Cognitive reasoning assessment
Train numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning together: 24 questions in 36 minutes.
Choose a fixed or adaptive mock in English, French or German.
Reasoning practice →
Competition preparation
COM/AST/112/2026 · AST2
Commission internal AST2 preparation
Preparation for Commission staff: cognitive reasoning, EU knowledge, written assignments and oral presentation. Applications have closed.
Applications closed: 30 October 2026, 12:00 Brussels time · 50 reserve-list places
Selection stages
| Test | Questions / tasks | Time limit | Pass threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive reasoning assessment | 24 | 36 min | At least the 40th percentile |
| EU knowledge | 30 | 40 min | 15/30 |
| Written work | 1 | 90 min | 25/50 |
| Oral presentation and interview | — | 60 min | 25/50 |
Among candidates who pass the EU knowledge test, up to 125 of the highest scorers have their written work marked. Final eligibility checks follow the ranking of candidates who pass the written test until 75 qualify. The best oral results among those who pass determine the reserve list. Ties at the cutoff can increase these numbers.
The notice does not name an assessment provider. Cognitive practice is preparation, and a practice percentage is not an official percentile result.
Preparation resources
EU knowledge
Study EU institutions, the Commission’s powers under the Treaties, its governance, procedures, decision-making and policy priorities.
Timed practice uses the shared Commission question bank. Aim above 15/30: ranking determines whose written work is marked.
EU knowledge →Same-day rehearsal
Sit the 40-minute EU knowledge mock and go straight to the 90-minute written exercise in the same language. Review the two results after writing.
Written work · 90 min
Pick a case, work against the clock, then score your performance against the model.
Draft a note on a hybrid workshop
The dossier or panel prompts open when you start.
You support a Commission unit organising a hybrid workshop for Member State officials. Write a short decision note to your head of unit. Recommend a date and format, then propose actions with owners and deadlines. Set a 90-minute timer.
- Registration team: 48 people have registered. On Tuesday, 29 can attend in person and 19 online. On Thursday, 22 can attend in person and 24 online; two cannot attend. The external speaker can join on either day.
- Facilities team: Tuesday’s room holds 24 people and has no equipment for remote participation. Thursday’s room holds 30 and has hybrid equipment. The booking expires at 16:00 tomorrow unless the unit confirms it.
- Accessibility coordinator: two online participants need live captions. The central service can cover Thursday if it receives the request by noon tomorrow. The date must be confirmed before invitations can be updated.
Model answer
Decision requested: confirm Thursday as a hybrid workshop. Thursday accommodates all 22 in-person and 24 online participants, provided captions are secured. Tuesday has five too few seats for in-person attendees and no remote equipment. Two registrants cannot attend Thursday. Today: the unit coordinator provisionally confirms Thursday with Facilities and asks the accessibility coordinator to request captions before noon tomorrow. Facilities confirms the room before 16:00 tomorrow. After the date is confirmed, the registration team updates invitations, explains remote access and follows up with the two unavailable registrants. If captions cannot be provided, escalate before releasing invitations.
Check whether your note compares both days, identifies the capacity and accessibility constraints, and puts the caption request and booking confirmation in a workable order. Mark any assumption as such.
Practice score /50
Oral presentation and interview · 60 min
Pick a case, work against the clock, then score your performance against the model.
Explain who does what in the EU budget
The dossier or panel prompts open when you start.
Give a short briefing to a new colleague on adopting, implementing and checking the annual EU budget. Then face the panel.
Ask a partner to chair the panel. Suggested rehearsal: 10 minutes to prepare, 10 for the presentation, 15 for questions, 25 for the interview. Keep answers brief enough to allow follow-up.
Who implements the budget? What is the difference between an audit by the Court of Auditors and Parliament’s discharge decision?
Why do you want an AST2 post? Describe a time you learnt a financial process, explained a budget constraint, re-prioritised urgent work and resolved a disagreement with a colleague.
What a strong answer includes
The Commission prepares the draft. Parliament and Council establish the annual budget through the budgetary procedure. The Commission implements it with Member States. The Court of Auditors examines accounts and reports findings. Parliament decides discharge on a Council recommendation. Use one workplace example to show how your role would support accurate records and timely follow-up.
Keep adoption, implementation, audit and discharge distinct. For each interview example, name the decision you made and the evidence of the outcome.
Practice score /50
Eligibility and candidate instructions
Eligible categories: Commission officials and temporary staff in AST/SC or AST, and contract staff in FG III–IV. Service requirements: six consecutive full months in those categories and twelve in the Commission; contract staff also need 36 Commission months, not necessarily consecutive.
The notice gives no test dates. Check your invitation. The EU knowledge MCQ and written assignment take place online on the same day.
Education routes: a post-secondary diploma; a secondary diploma giving access to post-secondary education plus three years of relevant experience after that diploma; or certified vocational training equivalent to post-secondary education. Check recognition rules in the notice.
All tests use Language 2: English, French or German. It must differ from your main language in Sysper unless you document C1 in a different official EU language as Language 1. The minimum levels are C1 for Language 1 and B2 for Language 2.
Binding documents
The Commission’s internal notice COM/AST/112/2026 and candidate instructions are binding. Consult Staff Centre and My Communications in the Single Candidate Portal for updates.
Checked: November 4, 2026.