EPSO Digital Skills: the guide to the test and the DigComp 2.2 framework

The test that seems easy (but isn't)

The Digital Skills test is often the one candidates underestimate. "I know how to use a computer," they think. But the test doesn't measure whether you can open a spreadsheet: it measures whether you can evaluate a source, recognize a security risk, and choose the right tool within an administration that is digitizing. It is about judgment, not practice.

And it accounts for approximately 25% of the final score (about 30% in the preliminary score) — a weight similar to that of EU Knowledge. It is not a secondary component.

This guide explains the test format, the official framework it is based on (DigComp 2.2), and how to prepare in a targeted way.

Actual test format

A note on transparency: the numerical specifications (40 questions, 30 minutes) are not published on the official EPSO page, which only provides a mock test. However, they are consistent across reliable preparation sources. Always check the official notice of your competition (EPSO/AD/427/26) for the exact parameters.

The official framework: DigComp 2.2

The test is based on DigComp 2.2, the European Digital Competence Framework for citizens, published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) in 2022. It is a free, public document — and it is, in effect, the study program for the test.

DigComp 2.2 organizes digital competences into 5 areas, 21 competences, and 8 proficiency levels (grouped into four bands: basic, intermediate, advanced, highly specialized).

The 5 areas and the 21 competences

1. Information and data literacy

Searching, evaluating and managing data, information and digital content.

• 1.1 Browsing, searching and filtering data, information and digital content
• 1.2 Evaluating data, information and digital content
• 1.3 Managing data, information and digital content

Typical topics: algorithmic personalization, deepfakes, mis/disinformation, credibility of sources, data visualization integrity.

2. Communication and collaboration

Interacting, sharing and collaborating using digital technologies.

• 2.1 Interacting through digital technologies
• 2.2 Sharing through digital technologies
• 2.3 Exercising citizenship through digital technologies
• 2.4 Collaborating through digital technologies
• 2.5 Netiquette
• 2.6 Managing digital identity

Typical topics: choosing the appropriate channel, netiquette, professional online conduct, digital identity management.

3. Digital content creation

Developing, adapting and protecting digital content.

• 3.1 Developing digital content
• 3.2 Integrating and adapting digital content
• 3.3 Copyright and licenses
• 3.4 Programming

Typical topics: file formats and interoperability, copyright and licenses, spreadsheet logic, basic awareness of automation. (Competence 3.4 is tested at a conceptual level, not as code writing.)

4. Safety

Protecting devices, data, health and the environment.

• 4.1 Protecting devices
• 4.2 Protecting personal data and privacy
• 4.3 Protecting health and well-being
• 4.4 Protecting the environment

Typical topics: HTTPS/TLS basics, phishing indicators, metadata exposure, privacy settings, two-factor authentication.

5. Problem solving

Solving technical problems and using technologies creatively.

• 5.1 Solving technical problems
• 5.2 Identifying needs and technological responses
• 5.3 Using digital technologies creatively
• 5.4 Identifying gaps in digital competences

Typical topics: troubleshooting logic, distinction between DNS vs HTTP, cloud storage vs SaaS, identifying technological responses.

It is not a technical test

It is worth repeating: you do not need to know how to program. The test measures digital judgement, not technical skill. It is about understanding how a system works, assessing its risks, and choosing the safest and most appropriate response within an institutional context.

Even where the framework includes "Programming" (competence 3.4), the test approaches it at a conceptual level — awareness of automation — rather than asking you to write code. Think like an official who uses digital tools responsibly, not like a developer.

How to prepare

• Use DigComp 2.2 as your syllabus. The official document is the source: it covers all the areas the test may touch upon.
• Master key conceptual distinctions. DNS vs HTTP vs TLS, disinformation vs misinformation, cloud storage vs SaaS. These are the types of distinctions the test loves.
• Apply official judgment. When an option prioritizes security and institutional appropriateness, it is often the correct one.
• Timed practice. At ~45 seconds per question, you must learn to quickly eliminate plausible distractors. Speed is a skill that can be trained.
• The EU self-assessment tool ("Test your digital skills") exists and is free, but it is based on the older DigComp 2.0: use it for guidance, not as a faithful simulation of the EPSO test.

You can find practice questions aligned with DigComp 2.2, including explanations, in the EU·Now practice section. And for the full overview of the AD5 selection, read the complete guide to the EPSO 2026 competition.

In summary

The Digital Skills test rewards targeted preparation:

1. It consists of 40 questions in 30 minutes, in Language 2, and accounts for ~25% of the final score.
2. It is based on DigComp 2.2: 5 areas, 21 competencies — the framework is your syllabus.
3. It measures digital judgment, not programming: security, source evaluation, and the appropriate use of tools.

It may seem like the easiest test. Treat it as one of the most important.