Guide ·
EPSO AST3 specialist competitions: how they work
In short
EPSO’s AST3 specialist competitions recruit assistants in a specific field. Eligibility rests on post-secondary or secondary education plus professional experience, not on a university degree. The tests are those of the AD specialist competitions: verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, a 30-question field test and a 40-minute essay, all remote. Only the field test ranks candidates; reasoning and essay are pass or fail. The example of EPSO/AST/157/25 had 435 places in graphic design, social media and web.
Key facts
- Grade
- AST3, assistants: executive and technical tasks under supervision
- Eligibility (EPSO/AST/157/25)
- Post-secondary diploma of 2 years or more and 3 years of experience, or secondary diploma and 6 years of experience
- Tests
- Reasoning · field test, 30 questions in 40 min · essay (EUFTE), 40 min
- Pass marks
- Verbal 10/20 · numerical and abstract 10/20 · field test 15/30 · essay 5/10
- What ranks you
- The field test only
- Languages
- Language 1 for reasoning; language 2 for the field test and the essay
- Example
- EPSO/AST/157/25: 435 places in graphic design (159), social media (150) and web (126)
What is an AST3 specialist competition?
An open competition to build reserve lists of assistants (function group AST) at grade AST3, in one or more specific fields. Assistants carry out executive and technical tasks: in the words of the notices, within established guidelines and procedures and under the supervision of their line managers and of AD officials.
Each notice sets its fields, the number of places in each, the eligibility conditions and the typical duties in its Annex II. The tests and the way they are scored follow the same model as the AD specialist competitions.
Who is eligible?
Unlike the AD competitions, a university degree is not required. In EPSO/AST/157/25, for example, a candidate needed one of these:
- Post-secondary studies of at least two years, with a diploma in an area related to the field, followed by at least three years of relevant professional experience.
- Secondary education giving access to post-secondary studies, followed by at least six years of relevant professional experience.
The experience counts if it falls in the areas each field lists: for graphic design, for example, working with Adobe Creative Cloud, designing print and digital products, branding, accessibility and data visualisation. You also need two EU languages, one at C1 and another at B2. Each notice sets its own conditions: read yours in full.
What are the tests?
All tests are remote and supervised, on the dates in the invitation.
| Test | Language | Questions and time | Pass mark | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | Language 1 | 20 in 35 min | 10/20 | Pass or fail |
| Numerical reasoning | Language 1 | 10 in 20 min | 10/20 combined with abstract | Pass or fail |
| Abstract reasoning | Language 1 | 10 in 10 min | 10/20 combined with numerical | Pass or fail |
| Field test | Language 2 | 30 in 40 min | 15/30 | Ranks candidates |
| EUFTE essay | Language 2 | One assignment, 40 min | 5/10 | Pass or fail |
There is no EU knowledge test and no digital skills test: those belong to the AD5 generalist competition. See the guide to the reasoning tests and the guide to the EUFTE.
How is the reserve list decided?
Table 6 of the notice says what each score is for: the reasoning tests and the essay only have to be passed, and the scores of the field test "will be used to create a ranking".
The order is the same as in the AD specialist competitions: reasoning is marked first, then the field test for those who passed; the best-ranked candidates in the field test have their essay marked and their eligibility checked; and those who pass both go onto the reserve list in ranking order. See how EPSO scores its tests.
What did EPSO/AST/157/25 cover?
Published on 25 June 2025 (Official Journal C/2025/3565), with applications until 29 July 2025. Three communication fields:
| Field | Places | Typical duties |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic design and visual content production | 159 | Graphic design from concept to completion, accessibility, data visualisation, visual identity, Adobe Creative Cloud |
| Social media and digital communication | 150 | Content planning, organic and paid campaigns, community management, social listening and performance measurement |
| Webmaster | 126 | Web and intranet content, multilingual and accessible pages, search engine optimisation, web analytics, content-management systems |
It shows how specific AST3 fields are: the field test measures the everyday work of the job, not general knowledge.
How is AST3 different from an AD competition?
| AST3 specialists | AD specialists (AD7, AD8) | AD5 generalists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Assistants: executive and technical | Administrators: policy, analysis, management | Administrators, entry level |
| Education | Post-secondary or secondary, plus experience | University degree, plus experience | University degree |
| Knowledge tests | Field test | Field test | EU knowledge and digital skills |
| What ranks you | Field test | Field test | Verbal, EU knowledge, digital skills |
How to prepare
- Pass reasoning with a margin. It is the first filter, and for candidates who have been working for years it is often the least practised part.
- Put most of your time into the field test, duty by duty from Annex II, in your language 2.
- Prepare the essay from the EU documentation EPSO publishes before the test: it is marked on written communication.
- Gather the proof of your experience early, matched to the areas the notice lists: it is checked after the tests.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a university degree for an AST3 competition?
- No. In EPSO/AST/157/25 a post-secondary diploma of at least two years plus three years of experience, or secondary education plus six years of experience, was enough.
- Is there an EU knowledge test in AST3 competitions?
- No. The AST3 specialist competitions use a field test instead. EU knowledge and digital skills belong to the AD5 generalist competition.
- Does the reasoning score count in the ranking?
- No. The reasoning tests and the essay are pass or fail. Candidates are ranked by the field test.
- How many places did EPSO/AST/157/25 have?
- 435: 159 in graphic design and visual content production, 150 in social media and digital communication and 126 for webmasters.
- In which language are the tests?
- Reasoning in your language 1; the field test and the essay in your language 2, a different EU language at B2 level or above.
Sources
- Notice of open competition EPSO/AST/157/25, Assistants (AST 3) · Official Journal of the EU, C/2025/3565
- Specialists (Administrators – AD6 to AD9): tests · EPSO
- EPSO testing: sample tests · EPSO