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Part 2 · Language 2

EPSO AD5 EU Knowledge test: syllabus and source strategy

The EU Knowledge test contains 30 questions in 40 minutes, has a 15/30 pass mark and contributes to both preliminary and final ranking.

30 questions40 minutes15/30 pass mark28 Discovery questions

Organise knowledge around institutions and action

Build a connected map rather than isolated trivia: institutional roles, decision-making procedures, legal instruments, policy objectives, budget and major stages of European integration. Distinguish who proposes, decides, implements and reviews.

  • Institutions, bodies and their competences.
  • Ordinary and special legislative procedures.
  • Primary law, secondary law and judicial review.
  • Policies, budget and current official priorities.

Use primary sources as the source of truth

Prefer EUR-Lex, Europa, institutional websites and the official competition notice. Secondary summaries can help orientation, but verify dates, competences and legal claims against a current official page.

  • Record the source and review date.
  • Separate stable treaty rules from changing office-holders or programmes.
  • Revise by contrasts: Commission versus Council, regulation versus directive, euro area versus EU.

Convert reading into retrieval

After each topic, close the source and produce a short answer from memory. Then use questions to expose gaps. Because EU Knowledge carries 30% of preliminary ranking and 25% of final ranking, combine breadth with repeated recall.

  • Discovery Access includes 28 EU Knowledge questions.
  • The full programme expands topic coverage and review workflows.
  • Premium mock cycles test the complete timed sequence.
Questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Which language is used for EU Knowledge?

EU Knowledge is taken in Language 2, different from Language 1 and known at minimum B2 level.

Does EU Knowledge affect ranking?

Yes. It contributes 30% at the preliminary ranking stage and 25% at the final ranking stage under the published notice.

Where should I verify facts?

Use current primary sources such as EPSO, EUR-Lex and official EU institution pages. AD5 Elite links to verified resources but is not an official EU service.

Checked against primary sources

Verify current instructions before acting

AD5 Elite is independent. Your EPSO account, invitation and the current official notice always take precedence for dates, eligibility and test operations.

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