September is the month the countdown stops being abstract. With Part 1 of EPSO/AD/427/26 expected in October/November, most candidates are now roughly six weeks from their test date, some closer once individual invitations land.
Six weeks is enough time to move your score meaningfully, but only if the weeks are structured. Here is the plan.
Where things stand
- 174,922 applications for 1,490 reserve-list places, still the largest EPSO generalist competition on record.
- Part 1 (Verbal, Numerical, Abstract Reasoning) is expected October/November 2026, remote and computer-based via TAO.
- Invitation letters typically arrive several weeks before each candidate's assigned slot, check your EPSO account and spam folder daily from now on.
- Supporting documents are due 7 October 2026, 12:00 Brussels time, do not leave this for exam week.
The 6-week plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Timed diagnostic across Verbal, Numerical and Abstract Reasoning. Know your real starting point, not your guessed one. |
| Weeks 2–3 | Technique-building on your weakest section. For most candidates this is Verbal Reasoning, the largest and most eliminatory part of the test. |
| Weeks 4–5 | Daily timed drills, 30–45 minutes, across all three reasoning types. Track your score trend across sessions, not any single result. |
| Week 6 | One full timed mock exam under real conditions. Then taper, review your error log, rest the two days before your test. |
Why the last two weeks should not be "cramming" weeks
Verbal Reasoning technique, in particular, is closer to a physical skill than a knowledge one, it needs repetition to become automatic under time pressure. Candidates who try to build that skill in the final week almost always run out of runway. If you are reading this six weeks out, you still have time to build it properly.
Six weeks. One plan.
Timed practice tests with a cross-out tool, a TAO-style mock exam, and a study plan that adapts to your test date. Join 300+ members preparing right now.
Start Free →Frequently asked this month
I haven't received my invitation yet, should I be worried?
Not necessarily. With 174,922 applicants, testing is spread across several weeks, invitations go out on a rolling basis. Keep checking your EPSO account, and keep training on the assumption your date could land any week.
Should I prioritise Verbal, Numerical or Abstract Reasoning?
Verbal Reasoning carries its own standalone threshold and eliminates the most candidates, if you can only train one section intensively, make it this one. Numerical and Abstract Reasoning are scored together against a combined threshold.
Next update: as invitation letters go out, a walkthrough of what to expect on test day.