EPSO TAO Pre-requisite Test (20 Oct – 6 Nov): Checklist for Your Online Exam
Between 20 October and 6 November, AD5 candidates must log in to EPSO's TAO platform and complete a pre-requisite test. What it is for, when to do it, and a practical checklist for test day.
Before the AD5 reasoning tests of 9 to 13 November 2026, EPSO has added an important step: from 20 October to 6 November, candidates can access the TAO testing platform and complete a pre-requisite test. Here is what it is, why it matters and how to get ready.
What the pre-requisite test is
According to EPSO's announcement of 13 October 2026:
- It lets you check that your technical setup works and that you are ready for the real test.
- It is done on TAO, the platform used for the actual tests.
- Once on TAO, you will also see the precise date and time of your individual test session.
The access instructions are in your invitation letter, posted in your Single Candidate Portal on 19 October.
When to do it: early
The window closes on 6 November, only three days before the first tests. Do not leave it to the last day. If the check reveals a problem (browser, webcam, network, permissions on a work laptop), you need time to fix it.
Good target: complete it in the week of 26 October, on the computer, in the room and at the time of day you plan to use for the real test.
Technical checklist
Your invitation and the TAO instructions are the reference: follow them exactly. In practice, check:
- The computer you will use on test day — ideally your own. Work laptops often block software, cameras or screen sharing.
- Browser and system up to date, with only the software TAO asks for.
- Webcam and microphone working, if required.
- A stable internet connection. If your Wi-Fi is weak, use a cable or sit next to the router.
- Power: laptop plugged in, automatic updates paused for the day.
- Notifications off and other applications closed.
Test-day checklist
- Your identity document, as specified in the instructions.
- A quiet room where you will not be interrupted for the whole session. Tell the people you live with.
- A clear desk. Only what the rules allow.
- Log in early, as the instructions advise, to leave a margin for checks.
- Water and a light meal beforehand: Part 1 is 40 questions in 65 minutes of sustained concentration.
The technical part is easy. The time pressure is not.
Once your setup works, the real challenge is speed: 20 verbal questions in 35 minutes, 10 numerical in 20, 10 abstract in 10. Practise in conditions as close as possible to the real test: on screen, timed, in one go.
Take our free timed test to measure your speed. The Reasoning pack includes a Part 1 final exam timed like the real one, with explained answers.
Source: EPSO news, 13 October 2026. Technical and proctoring rules are those in your invitation letter and on TAO.
👉 See the AD5 preparation packs on qweega.eu
Read also:
Full roadmap: how to pass the EPSO AD5 — the step-by-step guide for 2026.