COM/AD/111/2026: AD6 Internal Competition Tests and Study Plan

The European Commission's internal competition COM/AD/111/2026 seeks up to 100 administrators at AD6. Applications close on 30 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time. The process starts with an adaptive cognitive assessment and continues through an EU-knowledge multiple-choice test, a written assignment and an oral assessment.

This is a Commission internal competition for eligible serving staff, not an EPSO competition. The notice is the binding source for application conditions and test rules. EPSOHQ's AD6 training hub offers independent practice. Read the notice and subsequent Staff Centre messages for official instructions.

Check eligibility before building a study plan

The notice has several service and qualification tests. At the application deadline, you need to be in one of the specified Commission categories: an official or temporary agent in AD, an official or temporary agent at AST4 or above, or a contract agent in FGIV. You also need six full consecutive months immediately before the deadline in those categories and 12 full consecutive months of Commission service. Contract agents need at least 36 full qualifying months in total. Agency and other-institution service does not count towards those Commission periods.

There are four qualification routes: a three-year university degree plus two years of relevant post-award experience; a four-year degree plus one year; completed Commission certification plus two relevant years in the AD function group; or equivalent vocational training plus two relevant years. Your duties must be relevant to the AD6 tasks in the notice. Provide the diploma or certificate and detailed employment evidence with the application. The Selection Board cannot rely on diplomas stored only in Sysper.

The competition language is English, French or German as language 2, under the notice's rule that it differs from your first or main language. Check your Sysper record and the supporting-evidence rules if you need a language change. If you reopen a submitted portal application, resubmit it before the deadline; otherwise it is cancelled.

Stage 1: adaptive cognitive assessment

The external provider tests numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning through 24 questions in 36 minutes. The threshold is the 60th percentile of a benchmark population of university graduates with several years' professional experience. That is a ranking threshold, not a requirement to answer 60% of questions correctly. The notice does not name the provider or promise equal numbers of the three question types.

Practise the three families together under a 36-minute clock. Record whether a miss came from interpreting data, missing a logical condition, finding the wrong pattern or running out of time. EPSOHQ's SHL reasoning practice offers adaptive and fixed modes when adaptive mode is available. It is independent practice, not the Commission provider's assessment or a replica of its benchmark scoring.

Stage 2: EU knowledge, 30 questions in 30 minutes

The pass mark is 15/30, but passing alone may not be enough. Only candidates with the highest EU-knowledge scores, up to 2.5 times the 100-person reserve-list target, have their written work assessed. The notice identifies four knowledge areas:

1. EU institutional setup;
2. the Commission's roles and powers under the Treaties;
3. Commission governance, decision-making and procedures;
4. Commission policy priorities.

Start with the EU Knowledge course chapters on institutions, the Commission and law-making. For each procedure, identify the legal basis, initiating actor, decision maker and review route. Separate the European Council from the Council of the EU; a Commission proposal from an adopted act; and a delegated act from an implementing act.

For internal Commission governance, compare oral and written College procedures with empowerment and delegation. Oral procedure is used for politically sensitive matters requiring discussion. Written procedure allows collective adoption without that political debate. Empowerment and delegation cover routine management or administrative matters within the College's mandate and control. Consultation and interservice review prepare a decision; they do not themselves enact EU law.

For priorities, learn the Commission's seven priorities for 2024–2029: competitiveness; defence and security; people and the social model; food, water and nature; democracy and values; global partnerships; and delivery and Union reform. Then read the 2026 work programme. Label each initiative as planned, proposed or adopted. A work programme entry is not itself law.

We found substantial related material in the existing AD5 and general EU-knowledge banks. The new AD6 practice bank offers reviewed English questions on Commission governance and current priorities. Take a 30-question mock in 30 minutes, then review every wrong answer and every correct guess against its source. The Commission says it will publish preparation guidance and sample questions on Staff Centre before the test; use them to update your topic priorities when available.

Stage 3: a document-based written assignment

The 90-minute assignment may ask for a briefing, letter or note based on supplied documents. It tests critical thinking, analysis, creative problem-solving and written communication. The pass mark is 30/50. The EU-knowledge MCQ and written assignment take place online on the same day.

First identify the reader, required output and decision at stake. Extract facts, conflicts and gaps from the dossier. Compare options using explicit criteria, state a recommendation and leave time to check whether you answered the actual task. Practise with the AD6 scenario pack and the written-test guide.

Stage 4: presentation and structured interview

The oral stage lasts up to 60 minutes and has a pass mark of 25/50. You give a short presentation on an EU institutions, policies or procedures topic, answer follow-up questions and take part in a structured interview. The notice names motivation and five competencies: intrapreneurship, learning as a skill, oral communication, self-management and working together.

Prepare short examples from your own work for each competency. For the presentation, lead with the answer, show the relevant institution and procedure, and explain the consequence. Practise speaking aloud and responding to challenges. The oral presentation guide and AD6 scenarios support this stage.

A practical weekly cycle

1. Take one 24-question SHL reasoning set under the 36-minute limit. Use adaptive mode when available.
2. Take one 30-question AD6 EU-knowledge set in 30 minutes and classify errors by the four notice areas.
3. Read official source material for the two weakest areas, then retest after a gap.
4. Write one 90-minute dossier answer and rehearse one EU-topic presentation.
5. Check the Single Candidate Portal and Staff Centre for official test guidance and changes.

The notice does not disclose the final question distribution within EU knowledge or the cognitive provider's scoring model. Cover every named area and use the official sample questions, when released, to refine your revision. The COM/AD/111/2026 hub connects the practice exam, written scenarios and oral resources in one place.