The Panhellenic Written Exam ASEP guide: how it actually works

The Panhellenic Written Exam, or Panellinios Grapti Diagonismos, is the national competition ASEP runs for most PE (university) and TE (technological education) posts in the Greek public sector. It was created by Law 4765/2021 to replace a patchwork of separate qualification based proclamations with one exam whose score then feeds every relevant hiring round until the next edition.

Who has to sit it

If you hold a PE or TE qualification and want a permanent post that falls under this system, sitting the exam is the entry point, full stop. There is no way to apply directly to a specific vacancy for one of these categories without first having a valid Panhellenic Written Exam score on file. Your degree field determines which kladi (branch) and eidikotita (specialisation) you can compete in, which is why the exact wording of a proclamation’s qualification requirements matters more than the general subject you studied; see how your degree affects your ASEP score and eligibility for the detail.

The exam’s structure

The main exam page covers the full detail, but the shape is straightforward. Candidates sit two multiple choice tests on the same day. The Exetasi Gnoseon, the Knowledge Test, covers general or specialised knowledge tied to the posts on offer. The Dokimasia Dexiotiton kai Ergasiakis Apotelesmatikotitas, the Skills and Work Efficiency Test, covers language and numerical reasoning, analytical and problem-solving reasoning, and workplace behaviour. The two tests carry equal weight in the final score. There is no interview, no physical test, no typing test and no medical examination attached to the written exam stage itself.

You need a minimum of 55 out of 100 on each test, not just on average, to be counted as successful and placed on the national ranking list. In the first edition, 2G/2022, held on 4 March 2023, only 19.3 per cent of candidates who sat at least one test cleared that bar on both. Knowing your own passing threshold before exam day, and how the two scores combine, matters more here than in a single-test exam; see how the passing score and weighting actually work.

What the score is actually used for

Passing does not appoint you anywhere. It places you on a national ranking list, split by PE or TE category and by kladi or eidikotita. Individual posts get filled afterwards through separate Stage B proclamations, one per hiring body, each drawing from the same ranking list until the next Panhellenic edition replaces it. Proclamation 1GB/2023, for instance, filled 141 posts at the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority from the 2G/2022 list, including 92 Air Traffic Controller posts that carried their own age limit and a separate voice test. Proclamation 2GB/2025 has continued drawing from the same list. Read how Stage B turns a ranking into an actual job for how that second step works.

Applying, and where the process can go wrong

Applications run through ASEP’s own online portal, where you also upload the photo and signature the application requires. Get the file specifications wrong and the portal will reject the upload; the photo resizer and signature resizer tools on this site exist for exactly that step. If you submit and then spot an error, corrections are possible only up to the application deadline stated in that proclamation, not after; see how to correct a mistake in your ASEP application before that window closes.

Frequently asked questions

How often is the Panhellenic Written Exam held? Law 4765/2021 sets a minimum frequency of once every two years, though ASEP announces the exact date of each edition through its own proclamation.

Can I sit the exam more than once? Yes. Each new edition is open to new applicants and to anyone who wants to try to improve on a previous score, subject to that edition’s own eligibility rules.

Does a low score on one test but a high score on the other still pass me? No. Both tests require at least 55 out of 100 individually. A strong result on one does not offset a fail on the other.

Is the exam the same for every job category? The Skills and Work Efficiency Test format is common across categories, but the Knowledge Test content is tied to the specific kladi or eidikotita, so different candidates sit different knowledge content depending on the posts they are competing for.