EPSO publishes a free sample reasoning test in all 24 EU languages, on the same platform as the real test. Take it: nothing else shows you EPSO’s own screen. It is built to familiarise you with the platform, and EPSO says plainly that its samples are not training material. Here is what it shows, and what it leaves out.
Side by side
| EPSO’s free sample | AD5 Part 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 20: 10 verbal, 5 numerical, 5 abstract | 40: 20 verbal, 10 numerical, 10 abstract |
| Clocks | One 30-minute clock for everything | Three: 35, 20 and 10 minutes, one per test |
| Moving between questions | Freely across all 20 | Freely within each test; a submitted test is closed |
| Supervision | None: anonymous, no login | Proctorio records camera, microphone and screen |
| Language | All 24 | Your language 1 |
What the sample is good for
- Seeing EPSO’s own screen, tools and question styles before the day.
- Getting used to the platform in your own browser.
- A first, rough diagnostic of where you stand.
What it cannot teach you
- The real pacing. On one shared clock you can borrow time from abstract to finish verbal. In Part 1 each test has its own clock, and preparation providers report that time left over in one test is not added to the next.
- Stamina. Part 1 is 40 questions and 65 minutes of testing, twice the sample, plus the checks before it.
- Volume. The sample is one fixed set of 20 questions, so once you have taken it you have seen them all.
Details we noticed on the sample
When we worked through EPSO’s sample in October 2026, a few things stood out that are easy to miss on the day:
- The clock is small, and gives no warning before it reaches zero.
- A question counts as answered in the overview only once you move off it.
- Clicking a chosen answer again clears it.
- The buttons and labels stay in English in every language version.
- In numerical questions the table is a picture shown slightly reduced, so its print is small.
- On a laptop screen 768 pixels high, the last abstract options sit below the fold, so you have to scroll.
More on the platform’s rules, and what ends a session, is in the TAO platform guide.
Where full practice fits
Once you have taken the sample, what it cannot give you is more questions on the real clocks. That is what our mocks are for: six full Part 1 tests, each with 20 verbal, 10 numerical and 10 abstract questions on 35, 20 and 10-minute clocks, on a screen built to behave like the sample, with a worked answer for every question. Our free test is one full-length Part 1, so you can feel the difference from the sample for yourself. To plan the weeks, see our three-week plan.
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
Where is the EPSO AD5 sample test?
On EPSO’s website, on the sample tests page for the graduates competition, in all 24 EU languages. It runs on the same platform as the real test and needs no login.
How long is the EPSO sample test?
20 questions (10 verbal, 5 numerical, 5 abstract) on one 30-minute clock. AD5 Part 1 is 40 questions on three clocks, 65 minutes in all.
Are the sample questions the same in every language?
Mostly. The numerical and abstract questions are the same in every language version. Some of the verbal passages differ from one language version to another.
Sources
Every fact about the competition in this guide comes from these pages. Check them for changes before you rely on a date.