EPSO AD5 TAO prerequisite test 2026 guide

AD5 candidates can complete their required TAO technical check from 20 October to 6 November 2026. The reasoning tests follow during 9 to 13 November. Your individual appointment appears in TAO; the invitation in the Single Candidate Portal confirms the testing week and provides access instructions. EPSO testing announcement

Set aside time for the check while support is available. A blocked browser permission or an unsuitable computer is easier to deal with when you still have several days to act.

Dates and appointments

The October dates and November testing week come from EPSO's 13 October announcement. The announcement splitting testing into two parts places Part 2 in 2027.

Check the precise opening and closing times in your invitation. The public October announcement gives the dates without an hour. Do not assume that access lasts until midnight on 6 November.

Record your assigned appointment separately from the technical-check deadline. Add its stated time zone to your calendar, especially if you will take the test outside Belgium. Keep the appointment details somewhere you can consult before opening the test.

Complete your assigned technical check

EPSO's complaints policy requires candidates to complete the preparation steps specified for their testing event. A public sample test serves a different purpose: answering practice questions does not establish that you completed your assigned technical check. EPSO policy on preparation requirements

The AD5 check is unscored and normally available once per competition, unless your invitation says otherwise. Skipping it can cause a subsequent technical complaint to be dismissed. AD5 instructions, 2.5

Choose the computer you intend to keep using before starting. Resolve questions about access or equipment first, rather than treating the assigned check as a practice attempt you can freely restart.

Prepare a compatible computer and browser

EPSO's TAO requirements specify a desktop or laptop, Chrome or Edge, administrator rights, the Proctorio extension, a working camera and microphone, and a stable connection. Phones and tablets are unsupported. An active VPN is prohibited. Follow EPSO's instructions for antivirus and firewall settings. EPSO technical requirements

The AD5 guide specifies Chrome 148+ or Edge 148+, 2 GB free RAM and 250 MB free disk space. AD5 instructions, 1.2.2

On a work computer, being able to open the browser does not prove that you can install extensions or change recording permissions. Proctorio confirms that managed devices can restrict these actions. Ask your IT team before relying on such a machine, or arrange a computer whose settings you can control. Proctorio FAQ on managed devices

Check compatibility early if you use an older Mac. EPSO's general page lists macOS 10.15+, while Proctorio's current requirements list macOS 13+. Proctorio also lists browsers beyond EPSO's Chrome and Edge options. Follow the AD5 browser requirements and seek support if your operating system falls between the published minimums. EPSO requirements, Proctorio requirements

Before the check, restart the computer, close unnecessary applications and disable notifications. Proctorio recommends checking camera and microphone operation in advance. If possible, use Ethernet; otherwise, sit close to the router and ask others to pause streaming or large downloads. Proctorio preparation guidance

Complete the check and confirm submission

Follow the invitation's TAO link and use EU Login. Complete diagnostics, webcam and ID checks, then the room scan. Select Submit and proceed and confirm completion under Finished sessions AD5 instructions, 2.4 and 2.5

Read each screen before continuing. Proctorio's diagnostics check different parts of your setup; a working camera alone does not establish that microphone access or screen sharing works. Its support pages distinguish these problems and provide separate troubleshooting instructions. Proctorio guidance on starting an exam

If a step fails, record which step failed and the exact message before contacting support. “Screen sharing permission refused after selecting the display” gives an agent more to work with than “TAO does not work.” Keep your competition reference and application number available for the conversation.

Use the intended setup and prepare the room

Use the same computer, peripherals and settings. Run the connection check from your testing location, network and device. AD5 instructions, 1.2.1 and 2.5

Plan the room around the clean-desk rules. EPSO permits one screen, a mouse and keyboard, your ID, a mousepad, tissues and a drink without a label. Its general rules prohibit docking stations, headphones, writing materials, books and notes, and require you to be alone without pets. Keep your face visible and do not speak or read aloud. Any approved accommodations must be reflected in your individual arrangements. EPSO clean-desk policy and reminders

Prepare the space before opening the session. Put a notice on the door and tell anyone sharing your home when you need quiet. Check the lighting at the time of day you expect to test: a room that works in the morning can leave your face in shadow later. Proctorio recommends avoiding a bright window behind you and removing personal objects you do not want recorded. Proctorio preparation guidance

EPSO specifies a slow 360-degree scan, including the desk, underneath it, the chair area and behind the screen, lasting 20 to 60 seconds. AD5 instructions, 2.5.5

Check beforehand that you can move the camera without pulling a cable loose. Leave enough space around the desk to show the required areas, then return the camera to a position that clearly frames your face.

Practise calculations without relying on a percentage button

Public sessions may omit competition features. The calculator requires a decimal point; a comma is unsupported. AD5 instructions, 2.5.9 and 6.4.5

Practise these operations using ordinary arithmetic:

For percentage change, divide the difference by the original value. In the third example, the increase is 12 and the starting value is 80. Dividing by 92 would answer a different question.

Try a short numerical exercise with this method before your next timed practice. The aim is to make the calculation familiar enough that a missing shortcut does not interrupt your reasoning.

Check language choices against the real test session

The notice specifies that the reasoning tests use your selected Language 1. Consolidated notice, section 4.3.2

Compare the actual exam-session details with your application. If they disagree, ask for clarification before the appointment. Keep the wording of any response so you can act on the instructions given to you.

Keep preparation focused on the November tests

Part 1 consists of verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning. The EU knowledge test, digital skills test and EUFTE belong to Part 2 in 2027. A writing exercise encountered during familiarisation does not change that published schedule. EPSO's two-part testing announcement

These are the specifications in Table 2 of the consolidated notice. Both numerical and abstract tests must be completed; their pass score is combined.

Use the official samples in your test language to become familiar with the platform. For further practice, open the EPSOHQ AD5 preparation page. Keep a short error record after each session: what went wrong, the correct method and one exercise to repeat.

Contact support promptly and preserve complaint evidence

TAO support: +351 211 554 559, weekdays 09:00 to 18:00 CET. For prerequisite issues: [email protected]. During the live test, telephone support; do not refresh or close the test tab. AD5 instructions, pages 3 and 5

Save the contact details before test day. After any support interaction, keep its reference and a record of the time, problem and advice received. Follow the agent's instructions about any evidence requested.

For a technical problem during testing, the notice requires immediate reporting under the invitation instructions and a separate report to EPSO within three calendar days, counted from the day after the test, with a description and proof of attempts to resolve it. This obligation remains even if the provider follows up. Consolidated notice, Annex I, section 7.1

Use My communications → Contact us in the Single Candidate Portal. Choose the complaint option when filing a formal complaint. EPSO states that correspondence for portal-managed competitions must go through the portal; the website contact form is an exception for EU Login problems preventing access. EPSO portal communication instructions

Explain what happened in sequence and attach the evidence required by your invitation. Reporting a problem does not itself guarantee another attempt; EPSO assesses complaints under its testing complaint resolution policy.

Follow any updated instructions in your invitation and candidate account. The competition notice and EPSO's individual testing instructions govern your session.