In light of recent reporting, we would like to provide all candidates with an update on the current state of play of the translator competitions (EPSO/AD/414-421/24 – 8 languages).

The competitions have concluded, and all reserve lists have been published on the EU Careers website.

The competitions aimed to establish reserve lists of successful candidates across several language profiles, as specified in the respective Notice of Competition. Below is a breakdown by competition, including the number of successful candidates sought, the number of applications received, and the number of candidates included on the reserve lists.
 

EPSO/AD/414/24/Danish

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 156

Application received: 346

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 14

EPSO/AD/415/24/Greek

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 146

Application received: 2176

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 118

EPSO/AD/416/24/English

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 126

Application received: 1616

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 99

EPSO/AD/417/24/Spanish

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 154

Application received: 2558

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 128

EPSO/AD/418/24/French

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 180

Application received: 1654

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 151

EPSO/AD/419/24/Italian

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 150

Application received: 3763

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 160

EPSO/AD/420/24/Maltese

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 119

Application received: 173

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 29

EPSO/AD/421/24/Dutch

Successful candidates sought (NoC): 146

Application received: 566

Successful candidates on the reserve list: 66

The competitions are now in the request for review stage.

EPSO takes all complaints seriously and is currently carrying out thorough checks on each individual request, in close cooperation with its external service provider, TestWe. This includes complaints related to the non-completion of all tests.

At this stage, it would be premature to indicate how many candidates may be concerned. All cases are being examined individually, and EPSO is committed to reducing delays as much as possible while ensuring that each claim is handled carefully, fairly and in line with the applicable rules.

We will be in a better position to provide further information once the review process has been finalised.

EPSO is aware that some candidates experienced certain technical difficulties with their online tests on 14 May.

We are currently processing the enquiries received and analysing the complaints submitted within the deadline (17/05/2025). EPSO will reply to the candidates concerned as soon as possible. 
As per usual procedure, a retest may be offered for candidates where the complaint is found to be valid (see EPSO Complaint Resolution Policy).

Further to the communiqué published by EPSO on 10 April 2025, and in response to questions being asked to EPSO since then, we would like to provide further clarification about the current situation.

What happened?

On 6 March 2025, an unfortunate test set-up error occurred, allowing multiple answers in tests where only one answer was correct. Our investigation revealed that over 3,000 candidates were affected. Although candidate instructions stated that only one answer was correct, it was unclear whether candidates had assumed that a second answer would cancel out the first. This is a plausible scenario in a time-pressured testing situation. Therefore, a retesting session became justified, instead of disqualification.

A second chance

After careful consideration, and in consultation with the Selection Boards and the EU institutions concerned, EPSO decided to retest all participants in the affected testing event on 14 May. This decision ensures fairness and an equal footing for all candidates, as retesting only those who had provided multiple answers could have given them an undue advantage.

Transparency

EPSO has been in touch with the external contractor responsible for this error since it was first detected. Negotiations are ongoing to determine the financial implications of this situation. EPSO acknowledges the inconvenience the retesting may cause to the candidates who had carefully followed the rules, but we prioritise fairness and transparency in all our selection procedures. Errors can happen and this is an annoying situation. Our full focus now is on remedial action.

It has come to EPSO’s attention that during the testing session of 6 March 2025, for the ongoing Translator competitions (EPSO/AD/414-421/24 – 8 languages), EPSO’s external contractor allowed a set-up defect in some of the multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) tests*. This led to a high number of candidates submitting more than one answer, despite the explicit mention in the instructions that there was only one correct answer.

EPSO analysed the situation thoroughly and with the unanimous agreement of the Selection Boards concerned, concluded that to ensure equal treatment among all candidates, it will have to retest all candidates who were present at the online testing session of 6 March 2025 (candidates with a justified reason for absence will also be invited). Therefore, new tests will be organised with new test content of an equivalent level of difficulty.

Retesting date: 14 May 2025.

Formal invitation letters to the retesting session will be sent out via the EPSO Account to all the candidates concerned, as soon as possible, and at least two weeks before the date of the planned session.

EPSO and the Selection Board will only consider the results of the new testing session planned for 14 May 2025. The test scores of the 6 March 2025 irregular testing session will be invalidated.

All the candidates concerned have already been informed by EPSO of this decision through their respective EPSO Account. This communication is complementary to that. Further information regarding this situation will continue to be communicated to the candidates concerned via their respective EPSO Account. Moreover, any complaints linked to the test content of the initial testing session will not be processed by EPSO.

EPSO understands well the impact of this regrettable situation and wishes to apologise on behalf of its external contractor. However, this measure, taken after very careful consideration, is the best way to ensure the competitions’ integrity and equal treatment of all candidates.

* Reasoning skills tests; Language knowledge test; Language comprehension test.

EPSO, and the competitions’ Selection Boards, would like to take this opportunity to remind candidates that cheating during the tests, recording online tests or attempting to manipulate the fair conduct of tests, or compromising the integrity of the competition process in any other way, may lead to their disqualification from the competition. 
Such behaviour also covers the sharing of test content, online or in any other way.

Candidates are asked to make sure to configure their keyboard in the language they will be translating to, before launching the exam.

Steps to follow:

1. Log into the software.
2. Change the keyboard settings to the desired language.
3. Start the exam.

The deadline to perform the mandatory technical prerequisite check has been extended until 5 March 23:59 (Brussels time). 

We would like to remind candidates once more, that if they encounter technical issues with the TestWe App or the prerequisite check they should exclusively contact TestWe via their chatbot as explained in the instructions sent together with the invitation letter in their EPSO Account. 

We would like to remind candidates who encounter technical issues with the download of the TestWe App or the pre-requisite test that they should exclusively contact TestWe via their chatbot as explained in the instructions sent together with the invitation letter in their EPSO Account.

EPSO is not in a position to help solve these technical issues.

EPSO has received a significant volume of requests from candidates with specific reasonable accommodation needs. Our service is diligently working to ensure each application is carefully reviewed and necessary arrangements are made. 
To streamline this process, and ensure that all requests are handled efficiently, we kindly ask candidates to refrain from reaching out to EPSO unless they have specific additional information to provide regarding their needs. 
We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience as we work hard to meet the diverse needs of all participants. 
Should you have any urgent inquiries or require immediate assistance, please feel free to contact EPSO through the contact form.

The Notice of Competition for EPSO’s ongoing Translators competition refers to the following as regards the translation test (ref. point 4.3.(e)(i)): 

 “In the translation test, which includes some elements of localisation, candidates will be requested to translate a text from language 2 into language 1.”

In view of the questions received from candidates to this competition, EPSO would like to clarify further the meaning of “localisation” in the context of translation:

“An ability to convey in an accurate and natural way a message contained in the source text, using clear language with the appropriate register, and taking into account various linguistic, cultural, technical and geographical aspects, implications and conventions, as well as the needs of the target audience.”

EPSO prepared a number of replies to your most frequently asked questions, as regards the competition for translators. We hope you will find this useful. As always, we also invite you to read the notice of competition carefully. 

Candidates to EPSO’s competition for translators (AD5) covering DA, EL, EN, ES, FR, IT, MT and NL languages, are hereby informed that the testing session for this competition will take place in two separate days, both falling within the same month. Candidates will have to attend both days in order to complete their tests. In view of the important number of tests (5) comprised by this competition, EPSO felt that this decision would be in the best interest of candidates. Information about the testing dates will be published on this website as soon as available.

Candidates to EPSO’s competition for translators (AD5) covering DA, EL, EN, ES, FR, IT, MT and NL languages, are hereby informed that they are not required to have language-related degrees or diplomas to be eligible for this competition. This is fully in line with the notice of competition.

Candidates to EPSO’s competition for translators (AD5) covering DA, EL, EN, ES, FR, IT, MT and NL languages, are hereby informed that they will not be allowed to use paper or online dictionaries during testing. The language-related tests for this competition have been duly adapted to take this into account.