The EPSO AD7 Data Management & Knowledge competition (EPSO/AD/426/25) is one of the most sought-after EU career paths for data professionals. This guide breaks down everything you need to know.
Competition Overview
The AD7 competition targets experienced professionals (minimum 6 years) in data management, data governance, and knowledge management. Successful candidates join European Commission directorates working on the EU's data strategy, open data initiatives, and digital infrastructure.
Exam Format
The field-related multiple-choice test consists of 25 questions in 45 minutes. There is no negative marking — you score 1 point per correct answer. The pass mark is typically 13/25, though this varies by competition.
Questions test your knowledge of:
- EU data legislation (GDPR, Data Governance Act, Data Act, AI Act)
- Data management frameworks (FAIR principles, EIF, DAMA-DMBOK)
- EU institutional data architecture and interoperability
- Statistical methods, data quality, and metadata standards
- Cloud, APIs, and EU digital infrastructure (DIGIT, ISA²)
Study Strategy
With 45 minutes for 25 questions, you have 108 seconds per question. Most candidates report that time pressure is moderate — the challenge is breadth of knowledge, not speed.
We recommend this priority order:
- GDPR & Data Protection — appears in almost every competition. Know Articles 5, 6, and the rights of data subjects.
- Data Governance Act & Data Act — the EU's newest legislation. Expect 3-5 questions.
- EIF Interoperability Framework — the four layers (legal, organisational, semantic, technical) are frequently tested.
- FAIR Data Principles — Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable. Know the practical implications.
- AI Act risk levels — a newer topic but increasingly important in EU data policy.
Common Pitfalls
Candidates often lose marks on:
- Confusing the Data Governance Act with the Data Act (they're different regulations)
- Mixing up GDPR legal bases (consent vs. legitimate interest vs. public task)
- Not knowing the EIF layers in order
- Overlooking the European Data Strategy's specific instruments
Resources
The best preparation combines official EU legal texts with structured study materials. The Prep4EU AD7 study portal covers all these topics with practice MCQs in the exact EPSO format.