I passed the CAST for Political Affairs. Ask me anything.

Hello, everyone!

I received yesterday the much-expected email from EPSO, informing me that I successfully passed the competition EPSO/CAST/P/13/2017 Political Affairs / EU policies.

First things first, many thanks to EUTraining.eu and your team! I can honestly say that I think I have purchased all of the questions available for mathematical and abstract reasoning. So it is good I passed the tests since I wouldn't have been able to train anymore through your website anyway...

Second, for those specialised in international affairs and EU politics, you might often spot interesting jobs (contractual positions) offered by FPI, the EEAS or DG Near, so making it into the corresponding reserve list is always a smart move. It is valid for 10 years and gives you then plenty of opportunities in the future.

Third: indeed, do train. On the day of the exam, stress and fear, combined with the extremely slow software you will use, make you second-guess and lose time. So having built-in reflexes for mathematical and abstract reasoning is necessary. The software is not user-friendly (in the maths section, for instance, the calculator is slow to move around, hiding some of the answers available) and depending on the strength of the Wi-Fi network you're using, precious seconds are easily lost, pilling up and eventually you are not able to answer all questions).

Good luck to one and all!

Julien

Hi Julien, congrats! I find

shgarcin9@gmail.com Sat, 01/06/2024 - 23:29 Permalink

Hi Julien, congrats! I find the numerical reasoning very hard (lots of calculations to do in only two minutes, plus I am not good in maths at all) how did you prepare for the exercise? also, my idea is to focuss on the abstract and the verbal reasoning (which I think are my strenghts). Do I pass if I get 8/10 in the abstract and 2/10 in the numerical?

All the best,

Sheila

Hello, Sheila --

julien.135411 Thu, 01/11/2024 - 12:22 Permalink

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2024!

If you're applying to a CAST position, the answer to your question is yes: abstract and numerical exercises are scored together and the total sum needed for a pass is 10/20.

That being written, abstract reasoning proved to be the most difficult for me. I never really progressed and on exam day, stress adds another toll. Mathematical reasoning, on the other hand, is not that difficult. After some months of practising, one soon realises that these are essentially always the same calculus: percentage, increase or decrease of something (GDP, population, etc.), and a few others, and it is not as difficult as mathematics as studied in high school. There, in my view, even with the clock ticking, one can "easily" (comparatively) score 6, 7 or 8 points (out of 10), which gives then some more room for a bad score in abstract reasoning. Even myself, though I have never been good at maths, I found out that it was the section where I could easily progress and secure points.

Of course, all that is very different from one person to another. Verbal reasoning was not difficult for me, because of my current and past jobs, but it can be for others (time constraints, nuances in the offered answers, etc.)

Good luck! Practise every day and you will make it happen.

Sincerely,

Thanks Julien!

shgarcin9@gmail.com Thu, 01/11/2024 - 17:09 Permalink

I will keep you posted on the progress. My stategy is to focuss on preparing the verbal & abstract tests and once I start progressing on those, continue with the numerical. Did you prepare them all at the same time?

Thanks

Good afternoon, Sheila --

julien.135411 Fri, 01/19/2024 - 17:35 Permalink

During the first months, I was practising all 3 exercises simultaneously. It proved to be very exhausting and my brain couldn't sustain its attention well on maths and abstract reasoning after reading 20 small texts (verbal reasoning). Since the latter was my strongest asset, I eventually made some recalibrations: some days I did only mathematical reasoning, others only abstract reasoning, etc. And once a week I was still trying to schedule a full test with all 3 sections.

Long-run preparation is the only way. The brain only learns very gradually how to handle the maths and abstract tests. As I wrote earlier, one quickly realises that these are essentially always the same patterns. After some time, it becomes almost a reflex, which is key in saving time on the actual D-day test, where stress reduces one's capacities (at least as far as I am concerned).

Good luck! It is difficult but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Best,

Hi Julien,

saakmary_169751 Tue, 02/06/2024 - 14:56 Permalink

Congratulations! Do you have any tips for the numerical reasoning? It seems lots of calculations for less than 2 min. Did you use any technique? Also, are the questions in the sample tests similar to the real ones? Do you think if I practice the sample tests I'll have a chance to pass or additional work is required?

Good morning --

julien._135411 Wed, 02/07/2024 - 08:21 Permalink

2 minutes for each question is not much, you're right, but the good news is: by far and large, all questions roughly follow 5 to 7 main patterns (reduction of population, growth of GDP percentage, etc.) Over time, by practicing and coming across the same types of calculus, one's brain get used to it and process mechanically. It becomes rather automated after a while. I had to remember the basic process for equations, etc. And it eventually all became second nature. Then 2 minutes become rather "okay" (plenty of brackets here).
Yes, on this website, from my experience, the exercises are very much like the ones in the actual test. And remember that stress, anxiety and maybe bad WiFi all make the exam questions a bit more difficult to solve. Hence the importance of training and becoming a robot.
Mind you: the calculator on the EPSO page was a nightmare to use - the one on Eutraining.eu is more user-friendly.

good luck!

You do.

David @ EU Training Mon, 01/08/2024 - 12:13 Permalink

Then it was really time for

julien.135411 Thu, 01/11/2024 - 12:23 Permalink

Then it was really time for me to pass the CAST :) I ran out of questions available on your website!

Hi Julien!

Ashcroft Tue, 01/16/2024 - 12:08 Permalink

Thanks for your feedback. Could you please let us know about the languages you picked eventually?

Good afternoon, Aschroft --

julien.135411 Fri, 01/19/2024 - 17:39 Permalink

Best to stick to your mother tongue! Or the one you are very much comfortable using (which eventually is almost always, if not systematically, one's mother tongue). One has to be very careful in the verbal reasoning exercise as the right answer is often along the lines of "may" "could" "indicate", intricacies which are always easier grasped in one's native language. Same thing for the mathematical reasoning exercises.

I used French for the CBT tests.

Hi Julien, congartulations

saakmary_169751 Fri, 02/02/2024 - 16:05 Permalink

Hi Julien, congartulations for passing the tests! What happens next? Are you invited for an interview? Have you secured a job? Thanks

Hello,

julien.135411 Fri, 02/02/2024 - 18:39 Permalink

Yes, my profile was registered in the CAST database of laureates. As I speak Russian and spent many years working in this part of the world, the EEAS was interested. A written test and interviews followed, and it worked out.

Once one passes the CAST exam, it is only the first step. Then one is still competing for jobs just as ordinary.

Good luck!

Hi,

Annie Tue, 02/20/2024 - 11:30 Permalink

thanks for sharing your very useful advice Julien! When EEAS contacted you, did they request that you pass the CAST because they had in mind a specific opening?

Best regards, Annie

Good evening, Annie --

julien._135411 Fri, 02/23/2024 - 21:11 Permalink

Yes I was invited to pass the CAST after I applied to a specific position. I call myself lucky as I am told that it very rarely happens, Institutions usually going for candidates already in the pool (with a valid CAST), to save time - which is understandable.
This is one of the prime goals of the CAST for the EU Institutions: to be able to recruit a specific profile when in-house expertise (among administrators) is lacking.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!

nawalamhaouch_170138 Fri, 02/23/2024 - 11:23 Permalink

How did you practice for the 'political affairs' part? And how was the exam?

Good evening --

julien._135411 Fri, 02/23/2024 - 21:06 Permalink

In the CAST exam, nothing related to political affairs proper. Only the CBT tests. Once in the pool, provided one's experiences and language match what is needed for the Institutions when they are on the look for political profiles, one gets invited to further tests and interviews. In my case, 2 rounds of written tests, one of them quite long, and 2 interviews. But then it is in the field of EU political matters or CFSP, so one is more at ease.
I hope this helps!
Good luck!

laasbuk_140727 Mon, 02/26/2024 - 17:34 Permalink

Thank you for the insight. Could you maybe elaborate on the nature of the 2 written tests and interviews? Thanks a lot in advance.

nawalamhaouch_170138 Mon, 02/26/2024 - 20:59 Permalink

Thanks for the reply. I indeed meant how you practiced for the Political Affairs questions that are part of the CAST exam. Can you tell a bit more about that?

julien._135411 Mon, 02/26/2024 - 21:31 Permalink

In the CAST exam, nothing related to political affairs proper. Only the CBT tests.
There are different CAST competitions, such as "project management" or "political affairs" but the titles only refer to the pools where Instituions go fishing to when they have a need.

It all depends on one's experience. If you have been running activities for an NGO, for example, being listed in the "project management" CAST reserve list seems the smart thing to do. Or if you have been working in more political spheres, such as a think tank, EU policies or your national diplomatic service, then the "political affairs" CAST reserve list is more appropriate.

Institutions routinely go by key words when looking for candidates, so make sure your experience is relevant to pool you're aiming at.

I hope this helps!

Wow, thanks this was really

nawalamhaouch_170138 Tue, 02/27/2024 - 09:14 Permalink

Wow, thanks this was really unclear to me at first. I thought the CAST also consisted of an EU knowledge part, with questions as Which following statement is false about... [OLP] e.g. Also because these questions are included if you buy one of the packages. So if I understand you correctly, if I e.g. sign up for the political affairs CAST, I only have the numerical, abstract and verbal reasoning. No questions on EU knowledge? Thanks again!

Also, do you know if this

nawalamhaouch_170138 Tue, 02/27/2024 - 09:18 Permalink

Also, do you know if this used to be different?

Sorry please disregard my

sara_170138 Tue, 02/27/2024 - 11:19 Permalink

Sorry please disregard my questions, I just wanted to double check as I read what you are stating in the explanatory document, however when I take the exams on eutraining I do get the EU knowledge questions.. which caused confusion. Just to be sure :)

julien._135411 Fri, 03/01/2024 - 22:16 Permalink

For the CAST CBTs, no EU knowledge questions. Only abstract, verbal and mathematical reasoning.

EU knowledge, from what I understand, is to be tested during the next competitions for administrators, along with IT.

That being said, of course, a fair knowledge of the EU procedural system, of the main functioning mechanisms or the treaties, comes always useful - whether for the written tests or interviews once selected for a CAST position or... the job itself!

For the questions I had

julien._135411 Mon, 02/26/2024 - 21:36 Permalink

For the questions I had during interviews and the written tests, not so much to study - well, except understanding exactly what the position is about, and the usual competency-based questions ("Tell us about a time when you disagreed with your manager", "Tell us about a time when you did not deliver what was expected from you", etc.)

Other than that, your experience and your own knowledge is what Institutions are looking for when they need a CAST (contractual staff): they need some expertise they cannot find in-house.

julien._135411 Mon, 02/26/2024 - 20:46 Permalink

The later recruitment steps are up to each Institution when they are looking for CAST staff and can vary greatly from one to another, from one service to another. So it will be of little help for those attempting to pass the CBT tests and are training with the help of this website.
These tests and interviews come after, once a candidate from the CAST pool is being shortlisted.
My take is that these tests are comparatively less challenging, I believe, as they fall into one's field of expertise.
Best to focus on passing the EPSO CAST first before anything else.