Correction - EASA have released 1500 questions and they will filter down to the National Authorities in due course. I know, because I wrote some of them!
It will be 1500 questions every year.
As mentioned, the idea is that you learn the subject matter and become more like the professional you are supposed to be. Question banks (including ours) are supoosed to be there for practising different ways of using that information and applying your knowledge, not rote learning answers. It is my opinion that a similar attitude was a factor in the recent Air France accident.
You can do it in 6 months. I did it in 8 weeks way back when.
Phil