Alongside open competitions such as the AD5 graduate competition, the EU institutions and agencies recruit contract staff through a separate procedure: CAST. Registration is open at all times, and shortlisted candidates take the same three reasoning tests as Part 1 of EPSO/AD/427/26, with the same pass marks. This article summarises the rules from the February 2026 call for expressions of interest and the EU Careers pages.
What CAST is
CAST is the selection procedure for contract staff. Its profiles carry references starting with EPSO/CAST/P, and it is often referred to as CAST Permanent. EU Careers states that contract staff are generally recruited on fixed-term contracts of up to six years. In some cases, for example in agencies, delegations or representations, contracts of indefinite duration may be offered.
There is no registration deadline. You create an EPSO account, complete your profile and apply for the profiles and function groups that match your background. The February 2026 call covers 37 profiles, in areas including finance, project management, administration and HR, communication, political affairs and EU policies, law, ICT, translation and proofreading, building management and security.
Function groups
| Function group | Tasks | Minimum education |
|---|---|---|
| FG I | Manual or basic administrative support | Compulsory education |
| FG II | Clerical and secretarial | Post-secondary education, or secondary education giving access to it plus 3 years of relevant experience |
| FG III | Executive and technical | Same as FG II |
| FG IV | Administrative, advisory, linguistic or equivalent technical | At least 3 years of completed university education |
How you get to the test
A test comes after a shortlisting. The call describes these steps:
- You register and keep your application up to date.
- When a post needs filling, a recruiting service searches the database and shortlists the candidates whose profiles fit.
- EPSO invites the shortlisted candidates to the reasoning tests.
- Candidates who pass are contacted by the recruiting service for interviews and/or further tests.
You need to update or confirm your application at least every six months. Past that date, recruiting services can no longer see it until you renew. Invitations and results are posted in your EPSO account, which the call asks you to check at least every three calendar days.
EU Careers lists two CAST test dates for the rest of 2026: 6 October (results expected early November) and 19 November (results expected end of December).
The tests
All shortlisted candidates take the same three multiple-choice tests, whatever the function group. The call does not set different pass marks by function group.
| Test | Questions | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | 20 | 35 min | 10/20 |
| Numerical reasoning | 10 | 20 min | 10/20 combined |
| Abstract reasoning | 10 | 10 min |
You need both: 10 out of 20 on verbal, and 10 out of 20 on numerical and abstract added together. These are the same figures as in Part 1 of the 2026 AD5 competition.
Languages
Language 1 is one of the 24 official EU languages, at C1 level at least, and the reasoning tests are taken in it. Language 2 must be English, French or German, at B2 level at least, and different from Language 1.
Validity and retakes
A pass is valid for ten years from its publication in your EPSO account. It applies to the function group you were tested for and to the lower ones, for all CAST profiles. It does not apply to a higher function group: a pass at FG III does not cover FG IV.
After a fail, for tests taken since January 2025, you cannot be invited again for the same or a higher function group for four months from the test date. You can still be invited for a lower function group during that time. After the four months, a new test depends on being shortlisted again by a recruiting service.
Testing platform
According to EU Careers, contract staff tests run on TestWe, a different platform from the TAO system used for AD5. The listed requirements include administrator rights, a camera, Chrome, Edge, Brave or Opera, at least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended by the provider) and 2 GB of free disk space. Windows 10 S, Windows on ARM and virtual machines are not compatible. Detailed instructions are sent through the candidate account and by email.
The general rules for online testing on EU Careers apply: be alone in a quiet, well-lit room, show an ID with your name and photo on the same side, and keep phones, headphones, writing materials, books and notes off the desk. Speaking or reading aloud is not allowed.
Preparing
The test date depends on when a recruiting service shortlists you. Regular practice keeps you ready for it. Writing materials are not allowed, so practise numerical questions with an on-screen calculator and no paper.
EPSODrill has verbal, numerical and abstract questions in the EPSO format, with ten free questions per test and no sign-up. Pro accounts add timed exams with the same question counts and durations as the real tests: verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning.