The second stage of the qualification exam for candidates for the positions of judges of local administrative courts and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to another local administrative court has been completed – testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge of the specialisation of local administrative courts. In accordance with the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” and the Regulation on the Procedure of the Qualification Examination and the Methodology for Assessment of Candidates, a candidate is considered to have successfully passed the test if they score 75 per cent or more of the maximum possible score. A total of 1,865 persons successfully passed the test.
Today, by the decision of the Commission, 604 candidates and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to another local court have been admitted to the third stage of the qualification exam (cognitive abilities test).
This number was determined based on the passing score for the second stage (testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge of the specialisation of the local administrative court) established by the Commission’s decision No. 105/zp-25 of May 12, 2025. This decision provides a detailed justification for the algorithm for determining the passing score for each stage of the exam. Guided by the second paragraph of part six of Article 74 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges”: “During the selection process for the position of judge, the passing score for candidates is set taking into account the number of positions for which the selection is announced,” the Commission applied the principle of multiplying the number of admitted persons by the number of vacant positions. Accordingly, the passing scores for each subsequent stage are determined taking into account the number of participants, which is four times (first stage), three times (second stage), and twice (third stage) bigger than the projected number of vacant positions.
When setting the passing scores for the stages of the qualification exam, the Commission acted in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges”, taking into account the number of projected vacant positions in local courts, its own organisational and technical capabilities, and its primary task of promptly filling existing vacant positions in local courts.
Some figures:
9,339 – number of applications received from candidates and judges, including 3,429 applications for participation in the selection process and for taking the qualification exam in administrative specialisation;
7,239 – number of persons admitted to the second stage of testing, including 2,632 admitted to testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge of local administrative court specialisation;
1,942 – number of candidates and judges who appeared for testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge of local administrative court specialisation;
200 – number of projected vacant positions for judges in local administrative courts for which selection has been announced.
Given the ratio of candidates to vacant positions, the threshold for candidates for vacant positions in local administrative courts to pass to the next stage was extremely high.
The commission is absolutely convinced that the high results demonstrated by the participants who were admitted to the next stage of the exam are due to their systematic and persistent work. Undoubtedly, all other candidates, who sometimes lacked a single point, were no less motivated, persistent and made every effort to achieve their goal. Mistakes in tests are not always the result of a candidate’s shortcomings, but are caused by many other objective and subjective factors. Given the number of participants and the conditions of the competitive selection, the price of a mistake was, in fact, very high.
The Commission is aware of the tension that prevails among candidates, including those awaiting testing in commercial and general specialisations, but does not plan to change the pre-determined conditions for the qualification exam, in particular regarding the passing scores. This would create unequal conditions for candidates and directly affect the rights and level of competition of candidates admitted to the next stage of the qualification exam.
It shall be emphasised, that the Commission, in pursuing its key objective of ensuring transparency, fairness, predictability of procedures and equal conditions for all candidates:
On January 29, 2025, approved and published the testing programmes;
On May 12, 2025, approved and published the algorithm for determining the passing score for all stages of the qualification exam;
On May 23, 2025, published a list of test questions on general knowledge in the field of law and on the specialisation of the relevant court;
On July 04, 2025, published the correct answers to the test questions;
It ensured clear organisation and appropriate uniform conditions for all candidates during the testing.
The eight-year break since the last selection, legislative changes to the selection conditions, and the large number of candidates are affecting the current selection process. Undoubtedly, the procedures for selection, filling reserves, and conducting competitions for vacant judicial positions should take place with predictable regularity.
Please be reminded, that candidates who have successfully passed the relevant stage of the qualification exam will be able to use its results when participating in the next selection for the position of judge, announced within two years from the date of approval of such results.