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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The petition suffers from a few inaccuracies, so having another glimpse over the Official Journal and the “avis de conscours” might help:
It is not stated, how many questions exactly there will be in the two pre-selection tests. Only the number of maximum points and the minimum requirement are stated. So for Test there could be – and probably very well be – more than 10 questions.
There will be 380 (not 330) candidates who will be asked to submit a full application after the pre-selection tests.
The “avis” lists the entry requirements for candidates in a very detailed manner. So “the chemist” who does not possess the minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience, will not be admitted to take the pre-selection exams in first place, thus being unable to raise the threshold. Should the poor chemist, rocket scientist or whomever on the other hand possess the required professional experience, he/she is qualified, and thus of course welcome to participate in the competition.
If more than 380 score 30/30 points, everyone surpassing the number of 380 will also be admitted to the next round. This happened e.g. in AD 26/05 where the number given in the “avis” was 540, but at the end 544 progressed.
Hi to everybody,
A friend of mine gave me this link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/epsoCBT/
It’s a petition about the new Computer Based Test of EPSO, we should sign it.
The last one for Communication and media will be ridiculous.
30 total preselection questions, will pass the 330 best candidates on thousands of candidates, based on 30 questions, crazy!!
I’m sure that there will at least 600 candidates that will score 30/30, and so?
Somebody has to change this CBT as soon as possible!
Can anyone please indicate me a MQS book on economics or has it in electronic format?
Thanks.
Ely
Hi Salex,
about the first part of your comment, I have heard of many cases of short listed in AD lists, recruited 3 or 4 years after the end of competition. This happens especially in these times, with the known problem for EU15s due to a minimun quota of EU10 to be recruited.
Never heard of this compulsory re-testing after 18-24 months. Are you talking of contract agent roles?
Bye Vick
@Rosa
I am also very interested in the law questions! Please do send them to me at megi5_bg@yahoo.com.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Dima
Echoing Maria:
Does anyone have or remember Law (written test or MC) questions from previous years?
Thanks Andras!
@Roxana: I copied in last year’s AD05/29 (econ/stats) written test questions. Question 2 was statistics so it is unlikely to come up either for RO/BG or EU-10 next month.
Please answer 1 of the following 3 questions:
1. QUESTION 1
1.1 (i) Analyse the opportunities and risks of the current globalisation process for the EU economies, basing your arguments on economic theory.
(ii) Give your appraisal of the current debate on globalisation.
1.2 You are an adviser to the Finance/Economic Affairs Minister of a Member State of your choice that has recently acceded to the EU.
(i) Write a short text (approximately 400-500 words) giving policy advice to the Minister with your proposal for an adequate policy response to globalisation taking into account the Treaty obligation to adopt the euro.
2. QUESTION 2
Quarterly national accounts
Annex I contains tables of nominal and constant price quarterly GDP (gross domestic product) data for the quarters 2003Q1 to 2005Q2, together with the relevant growth rates per quarter on the same quarter of the previous year.
2.1 Produce a statistical publication of up to two pages of text and/or summary tables/charts to analyse the data presented in the tables of Annex I.
2.2 Footnotes 1 and 2 explain that the data are not seasonally or working day adjusted. Explain why seasonal and working day adjustments are undertaken, the techniques that might be used, and how you would present seasonally adjusted data.
2.3 Footnote 3 explains that the constant price data are not chain-linked. Explain the principle of chain-linking and its implications for the availability of constant price data for economic modelling.
2.4 A colleague points out to you that data are also available on quarterly GDP in a purchasing power standard, based on Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs). Explain what PPPs are and give details of the statistical techniques used to produce them. Explain for what analytical purpose (if any) you might use quarterly GDP in a Purchasing power standard.
3. QUESTION 3
The European Commission has launched a project to develop harmonised data on business demography. The tables and figures in Annex 2 have been obtained using this harmonised data collection system.
3.1 Produce a short summary (approximately 400-500 words), including tables and/or charts, analysing the data presented in the attached tables and figures.
3.2 Develop a policy targeted at enterprises that foster employment and growth. Explain in detail your reasonng. Highlight the limitations of such a policy.
3.3 Write a short speech for your Director-General, who has to speak to representatives of the leather and textile industry.
3.4 Please indicate briefly what additional data you would need for a more comprehensive analysis and explain your choice(s).
There’s a new concours – for Communications people – published today. I might go for it – see this post from my blog for more.
AD/53-62/06
Hi all,
Does anyone know if the format will be different from the regular essay followed by a summary?
I’ve heard rumors that there may be multiple choice questions on EPA/HR issues – can anyone confirm?
Also, if someone has a list of “hot” essay questions could you please send it to me at ctheophilou AT hotmail.com?
I’m AD 53 so I’m probably not competing against the vast majority of you 😉
Hello
Does anybody have the subjects for Economics AD29 written tests? I know one of the possible choices was globalisation but nothing more. Thanks in advance
Olivia and Lucia,
Could you pls share with me the EPA tests/sample questions/essay topics that you may have?
I guess I’m one of the late starters, standing no chance…
Many thanks,
John
Hi All,
I already work for the commission and I can tell you all now that the ingredients of the competitions have no relation to what you do. From hard work you can pass the test and then it is down to sheer luck if you pass the interview stages, and remember there still is no guarantee of a position after passing all the stages. And if you don’t find a position within 18/24 months you have to sit the EPSO again.
As an aside, anyone thinking of doing the EPSO for a Contract Agent position should really think twice before putting the required effort in. Do not think because you become a CA it’s easier to become on Official, it is quite the opposite. The salary of a CA is about 1/3rd that of an Official doing the same job but at least you get good holidays.
As an inside tip for all those thinking of a Grade A EPSO test you’d be better off applying for a Grade B competition and being promoted from B to A. And for those that a Grade B (no Degree) you still have a chance of becoming an A grade if you have 10 years experience.
Hi
Please, somebody send me some sample questions or tips for the written tests in law. Thanx.
Cheers
Hello,
Any news about AD/26/05? How the oral exam is going?
Thanks 🙂
@Georgia
I also passed CAST25 – I am already wondering when/if I’ll be called for an interview. Meanwhile (and in order to kill time) I filled in my “EU CV”, thanks for the tip!
http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/cvonline/index_en.htm
Having to register the CV at multiple EU-sites (EPSO, EU CV, ELSA/CORDIS, …) is confusing to say the least. Why would they want to look into the “EU CV” database when that information is already present in the EPSO porta?
Any idea if EU CV will replace the ELSA/CORDIS (FP6) database in the future?
As far as I know, EU agencies looking for contract agents will first check on the final EPSO CAST25 list. Only in case there is no appropriate candidate on that list (think of a highly specialised field), they are allowed to consult the ELSA/CORDIS database.
For temporary agents (maximum 6 years) ELSA/CORDIS is allegedly still being used, so it might be a good idea to introduce the CV there anyway. However, many former TA positions are apparently being replaced by CA staff.
@ Olivia
thank you very much for the materials 🙂
if I find anything useful, I´ll also send it to you.
@ Ugo
you definitely have to be active…there are so many people who were on the reserve lists but the validity expired and they did not get any job…actually my friend has a friend and this happened to her, she passed the competition in 2003 and was not offered any job, and she tried again now in december, but did not pass the preselection tests…the competition was much tougher now (out of 539 applicants only 40 made it to the next round and only 10 will get on the reserve list). it´s crazy…
@Ugo
what should you do?-if you really want an EU job-then lobbying, lobbying, lobbying- and sending out CVs
Good luck!
Hi everibody, what the hell are the people who passed the exam suppossed to do? I am on a list for contract agents, which will last for three years….. during which should I forget I passed the tests and go on with my life or do actively something?
thanks!
Hi everyone!
Seems like most of us are on the same boat. I passed the pre-selection tests for AD/62/06, field European Public Administration/Human resources for Slovakia. I am also trying to find as much info as possible on the web, but actually till now I’ve found interesting only this site (except for official pages of the institutions, euractiv, etc).
And as some of you I am also not sure what the EPA actually is or what should I concentrate on…. 🙁
I was using The ulimate EU testbook for the first round and think it quite helped.
I bought another book – Roadmap to success via internet, but I do not recommend it at all, it´s mostly about administrative process of the competitions…it´s sometimes difficult to buy stuff on the internet when you cannot look inside the book…
So, if anyone of you could help me with EPA questions or topics, I would very much appreciate it. Seems like Olivia is especially famous for this:)
my e-mail: luciabalogova@post.sk
Thx in advance and good luck with exams!
@ David
Yes I will. By the end of the week.
@Olivia
Thank you for the material ! I am sending you a package, too. Only my wireless is a little moody, and the process of sending the message… Or is it your email server??? Thank you for the explanation about the written exam situation.
Greetings all! another first-timer here, passed the preselection for AD-46-06 in EPA and in preparation for the test in march i would love a sample or two of the specific MCQ. i did take a look at the pdfs on EPSO, but those questions seemed suspiciously straight-forward and basic, so i just want to cover my bases. right. if anyone would be so kind as to drop me a line [vlado.nedkov@gmail.com] i would be forever grateful. and good luck you y’all with the application process.
cheers
@Rosa
I’m interesting on that copy of the exam.
You will be super if you could send me the scanned version!
murdav at libero it
Thanks in advance!
David
@Olivia
Went back in time 🙂 and found you are in economics. Well, in this field the competition is slightly less horrifying than in EPA/HR (here all the people who did not fit into law/econ/business adm 🙂 like me 🙂 go). In my field and country EPA/HR got almost 900 applications, and only 50 made it into phase 2.
In my preparation for the written test I have acquired the absolute must HETRU – THE WRITTEN TEST and a couple of books on essay writing in EN (SAVAGE, MAYER – EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC WRITING 2, and HAMP_LYONS, HEASLEY – STUDY WRITING). Well, I am still not finished with going through these, and I still have to practice my handwriting (which is not so caligraphic, especially when using an EPSO pen. How do I know? A friend of mine went to a lawyer-linguist exam and brought me one 🙂 Oh. )
P.S. My friend has copies of exam 1 for lawyers-linguists. We plan to scan them. Anybody interested?
Olivia, here is my email
rasamarti@netscape.net
What is your field? I am EPA/HR.
Dizzy,
well, as of today I have only this
“The marking of the admission tests in which you participated is now finished.
I am pleased to inform you that you obtained sufficient marks for you to be included among the candidates invited to submit a full application by using the Word or pdf .
(…)
We would also ask you to choose your preferred test centre, for the written tests. These tests will probably take place at the end of March 2007. Your choice has to be communicated to us by 11 February 2007 at the latest. After this date, no change of test centre will be taken into consideration.”
And the date – 30/03/2007 – was communicated through “Lates news”.
What I did – I wrote an email to EPSO team, asking to confirm that they have received my choice and send me additional info – where and when to come when the exam day arrives 🙂
@rosa
it doesnt mentioned dossier?? what does it say then?
Rosa, just give me your mail so that I can send you the examples I have. 🙂
To dizzy:
what competition are you in?
In EPSO/AD/53-62/06?
Because I have got an invitation, too. It has no mention about the dossie…
To olivia:
if you might share… The examples you’ve got… I would be thankful and useful 🙂
Hi!
I found this document here: http://www.european-tests.com/Article8.html
You could send an email to EPSO if you did not pass the last CBT open competition (or the future CBT) asking your results and the questions that you mistook.
It’s important to discover the error, in this way you will improve yourself!
Thanks
I am in AST 14 competition. I need some information about the written tests for secretaries.
I will appresiate any help from you!
My e-mail is: teddy_getova@abv.bg
Thank you.
hi!
olivia, would you be able to send me the EPA tests as well? will be taking the written tests in bucharest…
email: gabriel.furmuzachi@yahoo.com
thanks!
cheers,
g
Hi all!
could someone send me some tests of the 2nd round of a competition in law (specialized questions and/or essay questions).My email: dozsadani@yahoo.com
Cheerio
daniel
My written tests invitation says : “candidates will have several subject/dossiers to choose from”
Questions to all who have attended written tests;-)
– When subject/dossiers is mentioned does it mean there will be a dossier test too as an option too or they refer to it just as a possibility?
-Has there been a combination between essay and dossier topics?
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Hello everybody,
Olivia, I would be very thankful to you if you could also send to me the specialized questions in European Public Administration. If possible, my email is rumianaj@yahoo.com
I am from Bulgaria and I should for the written exam next month.
Does someone know what the possible topics on the essay could be? I guess the essay should be more practical rather than just common view of a question.
Thanks for your comments!
Thanks for such a useful blog!
Could someone please recommend any book for preparing to written exam in law? (except the Treaty and Craig & de Burca) I was wondering if there is anything available on the market specifically helping to prepare for the essay part.
Thank you for any answers.
Hi!
I’m sitting for the oral exam of the concours EPSO/AD/26/05 (administrators in the field of Law)Does any of you by any chance know what people are being asked? Thanks!
thanks Olivia, that will be of great help! Here is my email:
suzana_sax@lycos.com
Suzana,
if you give me your mail sddress I can send you some examples of EPA specialised questions.
can someone post SPECIALISED public admin. questions.
Many thanks!
Thanks for the comment Tina… 🙂
I’m very glad this blog is a useful forum to discuss the concours, even though my own (failed) efforts to pass were now about a year ago!
Dear Jon, Dear all,
Firstly, thanks for the excellent blog!
I just recently learnt that I passed the first stage of AD/61/06 (law) and am hoping to get and advice, questions you might have for stage two (particularly for lawyers, but not only).
For those of you who still need first stage MCQ I am posting some of mine below (no guarantees on accuracy):
1. Which MS is the closest to the African coast?
– Spain
– Portugal
– Malta
– Cyprus
2. When was the Court of Auditors established?
3. Which policy has… aim? Description matches competition policy
4. What does ECHO do?
5. Who decides on the financing of humanitarian aid actions of the ECHO?
– Council
– Parliament
– Commission
– Council with Parliament assent
6. By Which treaty were fines for failing to comply with an ECJ judgment (now art 228/2 TEC) introduced? (The correct answer is Maastricht).
– Rome
– Amsterdam
– Maastricht
– Nice
7. Where are plenary sessions of the Economic and social committee held?
8. Which language do most citizens of the EU speak as native tongue?
– German
– French
– Spanish
– Italian
9. Which 3 MS have most votes in the Council?
10. Who has least votes in Council?
11. Which treaty introduced the Economic and monetary union?
12. Which acts can be adopted under the CFSP after Maastricht?
14. In which of the following does the EC have exclusive competence
– social policy
– internal and external trade
– ? (don’t remember)
– ?
15. Who adopts the budget?
16. Something about what can the rapid response force do?
17. How many VPs does the Commission have?
– 5
– 3
– 2
– 1
18. What is the role of the rapporteur in the EP?
Those were all I could remember and write down after my test in December. I did not find the verbal and numerical part too difficult and had just about the right amount of time to finish all my sections.
Good luck to all!
Hello Sebastien and the other,
Thank you very much for the information. By the way have you got some samples of eu preselection tests ? It will be very helpfull for me.
Thank you in advance.
Hello everybody
Hallo Sebastian,
Ich bin Bulgarin und habe auch die preselection Tests bestanden. Im März steht mir die juristische Prüfung auf Deutsch bevor. Ich habe verstanden, daß du die gleiche Prüfung für EU 25 geschrieben hast. Könntest du mir den MCQ-Test per E-Mail schicken elissaveta_v@hotmail.com? Wie hast du dich dafür vorbereitet? Für jede Info werde ich sehr dankbar sein!
Gruß
@Sebastian
Late thanks 🙂
Any news about AD/26/05 LAW? Haw about the jury? Are the orals complicated or not?
Many thanks
If anyone needs an inexpensive copy of the Hetru/Bizeur “Verbal & Numerical reasoning MCQ” book, I have the *FRENCH* version which I don’t need anymore. The book is really excellent! Bonne chance!
Phlegmy,
you mentioned that you had subjects from micro, macro and statistics. Can you pleas tell me what your domain is?
I am studying now for an Economics written exam and I was wondering if I should take a look at some statistics as well. Also, could you tell us what were the other subjects of the written essay test? I would appreciate it very much (at least one or two examples).
Thanks and good luck.
I suggest you get yourself a copy of the book by Hetru/Bizeur, Verbal & Numerical reasoning MCQ.
It’s e.g. available here:
http://www.orseu-concours.com/index.php?config=boutique&sous_config=detail&produit=12
I prepared with it and found it very helpful.
Hello everybody,
Does anyone can help me to find samples of past tests in english for the verbal and numerical section. I need to practise because I’ve failed in the last one due to the numerical and the verbal where I didn’t get enough points to be selected.
Does anyone can help me and send me some samples ?
Any help will welcome !
Thank you very much. (my e-mail : renoym@hotmail.com)
Hi everybody! Does anyone know something about the practical and oral test for AST? Any suggestions is welcome!