alone does not secure a traineeship.

Source: Blue Book process overview

How to prepare for the European Commission assessment process

Build a short plan around your weakest relevant skill. After each practice session, record the error, its cause and one change to try next time. Improvement should be visible in your reasoning and explanations, not simply in the number of questions completed.

1. Audit your evidence

Create a checklist linking every eligibility requirement to a document or example. Verify dates, qualification names and language descriptions against your submitted application. If a statement needs explanation, draft that explanation now. Keep the original document and a clearly named copy together so that later requests are easier to answer accurately.

2. Review reasoning mistakes by type

For numerical practice, distinguish calculation errors from misreading the question or chart. For verbal questions, mark the sentence supporting your answer and notice when an option requires an assumption. For abstract problems, describe the rule in words before choosing. Repeat a difficult question untimed until you can explain the method, then work on pace.

3. Practice writing for a real reader

Choose a short public policy document and write a concise briefing for a reader unfamiliar with it. State the issue, summarize the evidence and identify a decision or implication. Revise once for structure and once for unnecessary detail. Keep your own opinions separate from the document’s claims and avoid introducing unsupported facts.

4. Study with a question in mind

When reviewing EU material, ask which institution acts, what problem the procedure addresses and how the decision moves forward. Draw a simple sequence from memory, then check it against the text. This creates an active reading exercise and reveals gaps more clearly than repeatedly highlighting entire paragraphs.

5. Make motivation specific

Connect the position’s work to something you have actually studied or done. Explain the contribution you could make and the capability you want to develop. Replace broad enthusiasm with an example. For a cover letter, remove sentences that could be sent unchanged to an unrelated team and use the space for relevant evidence.

6. Prepare a clear interview example

Select a project involving an uncertain decision or competing priorities. Explain the context briefly, identify your responsibility, describe your action and evaluate the result. Practice a short version and a deeper discussion. Be ready to explain what you would change; thoughtful reflection is more informative than pretending the work had no limitations.

Browse employer guides

European Commission assessment FAQ

Does every applicant take the AD5 tests?

No. AD5 is a particular graduate competition route. Identify whether your opportunity concerns a permanent competition, contract post, temporary vacancy or traineeship before choosing practice.

Which test do Commission internal competitions use?

The 2026 AD7, AD5 and AST3 internal competitions start with an adaptive cognitive reasoning assessment of 24 questions in 36 minutes, covering numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning. The AD7 and AD5 notices require the 60th percentile of the benchmark population to continue. The notices do not name the test; the Commission staff association Generation 2004 identifies it as SHL Interactive G+.

Should Blue Book candidates prepare for EPSO reasoning tests?

The reviewed Blue Book guidance describes application assessment and placement selection, rather than the AD5 test sequence. Prioritize the published requirements and any instructions from your recruiting unit.

Can I use the same motivation for every position?

Create a core account of your interests, then make each position-specific letter concrete. Explain how your evidence fits the work instead of simply changing the team name.

Are these official practice materials?

No. Game Assessment Prep is independent. Use official examples to understand the announced format, and follow the rules in your invitation during any live assessment.

Sources and references

The sources below support this guide. Claim labels distinguish official information, candidate reports, and research inferences.

  1. Graduates (Administrators – AD5)

    EPSO / EU Careers · Accessed

  2. EPSO testing

    EPSO / EU Careers · Accessed

  3. Permanent staff selection

    EPSO / EU Careers · Accessed

  4. Apply for temporary jobs

    European Commission · Accessed

  5. Blue Book process overview

    European Commission · Accessed

  6. Virtual Blue Book: administrative traineeship for university graduates

    European Commission · Accessed

  7. EPSO concludes competitions under the former competition model

    EPSO / EU Careers · Accessed

  8. 2026 COM internal competition AD7: applications open

    EU Training · Accessed

  9. New AD5 internal competition published

    Generation 2004 · Accessed

  10. New cognitive testing in the AD7 internal competition

    Generation 2004 · Accessed

  11. Analysis of internal competition COM/AD/107/2026

    Generation 2004 · Accessed

Game Assessment Prep is independent and is not affiliated with European Commission or its assessment providers. Employer processes can change by program, role, country, and recruiting cycle. Follow your invitation over this guide. This guide was reviewed on . Claims are labeled by evidence strength. How we research and label claims.

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