Preparation for the EQE
epi organises a number of activities which assist candidates to better prepare themselves for the EQE. Particularly epi organizes the so-called “epi tutorials” twice a year, as well as mock-EQEs.
These epi tutorials and mock-EQEs are found to be very
valuable by the tutees as personal feedback on exam papers is not
offered elsewhere. Our tutors find it a very rewarding and stimulating
activity to assist patent attorney trainees to help them enhance their
exam preparation and become sound patent attorneys.
The epi tutorials are EQE training events that provide candidates with an opportunity to sit the A/B/C/D papers privately, to send the papers to an experienced epi tutor assigned to them and to have their individual papers reviewed and discussed.
The schedule is as follows:
1. Candidates enrol indicating the papers they want to sit. The enrolment is confirmed by the epi Secretariat and the candidates are informed about the assigned tutor(s). Two different tutors may be assigned for papers A/B and for papers C/D. A tutor will be assigned to a group of not more than 3 to 5 candidates to allow intensive discussions.
2. In a first round candidates write the papers privately (it is recommended to do so in the time the EQE allows for the particular paper).
3. Candidates send their paper(s) to the tutor they have been assigned to by the epi Secretariat. The tutor reviews the paper(s).
Candidates who do not get an answer to their papers from their tutor by a due date are requested to contact the epi Secretariat immediately.
4. In a second round discussions are scheduled for papers A/B and C/D respectively. The papers are discussed in general, particular problems are addressed, individual solutions commented on and questions answered. The format is flexible: it is up to the tutor and the particular group candidates to decide upon a commonly agreeable form for the tutoring session. In case it is decided that a meeting should be held with all candidates, time and place is to be agreed upon by the tutor and the candidates. The candidates provide in this case their own travel expenses as well as the travel expenses of their tutor. Alternatively a telephone conference could be arranged, but as indicated it is up to the tutor/candidates to agree upon a suitable format.
5. Exam papers to be discussed
a) Summer tutorial: 2009, 2010 2011
b) Autumn tutorial: 2010, 2011, 2012
6. Schedule
As each year epi suggests a schedule to ensure a timely feedback and to avoid an overlap of summer and autumn tutorial. This schedule should be seen as a proposal. The final agreement on the date when papers should be returned and the date of the feedback session is to be decided between tutor and candidate(s).
a) Summer tutorial:
Deadline for registration: May 25, 2012
Papers to be returned: June 22, 2012
Feedback to be given until: September 7, 2012
b) Autumn tutorial:
Deadline for registration: September 14, 2012
Papers to be returned: October 19, 2012
Feedback to be given until: December 14, 2012
7. Fees for the tutorials: 180.- € for non epi students
90.- € for epi students
Registration form epi summer tutorial 2012
Registration form epi autumn tutorial 2012
The mock EQE provides participants with the chance to sit the EQE exams under exam like circumstances. The participants sit the various exams (A[Ch], A[E/M], B[Ch], B[E/M], C and D) in the same order as the real exam and are given exactly the same time to sit the paper. The exam papers will be selected from previous EQE exams and are chosen for their didactic value. The papers are reviewed by experienced epi tutors. About one to two months after the mock EQE the tutors discuss the papers in small groups. Each participant receives personal feedback on his/her work.
Participants may sit any combination of papers.
Scheduled events:
Helsinki:
Mock EQE: 15-17 October 2012
Feedback session: 14-16 November 2012
Further information to follow
Online training tool for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE)
A joint Working Group (WG) has been set up by the epi, the EPO Academy and CEIPI to develop online exercises for candidates preparing for the EQE. Aim of the project is to provide new EQE-related exercises through the internet which help EQE-candidates to self-test their knowledge/competences with respect to the various EQE papers.Recently a first tangible result of the project has been put online (www.eqe-online.org/questions/ or www.eqe-online.org/forum/). It relates to paper DI and provides some 70 questions on EPC time limits /deadlines. The format chosen allows a user to request (a number of) open questions. After answering the answers in turn by submitting the time limit and the legal basis for it (EPC article/rule) the programme checks the submitted answer and provides the calculation of the correct answer as well as the legal basis for it.
A pilot test with over 300 users has been completed successfully.
We hope that this e-learning programme provides a useful addition to the arsenal of tools available to EQE-students
The WG welcomes feedback from users or other interested members.
Over time the Working Group will add questions on other aspects of EPC as well to the DI module.
The Working Group is currently developing a multiple choice exercise relating to paper A (E/M) which is due to go online later this year. The Working Group will turn to the other papers subsequently.
We will keep you informed on the progress.
The Professional Qualification Committee
This pre-examination online training course has been jointly developed by the epi and the European Patent Academy. The course covers 19 different modules, each module brings you through a different topic.
Registration closed.