Preparation
How to prepare for the EPE exam: a plan for 8 to 12 weeks
The Ergänzungsprüfung Englisch (EPE) at the VWU has a written exam in 3 parts: Reading Comprehension, Language in Use, Text Production. You reach the oral exam only if you pass the written one. For that, every part has to reach its minimum, so a plan that trains each part on purpose beats simply collecting overall points.
The plan below runs over 12 weeks and can be compressed to 8. For each phase you will find the matching theory articles and practice papers on VWUPass.
Starting point: what the exam asks of you
The written EPE lasts 150 minutes, and each of its 3 parts has its own time and up to 20 points. You pass only with at least 9 points in every part and at least 36 of 60 points overall. A strong part does not make up for a weak one, which is exactly why every part gets its time in your plan. The written EPE has no listening part, and dictionaries are not allowed.
Start with a practice paper under exam timing. The result shows which part is furthest from its minimum, and that is where your plan gets extra time.
| Part | Time | Points | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Reading Comprehension | 50 min | 20 | 9 |
| II. Language in Use | 40 min | 20 | 9 |
| III. Text Production | 60 min | 20 | 9 |
| Total | 150 min | 60 | 36 |
Source: the VWU’s “EPE Sample” model exam (as of September 2024). Both conditions apply at once: the minimum in every part and the overall minimum.
The plan: 12 weeks in 4 phases
The phases follow the parts of the exam. Language comes first because it counts twice: in Language in Use and in the writing task, where range and accuracy together are worth 10 of its 20 points. Exam simulation and the oral exam come last.
If you only have 8 weeks, give each phase 2 weeks instead of 3. The order stays the same.
| Weeks | Focus | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Language in Use (grammar and vocabulary) | Firm up tenses, word order and word formation, get to know the gap-fill types of the model |
| 4 to 6 | Reading Comprehension | Solve true/false with justification, matching and multiple choice, first with a strategy, then against the clock |
| 7 to 9 | Text Production (the blog comment) | Write blog comments of 250 words from a plan and mark them yourself on the 4 criteria |
| 10 to 12 | Simulation and oral exam | Take full practice papers in 150 minutes, rehearse 7-minute conversations on the topics |
Weeks 1 to 3: Language in Use (grammar and vocabulary)
The VWU model shows 6 task types in Language in Use, among them a gap fill, a multiple-choice cloze, a word-formation task and one where you find the extra word. The model does not say how many of them appear in your exam, so practise all of them.
Use the first weeks to lay the foundation: tenses, word order, word choice and fixed combinations. You will need the same language later in the writing task, where range and accuracy are worth 5 points each.
Weeks 4 to 6: Reading Comprehension
The model shows 4 task types in reading: true or false with justification, two matching tasks and multiple choice. Get to know each type first with a strategy, so you lose no time on the instructions in the exam, and then solve it against the clock.
The part has 50 minutes, and that time cannot be carried over to another part. So practise with a clock from the start.
Weeks 7 to 9: Text Production (the blog comment)
In the model, the writing task is a 250-word comment on a blog post (plus or minus 10 percent: 225 to 275 words). You sum up the author’s attitude, comment on it, discuss reasons and suggest rules. A text under 110 words is not assessed, and missing the length costs points.
It is marked on 4 criteria of up to 5 points each: task achievement, organisation and coherence, range and accuracy. If task achievement gets zero, every other criterion gets zero too. So plan each text before you write it, and read it through with a fixed checklist afterwards.
Weeks 10 to 12: simulate the exam and practise speaking
Now take full practice papers in 150 minutes and without a dictionary, with the times of the parts (50, 40, 60 minutes). Afterwards, score every part against its minimum, not just the total.
Alongside, prepare the oral exam. You are offered 2 topics from a pool of 10, choose one and then get 2 photographs as a stimulus. After about 20 minutes of preparation you discuss it with your examiner for about 7 minutes. 4 areas are assessed: task achievement, fluency with intonation and interaction, range and accuracy of spoken language. Practise out loud, with a clock, on all 10 topics.
Registration, fee and retakes
To register you need a valid admission notice (Zulassungsbescheid) from a Viennese university that prescribes the supplementary exam. The fee is €70. There are 3 sittings per semester, and an exam can be retaken at most 4 times. The current dates are on the EPE exam page.
A course or self-study?
You do not need a course for the EPE: you can register for an Ergänzungsprüfung even if you are not currently enrolled in a Vorstudienlehrgang course. The VWU English course runs over 2 semesters with 6 to 8 lessons a week, depending on prior knowledge. Whether a course or studying on your own suits you better depends on how independently you work and how much feedback you need.
If you study on your own, VWUPass gives you 29 theory articles that are free to read, practice papers in the format of the written EPE and a trainer with tasks for every task type. Access to the trainer is a subscription at €39 a month or an exam pass at €79 for 3 months; oral practice is included in both.
Common mistakes when preparing
These mistakes cost time or points, even though knowing the format makes them easy to avoid:
- Neglecting a part: if it stays below 9 points, you fail even with 36 points or more overall.
- Leaving the writing to the last week: the comment is 250 words and 20 points, and planning and checking take practice.
- Missing the length: under 110 words the text is not assessed, and texts that are too short or too long lose points.
- Carrying the time of one part into another: every part has its own clock.
- Practising with a dictionary: dictionaries are not allowed in the written or the oral exam.
- Putting the oral exam off: it is taken only after the written one is passed, but 7 minutes of free speaking on a topic is not something you train overnight.
Frequently asked questions
How long does EPE preparation take?
It depends on your starting level. The plan on this page runs over 12 weeks and can be compressed to 8. A practice paper at the start shows how far you are from the minimum in each part, and with it how much time to plan for.
What level is the EPE?
In the model, the VWU marks the writing task on its own B1 scale. It does not state a level for the whole exam, and the reading task true/false with justification comes from the B2 format of the Austrian Matura. So expect B1 to B2.
How many points do I need to pass the EPE?
At least 9 of 20 points in each of the 3 parts and at least 36 of 60 points overall. Both conditions apply: if you stay under 9 points in one part, you do not pass even with 36 points or more overall.
Can I use a dictionary in the EPE?
No. Dictionaries are not allowed in the written or in the oral exam. So practise without one from the start.
Is there a sample exam for the EPE?
Yes. The VWU publishes a model (“EPE Sample”) with the written exam, the oral exam and the list of topics. On VWUPass you can also read practice papers in the format of the written EPE and solve them in the trainer. These are our own papers, not official sets from earlier sittings.
How does the oral EPE work?
You reach the oral exam only after passing the written one. You get 2 topics from the pool of 10, choose one and receive a stimulus for it. After about 20 minutes of preparation you talk about it for about 7 minutes, without a dictionary.
Can I prepare for and take the EPE without a VWU course?
Yes. You can register for an Ergänzungsprüfung even if you are not currently enrolled in a Vorstudienlehrgang course. What you need is a valid admission notice that prescribes the exam. The plan on this page works with or without a course.