2023 Update: To get the current POV on how to choose languages for your EPSO exams, read this Tips&Tricks article written by our expert EPSO CBT trainer: EU Career Compass: Guidance from the Pros | Thomas A. Williams
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Disclaimer: The article below was written before the 2023 EPSO selection process overhaul
It’s happening! You’re about to embark on an exciting journey towards an EU career by participating in an EPSO or CAST competition.
Now you'll need to pick at least two languages to complete the selection tests, but before you do so, you want to be 100% sure that you’re making the right choice.
If you speak multiple languages, this decision could have a major impact on your performance in the exams - so you want to get this right.
Let's go over a few vital basics first before we dive deep into the key factors that you’ll need to consider when making this important decision.
EPSO language basics
All EPSO competitions will require you to speak/read/write in at least two official EU Languages.
You’ll be asked to pick a ‘Language 1” - generally, you can choose from any of the 24 official languages of the European Union. These include Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenia, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
Depending on the competition, you will also need to pick a ‘Language 2’ and possibly even a ‘Language 3’ if you are taking part in a Linguist or Translator competition.
Your Language 2 choice will be more targeted because EPSO will specify a very narrow selection of languages that you can pick from - most often it is only English, French, and/or German.
Another important fact to remember about your Language 2 is that it has to be a language that is different from your Language 1.
The language choices for most EPSO competitions are relatively straightforward because the language options are clearly stated in advance in the official Notice of Competition when it is released.
5 Key Considerations When Picking Your
EPSO ‘Language 1’ and ‘Language 2’
Now that we've got the basics out of the way, let's take a look at the key factors that you’ll need to consider when picking your EPSO competition languages...
#1 - Language Specifications
EPSO's Notice of Competition should be your bible. It is vital that you read this document thoroughly and understand clearly what the competition’s language specifications are.
Generally, the language specifications in the Notice of Competition looks like this:
Language 1
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Can be any of the 24 official EU languages.
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You must have a thorough knowledge of this language (C1 level or above in reading/writing/speaking).
Language 2
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You must have a good command of this language (B2 level or above in reading/writing/speaking).
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Must be DIFFERENT from your selected Language 1.
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Sometimes it is specified that it must be English, French or German
You need to tick all of these requirements to be eligible to participate in the competition.
#2 - EPSO Shortlist for ‘Language 2’
(NOTE: This point focuses predominantly on a unique challenge faced by candidates participating in the EPSO Graduate Administrators (AD5) competition.)
This is a fundamental point and a vital reason why it is so important that you include in PART 1 of your application ALL the official EU languages in which your knowledge is at B2 level or above.
Make sure at least one of the languages you list is expected to be among the anticipated top 5 languages, so you do not risk being excluded from the competition at the application stage.
If you didn’t list any of the potential ‘Language 2’ options in PART 1 of your application, EPSO will deem you as ‘not eligible’ and disqualify you. This means you will not even be allowed to complete the second part of the application.
For the last two years these were the top 5 languages listed by EPSO AD5 candidates:
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2018: English (97.86%), French (51.30%), Spanish (27.98%), Italian (26.73%), and German (19.33%).
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2017: English (97.31%), French (52.07%), Spanish (27.29%), Italian (26.83%), and German (18.69%).
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It is highly likely that these will continue to be the top 5 languages going forward as well.
#3 - Your ‘Language 1’ pick does not necessarily have to be your mother tongue
It’s not mandatory that you pick your mother tongue as your ‘Language 1’, but this choice does depend largely on how many official EU languages you can speak, read and write at C1 level or higher.
Remember, the notice of competition states that you must have a thorough knowledge of the language you pick as your Language 1.
If your mother tongue is the only official EU language that you speak/read/write at a C1 or higher level then yes - Language 1 will have to be your mother tongue (because Language 2 only needs to be B2 level or higher).
For most EPSO competitions your choice in Language 2 or Language 3 is so specifically defined in the Notice of Competition, that unless your mother tongue is English, French or German, the chances are very high that you will pick your mother tongue as your Language 1. (Remember, in general, EPSO competitions will require your Language 2 pick to be one of the operating languages of the EU institutions - English, French and/or German)
If, however, your mother tongue is French, but you are also fluent in English for example, you could choose either language as your Language 1 and 2 - you are not restricted in any way.
So, if you happen to be one of these lucky multilingual candidates, you’ll have to factor in another consideration before making your final language choice - keep reading...
#4 - The type of tests you will have to complete in each language
Whether you should choose your mother tongue for the computer-based reasoning tests or for the MCQs is a complex decision because a number of factors come into play.
Your choice depends largely on the languages that you speak, your language proficiency in each language, and what selection of languages are available for you to choose Language 2.
For the EPSO Graduate Administrators (AD5) competition, the only tests that you will need to complete in your chosen Language 1 are the Verbal Reasoning Test, Numerical Reasoning Test and Abstract Reasoning Test.
All other tests will need to be completed in your chosen Language 2.
Having considered all the caveats stated in the previous three points, if there is still room for flexibility at this point in your choice of languages, Language 1 should be a language that you can read and process information swiftly in, while Language 2 should be a language that you express yourself the best in - written and spoken.
It is important to be strong in your Language 1 so you can process the reasoning tests quickly and efficiently.
Written communication skills are assessed in Case Study, which usually needs to be completed in your chosen Language 2.
If you are in a fortunate position where you speak/read/write at a C1 level in two or more official EU languages, then it makes your choice a little easier.
#5 - The quality of EPSO’s computer-based tests
Over the past few years, many candidates have complained about the translation quality of EPSO’s Verbal Reasoning Tests.
Those who completed the test in “less popular” official EU languages found that some of the passages were poorly translated and hard to understand due to grammatical errors.
It seems that EPSO has responded to the complaints and has improved the quality of its exam materials. But nonetheless, the potential for quality discrepancies in testing materials depending on which language you choose for your Language 1 should also be considered.
A major change in the scoring of the Reasoning Tests does to an extent lessen the impact of any remaining translation problems. It is pass/fail for most competitions and the score does not count towards your overall score.
The scoring of the computer-based tests for each EPSO competition may vary a little, and therefore the translation quality could have a bigger impact on test scores depending on your specific competition.
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Depending on the competition that you are undertaking, selecting a Language 1, 2 or sometimes even 3 can be a relatively easy decision or a very complex one.
Consider the specifics of your competition’s official Notice of Competition and the five factors listed above to make the right language choice for your personal situation.
Now go get that EU job! 