Book contents

Administrators (AD) Edition 2025

Key features

  • Updated guidance on the 2025 format of EPSO competitions
  • Strategies, methodologies, shortcuts and typical mistakes
  • Comprehensive verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests
  • Detailed explanations of answers
  • EU knowledge test with 200 questions
  • Succeeding with field-related MCQs
  • The EPSO written test plus sample test
  • Now including Interviews and other oral tests

Who is this book for?
The Administrators 2025 edition is designed for candidates in EPSO AD- level open competitions. It includes test types also found in CAST selections and internal competitions.

What does it include?

Chapter 1. EU Administrator selection competitions
Who the EU Administrators are and how they are selected; what the 2025 format EPSO competitions involve; online testing; language rules; choosing your competition; CAST selections and internal competitions; tips to succeed.

Chapter 2. Succeeding in Verbal Reasoning Tests
How to take these tests – the hazards to avoid and the skills and techniques you need.

Chapter 3. Verbal Reasoning Test
100 AD-level practice questions, with explanations showing which answer options are wrong, and why.

Chapter 4. Succeeding in Numerical Reasoning Tests
The essential mathematical operations you need to master and the mistakes you need to avoid, with worked examples.

Chapter 5. Numerical Reasoning Warm-Up Exercise
“Warm-up” exercise of 45 selected questions designed to explain order of magnitude, per capita/percentage calculations, speed, time and distance, equations, ratios and estimating.

Chapter 6. Numerical Reasoning Test
120 mixed-type questions, with detailed answers showing all the calculations required from start to finish, the commonly made errors and the shortcuts you can take.

Chapter 7. Succeeding in Abstract Reasoning Tests
Many are confused by abstract reasoning tests – this chapter shows how such tests are designed, the essential operations and key rules to master.

Chapter 8. Abstract Reasoning Test
50 questions with step-by-step solutions. The focus is on systematic elimination of incorrect answers to improve your accuracy and speed when working under pressure.

Chapter 9. Succeeding in Field- Related MCQs
Multiple-choice questions in the field of the competition are a standard feature in specialist competitions. The chapter explains how to prepare for questions designed to probe your professional knowledge and how it might be applied in the EU administration.

Chapter 10. EU Knowledge Test
EU knowledge testing is back as a way of assessing candidates’ commitment to working for the EU and understanding of its institutions, procedures and policies. The chapter has a 200-question test.

Chapter 11. Digital Literacy Tests
This is a new type of test which could occur in some AD competitions. We look at what it is likely to involve.

Chapter 11. The EPSO Written Test
The written test has since 2024 replaced the case study. This is a test of your ability to communicate in writing. The chapter explains what the examiners are assessing and how best you can prepare.

Chapter 13. Sample Written Test
Practice is vital in preparing for the written test. The chapter shows how to systematically construct an effective written test answer.

Chapter 14. Interviews and other Oral Tests
To actually get a job, all candidates face interviews, and possibly other oral tests, by the recruiting institutions. This chapter tackles this final hurdle − what to expect, the mistakes to avoid, and the key messages you need to get across.

Administrators (AD) Edition 2025

Assistants (AST) Edition 2024

Who is this book for?
Candidates for all EPSO AST and AST-SC exams as well as equivalent-level CAST exams.

What does it include?

  • Step by step guide to the new format of EPSO competitions introduced in 2023 and revised in 2024.
  • Methodologies, shortcuts, mistakes to avoid and practice exercises for the reasoning tests, the stage where the majority of candidates are eliminated.
  • New test types: EU Knowledge and the Written Test
  • 500 practice test questions
  • All practice questions are designed for Assistant level and have full answer explanations so you can learn from your mistakes and improve your speed and accuracy.

Chapter 1. EU Assistants Selection Competitions
Who the Assistants are and how EPSO selects them since the major changes made in 2023/24: test types, chances of succeeding by competition, language rules, remotely proctored tests, competency framework and end of Assessment Centres, reserve list and recruitment. PLUS, contract agent (CAST) selections and internal competitions.

Chapter 2. Succeeding in Verbal Reasoning Tests
How to take these tests – the hazards to avoid and the skills and techniques you need.

Chapter 3. Verbal Reasoning Tests
150 AST-level practice questions, with explanations showing which answer options are wrong, and why.

Chapter 4. Succeeding in Numerical Reasoning Tests
The essential mathematical operations you need to master, and the mistakes you need to avoid.

Chapter 5. Numerical Reasoning Warm-Up Exercise
45 questions where you are given the answers straight away, designed to strengthen skills in order of magnitude, per capita/percentage calculations, speed, time and distance, equations, ratios and estimating.

Chapter 6. Numerical Reasoning Test
120 AST-level practice questions with detailed answers showing all the calculations required from start to finish, the commonly made errors and the shortcuts you can take.

Chapter 7. Succeeding in Abstract Reasoning Tests
Many are confused by abstract reasoning tests – this chapter shows how such tests are designed, the essential operations and key rules to master.

Chapter 8. Abstract Reasoning Warm-Up Exercise
Step by step guide to solving 25 individual worked examples. The focus is on systematic elimination of incorrect answers to improve your accuracy and speed when working under pressure.

Chapter 9. Abstract Reasoning Test
110 AST-level practice questions, testing typical series, with answers explaining the rules applied so you can work backwards to see where you went wrong.

Chapter 10. EU Knowledge Test
Explanation of this new test type for AST generalists, with 50 practice questions

Chapter 11. The Written Test
This test, in its revised 2024 format, can be expected in all AST competitions to assess the written communication competency. The chapter explains what exactly is being tested and what the examiners will be looking for.

Chapter 12. Prioritising and Organising Test
69 questions testing your ability to choose the correct or the best option in realistic office scenarios where competing priorities, budgets, people resources and schedules are involved.

Assistants (AST) Edition 2024

Assessment Centre 2021

The EPSO Assessment Centre has been abolished and this book is no longer in print. However, the book’s coverage of competencies, and the exercises that EPSO used to assess them, can still be accessed in an ebook at:
The Ultimate EU Test Book Assessment Centre 2021 - John Harper Publishing.

Assessment Centre 2021

EU Career Development Book 2.0

Published January 2022

Please note: This book is based on the EPSO competency framework in use until 2023. Some changes have since been made, although most of the essential aspects are unaffected.

Who is this book for? All EU staff, whether permanent, temporary or contract, stagiaires, assistants and anyone planning an EU career.

What does it include? The competencies – or “soft skills” –sought by the EU institutions, what they are, and how to improve your own performance for career success.

Coach, trainer and former EU official Jan De Sutter draws on the best ideas and practice in current management thinking and applies them to the specific context of EU institutions, explaining how the various competencies fit into the EU system for staff selection, appraisal and promotion. Individual chapters explain what each competency is about, and its related “behavioural anchors”, moving on to insights and practical tips for self-improvement.

  • The central importance of competencies to your EU career
  • Understanding your strengths and weaknesses and how to self-improve
  • Individual chapters on Analysis and Problem Solving, Communicating, Delivering Quality and Results, Learning and Development, Prioritising and Organising, Resilience, Working with Others, and Leadership
  • Free online self-assessment app enables you to create your personal competency passport and priorities for action, with 360-degree feedback also possible
  • New features on special challenges in today’s EU administration, including effective digital communication, working from home, and cultural diversity

Chapter 1. Working for the EU
The many types of jobs in the EU administration, trends in recruitment and career prospects.

Chapter 2. Know Yourself to Understand Others
Personality types, different types of intelligence, and motivation.

Chapter 3. Analysis and Problem Solving
Systematic approaches to problem solving, teamwork, different types of thinking, implementation.

Chapter 4. Communicating
Oral communication, speaking in public; written communication, how to create good messages and documents; techniques for engaging your audience.

Chapter 5. Delivering Quality and Results
Defining quality; time and performance management, meeting and exceeding expectations.

Chapter 6. Learning and Development
Hard skills and soft skills, types of learning, learning and development in the EU context.

Chapter 7. Prioritising and Organising
Managing time, projects, critical paths, multitasking, planning tools.

Chapter 8. Resilience
Adapting to change, coping with stress, operating outside your comfort zone.

Chapter 9. Working with Others
Group dynamics, combing different personality types, handling meetings, being assertive.

Chapter 10. Leadership
Leaders versus managers, different leadership styles and theories, motivating others, delegating, receiving feedback.

Chapter 11. Digital persuasion Learn how to communicate effectively in the digital era – from emails to digital presentations and meetings, and how to set up a home office

Chapter12. Teleworking Meeting the special challenges of remote working and how to apply and demonstrate your competencies when working from home.

Chapter 13. United in Diversity? The EU administration faces increasing challenges around diversity issues. Be aware of your mental programming and understand how to work with and benefit from diversity

ANNEXES

Annex 1 Competencies, Anchors and Indicators

Annex 2. Glossary

Annex 3. Bibliography

EU Career Development Book 2.0