Friday, August 20, 2021 Detailed time schedule EQE 2022 available (Pre, C and D split into parts) & Info on Mock exams available (updated 13 January 2022)

Late June 2022, a document titled "Information on the schedule for the EQE 2022 examination papers- decision of the Supervisory Board dated 25 June 2021" was been published in the EQE website. Note that the document says that "Candidates are advised that this document may be subject to minor changes as testing continues".

Update: The document has been replaced by a new version dated 2 December 2021:
the D paper section now indicates "No calendars will be provided" - see also our other blog post.

The EQE 2022 will take place online using the same setup as the EQE of 2021. The EQE 2022 is spread over 2 weeks, starting with the D paper on 8 March 2022 and ending with the Pre-Exam on 18 March 2022 (also see here).

As with e-EQE 2021, the pre-examination and both papers C and D will be split into parts. Note that the split of paper D 2022 (26/19/55), and hence the detailed time schedule, differs from that of D 2021 (25/25/50).

Details from the document are given below.

The Pre-Exam will take place on 18 March 2022 and, as with the Pre-Exam of the e-EQE 2021, has been split into 4 parts of 5 questions x 4 statements and 70 minutes each. As with Pre-Exam 2021, each part must be completed before the start of the next break, with the next set of questions only becoming available after the break. The pre-examination lasts four hours and forty minutes.

Candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents for the claim analysis parts before the start of the appropriate part. The documents allowed for printing will be made available during the break preceding the relevant claim analysis part.

Paper D will take place on 8 March 2022 and, as with Paper D of the e-EQE 2021, has been split into 3 parts. However, the point and time distribution is different from D 2021: D 2022 will be split into:
- a first D1 part of 3 questions, 26 marks, 1 hours 30 min;
- a second D1 part of 3 questions, 19 marks, 1 hour 10 min;
- a D2 part of 55 marks, 3 hours 20 min
The split into parts means that candidates will not be free to allocate their time as they see fit across the different parts of the papers. To compensate for this restriction, the total duration of the relevant papers has been extended with 20% (compared to a nominal 3 minutes per point). Once the time allowed for a part has elapsed, it will not be possible to go back to that part.
Each part must be completed before the start of the next break, with the next part only becoming available after the break. Paper D lasts six hours. During part D2, candidates may take unscheduled breaks.
The 25 June 2021 version of the document indicated: Candidates will be allowed to print only the calendar. For that purpose, the calendar will be made available well in advance before the start of paper D.
However, the 2 December 2021 version of the document indicates: No calendars will be provided.

Paper A will take place on 10 March 2022 and will last 4 hours, without any scheduled breaks.
As with A 2021, candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents and the drawings of the application, but not the letter of the applicant.
Candidates may take unscheduled breaks. 

Paper B will take place on 15 March 2022 and will last 3,5 hours, without any scheduled breaks.
As with B 2021, candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents and the drawing(s), but none of the following: the description and claims of the application, the EPO communication, the client's letter and the amended claims.
Candidates may take unscheduled breaks. 

Paper C will take place on 17 March 2022 and, as with Paper C of the e-EQE 2021, has been split into 2 parts of 3 hours each.The first part is to be completed before the break, with the second part only becoming available after the break. It will not be possible to go back to the first part after the break.
As with C 2021, Candidates will be allowed to print everything except the claims of the patent in suit/opposed.
During both parts, candidates may take unscheduled breaks.

Please refer to the official document Information on the schedule for the EQE 2022 examination papers for details and monitor the EQE website and the e-EQE website for further information (also check the FAQ and the Notices).  Also note that the document says that "Candidates are advised that this document may be subject to minor changes as testing continues".

Update 7 September 2022:

"Information on planned mock examinations" has been published on the EPO website.

It indicates that candidates will have the opportunity to access several mock exams, and which earlier EQE papers are used in the mock exams and when updates can be expected to the Wiseflow system. 

"The first batch of mock exams will be made freely available to candidates on WISEflow for an extended period from mid-October 2021. These will include:

• the main EQE 2021 examination papers
• EQE 2019 papers A and B
• EQE 2014 paper C
• EQE 2016 paper D
• EQE 2021 and 2019 pre-examination papers
• EQE 2021 mock exam papers A, B, C and D as provided by the epi. These will already be familiar to candidates who have taken the EQE 2021 mock exams.

Please note that WISEflow will be updated with improved features towards the end of the year.
Changes to the user interface will be such, that candidates already familiar with the current version should have no difficulty working with the new version. The improvements mainly relate to the editor, the PDF file viewer and general system stability.

The updated version of WISEflow will be ready for new mock exams in January at the latest. The epi will be creating a new set of mock exams for this improved version. Candidates will be able to use these mock exams to acquaint themselves with the new features and to check they have the necessary equipment."

The full document can be found on the EQE website (here).

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Update 4 November 2021:

Main exam candidates have been informed by the EQE secretariat email that the full system will be available, including invigilation, on dedicated dates and times in December: 

"We are pleased to inform you that the mock examinations allowing you to test the updated WISEflow version with video/audio invigilation will be made available in December 2021.

You will be able to test WISEflow with a set of mock examinations under exam conditions, i.e.:

·  timed examinations according to the schedule of the EQE 2022

·  video and audio invigilation (AI and human)

Please note that for these mocks, there will only be a very limited number of human invigilators present (far less than during the EQE 2022).

A new set of papers will be provided by epi for these mocks.

The dates are as follows:

2 December – paper D
6 December – paper A
8 December – paper B
10 December – paper C

We strongly recommend to make use of these mock exams to test your equipment and settings.

Before the end of the year these mock papers will be made available again in WISEflow, for a longer period but without any video/audio/human invigilation.".

The main purpose of the December Mocks is to test your equipment and settings, including camera and audio.

You can practice the papers at a later moment, as they will again be made available as Mock papers for a longer period, but without invigilation. 

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Update mid November 2021:

Pre-Exam candidates have been informed by the EQE secretariat email that the full system will be available, including invigilation, on 7 December. The email also includes a link to some recommendations from WISEflow for the configuration of the environment for the upcoming EQE:

"Dear candidate,

As already announced, a mock pre-examination under exam conditions will be available on 7 December 2021:

• timed examination according to the schedule of the EQE 2022
• video and audio invigilation (AI and human)

Please note that for this mock, there will only be a very limited number of human invigilators present (far less than during the EQE 2022).

This mock will allow you to familiarise with the new functionalities in WISEflow and to test your equipment, notably the microphone and camera.

WISEflow has made available some recommendations for the configuration of the environment for the upcoming EQE: https://epo-wiseflow.ladesk.com/772936-Lockdown-computer-recommendations

 

When taking the entry image at the start of a flow please show your valid ID card or passport into the camera, next to your face.

After hand-in you will be able to access your answer for each part/flow.

 

The participant password for all mock flows is: abc
For the mock pre-examination only the invigilator password is: cba
Please be aware that during the EQE 2022 no invigilator password will be made available.

The mock paper will be the EQE 2019 pre-examination paper. Before the end of the year this mock paper will be made available again in WISEflow, for a longer period but without any video/audio/human invigilation.

We strongly recommend to make use of these mock exams to test your equipment and settings."

As for the main exam December Mocks, the main purpose of the December Mocks is to test your equipment and settings, including camera and audio.

You can practice the papers at a later moment, as they will again be made available as Mock paper for a longer period, but without invigilation. 

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Update 14 December 2021:

Today, the EQE secretariat has informed the candidates by email with information on the further availability of the epi Mocks as well as a date for a further mock under exam conditions (3 February 2022) to check your equipment and settings.

Note that the papers mentioned in the "Information on planned mock examinations" also continue to be available in Wiseflow.

Comment: we provide updated versions of EQE papers of, for most papers, the last 5 papers, and our model solutions in our webshop (A, B, C, D).

Today's email is cited below in full (colouring added):

Dear candidate,

1. The mock paper C which was offered to you last Friday, 10 December 2021, was a repetition of a mock paper made available already in January and October 2021.
   That is why a new mock paper provided by epi will be made available on:
   21 December 2021,
   Part C1 9:30 – 12:30 h CET;
   Part C2 13:15 – 16:15 h CET.
   
   You will be able to test WISEflow under exam conditions, i.e.: timed examination with video and audio invigilation (AI and human). However, there will only be very few human invigilators present (far less than during the recent mocks).
   
   
2. The flows for papers for A, B and D containing the mock papers provided by epi in December 2021 will be reopened as of 15 December 2021.
   The flow with the new epi December mock paper C will be re-opened shortly after 21 December 2021.
   These flows will not be under exam conditions, hence not timed and without any video and audio invigilation (AI nor human). 
   
   
3. In addition, a further mock under exam conditions will be conducted on 3 February 2022. The purpose of this mock is to check your equipment and settings.
   This mock will not contain a new paper, but a known paper used in the currently open mocks. Further details on this mock will be communicated in due course.
   
   
4. For your convenience, we repeat some useful links:

• WISEflow recommendations for the configuration of the environment for the upcoming EQE: https://epo-wiseflow.ladesk.com/772936-Lockdown-computer-recommendations
  
  
• documentation on the examination system (user guides, troubleshooting, etc) available on the dedicated WISEflow website.

Please note that testing your equipment under exam conditions is indispensable. Support might not be possible for equipment which has not been tested in advance.

Best regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Sincères salutations

Examination Secretariat
European Qualifying Examination EQE
European Patent Office

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Update January 2022:

The 2 December 2021 version of the document indicates for Paper D: 

           No calendars will be provided.