To get through Part 1 of the AD5 competition you need 10 out of 20 in verbal reasoning and 10 out of 20 across numerical and abstract reasoning together. Passing is only half of it: your verbal score is carried into the ranking, where it is worth 40% of the preliminary score and 35% of the final one. Here is how it all fits together.
The two pass marks
| Test | Scored out of | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | 20 | 10 |
| Numerical reasoning | 10 | 10, for numerical and abstract together |
| Abstract reasoning | 10 | Shared with numerical |
The second pass mark is shared, so a weaker score in one test can be made up in the other. Three out of ten in numerical with seven in abstract passes, and so does six with four. Nine in numerical with nothing in abstract falls one mark short.
There is no limit on how many candidates pass Part 1: everyone who reaches both pass marks is invited to Part 2. Candidates who do not sit or complete all three tests have none of their Part 1 answers marked.
Why verbal is the score that counts
| Ranking | Verbal reasoning | EU knowledge | Digital skills | Essay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | 40% | 30% | 30% | Not included |
| Final | 35% | 25% | 25% | 15% |
After Part 2, EPSO ranks candidates on a preliminary combined score. Only those at the top, in principle no more than 1.5 times the 1,490 places (about 2,235 people, more if scores tie), have their essay marked and their eligibility checked. The final ranking then decides the 1,490 names on the reserve list.
So your verbal score from November makes up 40% of the score that decides whether your essay is read at all. With about 117 applicants per place, a bare pass in verbal leaves a great deal to make up in Part 2.
Wrong answers
The notice scores each reasoning test from zero up to its number of questions and mentions no deduction for wrong answers. Never leave a question blank: when time is short, choose your best option and move on.
When you get your results
EPSO scores the reasoning tests after Part 1 and tells candidates their results. It made that change in June 2026; the original notice held all results until the end of the competition. EPSO has not published a date, and has not said whether candidates will see their marks for each test or only whether they passed.
If you think a question was faulty
You can ask for a multiple-choice question to be reviewed within 3 calendar days of your test. If the selection board agrees it was faulty, it can cancel the question for everyone and share its points among the remaining questions. The marks themselves cannot be reviewed.
What this means for your preparation
- Numerical and abstract: aim for a comfortable margin over 10 out of 20 combined, then stop polishing.
- Verbal: every mark counts twice, once to pass and again in the ranking. It deserves most of your hours.
- Answer every question, in every test.
After each of our mocks, the results page shows your marks against both pass marks, with verbal flagged as the score that ranks. For the test itself, start with the verbal reasoning guide.
Free
Try a free practice test
A full-length Part 1, 40 questions in 65 minutes on three clocks, with your marks and a worked answer for every question at the end. No card needed.
Questions
What is the pass mark for EPSO AD5 Part 1?
10 out of 20 in verbal reasoning, and 10 out of 20 for numerical and abstract reasoning combined.
How much does the verbal score count in the AD5 ranking?
40% of the preliminary combined score and 35% of the final combined score, the largest single weight in both.
Is there negative marking in the EPSO reasoning tests?
The notice scores each test as a number of points from zero up and mentions no deduction for wrong answers, so answer every question.
How many AD5 candidates pass Part 1?
EPSO has published no figure or estimate. There is no cap: everyone who reaches both pass marks goes on to Part 2.
Sources
Every fact about the competition in this guide comes from these pages. Check them for changes before you rely on a date.