What is the pass mark in the EPSO verbal reasoning test?

10 out of 20, in AD5, in the AD7, AD8 and AST3 specialist competitions and in CAST Permanent.

Are the numerical and abstract reasoning tests passed separately?

No. They share one combined pass mark: 10 out of the 20 questions between the two tests.

What is the pass mark in the EPSO EU knowledge test?

15 out of 30 in AD5, and also 15 out of 30 in the Commission internal competitions, where the test has 30 questions in 30 minutes.

What is the pass mark in the field test?

15 out of 30. On top of that, only the best-ranked candidates go on: the field test is what ranks candidates in the specialist competitions.

Does EPSO publish cut-off scores?

No. It publishes reserve lists with names; each candidate sees their own scores in their EPSO account.

Guide · Updated September 15, 2026

EPSO pass marks 2026: every test in every competition

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In short

In 2026 every EPSO reasoning test has the same pass marks: 10/20 in verbal reasoning and 10/20 in numerical and abstract reasoning combined. Each competition then adds its own tests: 15/30 in EU knowledge and 20/40 in digital skills in AD5, 15/30 in the field test of the specialist competitions, and 5/10 in the EUFTE essay. EPSO no longer publishes cut-off scores. This page lists the official pass marks and how each score is used, taken from the notices of competition.

Key facts

Verbal reasoning: 10/20 in every competition
Numerical and abstract reasoning: 10/20 between the two, in every competition
EU knowledge (AD5): 15/30
Digital skills (AD5): 20/40
Field test (specialists): 15/30, and it ranks candidates
EUFTE essay: 5/10
Cut-off scores: Not published by EPSO

What are the pass marks of each test?

Test	Questions and time	AD5	AD7, AD8 and AST3 specialists	CAST Permanent
Verbal reasoning	20 in 35 min	10/20; 40% of the preliminary score	10/20; pass or fail	10/20; pass or fail
Numerical reasoning	10 in 20 min	10/20 combined with abstract; pass or fail	10/20 combined with abstract; pass or fail	10/20 combined with abstract; pass or fail
Abstract reasoning	10 in 10 min	10/20 combined with numerical; pass or fail	10/20 combined with numerical; pass or fail	10/20 combined with numerical; pass or fail
EU knowledge	30 in 40 min	15/30; 30% of the preliminary score	Not used	Not used
Digital skills	40 in 30 min	20/40; 30% of the preliminary score	Not used	Not used
Field test	30 in 40 min	Not used	15/30; ranks candidates	Not used
EUFTE essay	40 min	5/10; 15% of the final score	5/10; pass or fail	Not used

In AD5, the final score weighs verbal reasoning 35%, EU knowledge 25%, digital skills 25% and the essay 15%.

And in the Commission internal competitions?

The 2026 internal competitions (COM/AD/107/2026, COM/AD/108/2026 and COM/AST/109/2026) follow their own scale:

Stage	Format	Pass mark
G+ reasoning test	24 questions in 36 min	60th percentile of a reference group; a gate only
EU knowledge	30 questions in 30 min	15/30; the best 2.5 times the places have their written test marked
Written test	90 min	30/50
Oral	Presentation and interview	25/50

See the guide to the internal competitions and the guide to the G+ test.

Which notices are these figures from?

AD5 administrators: EPSO/AD/427/26, Official Journal C/2026/711.
AD7 in ICT: EPSO/AD/429/26, Official Journal C/2026/2425. See the guide.
AD8 in AI and cybersecurity: EPSO/AD/430/26, Official Journal C/2026/4668. See the guides to AI and cybersecurity.
AST3 specialists: EPSO/AST/157/25, Official Journal C/2025/3565. See the guide.
CAST Permanent: the call for expressions of interest, reader-friendly version of 13 March 2026. See the guide.
Commission internal competitions: the 2026 notices, published on the Commission intranet.

Each notice is the only binding reference for its competition. Check yours: a future notice can change any figure.

Why does EPSO not publish cut-off scores?

The pages with the minimum score per profile belong to competitions from 2010 to 2015. Today EPSO publishes reserve lists with names, and each candidate sees their own scores in their EPSO account.

A pass mark and a cut-off are different things. The pass mark is fixed in the notice and tells you whether you stay in the competition. Where you end up depends on the ranking: in AD5 a weighted score, and in the specialist competitions the field test. See how EPSO scores its tests.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass mark in the EPSO verbal reasoning test?: 10 out of 20, in AD5, in the AD7, AD8 and AST3 specialist competitions and in CAST Permanent.
Are the numerical and abstract reasoning tests passed separately?: No. They share one combined pass mark: 10 out of the 20 questions between the two tests.
What is the pass mark in the EPSO EU knowledge test?: 15 out of 30 in AD5, and also 15 out of 30 in the Commission internal competitions, where the test has 30 questions in 30 minutes.
What is the pass mark in the field test?: 15 out of 30. On top of that, only the best-ranked candidates go on: the field test is what ranks candidates in the specialist competitions.
Does EPSO publish cut-off scores?: No. It publishes reserve lists with names; each candidate sees their own scores in their EPSO account.

Sources

Notice of open competition EPSO/AD/427/26, Administrators (AD5) · Official Journal of the EU, C/2026/711
Notice of open competition EPSO/AD/429/26, Administrators (AD 7) · Official Journal of the EU, C/2026/2425
Notice of open competition EPSO/AD/430/26 – Administrators (AD 8): artificial intelligence; cybersecurity · Official Journal of the EU, C/2026/4668 · September 8, 2026
Notice of open competition EPSO/AST/157/25, Assistants (AST 3) · Official Journal of the EU, C/2025/3565
Call for expression of interest CAST Permanent · EPSO · April 2023
Notices of internal competition COM/AD/107/2026, COM/AD/108/2026 and COM/AST/109/2026 · European Commission · Commission intranet, not public