Thursday, February 27, 2014

EQE 2014 - Possible Solutions for Pre-Exam and Paper D (Main Exam)

I hope the exams went as well as you had hoped.

In general, it is better just to forget about it all until the results are announced. Discussing it can make you feel worse because you only remember the things you missed instead of all the things you correctly wrote down.

Remember, no tutor, no candidate and none of your colleagues know:

  • what the expected answers are
  • the point weighting for each comment
  • alternatives which are also accepted 


If it will not upset you, have a look at our suggested solutions, but note that these are based on the inputs of several experienced tutors::

Main Exam Paper D
Pre-Exam

Take some time off.
For the Main Exam candidates, enjoy your summer whatever your feeling about how it went.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Known errors in Main Exam Questions for Paper D - August 2013 edition

Sorry it is quite late this year, but these are the most important errors that we have discovered in the Main Exam Questions for Paper D book since it was published in Aug. 2013. Please let us know if anything is not clear.

The known errors in the Basic Legal Questions for Pre-Exam and Paper D are here

Good luck!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Suggested list of books and other things to take to the Pre-Exam - EQE 2014 [updated]


Preparation
- Read through the rules regarding the conduct of the exam (page 41-46)
- See what candidates from last year said about the location where you are taking the exam
- Be prepared to score 70 points to pass
- Take a suitcase with wheels
- After doing last years paper, look at the Tutors Report - epi infomation pages 143-152
- If necessary, look at some tips for reducing anxiety at the exam
- 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)
- 1-2 black medium soft HB pencils + suitable eraser + pencil sharpener
- no electronic devices: only an analogue wrist watch with no additional options is allowed.
- highlighters for use when reading the exam paper (don't use highlighters on the answer sheet)

Suggested list of books and other things to take to the Main Exam - EQE 2014 [Updated]


Preparation
- Read through the rules regarding the conduct of the exam (page 41-46)
- 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 - epi infomation pages 143-152
- If necessary, look at some tips for reducing anxiety at the exam
- 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)
- no electronic devices: only an analogue wrist watch with no additional options is allowed.
- 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)

Friday, January 10, 2014

Our FREE printable versions of the PCT Applicants Guide - available now for EQE2014

Every year, the WIPO provides a printable version of the Applicants Guide so that EQE candidates can take this information to the exam. Unfortunately, at 1800 pages, it adds considerably to the reference materials that most D candidates will bring with them and much of it is irrelevant for the EQE. In addition, the WIPO provides convenient overviews on their website which are not included in this official WIPO version.
Since 2007, I have produced this shortened version to lighten the load (and to save a few trees) – I leave out most of the national chapters, and concentrate on the states around which the EQE is based: the EPC countries, the EPO and the most used patent routes. Useful overviews have also been included, as well as additional information from the WIPO and EPO websites.
Unfortunately, the new layout of the WIPO web site has meant that some of the overviews now take up more pages. The current version is 820 pages, split into 3 parts. When printed double-sided, with 2 pages on each side of an A4, it will just fit into a 3.5cm binder.

New this year:
  • Coverage of the top 20 DO/EO’s (increased from the top 12)
  • Coverage of the top 15 RO’s (increased from the top 13)
  • Some more details about the states not included (Part II – page 6 and Part III – page 12)
  • Some explanation about reading the lists of states (Part II – page 4 and Part III – page 10)
  • Addition of the Frequently-Asked-Questions about the America Invents Act (Part I – page 81)
  • An additional overview of the EPO fees for PCT and Euro-PCT applications (Part III – page 153)
  • An extra explanation and the list of states entitled to 75% fee reduction for the EPO as ISA or IPEA (Part III – page 158)

Part I - General (overviews)
Part II - International Phase
Part III - National Phase

Good luck at the exam