Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Getting well-prepared for EQE 2023 - opportunities for candidates to test their system and exam platform under exam conditions

REMINDER: This Thursday, and again mid February, candidates have the opportunity to test their system and exam platform under exam conditions (Main exam as well as Pre-Exam). 

It is strongly recommended, if not indispensable, to use those opportunities, and to do the test with the full system (computer, camera, microphone, internet connection) and at the location that you intend to use for the EQE itself.

Only these tests allow you to check the system under exam conditions, so including the invigilation/ proctoring/ supervision functionality. In the past, some candidates experiences some problems only with this full setup, e.g., due to some actions such as using Alt-Tab being considered as attempts to cheat, so it is important to not miss out on these opportunities!

Candidates are referred to the email they received from the EQE Secretariat mid December, which provided (for Pre-Exam as well as main exam candidates):

Dear candidate,

Please be informed that the instructions to candidates for the conduct of the EQE 2023 are now available on the EQE website.

Please also note that you will be able to test your computer equipment and settings on the following dates:

19 January 2023 at 9:30 – 10:30 and 14:00 – 15:00 CET and

15 February 2023 at 9:30 – 10:30 and 14:00 – 15:00 CET.

It is recommended to take advantage of these technical tests under examination conditions. We strongly advise you not to wait until the last moment to test in case you encounter problems.

Further information will follow in January 2023.

If you have not yet activated your WISEflow account, please urgently do so or inform us in case of problems.

Best regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Sincères salutations

European Qualifying Examination EQE

The EQE website, sub-page "EQE online" provides the "Instructions to the candidates concerning the conduct of the EQE" for EQE 2023 (here). 

It is strongly recommended to read the entire document. The document provides important information on:

I. General, incl. Complaints procedure (lodge at the latest by the end of the day on which the paper concerned takes place, by filling in the dedicated form made available by the Examination Secretariat; also see D 45/21)    

II. Examination environment

III. Technical requirements. Candidates are free to run WISEflow on either a Windows operating system or macOS. However, there cannot be any claim of being disadvantaged by using one or other system. The use of iPads for the EQE is not allowed. Incl. responsibilities of candidates.

IV. Preparation and start of the examination. Candidates should log on to WISEflow at least 30 minutes before the start time of the first flow on each examination day, for ID check and audio verification. The lockdown browser launch procedure should be run at the start of the examination but must be completed no later than 15 minutes after the examination start time.

V. Exam invigilation

VI. Misconduct

Please refer to the original document for all detail.

Also, refer to the FAQ on theeEQE webpages. It provides some important information that is not given elsewhere. It also provides:

What are the system requirements?

To  sit the examination, you require the necessary technical equipment as set out in the WISEflow documentation available on the WISEflow website. You should follow the WISEflow recommendations for configuring your environment:

epo-wiseflow.ladesk.com/772936-Lockdown-computer-recommendations

The use of iPads for the EQE is not allowed.

To install and launch the LockDown browser [so, to sit the exam], you will need system administrator rights on the computer [during the exam].

Also note:

• The updated "Information on the schedule for the EQE 2023 examination papers" dated 19 December 2022 on the EQE website;
• The information on the lack of calendars with the exam papers in "Calculation of time limits in paper D and pre-examination" on the EQE website;
• The "Instructions for answering the pre-examination paper and and marking scheme" dated 11 February 2021 on the EQE Notice page, which indicates, for example, for the Pre-Exam that "If at least one of the four statements is left unanswered, then the answer to the whole question will be deemed not to be correct";
• The "Annoucement of the EQE 2023 - Pre-examination and main examination" in OJ 2022, A12;
• The other information on the EQE website, including its subpages (esp. EQE notices and downloads, EQE online and FAQ);
• Other emails from the EQE secretariat, such as the email "EQE 2023 - Activation of the examination area in WISEflow" dated 11 January 2023 in relation to the two areas “EPO - EQE” (for technical tests and real EQE) and the “EPO - EQE Compendium” (compendium flows; already available to all candidates) areas.
  Note the indication in the email: "Attention: When finishing activities in the “EPO - EQE Compendium” area, you must log-out correctly from WISEflow. If you do not log-out, you might not be able to access the “EPO – EQE” area!"
• The information on the Wiseflow Support Portal.

Please feel invited to share your experiences and tips. When posting comments, please use your name or use a nick name so that not the comments are merely labelled "Anonymous".