The EQE reimagined – where have papers A to D gone?

Event Overview

Since the online e-EQE was launched in 2021, the EPO and epi have been jointly working on a proposal for a new framework for the EQE and the details are now available on the EPO website.

The proposed framework is a competences-based system which as explained on the EPO website builds on the existing EQE to bring it closer to today’s profession, adjust it to the digital environment, refine the approach to evaluation and ensure the highest quality standards.  When you delve into the detail, you can see that the proposed framework has some significant differences from the current system.

For example, there will still be four finals examinations but the titles and content of these modules looks very different to the current finals papers A to D. There is also a suggestion that these four modules could be tackled more gradually over a two year period rather than the current tradition of sitting all four together. Moving the examination to a digital platform permits methods of testing which are not available in a paper based examination, and some of these are used in the example examination papers which are available via Wiseflow.

This webinar will explain the detail of new proposal and example papers as well as give some background on the work involved in preparing them.  It would be helpful, but not essential, for those attending the webinar to have tested the example papers on Wiseflow.  There will also be some time for questions and discussion to facilitate those wishing to give feedback in the consultation which runs until 15 July 2022. Depending on the outcome of this consultation, the EPO has indicated that a fully-fledged reform of the Regulation on the European qualifying examination (REE) and its implementing provisions (IPREE) will follow. The year in which the changes will take effect has not been confirmed but the EQE 2023 will be conducted under the current regulations.