Final preparations

Update on 23 February: I added my notes after Mock 3.

Wow, only 7 days left until the EQE. 

This year, most of the stress is caused by the e-EQE, WISEflow and the lack of information; not necessarily the exam itself. However, considering the situation in the world right now, we have to be grateful for the possibility of taking the exams online.

I prepared a final checklist for myself, and again, I am sharing my notes here in case it helps anyone else.

EPO e-EQE materials

Make sure to stay up-to-date and read all the guides published by the EPO. While this is not so simple (no notification from the EPO when a material is updated, no indication which document and on which page is updated, etc.), it is very important.

You might also want to print some parts of it (e.g. what to do in case of loss of internet: page 13 and 14 of the user guide)

"Instructions to candidates concerning the conduct of the European qualifying examination 2021", published 19 February 2021 describes the candidates' responsibilities, most importantly:

“11. If a candidate wants to file a complaint concerning the conduct of the pre-examination or the main examination, they must do so as soon as possible (at the latest by the end of the day on which the examination was taken) by emailing it together with a written statement of the facts to the Examination Secretariat (helpdesk@eqe.org).

14. Specifically, candidates are responsible for:
a) the internet connection;
b) the power supply;
c) the proper functioning of hardware and software on the computer/laptop they are using;
d) the correct, stable positioning of the external camera to ensure the candidate is visible in the camera image throughout the examination;
e) the computer/laptop they are using (in particular, the computer should not be disrupted by automatic updates or other programs during the examination);
f) reading all documents related to the e-EQE, familiarising themselves with the examination software (Wiseflow and Zendesk) and testing the necessary technical equipment.

39. Any disruptions during the examination for which candidates are not responsible or which are beyond their control must be reported to the Examination Secretariat within 24 hours of the end of the relevant examination (via email to helpdesk@eqe.org).”

Mock 3

Do some final checks in the lockdown browser, such as:

• Login to Zendesk in the lockdown browser and check if it works.
  (–> OK, it worked, although replies from the invigilators were VERY slow, I am talking 30-45 min.)

• Try opening the text in a tab, in a separate window, try copying from the tab, try formatting it, etc.
  (–> OK, it worked well. Even language can be changed if you open the wrong text first.)

• Turn off your router while in the lockdown browser and see how it affects WISEflow lockdown browser, see what message it sends you, if any. Turn it on and check again if it connects automatically (it should, without the need of leaving the lockdown browser).
  (–> For me, this worked. However, the computer can only switch to cellular if my family notices in the other room that there is no internet. /Without communicating with them, of course./ If this happens, they will turn off the router and turn on the hotspot on my phone. If the router is switched off, the computer will automatically connect to my phone in the other room. This process cannot be done - at least we have not found a solution - without help from others for two reasons: if there is no internet, there is still WiFi, which means that your computer will still be in connection with the router. Thus, it will not change to cellular automatically, because it is successfully connected to the router. So, in case of internet problem, the router must be switched off. The other reason is that the hotspot is not always reliable, in most cases I could only connect to my phone if it is awake. The hotspot is turned off by the phone if idle for too long.)

• Check if your bluetooth mouse and keyboard reconnects automatically if bluetooth is lost (turn off and on your mouse to check).
  (–> Luckily, this worked well. If you plug in a different, wired mouse, it is also recognized by the lockdown browser and can be used in case of emergency. I heard from others that keyboards are also able to reconnect. However, disconnected cameras do not reconnect automatically! Solution: some found out that refreshing the browser reconnects cameras.)

• Click on the external sources menu and open EPO legal documents, try if you can search there.
  (–> I used the search option and it worked well.)

IT

• Don't forget to disable any screen saver and power-saving function (as mentioned in EPO EQE FAQ)

• Make sure that you cannot use alt+Tab combination (see William Salinger’s LinkedIn post or Pete Pollard’s blog)

• Write all your passwords (WISEflow, Zendesk, participator password) to a paper

• Bookmark the necessary websites: epo.zendesk.com and europe.wiseflow.net.

• You might want to setup a second, backup computer with WISEflow that you can use if a serious problem occurs during the exam.

Study

During these last days, the focus is probably not on studying anymore, but there are a few things you can still do. 

• Make notes of your most common mistakes and have them with you

• Make notes of the articles and rules you need a lot and tend to forget (for date calculation, etc.)

Paper D is said to be the worst exam to fail, since that requires the most time to study again. (A deep, up-to-date legal knowledge is a must for passing Paper D.) For this reason, it might be useful to refresh the topics you don't remember so well and revise your weakest points (PCT, am I right?).

I published a short refresher on partial priority, see here.

DeltaPatents Main exam book has a minimum set of D1 questions (page 9, section 3), you might want to take a look at those and do a few questions from each topic.

Don't study on the last weekend before the exam unless you really really need to – I would rather spend this time with relaxing and making sure that I have everything (food, printed, batteries etc.) for the exam.

Other 

• Buy some extra batteries, if necessary (e.g. for bluetooth mouse).

• Buy your favourite chocolate for the exam (haha).

• Check if you have enough paper and toner in your printer.

• Check if you have all the necessary materials printed (and label the most important parts if you have time), most importantly: print EQE calendar, print your templates, tables (print more tables in case you make a mistake and want to start over)
  (The documents I printed are summarised here.)

• You might need to setup an extra desk/chair next to you so that you can have all your books within reach (it is best not to have them on the floor).

• Try to sleep and relax as much as possible (easy to say).

Instructions to candidates: "18. Candidates alone are responsible for their workstations. They must ensure that their workstation is well lit and that there is no prohibited equipment (see point 20) within reach.

20. Other than the computer system required for the examination (PC or laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) and routers and printers, no other electronic equipment (calculators, digital watches, tablets, smartphones, smart watches, etc.) are permitted unless expressly authorised in advance by the Examination Secretariat. Candidates may not use headphones, headsets or any other non-electronic noise-cancelling items such as earplugs."

On the day before/of the exam

• Set 100 alarms.

• Have your ID ready
  (Instructions to candidates: "17. For the participation in the EQE, candidates must also have a valid official photographic ID (identity card or passport) and keep it within easy reach. For the purpose of verifying their identity, candidates must hold their ID up to the camera (next to their face) before each examination or part thereof (flow). In addition, invigilators can ask candidates to hold their identity card or passport up to the camera at any time during an examination.")

• Have your books, templates, EQE calendar and other printed materials ready and within reach.

• Charge keyboard/mouse/laptop, etc. or put new battery in them.

• Have notepaper, pen, pencil, highlighter ready.

• Have your passwords ready.

• Cover the window if necessary (only necessary, if it is located behind you or if it is a see-through wall or door in the room through which another person might be able to see your screen).

• Take off your fitness watch, put your phone in another room, remove other electronic devices from the room (if possible). (If you are taking the exam in the office and there are other computers in the room, that is OK as long as they are turned off and out of reach.)

• Have a bottle of water and some food/chocolate with you (and any medicine, if necessary)
  (Instructions to candidates: "23. Candidates are allowed food, drinks and medication.")

• Have tissues ready.

• Fill the printer with papers.

• Make post-it reminders, such as "log in to Zendesk" if you need.

• Write a note “KEEP OUT” to your door outside your room, like this.:)

Just before the exam

• Log in to WISEflow 1 hr. before the exam (at 8:30 CET, 7:30 in the UK)

• Check one last time if you have everything you need in the room (your ID, water, etc.), within reach

• Put away any electronic devices that are not allowed

• Print 20 minutes before the exam start (refresh page if documents do not appear)

• Take video and/or photo of your room and desk where you are taking the exam as evidence (see Pete Pollard's advise below)

• Take your phone out of the room (and go to the bathroom if needed)

• Click on “Start the flow”, do camera and microphone check and wait for the exam to start

  If you are not sure what the steps look like after clicking on start, check my article here (with many screenshots).

Pete Pollard's advise: Before you put your phone away, make a video BEFORE EACH EXAM, with at least a date stamp (preferably also GPS data). Or a lot of photos. If anything at all happens that is picked up by the sound or camera, type it in the chat AND e-mail the helpdesk@eqe.org afterwards. (See also Pete’s article about this.)

(Instructions to candidates: “36. The video and audio recordings and, if necessary, the chat logs can be used retrospectively to check for attempts at cheating and breaches of the EQE regulations and instructions.

37. Suspicious events during the examination pointing to potential cheating, e.g. suspicious looks in a particular direction, that are detected during the retrospective review of the video and audio recordings can be punished by the Examination Board under Rules 19 and 20 IPREE. The Examination Board may do so even after the answer papers have been marked and the results published. The same applies to any disruptions that candidates cause either recklessly or intentionally, in particular by not complying with the instructions.”)

Good luck everyone!

If you have anything else to add, please write a comment. Thank you!:)