Preparation
How to prepare for the EPM exam: a plan for 8 to 12 weeks
The Ergänzungsprüfung Mathematik (EPM) at the VWU is a written exam in two parts and, once you pass the written one, an oral exam. To pass the written exam you need at least 50 percent of the points in each of the two parts, so a plan that trains both parts on purpose beats simply collecting overall points.
The plan below runs over 12 weeks and can be compressed to 8. It follows the topic areas that really came up in 23 EPM sittings we analysed, and says for each phase what to do with the practice papers and in the trainer.
Starting point: what the exam asks of you
The written EPM lasts 180 minutes. The first part holds Probability & Combinatorics, Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry, the second all other chapters. A strong part does not make up for a weak one: under 50 percent in one part the exam is failed, however high the overall percentage. The overall percentage only sets the grade.
Start with a practice paper, in 180 minutes and with the same aids as in the exam. The result shows which part is further from its 50 percent, and that is where your plan gets extra time. Every step has to be on paper: a correct result without traceable working is marked “Nicht beurteilt” (not assessed).
| What | Rule |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 180 minutes; the sittings we analysed had 9 or 10 tasks and 47 to 55 points |
| Two parts | Part 1: Probability & Combinatorics, Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry. Part 2: all other chapters. |
| Passed | At least 50% of the points in each of the two parts; no overall minimum |
| Grade | 1: from 87.5% · 2: from 75% · 3: from 62.5% · 4: from 50% |
| Aids | A calculator from the course’s list and the formula collection without notes; both are checked |
| Oral exam | Only after the written one is passed: 2 questions, about 20 minutes of preparation, both answers must be positive |
Source: the VWU regulation for mathematics (winter semester 2026) and the OeAD page on the supplementary exams.
Which topics come up
We analysed 23 EPM sittings at the VWU. 5 of 6 topic areas came up at every one of them; only sequences and series was missing at some. That is the basis for the order: you should be able to do everything in the table, and none of it is rare.
| Topic area | Sittings that contained it |
|---|---|
| Differential calculus | 23 of 23 |
| Functions and equations | 23 of 23 |
| Trigonometry, geometry | 23 of 23 |
| Integral calculus | 23 of 23 |
| Probability | 23 of 23 |
| Sequences and series | 20 of 23 |
Counted over 23 EPM sittings we analysed, 219 tasks in all. A task can touch two areas.
The plan: 12 weeks in 4 phases
Part 1 comes first: it has only three topics you can get solid on quickly, and it counts on its own, because here too you need 50 percent. The areas of the second part follow, and whole papers against the clock 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 | Probability and Trigonometry, geometry | Cover part 1, then repeat the same topics in two or three practice papers |
| 4 to 6 | Functions and equations and Sequences and series | Build fluency, write the working down cleanly, then practice-paper tasks on these topics again |
| 7 to 9 | Differential calculus and Integral calculus | Practise curve sketching, optimisation and integrals thoroughly, check with practice-paper tasks |
| 10 to 12 | whole papers against the clock | Take whole papers in 180 minutes, score both parts separately against 50%, then work on the weaker spot |
Weeks 1 to 3: Probability and Trigonometry, geometry
Probability, trigonometry and analytical geometry (vector calculus) make up part 1, and the areas Probability and Trigonometry, geometry came up at every sitting we analysed. Work through each topic in the trainer first, until the standard tasks are solid, and then solve the same topics in two or three practice papers. The cards of the practice papers show which topics a paper contains.
You can try the topic Probability & Combinatorics in the trainer without an account.
Weeks 4 to 6: Functions and equations and Sequences and series
This phase lays the foundation for calculus: growth and decay, logarithms, polynomials and quadratic functions, plus sequences and series, which occur in 20 of 23 sittings. Do a lot by hand, because in the exam the written working counts, not only the result.
At the end of the phase, repeat the topics with tasks from the practice papers and compare your working with their worked solutions.
Weeks 7 to 9: Differential calculus and Integral calculus
Differential and integral calculus both came up at every sitting we analysed, usually in several tasks. Differential calculus covers domain, curve sketching, extrema and inflection points, integral calculus integration, area of a figure and definite integral.
Work in three steps: learn the method, practise tasks by topic, then solve mixed tasks from the practice papers. The mixed tasks are the test of whether you recognise the method when the task does not say which one.
Weeks 10 to 12: whole papers against the clock
Now take whole papers in 180 minutes, with a calculator and formula collection from the course’s list. In the trainer, the mock exam runs a whole paper on the clock, with an answer sheet and a score at the end. Score both parts separately against 50 percent, not only the total, and then work on the weaker topic.
Bonus grades instead of the oral exam (course participants only)
If you attend a Vorstudienlehrgang course, you can skip the oral exam: there are 4 bonus grades from the course exercises, 2 per half of the course. If 3 of them are positive, their average replaces the oral mark. A missing grade counts as “Nicht genügend” (fail). The bonus has nothing to do with the score of the written exam. Without a course you sit the oral exam.
VWUPass does not train the oral exam: the trainer prepares you for the written exam. For the oral exam, the rules are 2 questions, about 20 minutes of preparation, then you present your answers to a board of 3 who ask follow-up questions. Both answers must be positive. So practise explaining solutions out loud, best with the worked solutions of the practice papers.
Registration, fee and retakes
To register you need an admission notice (Zulassungsbescheid) from a Viennese university that prescribes the supplementary exam; you register through portal.vwu.at. The fee is €70 per attempt. There are 3 sittings per semester, and an exam can be retaken up to 4 times. You do not need to attend a course for that.
Watch the sittings in April and November: they lie outside the universities’ admission period, so you cannot switch to a regular degree at those dates. The VWU advises against finishing the Vorstudienlehrgang there if you are registered for a VWU course. The current dates are on the EPM exam page.
A course or self-study?
You do not need a course to register for and sit the EPM. The VWU keeps exam practice material in the Eduvidual course “Mathematik 2”, which is open to registered course participants. If you do not attend a course, VWUPass has practice papers in the EPM format open to everyone, each with a worked solution.
The practice papers and the topic Probability & Combinatorics are free without an account. To practise on all of the material, the trainer has 1400 tasks with worked solutions and 40 theory articles, as a subscription at €39 a month or an exam pass at €79 for 3 months.
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 50 percent, you fail the exam even with a very good overall result.
- Writing down only the result: without traceable working, even a correct result is marked “Nicht beurteilt”.
- Only reading solutions: going through practice tasks with the worked solution next to you only tells you in the exam what you cannot do yourself. Solve first, compare afterwards.
- Checking your aids on exam day: the calculator and the formula collection are inspected, handwriting in the formula collection is not allowed, and anything non-compliant is taken away.
- Leaving whole papers to the last week: 180 minutes of working at a stretch take training.
- Forgetting the oral exam: it comes only after the written one is passed, but explaining solutions is not something you train overnight.
Frequently asked questions
Are the practice papers enough on their own?
For judging your level, yes; as your only preparation, usually not. The practice papers on VWUPass show the format, the level and the topics, each with a worked solution and open to everyone. They do not check your answers and do not show which topic is weak for you. The trainer does that: tasks by topic with worked solutions, your weakest spot on the overview, and a timed mock exam that scores both parts.
How long does EPM 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 50 percent in each part, and with it how much time to plan for.
How many points do I need to pass the EPM?
At least 50 percent of the possible points in each of the two written parts. There is no overall minimum; the overall percentage sets the grade (1: from 87.5% · 2: from 75% · 3: from 62.5% · 4: from 50%). Under 50 percent in one part you fail, even with a high overall result.
Do I have to write down my working in the EPM?
Yes. Every task has to be worked out on paper with its side calculations, traceably. A correct result without a traceable solution is marked “Nicht beurteilt”. So practise writing out every step from the start.
Which topics come up in the EPM?
Part 1 holds Probability & Combinatorics, Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry, part 2 all other chapters. Over 23 EPM sittings we analysed, 5 of 6 topic areas came up every time: differential calculus, functions and equations, trigonometry, geometry, integral calculus, probability.
How does the oral EPM work, and can I skip it?
You may take it only after passing the written exam. You get 2 questions and about 20 minutes of preparation, and both answers must be positive. Course participants skip it if 3 of their 4 bonus grades from the exercises are positive. The VWUPass trainer practises the written exam; there is no oral training yet.
Can I prepare for and take the EPM without a VWU course?
Yes. You can register without attending a course. What you need is a valid admission notice that prescribes the exam. The plan on this page works with or without a course.