Summary of the EPO e-EQE meeting on 8th February
Introduction: It is your responsibility to know WISEflow, test the software, do the Mock exams, setup your IT; just like in previous years it was your responsibility to book a hotel, flights, take your books and pencils, etc. to the examination room.
Changes in WISEflow: Most important developments of the editor:
strikethrough text
highlighting and annotating in the PDF (copy-paste only works if you first disable highlighting)
integrated chat (you don't have to separately login Zendesk anymore), but it can only be seen in the first tab.
Chat: Don't mute your computer during the exam, otherwise you will not hear if you receive a message via the chat.
Don't close the chat if you are waiting for a reply (you can minimize the chat though, that is not the same as closing). Anytime you open the chat, a new conversation is started.
Other electronic devices: You can have other electronic devices (e.g. a TV) in your room, but they should be out of reach and switched off.
I would also advise moving all small electronic devices, such as iPads out of the room completely and/or using flight mode so that there will be no alarms, reminders or other notifications surprising you during the exam.
Books and materials: You must have all your books and materials within reach so that the camera can see you all the time.
EPO's website is available from the WISEflow, but it is recommended to prepare and print the documents you will use frequently, such as the EQE calendar. WIPO’s website, so any PCT materials are not available electronically.
As a reminder, the EQE calendar will not be provided in the EQE 2022 (you can download my version from here.)
Wearing a mask: It is not allowed to wear a mask during the exam, because the visual invigilation with the face recognition will not work in that case. Since you are supposed to sit in a room alone, taking the exam without wearing a mask should not be a problem.
Breaks: Something that has changed is that you cannot have any breaks in the first 45 minutes (in Paper A, B, C and D2) and the bathroom breaks cannot be longer than 3 minutes!
The change is because of security, last year candidates had longer breaks and they want to avoid that.
When you are taking a break, don’t forget to write in the chat. However, you don't have to wait for a response, you can just inform the invigilator ("I am taking a bathroom break.") and then leave for the maximum 3-minute toilet break.
Technical issues: It is absolutely forbidden to use the Telegram chat and other communication channels with other EQE candidates during the EQE; for example to ask for the invigilator password.
If there is any technical issue, do not panic. Firstly, the software might just need a few seconds. Furthermore, WISEflow keeps saving everything you write. After you re-enter the flow, you will be able to continue your answer. (I have friends who were thrown out of the flow last year because of using Alt+Tab too many times, but they still passed.)
IT support technicians are not allowed to enter your room to fix any malfunctions!
If there are technical issues, you have to restart your browser/computer, contact the invigilator (chat is available on the website even before entering the flow), explain the issue and ask for the password. Then, you will be able to reenter and continue the exam.
If I understood correctly, you have to take a photo with your ID every time you enter the flow, so even if you were thrown out of the WISEflow and you are re-entering the exam.
Location of the exam: You can take the exam in any country, but pay attention to the different time zones. (The starting time is given in CET.) It does not matter if you are taking the exam in a different country than the address you used when registering.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that you should take the exam on your own computer that you have full control over. As probably the best option, it was recommended to take the exam in your office where it is quiet, you have access to a printer, but on your own computer.
Grammar: Small spelling errors and mistakes in your grammar do not influence your mark. (It is not planned that auto correction would be introduced in the future.)
Email invitation for the EQE 2022: There will be NO email invitations for the EQE 2022. You know the date, so simply login to WISEflow and the exam flow will be there to join.