EPSO practice / Numerical reasoning

EPSO numerical reasoning practice

Answer questions on tables and charts: percentages, ratios, shares, conversions and projections. The AD5 test has 10 questions in 20 minutes.

Updated

Electric cars registered, 2020

Electric cars registered (thousand)

  • 2020
Show data table
Electric cars registered, 2020 — exact values (Electric cars registered (thousand))
Category2020
Belgium773
Czechia671
Estonia776
Greece485
Slovenia840

Illustrative figures for practice.

In 2020, what was the ratio of electric car registrations in Estonia to electric car registrations in Greece?

Choose an answer
Select A–E, then check your answer.

The format

EPSO’s sample numerical question gives a data table and five answer options, A to E, where E can be “None of the above”. The AD5 numerical test has 10 questions in 20 minutes, about 2 minutes per question. Its score is added to your abstract reasoning score, and together they need at least 10 out of 20.

Sources: notice of competition EPSO/AD/427/26 and EPSO’s sample mock test.

How to approach each question

Find the exact figures first

Note the row, column, year and unit you need before calculating. Many errors come from reading the wrong year or country.

Check the units

Watch for millions and billions, thousands, percentages and percentage points. Convert before you compare.

Estimate before you calculate

A quick estimate often rules out two or three options and protects you from a slip on the calculator.

Know the common formulas

Percentage change is (new − old) ÷ old × 100. A share is part ÷ total × 100. Growth at the same rate each year compounds.

Common traps in wrong answers

  • Dividing by the new value instead of the starting value.
  • Confusing a change in percentage points with a percentage change.
  • Subtracting prices in different currencies before converting them.
  • Using the total for the wrong year.

Practice numerical reasoning

Ready for all three tests together? Take full Part 1 practice. Read the EPSO study guide for pacing and strategy.

Common questions

How many questions are in the EPSO numerical reasoning test?

For the AD5 2026 competition, 10 questions in 20 minutes, scored 0 to 10. There is no separate pass score: numerical and abstract reasoning together need at least 10 out of 20.

Does the numerical score count toward the ranking?

No. Numerical and abstract reasoning are pass or fail only. Verbal reasoning is the reasoning test that counts toward the ranking.

What kind of math is involved?

Data interpretation: percentages, percentage change, ratios, averages, shares of a total, unit and currency conversion and simple projections. Our numerical questions are designed to be solved with a basic calculator.

Original independent preparation. Not affiliated with or endorsed by EPSO or any EU institution.