Tuesday, December 22, 2020 e-EQE Mock 2: 1 - 5 February 2020

Today (22 December 2020), an announcement of Mock 2 has been published in the e-EQE website:

"To allow candidates to test the system also close to the real examination conditions, a second mock (Mock 2) is planned for the week of 1 to 5 February 2021.  

The examination papers will take place during that week at the same week days and times as the real examination, seehere. "

Thursday, December 17, 2020 Updated information on Mock 1 - e-EQE platform will go online on 21 December 2020 for candidates - tutors can also get access after registration (via epi)

Today, the e-EQE website has been updated to provide the following information (added information cited in full; somewhat reformatted; emphasis added):

e-EQE – updated information (link)

Candidates will be able to have a first look at the examination system Wiseflow which will be used for the EQE 2021 by means of a mock examination between 22 December 2020 and 28 February 2021 (Mock 1).   [Blog update 22-12-2020: Dates added]

Mock 1 is intended for candidates to test their equipment and get acquainted with the examination environment. 

Candidates will be able to access the respective mock papers according to their current enrolment to the EQE 2021 papers. 

Thursday, December 10, 2020 FAQ on e-EQE extended with new information (examination platform, system, planning of mocks, proctoring)

The FAQ on the e-EQE (see here) has been updated with new information as to the examination platform and system requirements, as well as test possibilities (a first mock is planned before the end of the year; a second mock in January). 

Also, proctoring is addressed (combination of recording, AI, human invigilation) as is the required hardware (webcam, microphone, speaker).

The FAQ thus clarifies various aspects that were extensively commented on in responses to the earlier blog post on the earlier FAQ and the earlier blog post on the Information on the schedule. 

The following updates are given in the FAQ - only the added elements are cited below (status 10 December 16:14; somewhat re-formatted and emphasis added; click on Read more). For the complete original FAQ, please refer to the EQE webpages. 

Wednesday, December 02, 2020 Information on the schedule for the EQE 2021 examination papers

"Information on the schedule for the EQE 2021 examination papers" has been published in the EQE website today.

It indicates that:

"The EQE 2021 exam schedule is now available. Candidates are advised that the document may be subject to minor changes as testing continues.

The EQE 2021 will take place online using LockDown Browser. On examination days, candidates are advised to log on to the online examination system's internet platform at least 20 minutes before the start of the relevant paper.

Information on how to register and log on to the online examination system will be communicated in due course.

The pre-examination and both papers C and D will be split into parts. This 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. Once the time allowed for a part has elapsed, it will not be possible to go back to that part."

The details for each of the Pre-Exam and main exam papers are given in the document.

The document comprises detailed schedules as to the break-up of the Pre-Exam, C and D papers into two or more parts, with scheduled breaks in between the parts. It indicates that once the time allowed for a part has lapsed, it will not be possible to go back to that part. 

The Pre-Exam is broken into 4 parts: the legal part of the paper is split into two parts of 5 questions (4 statement each), and the claims analysis part is also split into two pars of 5 questions each.

Paper A and B are in one part.

Paper C is split into two parts.

Paper D has two breaks:The DI is split into two parts, each part having 3 questions (2 x 25 marks) and one DII part (50 marks). 

Candidates in the Pre-Exam and Paper D would thus not have the possibility anymore to freely decide on the order in which they do the various parts and questions (2 legal parts and 2 claims analysis parts for Pre-Exam; 2 DI parts and 1 DII part for D). The total duration of these papers has been extended to compensate for the resulting restrictions. 

Good luck!

Please feel free to provide your comments below. (You may need to check the "Problems with commenting" link on the top left of this webpage.)

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 New version of e-EQE FAQ available

 A new version of the e-EQE FAQ is now available on the EQE webpages, here.

The FAQ has been extended with more questions, and now provides answers to the following questions (go to the FAQ for the answers):

• Where can I sit the online EQE and is anyone else allowed to be in the room with me?
• Can I sit the EQE in an examination centre?
• Will I be allowed to print out the examination papers?
• Will the papers be made available in the three official languages of the EPO?
• Will I be able to familiarise myself with the examination software in advance?
• Will I need an internet connection?
• What software will be used and what will be the requirements in terms of the operating system?
• Will the examination papers be provided in digital format?
• Will it be possible to print the examination papers?
• What sort of computer screen do I need?
• What text editor will be used?
• Will copy/paste be possible?
• Will I be allowed to write my answer on paper and scan and upload it afterwards?
• Will I be allowed to make notes on paper?
• Will I be allowed to switch to writing on paper if I don't feel comfortable with the PC?
• How much time will be allowed for each paper?
• When will more information on the e-EQE be available?

The answers indicate (cited in part; emphasis added):

Saturday, October 03, 2020 The examination schedule for the EQE 2021 has been revised

A revised examination schedule has been published on the EQE website: here.

A copy is shown below:

Friday, September 25, 2020 Information about online EQE 2021 (e-EQE): aim is to have the software available for candidates as of January

 A new sub-page "e-EQE" about the online EQE of 2021 is available on the EQE webpages.

Currently, the page provides the following (cited in full, emphasis added).

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EQE goes digital – update for candidates and tutors

In order to maintain continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions around the world have been implementing digital solutions for both the classroom and examinations.

Following the cancellation of the EQE 2020, and in view of the ever-increasing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the Supervisory Board decided in July that the EQE 2021 would be conducted online. An e-EQE task force was set up, along with a working group consisting of EPO staff and epi members to oversee and support progress.

The transition to the new e-EQE began with a market study aimed at identifying the product which best meets EQE requirements. The most promising ones are currently being tested.

Once a decision on the product has been made, further tests will be carried out with a larger group of test persons, mostly professional representatives. Further details on how the examination will be conducted will then be announced. The aim is to enable candidates to start familiarising themselves with the software as of January next year.

Security is a key element in any online examination, and we understand that there may be some concerns with regard to privacy. Here, too, candidates may rest assured that all possible steps are being taken to ensure that the e-EQE complies with the most stringent data protection requirements.

If you have any questions about any aspect of the e-EQE, please contact the EQE helpdesk (helpdesk@eqe.org). We will use your questions as the basis for FAQs, which will be published in due course.

In the meantime, watch this space for updates on the e-EQE.

• Decision of the Supervisory Board for the online EQE 2021

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Also note the message on the epi website, "epi supports e-EQE in 2021".

Please feel free to provide your comments.

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Update 30.09.2020: 

a first version of the FAQ is now also available on the EQE website (here)

Today, the FAQ provides  (30.09.2020; emphasis added), a.o.:

Thursday, July 23, 2020 EQE 2021 online

The Supervisory Board announced that EQE 2021 will be online. See here (and EQE webpage).

The text of the announcement is reproduced integrally below:

23.07.2020

  

EQE 2021 – Important information from the Supervisory Board

The European qualifying examination (EQE) 2021 is planned to be conducted online.

A working group composed of EPO and epi representatives has been set up to work out the arrangements for next year's EQE. Their aim is to ensure that the examination can be conducted in an orderly manner in a safe environment and to guarantee fair conditions for all candidates. The Supervisory Board is in close contact with the working group and oversees all its tasks.

Further details will be announced at a later date, including an option for candidates to test the system in good time before the examination.

The EQE syllabus and the structure of the various examination papers will be as outlined in the REE and IPREE and in line with previous years' examination papers (Compendium).

For the time being, individual questions on the online examination will not be responded to directly. However, they will be collected and used as a basis for FAQs to be published at a later stage.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 The Decision is out: No EQE in 2020

EQE 2020 Candidates are currently receiving emails informing then that no European qualifying examination (pre-examination or main examination consisting of papers A, B, C and D) will be held in 2020.

The email reads (emphasis added):

Monday, March 30, 2020 Enrolment to the main examination 2021 postponed

The EQE website provides:

Please be informed that enrolment to the main examination 2021, which was due to start on 1 April 2020, has been postponed until 4 May 2020. 

Applications must be submitted no later than 17 August 2020 via myEQE (see enrolment page).

Thursday, March 05, 2020 BREAKING NEWS - Cancellation of EQE planned 16-19 March 2020 (possibly postponed)

We have been informed by an EQE candidate that he just received the email below (emphasis added):

EQE 2020 is cancelled, or possibly postponed to later this year - to be continued.

From: HelpDesk <helpdesk@eqe.org>
Sent: donderdag 5 maart 2020 09:10
To:
Subject: cancellation of EQE planned 16-19 March 2020

Dear candidate,

In response to the latest developments about the spread of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), the Supervisory Board of the European qualifying examination has decided in line with the EPO’s precautionary measures to cancel the EQE planned to take place 16-19 March 2020.

The Supervisory Board is currently assessing the feasibility of organising the examination at a later stage during the current year. We would kindly ask for your understanding that due to the complex logistic arrangements related to the organisation of the EQE, this assessment will require some time.  The Examination Secretariat will revert back to you as soon as there is a decision taken by the Supervisory Board. Also, please understand that due to the high number of enquiries received, answering individual questions will take more time than usual.

We sincerely regret this highly unsatisfactory situation for all concerned. Further information will follow in due course, in particular related to the reimbursement of the fees.

Best regards

The Examination Secretariat

European Qualifying Examination EQE

European Patent Office

80298 Munich | Germany

Tel. +49 (0)89 2399 5155 (Mon, Wed-Fri 09.00-11.00 hrs, Tues 14.00-15.30 hrs)

Fax +49 (0)89 2399 5140

helpdesk@eqe.org

www.epo.org

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