The European Commission’s 2026 internal competition for AD5 Administrators is a broad generalist competition with 100 places on the reserve list.
This free EU Training webcast recording helps candidates understand the main points of the Notice of Competition, including eligibility, the new cognitive reasoning assessment, the EU Knowledge MCQ, the written test and the oral test.
The session was presented by András Baneth, EU Training co-founder, former EU official and author of The Ultimate EU Handbook.
The official source of information is always the Notice of Competition. This page is intended to help candidates understand the process and organise their preparation.
What this webcast covers
- Key points from the COM/AD5/108/2026 Notice of Competition
- Who can apply and what to check before the application deadline
- Language rules
- The new cognitive assessment
- EU Knowledge MCQ: topics, scoring and preparation priorities
- Written test: format, timing and what skills are assessed
- Oral test: oral presentation and structured interview
- Useful official and EU Training preparation resources
- Candidate questions from the live session
Competition overview
- Competition number: COM/AD5/108/2026
- Grade: AD5
- Profile: Administrators / generalist
- Reserve list: 100 successful candidates
- Application deadline: 30 June 2026 at 12:00 noon, Brussels time
The competition is open to eligible Commission staff who meet the general and specific admission criteria by the application deadline.
Typical AD5 administrator duties may include policy analysis, drafting reports and briefings, supporting decision-making with data, working on Commission policies and programmes, representing or negotiating on behalf of the Commission, drafting legal documents, working on EU legislation, managing resources and coordinating teams.
Selection stages
According to the Notice of Competition, the selection procedure includes:
- First eligibility checks, including the cognitive reasoning assessment
- EU Knowledge MCQ
- Written test
- Final eligibility checks
- Oral test
- Reserve list
Cognitive assessment
The cognitive assessment is a new and important step in this competition.
According to the NoC, it is an adaptive computer-based assessment carried out by an external company with psychometric expertise. It measures general cognitive ability through numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning.
Format:
- 24 questions
- 36 minutes
- Taken in Language 2: English, French or German
- Result expressed as a percentile rank against a benchmark population
- Candidates must reach at least the 60th percentile to remain eligible
Candidate feedback from the Cognitive Assessment held on 11 June for the AD7 internal competition suggests that candidates should not treat this as a classic EPSO reasoning test. The format may include interactive questions and may feel very different from older EPSO-style verbal, numerical or abstract reasoning tests.
The safest preparation approach is to use the official practice material on the SHL website for now - as recommended by the Commission, and to become familiar with the interactive format as much as possible.
EU Training will have practice questions and a webinar about the Cognitive Assessment available soon - watch this space!
EU Knowledge MCQ
The EU Knowledge MCQ is taken in Language 2.
Format:
- 30 questions
- 30 minutes
- Pass mark: 15/30
The written test is only assessed for candidates who pass the EU Knowledge MCQ and are among the highest scorers, up to 2.5 times the number of successful candidates sought.
Written test
The written test is also taken in Language 2.
Format:
- 90 minutes
- Pass mark: 30/50
- Drafting task, for example a briefing, letter or note
- Based on a set of documents
The written test assesses:
- critical thinking, analysis and creativity in problem-solving
- written communication
Oral test
The oral test is taken in Language 2 and lasts a maximum of 60 minutes.
It consists of:
- a short oral presentation on a subject linked to EU institutions, policies and procedures, followed by Q&A
- a structured interview
The pass mark is 25/50.
Useful preparation resources
Official sources
Start with the official Notice of Competition and the Commission’s Staff Centre competition page. Candidates should always follow the official instructions in the NoC, Staff Centre updates, the Single Candidate Portal and their test invitations.
Recommended official preparation sources include:
- the official Notice of Competition
- Commission Staff Centre competition page
- official EU institution, agency and body websites
- EU treaties and EUR-Lex
- Commission priorities and policy pages
- EU institutional and procedural information published by official EU sources
- practice tests on the SHL website
EU Training resources
COM Internal Competitions prep packages
Preparation packages for this competition, including EU Knowledge practice and written test preparation options, which you can buy as single questions, or together in a discounted package.
EU Knowledge study resources
Free articles and study materials to help candidates revise EU institutions, policies and procedures.
EU Policy Briefings
Concise policy briefings to help candidates revise major EU policy areas and Commission priorities.
- A structured course covering EU history, institutions, decision-making and policy areas.
- Available on Spotify too
Oral Test webinar recording
Prepare for oral presentations, Q&A and structured interviews in EU competitions.
Personal coaching
One-to-one coaching for candidates who want targeted feedback on their preparation.
COM Internal Competitions Facebook group
Join the dedicated community for updates, discussion and candidate feedback.
FAQ
Is Language 1 used for the tests?
No. In this competition, the tests are taken in Language 2. Language 1 is used for eligibility and for defining the candidate’s language combination.
Can Language 1 be any official EU language?
Yes. Language 1 can be any of the 24 official EU languages, provided the candidate has C1-level knowledge.
What can Language 2 be?
Language 2 must be English, French or German. It must be different from the candidate’s Language 1 / first language as recorded in Sysper, unless a language-change request is accepted.
What if my Sysper Language 1 is different from the Language 1 I want to use for this competition?
The NoC says candidates whose main or first language is missing or incorrect in Sysper, or who want another C1 language to be considered as Language 1 for this competition, must submit a language-change request via the Single Candidate Portal and provide supporting evidence.
The Secretariat will inform candidates before the cognitive assessment invitation whether the request has been accepted or refused.
Is the cognitive assessment taken in Language 1 or Language 2?
It is taken in Language 2, the language of the competition.
Are contract agents eligible only after 36 full months of service?
For contract agents only, the NoC requires at least 36 full months of service at the Commission. These 36 months do not have to be consecutive and may be as an official, temporary agent, contract agent, or a combination of these statuses.
Contract agents must also meet the other eligibility conditions in Section II.2.1 of the NoC.
Is there a percentage limit for contract agents on the final reserve list?
The NoC does not state a percentage limit for contract agents on the final reserve list.
It does refer to Article 82(7) CEOS in the legal basis of the competition, but the NoC itself does not set a contract-agent quota for the reserve list.
At what stage is eligibility checked?
There are two main eligibility-check stages.
The first eligibility checks include the cognitive reasoning assessment, nationality, status/service rules and language rules.
The final eligibility check concerns qualifications and takes place after the EU Knowledge MCQ and written test stage. Candidates found eligible at this stage are then invited to the Oral Test.
What supporting documents must be uploaded with the application?
The NoC specifically mentions documents proving the required qualifications: diplomas, Commission certification, or equivalent professional training.
If a candidate requests a language change, supporting language documents may also be needed.
For status and Commission service/seniority, the NoC says checks are based on the application and Sysper data. Candidates should still upload all documents requested in the application form before the deadline.
Can I apply if I am not yet eligible, just to try the cognitive assessment?
The NoC says candidates must meet all general and specific admission criteria by the application deadline. It does not describe a “trial” option for candidates who are not eligible.
What happens if I reopen my application after submitting it?
The NoC says that if an application is reopened after submission, it must be resubmitted before the deadline. Otherwise, the application will be automatically cancelled and will no longer be available in the application tool.
Does the NoC explain exactly how the adaptive cognitive assessment is scored?
No. The NoC says the cognitive assessment is adaptive and that the result is expressed as a percentile rank against a benchmark population. It does not explain the detailed scoring algorithm.
Does adaptive testing mean that stronger candidates get harder questions?
In an adaptive test, candidates may receive questions of different difficulty depending on performance. The NoC does not explain the exact algorithm, so we cannot say precisely how each question is selected or weighted.
The important point is that the NoC does not say candidates are compared simply by counting correct answers. The result is expressed as a percentile rank.
Can the cognitive assessment be taken on a smartphone?
It is not recommended to do so, it is much easier to navigate the test on a laptop or PC. A mouse is also recommended, a touchpad may not be the best option for some of the question types based on feedback from candidates. Candidates should always follow the technical instructions in the official invitation and test platform guidance.
Will the EU Knowledge MCQ and written test happen on the same day?
Yes. The NoC states that the EU Knowledge MCQ and written test will take place online on the same day.
Will the written test documents be available before the exam?
The NoC says the written test will be based on a set of documents. It does not say that the documents will be provided in advance. In the past the documents were provided at the exam along with the assingment.
What kind of written test task can be expected?
The NoC gives examples such as a briefing, letter or note. The exact task will be provided in the test instructions.
Do the oral presentation and interview happen together?
The NoC presents them as parts of one oral test, with a maximum duration of 60 minutes and one pass mark. The practical running order will be explained in the invitation.