Prepare for the EPSO E-tray Exercise

In this EPSO test you have 50 minutes to answer 15-20 questions. Generally the test contains 17 questions. You are presented with various emails containing reports, correspondence and other pertinent information relating to the scenario you are being tested on. Based on the information presented you have to answer the questions. There are usually three different statements for each question and you have to rate them on a five point scale. This test is taken in your second language.

Whilst it used to be the case that the EPSO e-tray test was given in the EPSO assessment centre in Brussels for AST competitions, this is no longer the case. After successfully achieving the pass mark for the computer based tests you are invited to take an “intermediate test”.

In the EPSO e-tray exercise you are assessed on a number of key competencies that form the EPSO competency framework. The competition you have applied for determines the competencies that you are tested on. For the AST competitions you are tested on three whereas for the AD competitions there are four different competencies which you have to demonstrate. They are:

Analysis and problem-solving: Identifying critical facts in complex issues and developing creative and practical solutions.
Delivering quality and results: Taking personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard of quality within set procedures.
Prioritising and organising: Prioritising the most important tasks, working flexibly and organising your own workload efficiently.

(AD only) Working with others: Working co-operatively with others in teams and across organisational boundaries showing respect to differences between people.

In order to pass this EPSO test you need to score at least three out of 10 for each competency assessed. Although this isn’t a particularly high pass mark it is important to demonstrate each of the competencies throughout the e-tray exercise if you want to progress to the EPSO assessment centre.

Whilst it used to be the case that the EPSO e-tray test was given in the EPSO assessment centre in Brussels for AST competitions, this is no longer the case. After successfully achieving the pass mark for the computer based tests you are invited to take an “intermediate test”. This test is administered at an official testing centre, which will probably be in the same place that you took the CBT. In fact, you only need to score highly in the EPSO Abstract reasoning and SJT tests to be invited to sit the e-tray test. The verbal and numerical reasoning test scores are important, but are not taken into account to be invited to the intermediate test.

If you look at your specific EPSO notice of competition you will see that it states:

Approximately 10 times, but no more than 11 times, the number of successful candidates sought will be invited to take the intermediate test.

What does this mean? The answer is dependent on the actual number of positions available on the reserve list for that particular competition. For example; if there are 50 places available on the reserve list then this means that 50 × 10 = 500. Five hundred people will be invited to take the EPSO e-tray exercise. This is in fact a huge shift of thinking for EPSO in 2015. The number of people who are invited to the EPSO assessment centre has not changed but since there is a further preliminary stage before this, you have a much better chance of getting in. This intermediate stage is the biggest change in EPSO 2015.

At JobTestPrep we have a number of items that will help you understand the skills needed to pass the e-tray exercise for your EPSO test. These include a full guide giving you the understanding necessary to pass this test with high marks as well as a number of in-tray (similar to e-tray) exercises. We hope you have enjoyed this article and look forward to having you on board.