The AD5 competition, explained
How the graduate administrators competition is structured, and which score actually decides your place
Two parts, sat in separate sessions
AD5 graduate administrators is the generalist entry competition for the EU institutions, and the one that attracts by far the largest field. The whole procedure is run remotely under online proctoring. There is no assessment centre, no case study, no group exercise and no interview.
It is split into two parts held in separate sessions, with an eliminatory cut between them. Part 1 is the reasoning tests, in your language 1. Only candidates who clear Part 1 are invited to Part 2, which is in your language 2.
Part 1: the reasoning tests
Three tests, in your language 1, and the part this site practises in full.
| Test | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Counts for ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | 20 | 35 min | 10/20 | Yes |
| Numerical reasoning | 10 | 20 min | 10/20 combined | No |
| Abstract reasoning | 10 | 10 min | 10/20 combined | No |
Verbal reasoning is the score that moves you up the list
This is the part of AD5 worth understanding properly. Numerical and abstract are a gate: you need 10 out of 20 between them and then the marks are never used again. Verbal reasoning is a gate as well, but its mark is also carried forward as a ranked component and is weighted more heavily than anything else in the competition.
In a competition where tens of thousands of candidates are chasing a reserve list of a few hundred, the difference between clearing verbal at 11 and clearing it at 17 is not the difference between passing and passing. It is a large part of where you finish.
The practical conclusion is uncomfortable but simple. If your preparation time is limited, verbal reasoning is where it should go, and numerical and abstract only need enough work to stop them from ending your competition.
Part 2: knowledge, digital skills and the essay
Part 2 is sat in your language 2 and is where the rest of the ranking is decided.
| Test | Format | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU knowledge | 30 questions | 40 min | 15/30 |
| Digital competence | 40 questions | 30 min | 20/40 |
| Free-text essay on EU matters | 1 essay | 40 min | 5/10 |
What this site does not cover
Laureo practises the three reasoning tests. That is Part 1 in full, and none of Part 2.
There is no EU knowledge material here, no digital competence practice and nothing for the essay. Those are a real share of the AD5 ranking and you will need another source for them. We would rather say so plainly than let a candidate work through Part 1 here and assume the rest was covered.
What is here is unlimited, free, and scored the way the real Part 1 is scored: both gates, the real timings, and no daily cap.
AD5 questions, answered
- What do I need to score to get through Part 1?
- At least 10 out of 20 in verbal reasoning, and at least 10 out of 20 across numerical and abstract combined. Both gates have to be cleared independently. A high verbal mark does not compensate for a failed combined score.
- Are numerical and abstract really not ranked?
- They are pass or fail only. You must clear the combined gate to go through to Part 2, but the mark itself does not feed the preliminary or the final ranking. Verbal reasoning does.
- What language do I sit the reasoning tests in?
- Language 1, the language you declared at C1 in your application. Part 2 is sat in language 2. Practise verbal reasoning in the language you will actually be tested in.
- Is the AD5 reasoning test harder than the CAST one?
- Same formats, same question counts, same timings and the same two gates. EPSO calibrates difficulty to the grade, so AD5 items sit at the harder end of the range. You can set your target exam in settings here and the practice will serve you the matching difficulty band.
- Is there an assessment centre or an interview?
- No. The 2026 competition model is entirely remote computer-based testing across the two sessions. There is no assessment centre, case study, group exercise, oral presentation or competency-based interview.
- Does practising reasoning tests actually help?
- For the timed formats, yes, and specifically because the constraint is pacing rather than difficulty. Most candidates who fail verbal reasoning do not fail because a passage was too hard, they fail because they spent five minutes on question three. Practice is how the clock stops being the thing you are fighting.
Test counts, timings, pass marks and weightings are taken from the notice of competition and from reporting on it, checked in September 2026. If you have been invited to sit, your invitation and the notice itself are the authoritative source and they override anything on this page.