Things to know about EQE 2022
Updated 8 February 2022
The most important change is that the main exam will spread out over 2 weeks and that the distribution of marks in Paper D is 45:55. Other than that, EQE 2022 will be very similar to EQE 2021.
Let’s see what we know about EQE 2022.
e-EQE
EQE 2022 will be conducted online, in the same WISEflow software as in 2021. There will be no examination centres. You can take the exam at any suitable location of your choice, e.g. at home or in your office. Before EQE 2021, we didn’t have to notify the EPO where we would take the exam. In 2022, it is the same, which means that you can change your decision even a few days before the exam.
WISEflow has been updated with improved features, such as:
Strikethrough text,
Highlighting and annotating in the PDF (copy-paste only works if you first disable highlighting),
Integrated chat (you don't have to separately login Zendesk anymore).
Calendar
No calendars will be provided with the examination papers!
For the EQE 2022, the basis for calculating time limits are the days on which the EPO filing offices are closed as published in the Official Journal. Candidates are encouraged to have the closing days of 2020, 2021 and 2022 at hand during the examination; and also a calendar showing the weekends.
(Before, the EQE calendars did not necessarily cover all EPO closing days, for example the days between Christmas and New Year.)
Do not worry, I prepared an EQE calendar with you that looks exactly the same as in previous years.
Pre-exam
The pre-examination will be held on 18 March 2022.
Registration is closed now. (Registered candidates could enrol from 3 May until 12 July 2021.)
The pre-examination will have the same syllabus and character as before, but it will be split into four parts like in 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 (without the breaks).
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. For this, you need to have a printer at the location you are taking the exam. Last year, the printer could be in your room or in a different room as well.
If you are preparing for the pre-exam, feel free to check out my advice here: How to prepare for the pre-exam.
Main exam dates
The main examination will be held on the following dates:
8 March 2022 – Paper D
10 March 2022 – Paper A
15 March 2022 – Paper B
17 March 2022 – Paper C.
Candidates may enrol from 17 May until 6 September 2021.
Mock exams
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.)
Mock examinations under exam conditions were available at the beginning of December 2021. These mock exams allow you to familiarise with the new functionalities in WISEflow and to test your equipment, notably the microphone and camera. For pre-examination, 2019 pre-examination was provided. For the main exam mocks, a new set of papers (not papers from the Compendium) was provided by epi.
Information about Paper D
Paper D will have the same syllabus and character as before, but it will be split into three parts like in 2021. However, the distribution of the marks and the length of the parts will change. D1 questions will be worth 45 marks, D2 part will be worth 55 marks.
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 (without the breaks).
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. In 2021, the calendar was available weeks before the exam. Therefore, you will not need a printer for Paper D.
During part D2, candidates may take unscheduled breaks. The exam clock will continue to run during unscheduled breaks, i.e. the examination will not be stopped.
Information about Paper A
Paper A will have the same syllabus and character as before. Paper A lasts four hours, there are no official breaks.
Candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents and the drawings of the application, but not the letter of the applicant. The documents allowed for printing will be made available approximately ten minutes before the start of the examination. (In 2021, printing was possible 20 minutes before the start.) For this, you need to have a printer at the location you are taking the exam. Last year, the printer could be in your room or in a different room as well.
During Paper A, candidates may take unscheduled breaks. The exam clock will continue to run during unscheduled breaks, i.e. the examination will not be stopped.
Information about Paper B
Paper B will have the same syllabus and character as before. Paper B lasts 3.5 hours, there are no official breaks.
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. The documents allowed for printing will be made available approximately ten minutes before the start of the examination. (In 2021, printing was possible 20 minutes before the start.) For this, you need to have a printer at the location you are taking the exam. Last year, the printer could be in your room or in a different room as well.
During Paper B, candidates may take unscheduled breaks. The exam clock will continue to run during unscheduled breaks, i.e. the examination will not be stopped.
Information about Paper C
Paper C will have the same syllabus and character as before, but it will be split into two parts, like in 2021. 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. Paper C lasts six hours (without breaks).
Candidates will be allowed to print everything except the claims of the patent in suit/opposed. The documents allowed for printing will be made available approximately ten minutes before the start of each part. (In 2021, printing was possible 20 minutes before the start.) For this, you need to have a printer at the location you are taking the exam. Last year, the printer could be in your room or in a different room as well.
During both parts, candidates may take unscheduled breaks. The exam clock will continue to run during unscheduled breaks, i.e. the examination will not be stopped.
EPO published new information about the schedule on 20 July, you can find it here.
Keep an eye on EPO’s “EQE Notices and Downloads” site for any further notification.