EQE exam-day guide
EQE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose name matches your EQE registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a signature is required.
Admission ticket / registration confirmation
Print or download the confirmation the provider issues. Check whether your centre requires a printed copy or accepts a digital version - confirm with the provider.
Permitted legal texts and reference materials
The EQE is open-book for the legal texts the provider lists (e.g. EPC, PCT, Paris Convention, Guidelines, Euro-PCT Guide as permitted). Use only editions on the current permitted list and check annotation rules - confirm with the provider whether handwritten notes or tabs are allowed.
Silent, non-programmable watch or timer
A simple analogue or basic digital watch helps you pace the paper if the room clock is not visible. Confirm with the provider whether smartwatches and programmable devices are prohibited (they usually are).
Permitted writing and annotation tools
Bring pens, pencils, eraser and highlighter in line with the provider's list. Confirm whether pencil-only or ink is required for answer sheets.
Clear bottle of water and a small snack
Sessions are long; hydration and a quiet snack help. Check the centre's rules on food and drink in the exam room - confirm with the provider.
Printed logistics plan
Address of the centre, transport route, arrival time, and a backup route. Verify the venue and reporting time on your admission documents rather than relying on memory.
Index or tab system for your legal texts
Pre-built tabs and a personal index speed up lookups enormously. Confirm with the provider whether tabs, sticky notes or loose inserts are permitted in the exam room.
Review the current EQE regulations and instructions
Read the provider's current regulations on aids, conduct, timing and scoring before the exam. Rules change between years, so use the current-year documents, not older summaries.
Backup of your reference set
If you rely on a second copy or a different edition, confirm whether duplicates are allowed. If unsure, leave extras at home and confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Do timed run-throughs of one past paper per module under exam conditions, focusing on time allocation and lookup speed. Re-check the permitted-aids list and the current regulations. Prepare and pack your legal texts, tab them, and verify editions. Confirm travel, accommodation and reporting time. Protect sleep.
Light revision only: your own index, key Articles and Rules, and a short list of recurring traps. Pack your bag with ID, admission ticket, permitted texts, pens, watch, water and snack. Re-read the conduct rules. Set two alarms. Avoid comparing notes with other candidates late in the day; it adds noise, not value.
Eat a proper breakfast, arrive at the centre with buffer time, and locate the room and facilities. Re-read the instructions on the answer sheet and the time signals. Keep your materials organised the way you practised; do not reorganise your tabs on the day.
Read the whole paper's structure before starting. Allocate minutes per question and per mark, and keep a running clock check at fixed intervals. Answer the question actually asked, cite the relevant provision, and leave space to return. If a question stalls you, mark it and move on. Reserve the final minutes for checking answer-sheet completeness and numbering.
Rules to check
Bring only aids on the provider's current permitted list; anything not listed should be left outside the room. If you are unsure about an item, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Present the photo ID and admission documents on request; name and details must match your registration. Confirm with the provider what to do if your ID is lost or your name differs slightly.
Electronic devices such as phones and smartwatches must normally be switched off and stored as instructed. Confirm with the provider where they must be kept and whether they may be accessed during breaks.
Breaks are usually only permitted as the provider specifies, and additional time is generally not granted for breaks. Confirm with the provider the break policy and whether supervised breaks are available.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and the provider's regulations on conduct, including communication with other candidates and leaving the room.
Scoring and marking follow the provider's published scheme, including any compensation between papers and pass thresholds. Do not assume rules from previous years; check the current regulations.
If you believe there is a disturbance or an error in the paper, raise it with an invigilator at the time and follow the provider's procedure for reporting it afterwards.