Sunday, February 1, 2015

Suggested list of books and other things to take to the Main & Pre-Exam - EQE 2015


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 !

3 comments:

  1. For those not using Hoekstra but Visser, I would add the Ancillary Regulations (last edition 2010 ?)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Last year I had the Ancillary Regulations on the list, but I don't recommend it anymore. There have been so many changes in the last 5 years, it is a lot of work to update it. Both Visser and Hoekstra (and the Guidelines and How To Get Part II) have incorporated comments on the changes over the last few years.
    If you have not needed something from an Official Journal during your preparation, then it is very unlikely that you will need other ones at the exam. If you take the OJ notices you have actually used in your preparation, and the most relevant ones from the OJEPO of 2013 and 2014, you will not need the rest.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It would be great to find a timetable for preparing paper D. I am not sure what is the best approach, reading the article and rules first and then trying to solve some quaestions or starting with questions and looking for the articles/rules? There is too many things to do and i fear to miss something. Unlike papers A-C, I am totally at loss in how to manage time for paper D. Suggestions? Is there any timetable available?

    Mr Trust

    ReplyDelete