# EPSO Digital Skills: the guide to the test and the DigComp framework
URL: https://eu-now.com/blog/competenze-digitali-epso-digcomp-guida
Published: 2026-06-16
Category: Preparation Strategy
Tags: competenze digitali, DigComp, EPSO, AD5, digital skills, preparazione
The EPSO Digital Skills test (40 questions, 30 minutes) is based on DigComp: 5 areas and 21 competencies. What to actually study and how to prepare. Verified 2026 guide.
## Key takeaways
- The EPSO Digital Skills test consists of 40 questions in 30 minutes, taken in Language 2, and accounts for approximately 25% of the final score.
- It is based on the official DigComp framework from the Joint Research Centre: 5 competence areas and 21 specific competences
- It is not a technical test: no programming is required. It measures digital judgement — security, source evaluation, and the appropriate use of tools.
- The 5 areas are: information search, evaluation and management; communication and collaboration; content creation; safety, wellbeing and responsible use; and problem identification and solving
- The passing score is 20/40; the DigComp framework is effectively the study program for the test
## 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), and how to prepare in a targeted way.

## Actual test format

| Feature | Detail |
|----------------|-----------|
| Number of questions | 40 |
| Time | 30 minutes (~45 seconds per question) |
| Language | Language 2 (a second official EU language, B2 level) |
| Passing score | 20/40 |
| Role in scoring | Ranked — weighs ~25% of the final score |

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

The test is based on **DigComp**, the European Digital Competence Framework for citizens, published by the European Commission's **Joint Research Centre (JRC)**. The Notice of Competition does not name an edition in its body; its footnote cites the 2022 publication, which is **DigComp 2.2**. A newer edition, DigComp 3.0, came out in November 2025, but EPSO has announced nothing about adopting it. Either way the document is free and public — and it is, in effect, the study program for the test.

The two editions share the same structure, so what follows holds for both: five areas, twenty-one competences, the same 1.1–5.4 numbering. The names below follow the 3.0 wording; 2.2 calls the same five areas Information and data literacy, Communication and collaboration, Digital content creation, Safety, and Problem solving.

DigComp organizes digital competences into **5 areas**, **21 competences**, and **4 proficiency levels** (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Highly advanced).

## The 5 areas and the 21 competences

### 1. Information search, evaluation and management

Searching, evaluating and managing information.

- 1.1 Browsing, searching and filtering information
- 1.2 Evaluating information
- 1.3 Managing information

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 and with digital technologies
- 2.2 Sharing through digital technologies
- 2.3 Engaging in citizenship through digital technologies
- 2.4 Collaborating through digital technologies
- 2.5 Digital behaviour
- 2.6 Managing digital identity

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

### 3. Content creation

Developing, adapting and protecting digital content.

- 3.1 Developing digital content
- 3.2 Integrating and re-elaborating digital content
- 3.3 Copyright and licences
- 3.4 Computational thinking and 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, wellbeing and responsible use

Protecting devices and personal data, supporting wellbeing, and understanding the environmental impact of technology.

- 4.1 Protecting devices
- 4.2 Protecting personal data and privacy
- 4.3 Supporting wellbeing
- 4.4 Environmental impacts of digital technologies

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

### 5. Problem identification and solving

Identifying and solving technical problems and finding creative digital solutions.

- 5.1 Identifying and solving technical problems
- 5.2 Identifying needs and digital technological responses
- 5.3 Identifying creative solutions using digital technologies
- 5.4 Identifying and addressing digital competence needs

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

![The five competence areas of the DigComp framework](/photos/blog/digital-aree.webp)
*The test covers the five areas of DigComp: information search and evaluation, communication and collaboration, content creation, safety and wellbeing, problem identification and solving.*

## 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.

![Professional evaluating a digital security aspect on a computer](/photos/blog/digital-giudizio.webp)
*It is not a technical test: it measures digital judgment. Often the correct answer is the safest and most appropriate one.*

## How to prepare

- **Use DigComp 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, including explanations, in the [EU·Now practice section](/practice). And for the full overview of the AD5 selection, read the [complete guide to the EPSO 2026 competition](/blog/concorso-epso-2026-guida-completa).

## 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**: 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.
## FAQ
### How many questions are in the Digital Skills test and how long does it last?
The AD5 2026 Digital Skills test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 30 minutes — approximately 45 seconds per question. It is taken in Language 2 (a second official EU language, B2 level). This is a ranked test that accounts for approximately 25% of the final score, with a passing threshold of 20/40. While numerical specifications are not published on the official EPSO page, they are consistent across reliable preparation sources; always check the notice of vacancy for your specific competition.
### What is the Digital Skills test based on?
Based on the official DigComp framework — the European Digital Competence Framework for citizens, published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). DigComp organizes digital skills into 5 areas and 21 specific competences, across 4 proficiency levels (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Highly advanced). The framework is public and free: it is effectively the study program for the EPSO test.
### Do I need to know how to program for the Digital Skills test?
No. The test is not technical and does not require you to write code. It measures digital literacy and judgment: understanding how digital systems work, assessing risks, and applying sound judgment within an administration undergoing digital transformation. Even the '3.4 Programming' competence of the framework is tested at a conceptual level (awareness of automation), not as code writing. Think like an official who uses digital tools safely and effectively, not like a developer.
### What are the 5 areas of the DigComp framework?
The five official areas are: (1) Information search, evaluation and management — searching, evaluating, and managing data and content; (2) Communication and collaboration — interacting, sharing, and collaborating with digital tools, including digital behaviour and digital identity; (3) Content creation — developing content, copyright and licences, computational thinking and programming; (4) Safety, wellbeing and responsible use — protecting devices and personal data, supporting wellbeing, and environmental impacts; (5) Problem identification and solving — identifying and solving technical problems and finding creative digital solutions. In total, they encompass 21 competencies.
### How much does the Digital Skills test weigh in the final score?
It accounts for approximately 25% of the final score (and about 30% of the preliminary score that determines who proceeds to the next stage). It is therefore a component with a weight similar to that of EU Knowledge. This is a ranked test, not a simple pass/fail gate: every correct answer improves your position on the list. For this reason, it is worth preparing for it seriously, even if it may seem 'lighter' than Verbal Reasoning at first glance. Always verify the exact weights in the notice of your competition.
### How do you prepare for the Digital Skills test?
Use the DigComp document as your study program — 2.2 is the edition the Notice cites, 3.0 is the newest. Master the key conceptual distinctions (DNS vs HTTP vs TLS, disinformation vs misinformation, cloud storage vs SaaS), and practice applying the judgment of an official: in your answers, prioritize security and institutional appropriateness. Practice with a timer set to ~45 seconds per question to learn how to eliminate plausible distractors. There is also a free EU self-assessment tool, 'Test your digital skills', but it is based on the older DigComp 2.0: useful for guidance, but not as an EPSO test simulation.
## Official sources
- Joint Research Centre — DigComp Framework (5 aree, 21 competenze): https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/digcomp_en
- Cosgrove, J. & Cachia, R. (2025), DigComp 3.0: European Digital Competence Framework — Fifth Edition (Publications Office of the EU, JRC144121): https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/0001149
- EU Careers — Digital skills: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/digital-skills
- EU Careers — EPSO tests and selection procedure: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/selection-procedure/epso-tests

## This article in other languages
- French: https://eu-now.com/fr/blog/competenze-digitali-epso-digcomp-guida/llms.txt
- German: https://eu-now.com/de/blog/competenze-digitali-epso-digcomp-guida/llms.txt
- Spanish: https://eu-now.com/es/blog/competenze-digitali-epso-digcomp-guida/llms.txt
- Italian: https://eu-now.com/it/blog/competenze-digitali-epso-digcomp-guida/llms.txt

Source of record: https://eu-now.com/blog/competenze-digitali-epso-digcomp-guida — published by EU-now (eu-now.com), which is not EPSO and not affiliated with the European Commission.