The EPSO Digital Skills Test is one of the newer parts of the current selection process, and many candidates are still trying to work out how best to prepare for it. The good news is that the basics are already clear enough to build a sensible study plan.
What is the EPSO Digital Skills Test?
As EU Training has noted in earlier articles, the Digital Skills Test was introduced in 2023 as part of the updated selection process, but has not yet been used in practice - to be really clear: this is the very first time it will be used as a selection test in an EPSO competition.
The Digital Skills Test is new, but the essentials are not vague.
According to the AD5 Notice of Competition, the Digital Skills Test is a multiple-choice test aimed at assessing candidates’ digital literacy, meaning their ability to understand and use digital technologies for various tasks and purposes, in line with DigComp. It is taken in Language 2, contains 40 questions, lasts 30 minutes, is scored out of 40, and has a pass mark of 20/40.
The test also carries real weight in the competition. It counts for 30% of the preliminary combined score and 25% of the final combined score.
Which areas does the Digital Skills test cover?
EPSO says the Digital Skills Test may include questions from five areas:
- Information and data literacy
- Communication and collaboration
- Digital content creation
- Safety
- Problem solving
These are the same five competence areas used in DigComp 2.2, which is the framework EPSO cites in the Notice of Competition. DigComp presents them as the core structure for understanding citizens’ digital competence.
In practical terms, these digital literacy areas cover the following information:
- Information and data literacy: Finding, assessing, organising and using digital information and data.
- Communication and collaboration: Using digital tools to communicate, share information and work with others.
- Digital content creation: Creating and editing digital content, understanding file formats, and having basic awareness of copyright and licensing.
- Safety: Protecting devices, privacy, personal data and using digital tools safely.
- Problem solving: Handling simple digital issues, choosing suitable tools and solving practical digital tasks.
How to prepare for the EPSO Digital Skills Test
The preparation logic is fairly simple.
Start with the official material:
- The Notice of Competition gives you the legal and practical framework for the test,
- While DigComp 2.2 gives you the best official overview of the knowledge areas behind it.
Then prepare by topic:
- Work through the five official DigComp areas
- Make sure you are comfortable with common digital concepts, basic workplace technology use, file types, online communication, privacy, safety and straightforward digital problem-solving.
The format also points in a certain direction:
- Forty questions in thirty minutes suggests a test made up of relatively short, direct items rather than long or highly technical ones.
- That makes familiarity and speed especially important.
- Candidates are likely to benefit more from knowing the DigComp areas well and practising under time pressure than from studying specialist IT material.
A practical way to prepare:
- Combine topic-based revision with timed practice.
If you want a structured overview:
- The EPSO AD5 Tests Workshop includes a section on Digital Skills with an EPSO-style simulation under a strict time limit.
- This is a useful way to get familiar with both the content and the pace of the test.
Final thoughts
There is still not a huge amount of official material on the EPSO Digital Skills Test, but there is enough to start preparing properly:
- Know the format.
- Know the five areas.
- Use DigComp 2.2 as your reference point.
- Take a look at the sample questions on EPSO's website.
- Practise under time pressure.
That is likely to be far more useful than overcomplicating the test or treating it like a specialist IT exam.
EPSO Digital Skills FAQ
What is the EPSO Digital Skills Test? It is a multiple-choice test that assesses candidates’ digital literacy in line with DigComp. For the 2026 EPSO AD5 Graduates competition, it is taken in Language 2 and consists of 40 questions in 30 minutes.
What is the pass mark? The pass mark is 20 out of 40.
Does the Digital Skills Test count towards ranking? Yes. It counts for 30% of the preliminary combined score and 25% of the final combined score.
What topics does it cover? EPSO lists five areas: Information and data literacy, Communication and collaboration, Digital content creation, Safety, and Problem solving.
How should I prepare? The safest approach is to use the Notice of Competition and DigComp 2.2 as your base, revise by the five official areas, and practise answering short digital-literacy questions under time pressure.
- Digital skills practice questions can be purchased individually or as part of the EPSO AD5 prep package.