How to prepare for EPSO AD5 Part 1 in three weeks

Invitation letters land on 19 October and Part 1 runs from 9 to 13 November 2026, so most candidates have about three weeks. That is enough to make a real difference to your verbal score and to make the combined numerical and abstract pass mark safe, if the time goes to the right things. Here is a plan, week by week.

Where to put the hours

Verbal reasoning is the only score carried into the ranking, so it gets the largest share. Numerical and abstract only need to clear 10 out of 20 between them, so they get enough practice to be comfortable. For most people a sensible split is about half your time on verbal, a quarter on numerical and a quarter on abstract and full mocks, adjusted once your diagnostic shows your weak spots. The reasons are in how Part 1 is scored.

Week 1, from 19 October: diagnose, and learn the formats

• Day 1: read your invitation letter in full. Take a timed diagnostic: EPSO’s free sample on its own platform, or our free test, a full-length Part 1 on the real clocks.
• Days 2 to 4: find your exact date and time on the testing platform, then do the prerequisite test on the computer, network and room you will use on the day. It can be done only once.
• Days 2 to 7: learn the formats untimed. Verbal: the nine traps in the verbal reasoning guide. Numerical: the calculations and mistakes in the numerical guide. Abstract: the rule families in the abstract guide.
• Every day: 30 to 45 minutes of verbal reasoning, reviewing every option you rejected.

Week 2: timed practice on the real clocks

• Sit each test on its own clock: 20 verbal questions in 35 minutes, 10 numerical in 20, 10 abstract in 10.
• Use on-screen tools only: an on-screen calculator with a dot for decimals, and no paper.
• Log every mistake by type: which trap, which calculation slip, which rule you missed. By the end of the week your two or three habits will be obvious.
• Sit two full mocks this week, all three tests back to back, at the time of day of your real session.

Week 3: full mocks, and the screen

• Two or three more full mocks, at your session time, in the room you will use.
• Practise the screen as much as the questions: bookmarks, the overview, answer elimination, the calculator.
• Set pacing checkpoints and rehearse them, for example question 10 of verbal by about 17 minutes.
• Keep the daily verbal practice going, in shorter sessions with careful review.

The last two days

• No new material. One short, easy set to stay warm.
• Check your ID, your computer’s updates, the charger and the connection, and clear the desk.
• Read the instructions in your letter once more.
• On the day: log in before your start time, with the charger already plugged in and every other program closed. The rules are in our TAO platform guide.

If you have less than three weeks

Keep three things and drop the rest: one timed diagnostic, daily verbal practice with full review, and at least one full timed mock on three clocks. Do the prerequisite test whatever happens.