The sheer number of comments at the main post ‘So I Won’t Be A Commission Official‘ has been causing problems, so all the old comments are here instead, and hence searchable.
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Oral tests day tips…
I am having the oral tests (interview, more exactly) in mis September of AST41 (ICT), could any experienced one give us any idea of how it goes? or is there anything to prepare apart from your own CV?
I suppose some kind of institutions questions would arise… What about dressing?
Thanks in advance.
First days at the Commission
What is expected of me on my first days at the Commission? I expect some training, forms filling…
After accepting the offer made by admin A4 and deciding on my entry date, do they respect this date? do I get a convocation of some sort?
@ slvo
Thanks!
50 d (I’m sure)
24 b (I think, but not sure at all)
7, 25, 41 I didn’t find the correct answer too
Are you sure for numbers 29, 39, 42? (I didn’t find them). Anyway, I’m in a similar situation as you… 24/47, if this are the correct answers.
Good luck!
@ RIS
why wouldn’t the Treaty be ratified? They’ll just find another name 🙂
28 a, I could accept this as the best available but it says “, it provide practical assistance, when problems araise…
Why only “when problems araise�
Well I took that very literally; when problems arise, they provide assistance, but that doesn’t exclude providing assistance in other circumstances…
Took the test in English too, my feeling is you have to take the literal meaning as much as possible
Anyway, good luck too!
@slvo
Neutralized questions are counted as correct? I thought the value of the remaining questions would increase and neutralize = eliminated from the test total?
@ francesca_l
I will post answers that i believe are correct:
1b,2c,3a,4d,5b,6a,7(?),8c,9c,10d,11d,12a,13d,14c,15a,
16c,17d,18c,19c,20b,21a,22a,23d,24(?),25(?),26a,27b,
28d,29c,30d,31a,32d,33a,34c,35a,36d,37c,38c,39c,40b,41(?), 42d,43c,44a,45d,46c,47b,48b,49b,50(?)
There are 5 questions for which I didn’t find the correct answer. I am very curious for the answers since I think I have till now 22/45 correct answers.
Just have in mind that EPSO will neutralize some questions in order to avoid any problems with Ombudsman.
Answers that are not clearly stated anywhere and they are vague will be neutralized and we will get them as correct.
@sam, if you mean MCQ11 – the “Solana question”, yes you are right.
I have missed this one. But as the Lisbon treaty won’t be retified, I have an excuse… 🙂
Agree with 55d, but will have to assume that the 5% concerns the year 2005.
28 a, I could accept this as the best available but it says “, it provide practical assistance, when problems araise…
Why only “when problems araise”?
46 C – agree
41 – I don’t know: c or d
I took the test in English. Maybe in other languages this looks clearer?
Good luck!!!
I haven’t done RELEX 2008, but I was looking for somebody who could send me the EU and the V&N parts so I could excercise a bit for another competition. Please, help me!
Thanks in advance.
sunflowerfv
@
libero.it
Hi,
I did already this V&N for AST/xx/08 few days ago. There were some exactly the same text in verbal part as for AD5 Audit. The level was the same (maybe pass mark will be lower? – but this does not make sence, as you need to be “on top” in any case…). I usually start from numerical, as this part is easier for me. Its better, I think, to start from the part which is easier and not to loose the time on what is more difficult… Its my strategy…
@ RIS & slvo,
Thx for posting your answers; in the main, I concur – just a few notes
EU
9: c, at least according to my MCQ; 9b is how things are today
V&N
28: a
41: d
46: c
55: d
sam
@slvo
Hi! Here my answers for RELEX 2008 – Group III Test Comp – Operational Officer. Could we compare, please?
1-a
2-c
3-a
4-c
5-b
6-a
7-a?
8-c
9-c
10-d
11-d
12-a
13-d
14-c
15-a
16-c
17-d
18-c
19-c
20-b
21-a
22-a
23-d
24-b
25 ?
26-a
27-b
28-d
29?
30-d
31-a
32-d
33-a
34-c
35-a
36-d
37-c
38 ?
39 ?
40-b
41 ?
42 ?
43-c
44-a
45-d
46-c
47-b
48-b
49-b
50-d
Thanks!
Bets Startegy for V&N
Hello
I am going to pass the AST/53/08 and wondering whta would be the best strategy for the V&N? For a some reasons I am less confident with the numerical than the verbal so I usually start my exams with the numerical and then go to the verbal. Is there canidates doing the same (or not?)
Thanks for your input.
@etni
Thanks again. It explains something.
Cheers!
@etni
I found the link you posted earlier.
Yes, you are right, frustrating. :((
Regards
here it is again (I still can’t believe they put this note on a public website):
Call for Expression – EPSO CALL 2008 for contract agent posts in the EC Delegations
I would like to inform you that a new Call for expression of interest for the RELEX/External Service is now open on the EPSO Internet site.
Candidates can apply until 25.4.2008 at 12h:00 Brussels time.
Tests will take place on 18.7.2008. The tests will be held in the 27 member states of the European Union. Candidates are requested to choose the test centre of their choice at the time of application.
Can you please inform all contract agents in your delegation concerning this opportunity, which is especially important for contract agents who have not been successful in the test in 2007.
This year, there is no test for the secretary profile. Jobholders could try an EPSO test in Function Group III or IV, if the eligibility criteria can be respected.
http://www.delguy.ec.europa.eu/en/Call%20for%20Proposal/EPSOCall2008.htm
@etni
Anyways, yes, passing is no guarantee, but being on the list is a starting point.
I also should have got 55 percent, I hope. My passing will depend on V&N. Harder to verify. Some verbal seem obvious, some less…
Could you please send me this link to the delegation which put this info?
Thanks.
Yes, learning-wise it was a good experience. I may even have answered 28 questions correctly (55% required). But I know there are people in the delegations who passed this test last year, wanted to change the profile/position and are still on the reserve list. Some pages back I put a link to one delegation which published an internal Commission’s note urging contract agents who have not been successful in Cast Relex 27 to try and pass it this time. It’s kind of clear for whom this test was… So no, I won’t get excited even if I pass.
@etni
For sure they should double check it.
In V&N there some questions with which I have problems even at home when time is unlimited! E.g. Q54. Did you check it?
You mentioned earlier that you wondered if it was worth the effort. I think it was! I spent good week on studying the EU development and external relations issues and think it was very useful to learn. MDGs of the UN, Cotonou etc. are really basic things and good to learn. For the knowledge sake it was very good. Of course making practical use of the positive result of the test (if it will be positive, but we have to be a little patient with this) is the driving force. Let’s hope things go well!
What is not clear to me is the aim of the whole testing. There were so many successful people from CAST 2007. Have they all found the job? Do they really need more people this year? What are the chances? Do you know anything about that?
Cheers!
@ damawand
you are right about 39 – there are indeed two conventions, one international and one european. they seem to have made the same mistake as i did :). we should complain to epso i presume so that this question is neutralized?
@etni
Question 39
The Convention that the test ask about is European Convention and not UN Convention that you found on the site of Univ. of Minnesota (also the title is slightly different).
I have 14c and 36a.
Question 20 is still unclear to me. I do not understand what kind of payments they are.
Cheers!
@damawand
sorry, I should have been more clear -20% of all dev. aid commitments – I don’t know how they differ from actual payments in 2006
I’m not sure about 41a, but I thought it is the most likely answer from this description http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/index.html
Q39: i found this: Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, G.A. Res. 2391, U.N. GAOR, 23d Sess., Supp. No. 18, at 40, U.N. Doc. A/7218 (1968), entered into force Nov. 11, 1970.http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/auox.htm
Hope Uni of Minnesota got it right! if they are right, then I wasn’t 🙁
Do you know if correct answers for 36 and 14 is c and how about 14? also c?
Haven’t checked my numerical yet; and no, I’m not in a del either. Still keep wondering whether this was worth the time and effort.
@etni
Thanks a lot for this quote about INCB (question 42). I had also been checking this website earlier, but not carefully enough. Now I opended my eyes wider and see that it is like you say – a copypaste of the functions listed there.
Regarding question 20, you say:
20% was for all budget support, that is including sector and general budget support.
But sorry, let me ask – 20% of what? This is really not clear to me. And finally what should be the answer to this question?
Are you sure about 41a? I found the Convention in the web, but I did not go through it in detail. I will try to do it. Does it really provide the definitions?
And one more really strange thing is question 39 which also talks about Convention (a different one than question 41). I checked carefully that the Convention entered into force in 2003 and the answer options that the test gives are different (1946, 1970, 1995 and 2000). Do you agree that it was 2003 and that it is not given as an option?
And what about Verbal-numerical. Did you do well on it? The answers are harder to be verified…
No, I am not in del. What about you?
Cheers!
@damawand
p.s. 20% was for all budget support, that is including sector and general budget support.
@damawand
quite sure…
if you read the mandate of INCB, there is a sentence in (b) which is almost copy pasted into the answer d:
“INCB is also responsible for assessing chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs, in order to determine whether they should be placed under international control.”
http://www.incb.org/incb/en/mandate.html
I’ll keep searching for the correct answer to Q 20 – what I could find up to now now, was: budget support around 20% of all dev. cooperation aid, total payments in 2006 – 6.5 bn. Anyone?..
Can I ask if you are already working at a del?
@etni
One more thing about question 20. I was wondering if this question is correctly formulated at all. If I am not mistaken, I think that you cannot ask about the amount of payments by the EC without specifying the kind of payments. Perhaps there is an error in this question and it will be cancelled, who knows? You know, they sometimes cancel questions (one or two per test) due to ambiguity or even complete error…
If this would be the case and if they cancel the question, then less points would be necessary to get the required 55% on this test. This might enable some candidates to get the overall passing result. Sometimes one little point is “to be or not to be”.
But I wonder how come they are producing tests with mistakes.
Cheers!
@etni
I meant question 20 about payments (not question 39, sorry for the mistake). But I see that you are also asking about this question.
Q 7 is b (for sure).
Q 42 – are you sure the answer is D? I was checking the functions of INCB and I am not sure it is responsible for assessing chemicals (it has more advisory and monitoring functions rather that it does possess the right to determine what should be placed under control).
Cheers!
@damawand
for good governance test, my answers are
41-a
42-d
Q 39 isn’t about payments, did you mean 38?
in that case, I think the correct answer is c
does anyone have correct answers for questions 7 & 20?
Looks like AST 41/07 results are available for ICT AST.
Good luck!
To Those who took good governance group IV last Friday:
Does anyone know the answers to some questions from CAST RELEX Function group IV good governance and security:
question 39 about the payments by the EC
question 41 about UN Convention against Corruption
question 42 about organisation responsible for assessing chemicals used in illicit manufacture of drugs
I could not find the answers of which I could be 100 percent sure that they are correct.
Thanks for some info if you have it.
Damawand
well it;s to be implemented in 2y 🙂 but still, i don’t think it’s vague..
it’s changing in the direction many times discussed on this forum-e.g focusing more on personal compentences and abilities rather than memorising eu facts. Verbal and numerical +competence (domain specific) tests remain, and as far assessment centres are concerned-behavioral interviews and simulations-this is something pretty standard used by all big companies (especially for entry level positions).
Sorry but can someone explain me why this is good news. There is no more EU test and it is still pretty vague how the tests will be carried on…
Good news for future EU job seekers 😉
http://europa.eu/epso/documents/EPSO-00114-EN-TRA_FINAL.pdf
from the Epso website:
‘Good news for future jobseekers: The European Personnel Selection Office adopts major improvements to its selection methods
In a bold shake up of its current practices, the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) will significantly change the way it selects people to work in the European civil service. From 2010, selection competitions will focus more on testing the personal and professional competence of candidates. The time taken to select candidates is also to be cut by two-thirds to just 5 to 9 months, compared to typically 15 months at present.’
@Monichetta,
Hi,
I tried to send you a message to that e-mail address but it seems that there is some problem. If you are still interested in get in contact, try this one: akinanako (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Best regards,
Veronica
@frustrated, straight from EPSO’s site today (style is funny, this sounds like it’s been covered by an external newspaper)
Good news for future jobseekers: The European Personnel Selection Office adopts major improvements to its selection methods
In a bold shake up of its current practices, the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) will significantly change the way it selects people to work in the European civil service. From 2010, selection competitions will focus more on testing the personal and professional competence of candidates. The time taken to select candidates is also to be cut by two-thirds to just 5 to 9 months, compared to typically 15 months at present.
See the Commission listens and reforms! :-]
@Neli
Did you already get an invitation to the written test?
Many thanks.
RIS
answers for EU tests are located in the book 250MCQ
I have checked my results V&N
and I have only 3 different answers compared to yours
41d, 46b, 55d
all others are similar
the COMP test for Operational Officer is the real mess !!
thanx
salvo
@ elmira
admin-mail-a4 (at) ec.europa.eu
The last Friday I have attended the EPSO Test in Berlin 2008, to be honest, the Test room was a little bit empty, -a lot of places waiting for the candidates-, and the organization confused, some of the candidates stayed in the Test room with bags, news paper etc….I though that was prohibited.
Of course, was impossible to pass the EU knowledge and my competence test….So…see U– UE!!
I am going to sit a translators’ written test for EPSO/AD/105 in September. The first and second part of the test are clear – 45 lines of text to be translated from English and French into Bulgarian (in my case). The third part is revision of the translation of a difficult text. I presume that I would be given the original and the translation, which I would have to revise. It seems to me that I would have to rewrite the whole translation. Can somebody give some information (e.g from experience) on the third part of the test? Thank you.
anyone knows the answers for RELEX 2008 – Group III Test Comp – Operational Officer – 18 July??
I was searching the answers for some questions almost everywhere but…. no luck.
@Veronica
Veronica,
I was offered a CA post in Ispra, work related to the alternative methods to animal testing – the same as you.
We could get in touch and share information.
my email is: monika_bhrecycling@yahoo.com
can anybody help me i need the email address for ADMIN A4
Thanks Lia,
That puts my mind at rest. I have just been offered a position at AD5 step 2 and I was wondering whether my 10 years + of experience had been fully taken into account.
@kentia
Kentia, I have a MBA in financial analysis (and my job is internal auditor)
@Chti, steps are awarded on the basis of experience but for each grade there is a maximum step at which you can start. For instance, for AD5 you cannot start more than step 2, for which you need at least 3 years of experience after getting your degree giving you access to the competition. If you have more than 3 years of experience, you still remain in step 2.
@ Kiwi
5200 is what you’d take home after all deductions. That’s with a spouse and two kids. If you’re single, it’ll be less. There’s good money in all the allowances.
AD
Does anyone know how classification in grade steps works? Are these steps calculated on the basis of the number of years of experience that you have or is it a more discretionary decision? What is the highest step that can be awarded on appointment?
Many thanks.
@Sparta
Hi sparta
I guess we are in the same competition. We have similar marks (25/30). I have a degree in Politics and Administration Science. What about you??
I would like a copy of the RELEX 2007 test for Operations Adviser – Economic, Private Sector and Trade Development (English) . In exchange, I can send one from Good governance, Social Cultural Issues or Political Matters (english)
Please contact me at odahon@gmail.com
Kind regards,
Taabo78
@Elisa
Yes, I’m a freelance translator – I spent 3 years full-time at the Council of Europe but have been freelancing for the last 5 years.
Good luck with getting the transcript from your French university, I know what you mean about it not being something they normally provide…
Kiwi