If an EU body has shortlisted you through CAST Permanent, EPSO’s always-open selection for contract staff, you will sit the same reasoning block as the AD5 graduates: 20 verbal questions in 35 minutes, 10 numerical in 20 and 10 abstract in 10. For CAST it is a pass or fail gate. The invitation comes at short notice, so it pays to be ready before it arrives.
The CAST reasoning tests
| Test | Questions | Minutes | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | 20 | 35 | 10 out of 20 |
| Numerical reasoning | 10 | 20 | 10 out of 20 for numerical and abstract together |
| Abstract reasoning | 10 | 10 | Shared with numerical |
The tests are multiple choice and are sat in your language 1. Invitations and results reach you in your language 2, through your EPSO account.
How CAST differs from AD5
- Pass or fail only. Your reasoning score is not ranked: clearing both pass marks is what matters.
- You are invited by an employer. You sit the tests only once a recruiting service shortlists you, and the invitation can come about a week before the test.
- A different platform. EPSO runs CAST on TestWe, a different platform from the TAO platform used for open competitions, so the screen and tools look different even though the questions follow the same format.
- A pass lasts. It is valid for ten years for the same and lower function groups, across all profiles. A fail means you cannot be invited again for the same or a higher function group for four months.
Session dates
EPSO’s contract staff page lists CAST testing sessions on 19 November 2026, 20 January 2027 and 31 March 2027. Sessions in 2026 came roughly every six to ten weeks, and EPSO cancelled one in March 2026 while the platform was being updated, so check EPSO’s page for the latest dates.
How to prepare when the invitation could come any week
- Learn the formats before you are invited. A week is enough to sharpen your skills and too little to learn three test formats from scratch.
- Aim for a safe margin over both pass marks. A top score earns nothing extra in CAST.
- Practise numerical and abstract together, since they share one pass mark.
- Use our guides to verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning: the question formats are the same.
Our mocks follow the open-competition format on a screen built to behave like EPSO’s TAO sample. The questions and the clocks match CAST, while the screen around them will look different on TestWe. The 90-day pass suits candidates waiting for an invitation.
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 reasoning tests are in CAST Permanent?
Verbal reasoning (20 questions, 35 minutes), numerical reasoning (10 questions, 20 minutes) and abstract reasoning (10 questions, 10 minutes), multiple choice, in your language 1.
What is the CAST pass mark?
10 out of 20 in verbal reasoning and 10 out of 20 for numerical and abstract combined. The tests are pass or fail.
How long is a CAST pass valid?
Ten years, for the same and lower function groups across all CAST profiles.
When are the next CAST tests?
EPSO lists sessions on 19 November 2026, 20 January 2027 and 31 March 2027. Check EPSO’s contract staff page, as dates can move.
Sources
Every fact about the competition in this guide comes from these pages. Check them for changes before you rely on a date.