EQE Paper F exam-day guide
EQE Paper F · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission letter and confirmation of registration
Print the confirmation you received when registering and check the exact reporting time, room, and building. The European Patent Office (EPO) administers the EQE, but venue and timing details change by year and site, so confirm the current instructions with the provider rather than relying on an older candidate's account.
Valid photo identification
Bring the identity document that matches your registration. The exact accepted document types and whether a second form is required should be confirmed with the provider, since rules differ between examination centres.
Permitted legal texts and reference works
The EQE is an open-book examination, but only certain texts are allowed. Check the current list of permitted materials published for your paper and edition. Do not assume that any commentary or annotated compilation is permitted; confirm with the provider and mark or tab only what the rules allow.
Annotated copies prepared within the rules
Tabs, highlights, and handwritten cross-references are typically tolerated, but pasted-in or inserted pages may not be. Verify the current annotation policy with the provider before investing hours in marking up your EPC and PCT texts.
Reliable timekeeping device
A simple analogue or digital watch is safest. Smart watches and any device with communication capability are normally prohibited; confirm the exact device policy for your centre. Do not plan to rely solely on a room clock.
Writing materials that suit your method
Bring pens you have actually used in practice, plus spares. If you plan to draft in pencil first, bring erasers and a sharpener. Check whether correction fluid or tape is permitted before relying on it.
Comfort and logistics items
Water, a snack for outside the room if breaks permit, layers of clothing, and any medication you may need. Food and drink rules inside the examination room vary; confirm with the provider.
A practised answer-planning method
Know in advance how you will allocate time, how you will structure an answer, and how you will record a fallback point if you run out of time. This is a preparation item, not a physical one, but it is the single biggest determinant of Paper F performance.
Travel and accommodation confirmed
Confirm the journey and arrive the day before where possible. Check local transport disruptions and the building entrance; large venues can have multiple entrances and security checks.
Provider contact details saved offline
Save the examination office contact and your confirmation number somewhere accessible without internet, in case of delay or a documentation problem on the day.
Plan the day
Stop learning new substantive law. Spend the time on technique: work through at least two full past papers or mock papers under timed conditions, then review where you lost marks. Re-read the current examination instructions and the permitted-materials list once, carefully. Prepare and pack your legal texts, checking that your annotations comply. Confirm travel and reporting time. Protect sleep; do not trade sleep for one more mock.
Do a light review only: your own summary of recurring traps, your time plan, and the structure you will use for each answer type. Pack your bag completely, including ID, confirmation, texts, pens, watch, water, and medication. Locate the venue on a map and plan the route and arrival margin. Eat normally and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid discussing the paper with other candidates late in the evening; it raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early, allowing for security and registration queues. Re-check that you have your ID and confirmation before leaving. Once seated, set out your texts in a consistent order so you can find provisions quickly. Write your time plan on the answer sheet or scratch paper: the time at which you must finish each question or part, and the time at which you must stop drafting and start writing up. Read the instructions on the paper before starting.
Read the whole paper or all questions before committing, so you can judge relative difficulty and allocate effort. Identify which parts are standard and which contain a twist. Start with the question you can execute most reliably, not necessarily question one, unless the paper requires sequential answers.
Follow your time plan and check the clock at fixed intervals rather than constantly. Answer the question asked: identify the legal issue, state the applicable provision, apply it to the facts, and reach a conclusion. Show your reasoning even when the conclusion is uncertain, because method earns marks. If you fall behind, switch to concise structured answers rather than abandoning a question entirely. Leave a short buffer at the end to check that every question has an answer and that page or question numbering is correct.
Stop new analysis. Check that all answers are legible, that you have answered every required part, and that any diagrams or claim amendments are clearly labelled. Confirm your candidate details are on every sheet as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring and display the identification required by the provider. If your document does not match your registration, you may be refused entry, so resolve discrepancies before the examination day rather than at the desk.
The EQE is open book only to the extent permitted. Using non-permitted material, or an electronic device capable of communication or storage, can lead to disqualification. Confirm the current permitted-materials and device lists with the provider.
Follow the invigilators' instructions on start and finish times, breaks, and leaving the room. Rules on breaks, and whether time is added for them, vary by centre; confirm with the provider and do not assume.
Do not communicate with other candidates about the content of the paper during the examination or during any period the provider designates. The EQE papers are sat on separate days, so discussing one paper can affect others.
Write legibly and identify your answers clearly. Marks cannot be awarded for reasoning the marker cannot read or cannot attribute to the right question.
Answer the question as set. Marks are awarded for applying the relevant law to the given facts, not for displaying unrelated knowledge; a structured, provision-based answer generally scores better than a discursive one.
If you believe there is an error or ambiguity in the paper, note it briefly in your answer and proceed on a stated assumption. Do not spend the paper arguing about the question; raise it through the provider's procedure afterwards.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider and can change. Do not rely on second-hand accounts of marking or pass marks; confirm the current regulations with the provider.