Dear all,
The summer break is here but it doesn’t mean we can stop, EPSO moves on and so we do, as we cannot choose what kind of surprises we get, so the best thing we can do is to adapt to them. EPSO is committed to make the competitions possible, And after long struggle, there is an end for each competition, read until the end of this article to see what happened to our candidates SPOILER!!! Believe it or not, there is a happy ending for those of you in the EPSO competitions.
Something you should (absolutely) know
Las 22nd December, a modification (addendum) of several competitions was published that included two relevant facts and one reminder :
- Fact 1 : All active competitions will be evaluated online. Including CBT (also you can take this test in the old traditional CBT facility /Prometric center)
- Fact 2 : When they say online, they mean it for all tests (CBT, knowledge test, E-tray, Assessment Centre). Online tests can be done both at EPSO’s test centers or at home (all this possibility should be clearly indicated in the official communications through your candidate profile).
- Reminder : SCBI or Situational Competence Based Interview replaces the group exercise for online testing (not big deal, let us know when you are there, we know it well and our successful candidates too 😉
In case you are skeptical on these facts, allow us to copy some points extracted from the addendums :
- For this competition the computer-based Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) tests will now be organised either remotely or in one of EPSO’s accredited test centres. (from Administrators (AD 5/AD 7) in the field of external relations EPSO/AD/382/20 addendum), despite so, not everybody has taken the CBT yet.
- For this competition the intermediate computer-based Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) Microsoft Office Word skills test will now be organised either remotely or in one of EPSO’s accredited test centres. + For this competition the assessment tests will now be organised either remotely or in one of EPSO’s accredited test centres ( from Secretaries EPSO/AST-SC/10/20 addendum).
- You have new competitions like Administrators in the field of sustainable agriculture and rural development EPSO/AD/389/21 using the online method for the CBT (so far the experience hasn’t been very satisfactory to the candidates).
How is your competition doing among EPSO competitions?
Let’s go competition by competition to clarify it (we’ll follow from highest to lowest EPSO reference number). Please, be aware the following analysis is done based on the information published in EPSO web page and our experience as candidates (yes, we once were where you are now) and trainers.
1.-Administrators in policymaking and law-making in the field of health EPSO/AD/392/21 – 1 food safety EPSO/AD/392/21 – 2 auditing inspection and evaluation in the field of health and food safety EPSO/AD/392/21 – 3
Remember our analysis of this competition (profile 1, profile 2 and profile 3) ? well, not much have changed. In total there has been 1454 split in 710, 465 and 289 application on each profile respectively. So the wise EPSO has decided to go to the eligibility check (CV screening) and then to the Talent evaluation. It will take a while so we expect the assessment by the beginning of 2022. When the moment for the assessment comes, If you think we can help you with our trainings, you can check our next sessions or subscribe for the next ones.
2.-Experts in technical support to Member States’ Structural Reforms EPSO/AD/391/21 – 1
Experts in the Schengen acquis EPSO/AD/391/21 – 2
Well, finally the expert in Structural reforms were far more than expected and the CBT has been called upfront and literally while we were writting this, EPSO decided to inform on the dates. the 4th August opens the booking period. CBT exams will take place from 2nd to 10th September. After that, for those of you with the highest marks. Let’s say around 450 , 1 out 4 of the candidates who applied for Structural reform support and around 250 for Schengen acquis, 1 out of 1,5 (not bad, eh??) will go the eligibility check (CV screening) and then to the Talent evaluation, After it, the highest mark in the talent, around 135 for structural reform and 75 for Schengen, will be invited to the assessment (end 2021 or most likely beginning of 2022) . If you think we can help you with our trainings, you can check our next sessions or subscribe for the next ones.
3.-Administrators in the field of Chemicals Policy EPSO/AD/390/21
Do you remember our analysis of this competition ? well, it has advanced!!! the eligibility checks is done and it moves to the Talent Screener. 518 lucky candidates will be checked thoroughly to evaluate their merits, of which, only the 135with the highest marks in the talent will go to the assessment. It will take a while so we expect the assessment by the end of 2021 or beginning of 2022. And when the moment to prepare the assessment comes, and you think we can help you, check our next training sessions or subscribe for the next ones.
4.-Nuclear inspectors number: EPSO/AST/149/21
This competition is a good example of the evaluation procedure. Applications closed in April, 440 brave candidates presented their application. Around 80 didn’t fulfil the eligibility criteria, so 359 went to the talent, of which 118 are invited now to the assessment that will take place in Autumn. So, it’s time to prepare it! Second half of September will take place the case study (our article on it), then October-November are expected the Competence based interview, field related interview and situational competence interview. If you are interested in our trainings, you can check our next sessions or subscribe for the next ones.
5.-Administrators in the field of sustainable agriculture and rural development EPSO/AD/389/21 – AD6
So the CBT is done (according to EPSO last date was 26th July) and let’s hope everybody got its opportunity to take the CBT. Assuming this, results should be ready by September. Then, those successful candidates with the highest marks will jump into CV screening (approx. the first 550 by ranking in marks) and afterwards Talent Screener evaluation from which , a selected group of 165 candidates will be invited to the assessment. Most probably by end of this year to take the assessment beginning of 2022.
6.-Administrators in the field of external relations EPSO/AD/382/20 (AD5 and AD7)

We know all of you (to be precise the 11498 of you) who applied for this competition and almost of all you who took already the CBT, are anxious to get the results, but you will have to wait until the end of the summer break to get them. There may be a few of you that because of the pandemics didn’t have the opportunity to take the test, without them ,the next phase ( eligibility test and talent screener) can’t be launched. The good news are that phase looks closer and results are announce for mid-September. Wait patiently (no other option is possible) and you will be rewarded (finger crossed for all of you)
7.-Administrators in the field of European Law EPSO/AD/381/20

Yes, many of you took the CBT when you were supposed to do so, that is, from end November until mid-December (green square). But still, many (hundreds or even thousands) candidates couldn’t due to Covid-restrictions. In December 2020, EPSO committed itself to give them an opportunity and there it goes (red square). The negative effect of this is that you won’t get your CBT results until all candidates has passed the exam (EPSO said in its 15 December announcement) well…That has been done!!!! We are now facing the EU LAW test (here some free resources and books suggestions) in September, with the linguistic comprehension test. If you think we can help you with the EU LAW test, join our next training, aimed to help you to study during the tempting summer break. .
8.-Administrators in international cooperation and managing aid to non-EU countries EPSO/AD/380/19 – AD7 and AD7
Your memory is right, this competition opened in December 2019 and the CBT was done couple of months later but, as international cooperation projects, nobody said it would be easy or short. Right after the end of the CBT, the lockdown began and this competition went frozen. Now, seems it’s getting warm again but not too much. Case study was announced for January but finally it will take place after the summer break??? (we’ll see, it’s been 3 times since the pushed it back) and the Assessment continues, now with the Competence based interview. The end of it is foreseen by end of October (we really hope so, courage!!)
In the meantime, dear candidates, keep your stamina and resilience up. If you need some help with the case study or with the pending assessment test, check here.
9.-Secretaries EPSO/AST-SC/10/20 – SC 1 and SC2
Well, many have asked about this competition and when the second test (the one about Word-MS Office skills) could take place. Apparently not yet. Still quite a few candidates haven’t taken their CBT test, so a new window is open to book and do the CBT. This opportunity comes with a cost, you won’t get your CBT results until all candidates has passed the exam (EPSO already said in its 15 December announcement). Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel and the intermediate test (Word test) has been announce for September. We are preparing some trainings for it, If you think we can help you with the WORD office 2016 test, inscribe/show your interest in our next training, aimed to help you the moment you will invited to it. .
And the good news are?

There is light at the end of the tunnel!! In the last months we got the results of three competitions, namely Specialists in legal research-Lawyers-EPSO/AD/365/19, to EPSO/AD/370/19, Administrators in the field of Audit EPSO/AD/372/19 – AD 5 and AD 7, and graduate Administrators (AD5 Generalist) EPSO/AD/373/19 AD5. Two dozens of former-candidates, now laurates, to join the reserve lists and become officers in the European Institutions. Despite the challenges, the long waiting periods, the uncertainty and the new SCBI. 24 people (our «croqUEtillas» as we fondly nicknamed them) are now in the reserve list. They did their best and we helped them to perform at the maximum level, now this effort has its reward. In YaSemosEuropeos (YSE) we’ll remain at your service to help you with the EPSO challenge and sooner or later, to celebrate your success.
In these challenging times, it’s time to take care of your beloved ones and of yourself, but also there is an opportunity to start (or keep) your next steps on the EPSO competitions. Sooner or later everything will come back to normality, those who took advantage of this time will have better chances of succeeding.