EPSO Training provides sample tests for those interested in successfully passing the European Personnel Selection Office exams. It is important to have an idea about the type of questions and the level of difficulty, before proceeding to the actual test. Numerical Reasoning Test is one type of the provided sample tests. It consists of 10 multiple-choice questions that have to be solved in 20 minutes. You will be required to interpret data and make mathematical calculations, based on presented tables and graphs. You will have to use skills such as arithmetic operations, percentage, and ratio. There is just one correct answer to each question. The required equipment for the test is a pen and paper and a physical calculator with basic functions.

1. EPSO Numerical Reasoning
Sample Tests

2. Information
• EPSO Training provides sample tests for those interested in
passing with success the European Personnel Selection Office
exams. It is important to have an idea about the type of questions
and the level of difficulty, before proceeding to the actual test.
• Numerical Reasoning Test is one type of the provided sample
tests. It consists of 10 multiple-choice questions that have to be
solved in 20 minutes. You will be required to interpret data and
make mathematical calculations, based on presented tables and
graphs. You will have to use skills such as arithmetic operations,
percentage, and ratio. There is just one correct answer to each
question.
• The required equipment for the test is a pen and paper and a
physical calculator with basic functions.

3. Tips and tricks -1
• Know the test format - 10 questions for which you will have 20 minutes to solve. The questions will
present a table or a chart with a brief explanation of the context, a question on the table/chart and then
5 possible answers from which only one is right.
• Budget your time - Two minutes / question some would say that it’s more than enough, others that it’s
clearly not sufficient. It all depends on your previous numerical skills and exercise.
• Read the statements carefully – It is essential for the EPSO numerical reasoning test to make sure
you have clearly understood what is wanted from the statement. Double check the tables with the data
from which you deduct the answer.
• Make use of given items – In the CBT exam room you will receive rough paper, marker and a
calculator. Mark down complex calculations on the rough paper so that when you would need to go back
to that value it stays written.
• Prepare well – Depending on the level of the competition, the difficulty of the questions is different. For
an Administrator exam, the epso numerical reasoning questions could be more difficult and with more
calculations than for an Assistant exam. Prepare to meet the same type of exercises – addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, decimal numbers, fractions, percentage – but a different difficulty
scale depending on the published EPSO competition.

4. Tips and tricks -2
• Avoid stupid mistakes –Make sure to avoid stupid mistakes that could cost you precious points. One
could look at another column in the table, mistype values on the calculator or even check a wrong
answer after calculating the correct answer. Try as much as possible to stay focused and do not let
these type of mistakes affect your score.
• Ease your job – Depending on the type of exercise you could round up or down the values given for
easier calculations. You will find the answer only by approximation but it will clearly increase your speed
of solving the exercise.
• Check unit measurement – Always look at the unit measurement that data is presented and how the
answers are shown. It could be that a value is in thousands while the answer is in millions. In this case,
the wrong answer would always be there to trick you so make sure you look for these details and
express the answer in the right unit of measurement.
• Revise if time allows it – If you have enough time, it would be a good idea to go again though the
EPSO numerical reasoning questions, especially through the “marked for review” ones. Just go and
validate the logic, re-read the question and see if you took the right data from the tables.
• Practice makes perfect – I’ve saved the best advice for the end. You should practice as much as
possible before the CBT exam date. This way you’ll be able to assess your performance, identify your
weakest points and track your progress. Remember that it’s not about passing the EPSO Numerical
Reasoning exam but having one of the best scores to allow you to advance to the Assessment Centre

5. Example 1
Question 1: Based on the table below: If flaxseed crops would fall
by the same percentage between 2009 and 2013 as between 2005 and
2009, how many thousand hectares of flaxseed would there be in
2013?
a. 172.7
b. 421.78
c. 814.21
d. 640.5
e. 397.31

6. Example 1 - Answer
Solution: According to the table, the flaxseed crops fell from
760.8 thousand hectares in 2005 to 698.1 thousand hectares in 2009,
which consists a difference of 8.24%. Now, if we take as a reference
the crops from 2009 and apply the same difference in percentage, we
get 640.5 thousand hectares.
The correct answer is D. 640.5

7. Example 2
Question 2: Based on the table below: Bulgaria's income from
exports to South Africa in 2007 came from only two sources:
cucumbers and tomatoes. Knowing that the cucumbers represent
65% of Bulgaria's exports revenues from 2007, how much did the
tomatoes account for?
a. 2.1 mil. €
b. 4.2 mil. €
c. 5.9 mil. €
d. 3.6 mil. €
e. 1 mil. €

8. Example 2 - Answer
Solution: According to the table Bulgaria’s income from
exports to South Africa in 2007 consisted of 6 million euro. Since
there were just two types of exported products, cucumbers and
tomatoes, it is easy to calculate that tomatoes represented 35% of the
export revenue. And 35% out of 6 million represent 2.1 million.
The correct answer is A. 2.1 million euros.

9. Example 3
Question 3: Based on the table below: If Germany's exports to
South Africa increased by 15% each year between 2007 and 2010
while the imports remained constant, what would the balance for
trade with South Africa be for Germany in 2010?
a. 3459
b. 5747
c. 6122
d. 7155
e. 18485

10. Example 3 - Answer
Solution: According to the table, the export rate for Germany to
South Africa in 2007 was 7096 million euro. An increase by 15% for
2008 would mean 8160.4 million euro. An increase by 15% for 2009
would mean 9384.46 million euro. And the increase by 15% for 2010
would mean 10792.129 million euro. As the import rate stays the
same, we simply extract from this number the 3637 million euro
from 2007 import. And the result is 7155.129 million euro.
The correct answer is D. 7155.

11. Example 4
Question 4: Based on the table below: What percentage did
Organic Processing enterprises represent from the non-financial
business economy, knowing that they accounted for three times the
summed percentage of Food, beverages and tobacco, Leather and
leather products and pulp, paper and printing?
a. 3.5%
b. 7%
c. 9%
d. 6.5%
e. 6.9%

12. Example 4 - Answer
Solution: According to the table the Food, beverages and
tobacco, Leather and leather products and pulp, paper and printing
account together for 3% from the non-financial business economy.
So, the three times the sum for Organic Processing is 9%.
The correct answer is C. 9%.

13. Example 5
Question 5: Based on the table below: If in the pulp, paper
and printing industry, the value added remained the same for 2006
but the number of employees increased by 50%, what was the value
added/employee in this sector in 2006?
a. 50781
b. 42774
c. 61000
d. 43822
e. 33854

14. Example 5 - Answer
Solution: According to the table the number of employees for
2005 was 2560 persons. An increase by 50% for 2006 would mean
3840 persons. Since the value added would stay the same, we just
have to divide the 130 million to the new obtained number of
persons and we get 33854 value added/employee in 2006.
The correct answer is E. 33 854.