With the EPSO exam, the European Union’s primary entry test, returning after a seven-year break, a parallel sector has emerged: private coaching firms providing candidates with advantages in one of Europe’s most demanding selection processes.
The EPSO AD5 competition, which grants access to administrator-level roles within European institutions, has resumed after a hiatus of seven years. This pause was influenced by repeated IT malfunctions, the impact of the pandemic, the cancellation and costly rerun of a competition (around €300,000), and criticism from the European Ombudsman regarding outdated and opaque testing methods. EPSO’s management has acknowledged that the institution’s reputation has been negatively affected.
ADVERTISEMENT 
ADVERTISEMENT
During this interruption, private coaching companies continued to assist candidates preparing for the test. Organizations such as EU Training and ORSEU Concours kept providing courses, webinars, practice exams, and tailored coaching. With the AD5 exam now reinstated, many candidates are turning again to these services.
The stakes involved are significant. Positions at EU institutions offer net monthly salaries reaching €7,000, along with job stability and direct involvement in European policy decision-making. The success rate generally remains between three and four per cent, with over 40,000 participants in each cycle. In such a competitive context, any tangible edge can make a difference.
Statistics indicate that candidates who purchased preparation materials had a 40% higher likelihood of passing compared to those who did not. Those using both EU Training and ORSEU Concours averaged nine points higher out of 60. Given the difficulty of the competition, those nine points can determine whether a candidate enters the reserve list or is eliminated.
Experience as a foundation
Andras Baneth, founder of EU Training, explains that his venture was inspired by his own experience with EPSO exams as a young professional from Hungary in 2003. «Back then, no reliable resources were available—neither books nor websites—to guide candidates through the complex process,» he told Euronews. He authored a book in 2006, later launched a website, and now manages a platform featuring over 35,000 practice questions, webinars, and coaching across every phase, from application to interview.
ORSEU Concours boasts an even longer history. Caroline Fiche notes that the company initially engaged in consulting work for the European Commission during the 1990s. Subsequently, a trade union requested assistance preparing its members for written exams. «We were among the pioneers in this field,» she stated.
Both companies provide various product tiers. ORSEU offers packages starting at €65 for a reasoning test course up to €333 for a complete 14-hour video course. EU Training’s fees range from €135 for a basic collection of practice questions to €625 for an all-inclusive package featuring four webinars. Personalized one-on-one coaching is priced higher.
A unique selection process
Both companies emphasize that their offerings address a genuine need. The EPSO exam is far from a typical aptitude test. It includes proprietary formats, a specific online testing platform, and unique procedures. The timed numerical, verbal, and abstract reasoning questions leave minimal room for error. Since the 2023 reforms, all tests occur on the same day, requiring candidates to be fully prepared for every section simultaneously.
«Entering the exam unprepared, without practicing actual test questions or understanding the test logic, significantly reduces the chances of passing all sections,» said Fiche. She referred to pre-2023 data demonstrating roughly a 3% pass rate among unprepared candidates, contrasted with 25% among those focusing on test strategies and practice.
«There’s a strategy for better written test performance, faster resolution of abstract reasoning items, and quicker reading to improve accuracy,» Baneth added. «Candidates who recognize and master these techniques usually succeed.» The platform also enables users to compare their scores with peers—an essential feature since ranking, not only passing, determines inclusion on the reserve list.
The question of equity
The presence of a paid coaching industry around a competition nominally based on merit raises concerns. EPSO imposes no entry fee, requires no travel, and provides sample materials. The selection is designed to be accessible to any EU citizen with a computer and internet access. Yet, the availability of private prep services that demonstrably improve results for paying candidates seems at odds with that goal.
Baneth addresses this directly: «Anyone can pass the competition without assistance,» drawing a comparison with France’s grandes écoles, which have traditionally favored those who access their national concours. «Is it necessary to use services like ours? Not at all.» He also stresses that coaching providers have no formal association with the institutions organizing the exams.
Fiche mentions that ORSEU has not received any institutional complaints or criticisms about fairness issues. However, she clarifies that “EPSO does not endorse any private preparation providers;” instead, it refers candidates to official permanent representations.
Candidate demographics
The profiles of coaching users also vary. Both companies note higher demand from applicants in southern and eastern Europe for their services, which is understandable. «When salaries in countries like Romania or Greece range from €1,500 to €2,000 monthly, and an EU job offers €6,000 to €7,000 net, the difference is a powerful motivator,» Baneth explained. By contrast, attracting candidates from Nordic nations is more challenging, partly due to smaller salary gaps and differing interest levels in EU careers.
Fiche adds that many ORSEU clients are not recent graduates but current EU contract staff. These individuals already employed on temporary contracts seek to secure permanent positions by succeeding in the competition.
With the AD5 competition restarted, the contest for roles, job security, and a place within the EU is underway once more. The coaching companies are ready. The key question remains whether all candidates begin on equal footing.