Preparation
– Read through the rules regarding the conduct of the exam (page 27-35)
– See what candidates from last year said about the location where you are taking the exam
– Be well rested in the days before the exam – many D candidates sleep badly on the Monday night
– Take a suitcase with wheels
– After doing last years papers, look at the Tutors Report on thos papers to help with interpreting the EQE Compendium – epi infomation pages 138-145
– If necessary, look at some tips for reducing anxiety at the exam
– A good book on passing exams is “How To Pass Your Exams” by Mike Evans
– Be prepared to do the exams with a relatively small (possible as small as 60cm x 90cm) space. Normally, you can place books you don’t need under the table.
– Look through the EQE Study Guide for other tips
General
– Photo identification (Passport or drivers license)
– several black or blue pens (we hear that gel-pens are preferred, but they can run out quickly)
– no electronic devices: only a wrist watch with an analogue display (and without any additional options) is allowed on your desk during the exam.
– correction roller
– highlighters for use when reading the exam paper (don’t use blue on anything that will be handed in as it will not copy well)
– Pre-Exam only: 1-2 black medium soft HB pencils + suitable eraser + pencil sharpener
– for A/B papers, if you want to cut and paste parts of the exam paper into your answer: scissors and a glue stick or silent permanent glue roller
– bulldog clips to hold keep parts of the exam or your answer together (stapler can be noisy)
– Food, snacks, drinks: there is no official break in the D and C papers
– Paracetemol [acetaminophen]: to relieve pains or swollen fingers after writing for several hours
Legal: versions valid on 31 December 2014
– your favourite EPC reference book, with tabs and own notes
+ updated where necessary for the EPC & PCT legal changes in 2014
– National law relating to the EPC – Sept 2013
+ Table IV updated with the information regarding the London Agreement – status and key points
– ADA = arrangements for deposit accounts – Supplement 4 – OJ EPO 2014
– Guidelines for Examination in the EPO: either Sept 2014 version, or Sept 2013 version updated with changes
– Headnotes to relevant G decisions (if not in your EPC reference book) – either the Jan 2012 version here + updated with the decisions of last two years, or the up to date version
(Note that the D committee does not ask questions on pending referrals to the Enlarged Board)
– EPC RFG form and notes
– Important notices from the Official Journal in 2013 & 2014
– your favourite PCT reference book, with tabs and own notes
– Printable Applicants Guide: DeltaPatents Dec 2014 (850 pages)
(which includes the PCT Request form and the EPO entry Form 1200)
– Important notices from the PCT Newsletter in 2013 & 2014
– Guide for Applicants – Euro-PCT – Jan 2014
-Paris Convention (Articles 1 – 5quater and Article 11) [usually in EPC reference book]
– Some basic information on the US and JP patent systems – May 2014
Other books (you decide based upon your experience answering exam questions during your preparation)
– English/German/French <=> own language dictionary
– EPC Case Law Book – Sept 2013 (but all the case law you need to answer the questions should be in the EPO Guidelines)
Do not take:
– Your own calendars with EPO holidays
– Legal reference books that you have never used before (practice finding things in them)
– Only hand-in materials written at the exam on Main Exam EQE paper, or the Pre-Exam answer sheet (no pre-prepared materials)
Other lists of things to take you could consult:
– IPKat
– EQE Forum “Questions about Exam Procedure‘
Good luck !
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