July 05, 2024 EPO-epi publication "EQE Guide for preparation" (June 2024) available - Information on the Foundation Paper

The EQE Guide for preparation, June 2024, is available on the EPO website since yesterday (here).

This guide is prepared by the EPO in cooperation with epi. This publication on the new EQE is oriented towards candidates, providing information and advice on how to prepare for papers F to M4 over three years, building on the guiding principles that govern the new EQE. It informs candidates about how to prepare in general by providing a thorough understanding of the EQE format; tips on the best order in which to tackle the subject matter; an indication of how much time may be required for each step; and lists of other training material and courses (our courses here).

Note that the guide indicates on page 3: "Written to support preparation for the EQE, it does not represent the views of the EQE Supervisory Board, Examination Board or any of the committees. Please also note that the guide does not replace official publications relating to EQE regulations like the REE and the IPREE."

Foundation Paper

W.r.t. the Foundation paper, the Guide summarizes the REE and IPREE provisions, sometimes with additional clarification. E.g., on page 6, it further provides (additional emphasis added):

" The foundation paper F focuses on testing declarative knowledge. The objective is to assess whether the candidate understands the legal concepts and provisions of the EPC and the PCT. Paper F also requires the candidate to interpret claims and assess their compliance with the provisions of the EPC. Declarative knowledge means that candidates will not be expected to deal with strategic or exceptional situations but rather to know the legal texts and apply them in simple, day-to-day situations.

The foundation paper is marked by autoscoring and may comprise different types of questions, such as multiplechoice questions, multi-select questions, true or false questions, drag and drop questions, questions requiring a fill-in answer and/or questions requiring highlighting of relevant passages of text."

Please refer to the full guide for all information.

The guide does not indicate the difficulty level of the Foundation paper, nor of that of the main exam papers. E.g., it does not indicate whether F or M1 is closest to Pre-Exam level (nor whether M2 is at the same level as D1, despite that you can take it already after 2 rather than 3 years of supervision). For a first indication of the difficulty level of the Foundatio  paper, we will need to wait for the mock exam, announced for early July (see here), and its marking scheme and model solution.

More information

For more information:

• EQE website
• The REE and IPREE for the New EQE (OJ Suppl 3/2024)
• Information from epi: "Navigating the EQE format changes with epi"
• Our earlier blogs: here, here, and here
• Our courses are listed and described on our EQE course overview page, e.g.:
• for Foundation
• Our training material is available from our webshop, e.g.:
• Basic Legal Questions for the Foundation paper ("L-book"), 
• Topic-Related Index to the EPC and PCT, 
• References to the European Patent Convention,
• Cross-Referenced Patent Cooperation Treaty

Photo from the EPO webpage on the EQE Guide (no changes made).