Dear all,

2025 is almost done and it leaves lots of memories, lessons learnt and the sour and sweet taste given by the EPSO Competitions. Let us begin with that, with the fact that you can pass EPSO competitions and with our help, chances increase dramatically ;-). And beyond that, there some other issues we want to address in this summary of the year. Let’s begin! [Versión en español aquí]

1. 2025, how did our candidates perform?
2. Will 2026 be the year of AD5 graduates (a.k.a Generalists AD5)?
3. What are the lessons learnt from the competitions?
4. What trainings do you recomend to me for 2026?
   1. For specialists
   2. Graduates AD5 / Generalists
   3. What about internal competitions? 
5. Some video-examples of our analysis and free materials for competitions
6. What else can YSE do for me in 2026?
7. Conclusion

2025, how did our candidates perform?

We know it took long, many competitions were ongoing since 2023 and 2024, but at the end, the year 2025 has proven to be fruitful and to pay off your efforts, and we are very happy to have helped you to do so. When we started, we helped a few candidates and we could count their numbers with our hands (we still remember how 5 out of our 5 candidates passed the auditors competition (EPSO/AD/372/19)). Today, at the end of 2025, if we count only the competitions Transport EPSO/AD/410/23, Crisis & Migration EPSO/AD/403/23, Economist EPSO/AD/402/23, Assistants EPSO/AST/156/24, and Internal Competitions of the European Commission (for AD5, AD6, AST and AST/SC), we have helped more than 200 of you to pass competitions and put their names in the reserve list (and more than 300 if we count all competitions).

Fun facts? The number includes some candidates who have passed 2 or 3 competitions. In the transport competition, out of nearly 4000 candidates, only 2.5% studied with us but, at the end, among the laureates in the reserve list, 15% had participated in our trainings. Or in Assistants 156/24 competition, where 60% of our candidates joined the reserve lists. In the internal competitions, we have helped 1 out of 6 candidates who have passed. And while we write these lines, we wait for the final numbers in the Scientific research administrators (AD 7)  EPSO/AD/413/24 competition, where our candidates aced the Field Related Short Test Questionaire (FRSTQ). 2026 will begin with the right foot.

So, yes, for us each candidate is unique and his or her story, background and skills deserve attention, that’s why we can bring numbers (we know the names too but GDPR rules apply ;-)) and also commit in the long term with our candidates. In 2026, we’ll keep working with you so your effort pays off and you become officers of the European Institutions. Are we the best trainers? Don’t ask us, ask our candidates, they are our best ambassadors and those who can give you first-hand advice.

Will 2026 be the year of AD5 graduates (a.k.a Generalists AD5)?

We know, it was 2023 when AD5 graduates (popularly known as Generalists because it only requires a university degree to apply, no experience or specialisation is needed) was announced by EPSO after a break of 4 years (since the 2019 Generalists competition). Since then, tests have been conducted in two platforms (Prometric, Testwe) with a bunch of technical problems and challenges, leaving many candidates dreaming to go back to physical exams.

Now, we are in 2025 (almost 2026), and EPSO has announced the publication of the notice of competition for Generalists for mid-February and another platform is coming (TAO). It only remains to keep our fingers crossed and wish good luck to see it working well. At this moment, we remain optimistic it will be so but only time will tell.

What are the lessons learnt from the competitions?

We have already integrated the latest lessons learnt into our methodology. For you right now, three key points:

• Pay attention to the application procedure. The new portal for candidates has made things easier but you still have to keep alert. Before submitting your application, you can edit as much as you want but, once done, check always it has been properly confirmed and submitted, don’t leave it open. Also pay attention to the information you provide (e.g. make sure you explain your work experience well! (our latest example)), as EPSO has tightened the eligibility criteria and checks them thoroughly.
• Overconfidence kills. We know the MCQ in the field is usually the key part as it’s score counts and it’s the single field related test BUT it’s important you pass the Reasoning and the Written parts too. Even if you only need to reach a passing threshold (5 out of 10 for instance) it doesn’t mean you don’t have to prepare it carefully. We need to keep a balance in our preparation for the different tests.
• Never surrender. We know you have busy lives, it’s difficult to find time to study however, remember what we always say: It’s quality time and not quantity what you need to prepare, a few good hours can do miracles for passing a competition (we have seen it in our candidates), even if think that you began late (exception – starting the night before the exam doesn’t work). Also, until the end, when you get the letter with the results, you still have a chance if you were considered by EPSO as NOT eligible. In several competitions, the eligibility check was the part where we lost most candidates, not the exams. Of course, we have to be honest and check if we match in the eligibility criteria and if so, we can help you to appeal as we did with several candidates, adding their names to the reserve list.

What trainings do you recomend to me for 2026?

As said before, we have learnt our lessons and during the year, we have improved our formulas and methodology to be more effective in assisting you for the competitions and keep the good results as high as 2025, if not higher. So among other trainings (all of them available here) we have:

For specialists

• Building and project management study group, you are still in time to join this one! Although it started in November, all sessions so far have been recorded and we have added an extra session in January plus the pre-exam analysis. Also you have plenty of tests available to practice (MCQ, Reasoning, Written test).
• Data Management and Data Intelligence, if you have registered for the EPSO/AD/426/25 (AD7) competition, you will certainly be interested in our study group. 

Graduates AD5 / Generalists

• Reasoning tests (self study training) – perfect for all competitions. Do you need some help with the verbal reasoning? or numerical? abstract reasoning is not your cup of tea? No problem, this training will help you. It includes the theory for each type of tests, together with dozens of exercises for practice, all in EPSO style and with a certain level of difficulty to guarantee they day of the exam there are no surprises.
• EUFTE – Written test for EPSO competitions (self study training) – Introduction and theory video providing insights and strategies to address the written test. With 5 YSE-original essay exercises for practice with a dedicated analysis and examples on how to tackle them. (Explanation are in English, reference texts for the exercises available in the 24 official languages) and a dedicated workshop to analyse the text proposed by EPSO for 2025 AD6 Graduates competition exam (live online).
• MCQ test on EU knowledge (self-study online training in English) – this is to prepare for the MCQ test on EU knowledge in the EPSO AD5 Generalist competition 2026. The course consists of + 1200 questions for the MCQ test on knowledge on the EU and its institutions (Each MCQ question contains feedback), Explanatory videos (hours of content) on each EU political priority,  YSE Study Guides on knowledge on the EU and its institutions, YSE-compilation of study materials. Continuous update  with the latest developments.
• Digital skills – ready for the new test that EPSO will introduce? Introductory video and references for study, Over 200 MCQ questions (distributed in 5 online tests) each MCQ question contains feedback-further information. Video and materials all in English.
• Study group for AD5 graduates – Are you interested in joining a study group for Reasoning + EU Knowledge + Digital + Written test (EUFTE)) with online Q&A sessions? Write to yasemoseuropeos@gmail.com to show your interest.

What about internal competitions? 

• In January, we will come back on this with pleasant news for all you. We will open a study group for European Commission competitions (AD7, AD6 and AD5 and AST), stay tuned and follow us on our Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
• If you are interested in the study group for internal Council competitions, please contact us at yasemoseuropeos@gmail.com

Remember, all these trainings are designed to help you to work/study/practice. They don’t do miracles and do things by themselves, they also need your effort to give results

Some video-examples of our analysis and free materials for competitions

If you are a YSE regular, you know this, otherwise, if you missed them , now it’s your opportunity to catch up with our webinar from 2025

• YSE – Webinar Architects and project manager
• YSE webinar for Communication AST157/25 – 3 fields: 1.- Communication 2.- Media 3.- Webmaster
• YSE webinar EEAS – internal competition (it contains an analysis of the EPSO sources to study the MCQ on EU knowledge)
• YSE webinar for lawyer linguist EPSO/AD/423/25 2025
• YSE – Webinar – Generalists AD5 (2025) -ENGLISH edition – the adventure begins
• YSE – Webinar – Generalistas AD5 (2025) – comienza la aventura

What else can YSE do for me in 2026?

The answer is simple: Many things!!! In 2026 we plan to bring novelties to our platforms, among others:

• Improved Job vacancies repository and weekly bulletin of vacancies (it will be available in our Telegram and WhatsApp channels and linkedin)
• More videos in our Youtube channel. Including YSE alumni and of course, our analysis of each new competition and more.
• New ASK ME ANYTHING sessions. After the success of the 1st edition, in January we’ll organise a new one, stay tuned.
• Updated free resources space in our new blog. Yes, we are moving to our new web yasemoseuropeos.eu and we’ll say goodbye to this one (still will be accessible for the first half of 2026).
• Bring new faces to the YSE team and revamp the Whatsapp groups. Because we aim to do more for you, we bring reinforcements to be sure we deliver the extra mile you deserve.
• Trainings, webinars and more about the new competitions announced by EPSO (current announcements on the picture).

Conclusion

Big thanks from the whole team for your trust and support. We are proud of all you and your effort. We are very happy to see your results and honored knowing we help you to get there. 2025 could be considered a transition year, but things started to move and it ends as a successful one with the new hope of having back the AD5 graduates competition back as well as many others. For 2026, we look forward to keeping helping you in your dreams and efforts to work in the European Institutions.