EQE study guide
EQE · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The European qualifying examination (EQE) is the professional examination that tests whether a candidate has the knowledge and aptitude needed to represent applicants in proceedings before the European Patent Office. It was established in 1979 and, according to the EPO, has been passed by more than 14 000 candidates; it is widely regarded as one of the most demanding professional examinations. The EQE study guide has 5 sections and about 2,192 words.
01Paper F - Declarative Knowledge of Procedural Patent Law and Claim Analysis
Paper F is the declarative-knowledge paper of the EQE: computer-based multiple-choice questions on the EPC, the PCT and the Paris Convention, plus a short claim-analysis element. There is no client letter and no file to work from - each answer is taken from the legal text in force on the exam date.
471 words, about 2 min02Paper M1 - Assessing Information and Acting on Client Instructions
M1 hands you a bundle of information - usually a client letter with enclosures, a draft, prior art and correspondence - and asks for output that actually responds to the instructions. The exam tests whether you can extract the real question, build a chronology, apply the law to the given facts, and commit to a decision with dates and consequences.
396 words, about 2 min03Paper M2 - Applying EPC and PCT Law to a Mixed Scenario
M2 tests application of both substantive EPC law and PCT procedure in one scenario. You are typically asked to take a position on claim amendments and to identify the procedural steps and deadlines under the PCT route, so the two bodies of law must be kept apart and used together.
447 words, about 2 min04Paper M3 - Producing Claims, Responses and Opposition Submissions
M3 is the drafting paper: independent and dependent claims, replies to examination reports and notices of opposition. Marks come from correct legal form, a defensible scope and an accurate basis for every feature you add.
435 words, about 2 min05Paper M4 - Advising the Client and Writing a Legal Opinion
M4 asks for a legal opinion in response to a client enquiry: whether a competitor infringes, whether the client's own patent is valid, whether to oppose, or what a contract or procedural position means. The exam rewards structured reasoning, correct use of the applicable provisions, and a clear conclusion that names the remaining risk.
443 words, about 2 min