EQE Information Session – Summary

An EQE information session on was held on Thursday 26th January 2023. The same session will be repeated on Thursday 2nd February (3pm GMT/ 4pm CET). But if you can’t make it to either, the below notes on the session (from Kathryn Taylor) are a good guide to the content of the session.

e-EQE website and useful resources:

• Check out the information on this page
• In particular, read the Instructions to Candidates and the FAQ
• The myEQE page has your individual documents (e.g. registration details)

General outline of 2023 EQE:

• Pre-exam: 17 March
  • 2 parts legal questions (70 min for each part) with 20 min break between the parts
  • Break (80 min)
  • 2 parts claim analysis (70 min for each part) with 20 min break between the parts
• Paper D: 7 March – split into two parts for Part 1, no split for Part 2
• Paper A: 9 March – no split
• Paper B: 14 March – no split
• Paper C: 16 March – split in 2 parts of 3 hours each, with 45 min break

Mock exams:

• Mock exams are split into technical tests (for checking equipment) and contents (for getting familiar with how to answer the papers in Wiseflow)
• A first technical test was held on 19th Jan and there will be a second technical test on 15 February 2023 (from 8:30 to 9:30 GMT, or 13:00 to 14:00 GMT). This will be similar to the first technical test but using a FLOWlock flow (writing your answer in a document) rather than FLOWMulti flow (multiple choice). So is especially useful for EQE candidates
• We have been advised that it is not necessary to attend the second technical test if everything went well in the first technical test
• There is a compendium in Wiseflow including all exams and mocks that have been previously run in Wiseflow
• We are strongly encouraged to activate our accounts for Wiseflow soon (if not done already) and practice using the papers in the compendium

Changes since 2021 and 2022 exams:

• New text formatting options are available (e.g. strikethrough)
• PDF viewer allows you to highlight and annotate
• Integrated chat widget (uses same software)
• The lockdown browser is a newer version than last year, so candidates should download the latest version and test it in advance

Tips:

• Be prepared – read documentation in advance
• Print material before starting the flow (if needed). Materials for printing will be available 15-20 minutes before the start of the exam, so make sure that you are logged on early enough to print before the exam start time
• Show ID in entry photo – this is required for every flow
• Select language for exam paper (DE/EN/FR) from drop-down list
• Finish by pressing the “submit” button at the end of the exam – can do this shortly after the end of the examination time
• Submit at the end of each flow for multi-part exams

Devices

• Second device not needed (e.g. backup laptop in case the first one fails), but ok to have backup device in the room and switched off
• Other devices in the room are ok if they are switched off
• No second screen or other devices connected to the computer. External screen connected to laptop is ok if the laptop screen is not active
• No need to cover other (switched-off) devices in the room
• Webcam must be centred on screen, so if you are using an external monitor with a laptop then an external webcam is recommended
• Chat widget may generate sound if you receive a message – speakers must be turned on
• No headphones allowed – microphone must capture all sound around you
• Earplugs not allowed – recommend quiet environment
• Printer can be outside the view of the camera, even in another room is ok
• You should have full admin rights on your computer (need admin rights to install lockdown browser software, check that you have the latest version)
• Recommend using your own personal device rather than a corporate device

The exams are open book – you can consult papers, books, notes, etc.

Examination room:

• Recommend taking exam at home rather than in a corporate environment
• No sweep of the room with webcam before the exam, but it is possible (but not likely) that the invigilator can ask for a sweep of the room
• You need to be visible in front of the webcam and facing the webcam at all times, so don’t e.g. bend down to pick up stacks of books on the floor, or turn around to work.
• Face the camera where possible (ok to turn to the side briefly to e.g. get a book)
• Windows/ glass doors are ok, but cover (e.g. curtain/blind) if in view of the screen. It is important that nobody outside the room can see your screen through the window.
• Background doesn’t need to be “clean”
• No duplicate screens (lockdown browser only allows one screen)

Authentication:

• ID checking – ok if passport has been renewed since registering, ID does need to be valid / not expired
• Not allowed to wear a mask in examination room (need to be alone in the room anyway)
• Hold ID next to face when taking entry image for each flow (not just the first one)
• Use passport/official ID rather than driving license
• ID must have a photo

Breaks:

• OK to leave the room during unscheduled breaks
• Limit breaks to a few minutes

Location:

• No need to take the exam in the same city and country as the location you declared on registration
• Location needs to be suitable (quiet surroundings, good internet connection)

Internet connection:

• What happens if the internet connection is interrupted?
• Short interruptions are ok, keep working and the system will reconnect to the server automatically
• If the connection drops near the end of the exam, use the button to save a local copy of your answer, note the folder path, and upload as soon as possible after the exam
• If computer crashes or the system throws you out: reboot, start Wiseflow again, take entry image, use chat widget to contact invigilator
• Wired connection is recommended rather than WiFi, if possible
• WiFi hotspot is recommended as a back-up, but with phone in a different room

Support:

• You can contact an invigilator using the chat widget at the bottom of the screen (can minimise when not using)
• You can use the chat widget from outside a flow
• Do not close the chat widget, minimise instead
• You will hear a sound if an invigilator contacts you
• Keep chat widget open (ok to minimise) – if closed, the chat history is lost and invigilators cannot contact you
• Authorised shortcut key combinations are the ones mentioned in the FAQs. Recommended not to use any other combinations.

Resources:

• Legal references provided under “External Resources” button within lockdown browser: EPO legal documents, PCT Applicants’ Guide
• Can move around/follow links within epo.org
• These resources are available in the compendium in Wiseflow

Highlighting and copying:

• Use the search function in the lockdown browser
• ctrl-F may be disabled in some parts of the system
• text can be copied from the exam paper (opened in a separate tab), from the legal texts (though this won’t get you extra marks!), and from your own answer
• Highlighting and annotation functions are also available in the paper in a separate tab
• Strikethrough mode is available as a formatting option in the text editor (e.g. for annotating claims in paper B)

Paper C: No marks will be awarded in the second part for an answer that was expected in the first part.