Online EQE

EQE 2021EQE 2022WISEflow

Oct 20

Last updated: 26 July 2021

So, let’s see the facts about the online EQE:

From 2021, all EQE exams will be held online
Location
There won’t be any examination centres. You will take the exam at a chosen location: home/office, where you have access to a quiet room (with a door you can close) with stable internet connection. You cannot leave the room, and others cannot come in either, although use of bathroom will be allowed (but only during Paper A, B, C and D2 and the invigilator must be notified of these breaks). Other person is not allowed to be in the room with you.
You don’t have to inform the EPO where you intend to take the exam, thus you can change your decision any time. However, everyone is strongly advised to check all the equipment well before the exam.
Instructions to candidates: “21. Candidates must also ensure that the examination is not disrupted by other people, pets, noise, etc. In particular, no other persons should enter or be in the room while the examination is under way.”
Schedule
All Papers will be organized on separate days (even Paper A and B).
Late start
Candidates will not be allowed to start the exam more than 15 minutes after its official start.
If you are late, you should contact an invigilator and ask for help by logging in to Zendesk at epo.zendesk.com (from any regular browser). Invigilator password will not be provided for the EQE, but you can ask for it via the chat in case of emergency.
Instructions to candidates: “10. Candidates who fail to log on to the LockDown browser by the official start time of a particular examination paper or part of a paper may not make up the lost time at the end unless, in exceptional cases, the invigilators decide otherwise.
41. If a candidate fails to appear for a particular examination paper or for all parts of a particular paper, their enrolment for that paper will be deemed to have been withdrawn.”
Software
The examination system will use WISEFlow (europe.wiseflow.net) with a LockDown browser. It works on both Windows and Mac. (The operating system must be either Microsoft Windows 7 or MacOS/X10.10, or higher versions.) You need administrator rights on your computer to install, start and use the browser. Now it is already possible to test the browser.
There are more Mock exams in the software before the EQE. The first mock examination (Mock 1) is for testing the equipment and get acquainted with the examination environment. It helps understand how the Papers are divided into parts. There is no proctoring during this first mock examination. The second mock examination (Mock 2) was only available on the week of 1 to 5 February 2021.
There will be a Mock 3 on 23rd February, one Flow for Main exam in the morning and one for the Pre-examination in the afternoon. It is for testing the system and your equipment once more before the EQE.
On examination days, we are advised to log on to the online examination system's internet platform well before the start of the relevant paper.
Instructions to candidates: “15. To be able to sit the EQE, candidates must create user profiles in WISEflow and Zendesk (application for communicating with invigilators during the examination).
16. Candidates must not change their personal data (particularly their name and email address) in their WISEflow and Zendesk user profiles, otherwise their identity cannot be authenticated and they may be unable to correspond with an invigilator during the examination. In that event, candidates will be deemed to have been absent from the examination and their answers will not be marked.”
You can find a guide and a tutorial regarding the software here. It is very important that you study the documents carefully and that you test your equipment.
Feel free to check my article about the different steps in WISEflow here. It is more detailed and has many printscreens.
The pre-examination and both Paper C and Paper D will be split into parts.
Thus, from 2021, candidates cannot decide how they allocate their time between the different parts of the Papers. As a compensation, the length of these exams is extended.
Pre-examination will be split into 4 parts: 5x4 legal questions, 5x4 legal questions, 5x4 claims analysis case 1, 5x4 claims analysis case 2 (4x70 min. with no allowed toilet breaks)
Paper C will be split into 2 parts (2x3 hrs.).
Paper D will be split into 3 parts.
Printing is allowed
Printing is only possible before starting the FLOWlock. The printer can be in any room, but make sure you have time to get to the printer, print everything and get back in time (for example if more colleagues need to use the same printer). Once you are in the locked down browser, printing is no longer possible. (And also, once the exam starts, you cannot leave the room.)
Printing of some parts of the exam will be allowed:
Pre-examination: Candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents for the claim analysis parts.
Paper A: prior art documents and drawing(s) can be printed, but not the letter of the applicant.
Paper B: prior-art documents and the drawing(s) can be printed, but none of the following: the description and claims of the application, the EPO communication, the client's letter and the amended claims.
Paper C: everything can be printed except the claims of the patent in suit.
Paper D: only the calendar can be printed.
The system will allow printing 20 minutes before the exam. (This was confirmed on 11 February 2021 by the EPO.) Questions are provided only when the exam starts.
No hand-writing is allowed
You have to type all of your answer using the editor provided in the locked browser. Any notes you make on paper will not form part of your answer, since it won’t be possible to scan and upload answers.
Breaks during the exam
There will be enforced breaks during some of the Papers, during which you cannot access the exam. You have to finish the parts before the break and will only be able to start the next part after the break. During the pre-examination and D1 questions, no unscheduled breaks (toilet breaks) are allowed! If you need a break, you have to hand in your paper first.
Pre-examination: two 20-minute-long breaks and one 80-minute-long break between four 70-minute-long exam parts (exam: 4 hrs. 40 minutes)
Paper A: no official break, the exam is not split into parts (exam: 4 hrs.)
Paper B: no official break, the exam is not split into parts (exam: 3.5 hrs.)
Paper C: one 45-minute-long break between two 3-hour-long exam parts (exam: 6 hrs.)
Paper D: one 30-minute-long break between DI questions and a 45-minute-long break before the DII part (exam: 6 hrs.)
Other than the official breaks above, we may take unscheduled breaks during the longer periods: during Paper A, B, C and D2, however, candidates have to notify the invigilator. The exam clock will continue to run during the unscheduled breaks, i.e. the examination will not be stopped.
Instructions to candidates: “31. Candidates should not stand up during the examination; they must remain in the camera's field of view apart from during the specified breaks.
a) During the examination, candidates may take unscheduled breaks only if absolutely necessary and only in paper A, paper B, both parts of paper C and part D2 of paper D; unscheduled breaks can only be taken once 30 minutes have passed from the official start of the examination or a part thereof (flow).
b) Unscheduled breaks should take no longer than three minutes. Candidates must inform the invigilator using the chat function (Zendesk) when they take an unscheduled break and when they return to their seat. However, candidates need not wait for authorisation from the invigilator before leaving their seat.
c) During an unscheduled break, candidates are deemed to be offline but the examination clock is not stopped.”
Mock exams in WISEflow
In 2021, there were three Mock exams in WISEflow. None of them were new exams, their purpose was testing the software.
Mock 1 (in 2021) comprised:
- Pre-Exam 2019
- A 2019
- B 2019
- C 2014 (Razor blades)
- D 2016 (incl DII Coffee Capsules).
Mock 1 was open for a longer period, it was available until the end of February. Once you handed a Paper in, it was not available anymore. Thus, it is important to not hand in all Papers to have something you can use for testing.
There was a Mock 2 on the first week of February, at the same time and in the same structure as the EQE will take place. It was only available during that week.
Mock 3 was about 1-2 weeks before the EQE, and only one Paper B was in the exam. The only purpose of Mock 3 was testing your equipment one last time.
Functions of the software
The software has minimal functions. Unfortunately no highlighting functions are allowed, copy and paste is limited (it only works if you open the document in different tabs), strike-through text is not possible. The search function works in the tabs.
The software blocks us from using any softwares on our computer. You will not be able to browse on the internet either, but EPO’s website will be available in order to consult legal documents (you can reach this menu under external resources in WISEflow). (This was confirmed on 11 February 2021 by the EPO.)
Other requirements, such as your room, screen, camera
You have to take the exam in a room that can be closed and where you are alone. If someone (for example your kid) enters your room, you might be allowed to still finish your paper, but make sure that they leave immediately.
Only one monitor is allowed by the LockDown browser, but it can be of any size.
A camera is also required. If you use a separate display (external monitor), your laptop must be closed or switched off during the exam, so the built-in camera of your laptop cannot be used. (Unless you can setup the camera to work while the screen is off. I could not make this work in Mac. If you are using the camera of your laptop, the laptop should be placed in front of you.)
The camera has to face you all the time during the exam, so have your books within reach so that you don’t have to get up.
No headphones/earplug is allowed, because your ears must be visible for AI proctoring. Make sure that there are no paintings behind you with faces because they might trick the AI. You cannot have glass (such as window or glass wall) behind you for the same reasons. If there is a glass surface behind you, cover it.
Speaking to yourself by thinking aloud may be overlooked by the invigilator, but reading the questions and/or the text aloud is not allowed. (This was mentioned on 11 February 2021 during the e-EQE course.) This means that they will understand if you need to think out loud while writing your answer. (Some people do this without even noticing.) However, if you start reading the text aloud from the first question, it can be suspicious and they might assume that you are reading the questions to a person in another room. I am certain that the Examination Committee will be reasonable, but we should also avoid giving any reasons to the AI to flag our behaviour.
Instructions to candidates: “13. Candidates alone are responsible for ensuring that the EQE can be sat in full, that their computer or laptop can be monitored at all times and that their microphone and camera are fully functional.
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.
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.
28. Candidates should refrain from speaking during the examination since this will be picked up and recorded by the audio monitoring. The recordings may be reviewed to check for any breaches of these instructions.
30. Candidates must be seated facing the computer/laptop/camera. Their face and ears must be clearly discernible. Eyeglasses are permitted but only where used as vision aids.”
Other electronic devices in the room
The printer can be in the room. Other computers might be in the room (for example if you are in the office) but they must be switched off and out of reach. You cannot use any tablet, e-book, smart watch, cell phones etc. Put these in another room or store them switched off in the other side of the room, out of reach.
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. In addition, candidates are personally responsible for ensuring that any permitted equipment they use is used only in the permitted manner.
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.”
Proctoring
Proctoring will be done by human invigilators and via Zendesk AI, using the camera.
Invigilator password will not be provided for the EQE.
After entering the flow, you will have to login to Zendesk chat in WISEflow by clicking on “External resources”. The invigilator can then reach you via the chat in WISEflow and you can also contact him/her. There will be more invigilators in the real EQE than there were during Mock 2. You can also contact the invigilators on exam days outside of the lockdown browser, at epo.zendesk.com should there be any problems.
You must let the invigilator know when you are taking an unscheduled break and when you are back. (But you don’t have to wait for a response before going to the bathroom.)
You might be asked by the invigilator to show your room with the camera.
Instructions to candidates: “2. The European qualifying examination (EQE) 2021 will be conducted online using the WISEflow platform in conjunction with a LockDown browser. The examination will be invigilated using online proctoring based on video and audio recordings, with the help of artificial intelligence combined with human invigilation.
19. Candidates must have the monitoring equipment (camera and microphone) and the chat function (Zendesk) activated throughout the examination, as set out in the User Guide.
25. Throughout the examination, invigilators will monitor camera and microphone activity.
32. In the event of any problems, invigilators can be contacted via the chat function. However, candidates must not ask any questions on the content of the paper or how it should be interpreted.”
IT issues
Short internet interruptions will not cause any problems, you will probably do not even notice, because Wiseflow connects back automatically (at least that is what we are told). Do not leave the lockdown browser because of any temporary internet connection issues! Keep working on the Paper.
It will be allowed to switch from Wi-Fi to cellular, if there are any problems with the internet service, but only if it is pre-configured and you don’t need to access your phone for this.
Instructions to candidates: “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).”
Length of the exams
Paper C and Paper D will be 6 hrs. long (instead of 5.5 hrs.) with breaks in between. The length of Paper A and B does not change, there will be no extra time provided because typing is slower for some people than hand-writing.
The system will allow printing 20 minutes before the exam. The other documents will be provided only when the exam starts.
Online material/books
EQE is an open book exam, you are allowed to use your books and any printed material. Have these books available, within reach, preferably on your desk or behind you so that you can reach any document while facing the camera.
However, you cannot use a tablet or e-book.
EPO legal documents on the EPO website will also be available during the EQE, under “External resources” in WISEflow. You can also search in these. You should use the html versions of the pdf documents, do not open them in pdf. PCT materials will however not be accessible because they are on a different domain.
Complaints
Instructions to candidates: “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).”