# EPSO Digital Skills Test: The 5 DigComp Fields Explained URL: https://eu-now.com/blog/epso-digital-skills-five-fields-explained Published: 2026-03-28 · Updated: 2026-07-10 Category: Preparation Strategy Tags: EPSO, digital skills, DigComp, AD5, preparation, 2026 The EPSO digital skills test covers 5 DigComp competence areas. Here's what each field tests, what kind of questions to expect, and how to prepare efficiently. ## Key takeaways - 40 questions in 30 minutes — roughly 45 seconds per question - Based on DigComp 3.0 framework: 5 competence areas, 21 specific competencies - Tests professional digital judgement, not IT expertise — no coding required - Digital skills account for a significant portion of your final AD5 score alongside VR and EU Knowledge ## Digital literacy is now an official part of becoming an EU official Starting with the 2026 AD5 competition, EPSO tests [digital skills](/blog/epso-digital-skills-digcomp-2026-guide) as a separate, scored component. This is new territory for many candidates — and that makes it an opportunity. While everyone has been preparing for [verbal reasoning](/blog/epso-verbal-reasoning-how-to-read-like-an-examiner) and EU knowledge for months, the digital skills test is where focused study can give you an edge. The test is based on the **European Digital Competence Framework ([DigComp 3.0](/blog/digcomp-3-0-digital-competence-framework-guide))**, developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. It is structured around **5 competence areas** with **21 specific competencies**. Here is exactly what each area covers and how to prepare. ## The test at a glance | Detail | Value | |--------|-------| | Number of questions | 40 | | Time allowed | 30 minutes | | Time per question | ~45 seconds | | Framework | DigComp 3.0 | | Focus | Professional digital judgement | | Difficulty level | Intermediate (not specialist IT) | This is not an IT exam. EPSO is testing whether you can function as a **digitally competent administrator** — someone who makes sound decisions about data, communication, security, and tools in a professional EU context. ## Field 1: Information Search, Evaluation and Management **What it covers:** Finding, evaluating, and managing digital information and data. This area tests whether you can distinguish reliable sources from unreliable ones, understand how search engines rank results, and organize digital information effectively. **Key competencies:** - Browsing, searching, and filtering data and information - Evaluating data, information, and digital content - Managing data, information, and digital content **What questions look like:** - How to verify the credibility of an online source - What metadata is and why it matters - How to use Boolean operators in search queries - Recognizing bias in algorithmically curated content - Best practices for file naming and digital organisation **Study tip:** Focus on **source evaluation criteria** (authority, accuracy, currency, purpose) and understand how algorithms influence what information you see. The EU institutions deal with enormous volumes of data — EPSO wants to know you can navigate that responsibly. ## Field 2: Communication and Collaboration **What it covers:** Interacting, sharing, and collaborating through digital technologies. This area tests your understanding of digital communication tools, online etiquette, and collaborative work practices — exactly the skills you will use daily in any EU institution. **Key competencies:** - Interacting through digital technologies - Sharing through digital technologies - Engaging in citizenship through digital technologies - Collaborating through digital technologies - Digital behaviour - Managing digital identity **What questions look like:** - Choosing the right communication channel for different situations (email vs. instant message vs. video call) - Understanding version control in shared documents - Digital etiquette in professional settings - Managing your digital footprint and online reputation - Understanding how participatory platforms work (e.g., EU public consultations) **Study tip:** Think about **professional context**. The EU institutions use collaborative platforms extensively — questions will test whether you understand the principles behind shared workspaces, permissions, and professional digital communication. ## Field 3: Content Creation **What it covers:** Creating, editing, and integrating digital content while respecting intellectual property. This is not about graphic design or video production. It is about understanding how digital content is structured, how licensing works, and how to create and modify documents responsibly. **Key competencies:** - Developing digital content - Integrating and re-elaborating digital content - Copyright and licences - Programming (basic concepts only) **What questions look like:** - Understanding Creative Commons licence types - What happens when you embed content vs. copy it - Basic understanding of how structured data works (spreadsheets, databases) - What an algorithm is (conceptually, not coding) - Understanding file formats and when to use which one **Study tip:** **Copyright and licensing** questions are almost guaranteed. Know the difference between Creative Commons licence types (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, etc.). Also understand basic concepts like what an API does, what structured vs. unstructured data means, and how templates improve consistency. ## Field 4: Safety, Wellbeing and Responsible Use **What it covers:** Protecting devices, personal data, health, and the environment in digital contexts. This is one of the most practical areas — and one where EU institutions are particularly demanding, given their handling of sensitive policy data. **Key competencies:** - Protecting devices - Protecting personal data and privacy - Protecting health and well-being - Protecting the environment **What questions look like:** - How two-factor authentication (2FA) works and why it matters - What phishing is and how to recognize it - Understanding GDPR principles (data minimisation, right to erasure, consent) - Password management best practices - Recognizing social engineering attacks - Digital environmental impact (e.g., data centre energy use, e-waste) **Study tip:** This is the area where candidates with practical awareness do best. Know the **GDPR principles** at a conceptual level — you do not need to cite articles, but you should understand consent, data minimisation, purpose limitation, and the right to be forgotten. Also study common cyber threats: phishing, ransomware, social engineering. ## Field 5: Problem Identification and Solving **What it covers:** Identifying needs, making decisions, and solving problems using digital tools creatively. This area tests your ability to think critically about technology — when to use it, when not to, and how to troubleshoot when things do not work. **Key competencies:** - Solving technical problems - Identifying needs and technological responses - Creatively using digital technologies - Identifying digital competence gaps **What questions look like:** - What to do when a software application crashes or behaves unexpectedly - Choosing the right digital tool for a specific task - Understanding cloud computing vs. local storage trade-offs - Recognizing when a task could be automated - Identifying when you need to update your own digital skills **Study tip:** Think in terms of **professional decision-making**. If a colleague asks how to share a large file securely, what would you recommend? If a system is running slowly, what are the first diagnostic steps? These are the kinds of scenarios EPSO builds questions around. ## How to prepare efficiently The digital skills test rewards breadth over depth. You do not need expert knowledge in any single area — you need solid foundational understanding across all five. | Preparation approach | Time needed | Impact | |---------------------|-------------|--------| | Read through the DigComp 3.0 framework summary | 2 hours | Understand the structure | | Study GDPR basics and cybersecurity fundamentals | 3-4 hours | Covers highest-frequency topics | | Review Creative Commons and digital licensing | 1-2 hours | Almost guaranteed exam content | | Practice with digital literacy question sets | 4-6 hours | Build speed and confidence | | Learn basic concepts: cloud, APIs, algorithms, automation | 2-3 hours | Covers problem-solving field | **Total: approximately 12-17 hours of focused study** can prepare you well for this component. That is a remarkably efficient investment for a test that counts towards your final ranking. ## This is one of the most learnable parts of the entire exam Unlike verbal reasoning, which requires weeks of technique-building, digital skills content can be absorbed relatively quickly. The DigComp framework is public, the topics are practical, and most candidates already have everyday experience with many of these concepts. The key is structured coverage: make sure you have touched all five fields, with particular attention to safety (GDPR, cybersecurity) and content creation (licensing). These are the areas where EPSO questions are most specific. **You can master this component in under 20 hours.** [Join the EU-Now waitlist](https://eu-now.com) for DigComp-aligned practice questions verified against official sources, field-by-field study guides, and adaptive training that focuses on your specific weak areas across all five competence areas. ## FAQ ### Do I need to know how to code for the EPSO digital skills test? No. The test assesses digital literacy for administrative professionals, not IT skills. You need to understand concepts like data protection, cloud collaboration, digital communication tools, and online safety — the kind of digital judgement expected of any modern civil servant. ### What framework does EPSO use for the digital skills test? The test is based on the European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp 3.0), developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. It defines 5 competence areas and 21 specific competencies that every digitally literate citizen should possess. ### How much does the digital skills test count towards my AD5 score? Digital skills contribute to both the preliminary and final ranking. Combined with the other multiple-choice tests, they form a significant part of your total assessment. The exact weighting means every question matters for your competitive position. ### Is the digital skills test harder than verbal reasoning? It is different, not necessarily harder. Verbal reasoning requires a practised analytical method. Digital skills test applied knowledge — you either know how two-factor authentication works or you do not. The good news is that the content is very learnable in a short time. ## Official sources - EU Careers — Apply for AD5 Graduate Competition: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/apply-graduate-competition-ad-5 - Prepari — EPSO AD5 Digital Skills Test 2026: https://prepari.eu/epso-ad5-digital-skills-test/ - EU Training — How to Prepare for EPSO AD5 2026: https://eutraining.eu/content/how-prepare-epso-ad5-graduate-administrators-2026 - European Commission JRC — DigComp Framework: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/oldpage-digcomp/digcomp-framework_en - EU Training — 250 Digital Literacy Skills Questions Added: https://eutraining.eu/content/250-digital-literacy-skills-questions-added ## This article in other languages - French: https://eu-now.com/fr/blog/epso-digital-skills-five-fields-explained/llms.txt - German: https://eu-now.com/de/blog/epso-digital-skills-five-fields-explained/llms.txt - Spanish: https://eu-now.com/es/blog/epso-digital-skills-five-fields-explained/llms.txt - Italian: https://eu-now.com/it/blog/epso-digital-skills-five-fields-explained/llms.txt Source of record: https://eu-now.com/blog/epso-digital-skills-five-fields-explained — published by EU-now (eu-now.com), which is not EPSO and not affiliated with the European Commission.