All about Paper M2
Paper M2 Basics
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes, with a break in between
Paper M2 is split into two parts. The first part is to be completed before the break, with the second part only becoming available after the break. It will not be possible to go back to the first part after the break.
Start time: 9:30 CET (3 March 2026)
Topic: According to the REE ("Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives"), Art.1(5)(c): “Paper M2 assesses whether the candidate can apply procedural and substantive patent law of the EPC and the PCT in both day-to-day and exceptional situations arising in the practice of professional representatives in proceedings before the EPO. It further assesses whether the candidate is familiar with all procedures established by the EPC and the PCT and with the procedural law referred to as forming part of the examination syllabus and in any further provisions laid down in the Implementing Provisions to this Regulation (hereinafter "IPREE"). At least 50% of the obtainable marks in paper M2 will be for free-text answers.”
In 2026, the new M2 exam will only include legal questions requiring free-text answers (like D1 questions). (As M2 and Paper D exams will be arranged on the exact same day, there will be no separate exams drafted.) In 2026, Paper M2 candidates will have to provide free-text answers to 5 legal questions.
Syllabus: IPREE Rule 21(1): Unless otherwise provided, candidates are expected to be familiar with at least the following documents in the versions valid as at 31 October of the year prior to the examination:
(a) the EPC
(b) the Implementing Regulations to the EPC
(c) the Protocol on the Centralisation of the European Patent System and on its Introduction (Protocol on Centralisation)
(d) the Protocol on Jurisdiction and the Recognition of Decisions in respect of the Right to the Grant of a European Patent (Protocol on Recognition)
(e) the Rules relating to Fees
(f) the notice of the President of the EPO concerning the arrangements for deposit accounts
(g) the PCT
(h) the Regulations under the PCT
(i) the PCT Applicant's Guide
(j) the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
(k) the lists of EPC contracting states, extension states and validation states, of contracting states to the PCT and of states which have ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court
(l) National law relating to the EPC, as published by the EPO
(m) the Guidelines for Examination in the EPO
(n) the content of the Official Journal of the EPO
(o) the Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority
(p) National measures relating to the Unitary Patent, as published by the EPO
(q) the following regulations relating to the Unified Patent Court:
Articles 1 to 4, 24 to 34, 47, 48, 66, 83 and 89 of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court;
Rules 5, 5A and 85 to 98 of the Rules of Procedure of the Unified Patent Court
(r) the Case Law Book, as defined in Rule 2
(s) Code of Conduct of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office
(t) Regulation on discipline for professional representatives.
Threshold for passing: Between 30% and 60% of the total achievable marks (we don’t know more before the exam).
Documents that you get in Part 1: Three legal questions to answer.
Documents that you get in Part 2: Two legal questions to answer.
Documents that can be printed: No documents will be available for printing.
Important: No calendars will be provided. Since 2022, candidates have been responsible for preparing their own calendars.
Since Paper M2 will include Paper D1 questions starting in 2026, candidates can prepare for M2 by practising past Paper D1 questions. Our M2 and D1 study groups will also be combined, allowing each candidate to choose the timing that suits them best.
Paper M2 courses
Thank you for your kind interest!
All three groups have already been fully booked in mid-July.
Thank you for your kind interest!
This study groups has been fully booked in early July.
Due to the high interest, I’m in the process of organising another 24-week D1/M2 study group starting in September and a 15-week D1/M2 study group starting in November with a new tutor. More details coming soon!
Your knowledgeable, patient, and supportive tutor Ignacio Lobato will be leading a D1 study group for EQE 2026 too! Ignacio passed the EQE in 2022 and has since published several helpful EQE materials, including his popular Paper D guides.
His intensive D1/M2 study group will run on Saturday mornings, from December to February, with 15 meetings over a 13-week period. (The program of this group is different from Zsofia’s 15-week D1/M2 study group and does not include a winter break.)
The aim of this group is to create a friendly and supportive learning environment, where EQE candidates work through all EPC and PCT topics together by answering and discussing multiple legal questions each week. This group is ideal if you’d like a guided preparation but cannot start studying before December.
Please note that participation in this group includes weekly homework. It’s time-consuming, but essential for real progress. Over the course of the group, you’ll discuss around 100 legal questions, including four past D1 exams (2022–2025) in the final two weeks.
For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.
How to deal with Paper M2?
Unfortunately there are no magic tricks, start studying and practicing as much as possible. Each legal question is completely different and also separate (and some of them will be about PCT).
I don’t know about you, but it is very difficult for me to study just by sitting and reading. It is so much easier to study by answering actual legal questions.
In my opinion, you should aim to answer at least 1-2 legal questions every single day until the EQE. There are plenty of sources, such as EPAC exams, past Paper D exams, EPO Daily D questions, Paper F brain-teasers, DeltaPatents books (Basic Legal Questions and Main Exam Questions for Paper D). There must be hundreds of questions that you can use.
A few things to remember:
There are no trick questions in Paper D.
Do not summarise the question again in your answer. Full waste of time.
Do not write full sentences, use bullet point style. you can also shorten the names of the applicant’s and inventions. It is not only shorter for you but much easier to correct for the marker.
Remember to always read the question twice, plan your answer and not just start to write. This way, your answer can be easily followed.
Write clearly, add legal basis to every statement (each statement is worth around 0.5-1 points, so for a question worth 8 marks you should write about 14 statements).
Write out time limit calculations any time you are mentioning a time limit.
Practice as many previous papers as possible before the examination.
When practicing, make notes of your mistakes! You probably do not realise how important this is.
If there are explicit questions, do not forget to answer them. It is so obvious and still we tend to forget it many times. If the question asks for example “Can you still reply to the office action?“, do not forget to add Yes/No at the beginning or the end of your answer. I prefer to start with my explicit answer and then writing my arguments.
Read and answer each D1 question one by one. Do not confuse yourself unnecessarily by reading the questions ahead.
If you don’t know something, skip it, and answer questions that you know. You can come back to it later, if you still have time. If not, do not worry, at least you spent your time on answers that will gain marks. Lots of people who do not have time to finish the Paper still pass, so it is OK.
Books to use
As you probably know, similarly to the other exams, you can use any written materials during the main exam.
You can find a summary of EPC reference books and PCT reference books on my EQE blog.
According to the EPO, the following materials can be useful during the exam:
The EPC, including the rules, protocols on centralisation and recognition, RRF and the notice regarding deposit accounts
The PCT, including the Rules
The Paris Convention
A list of the contracting states to the EPC and PCT (and WTO if not Paris Convention)
Further useful material according to the EPO:
Relevant dates for the contracting states to the EPC, PCT and WTO
List of the contracting states to Paris Convention with dates
Guidelines for Examination –> this will be available online via WISEflow
Ancillary Regulations
Case Law of the Boards of Appeal of the EPO –> this will be available online via WISEflow
Decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal –> this will be available online via WISEflow
PCT Applicant’s Guide –> this will be available online via WISEflow
National law relating to the EPC –> this will be available online via WISEflow
Since there is no time for looking up information you have no idea about, having a book next to you that you never used will definitely not help you.
Personally, I used my EPC reference book for 80% of the questions. For the rest, I used my PCT reference book, the Euro-PCT guide, the PCT Applicant’s guide (shortened version), and my own notes (time limit tables, etc.).
Thank you for your support and kind words!
“I had the pleasure of participating in Zsofia's EQE course, and I can confidently say it was a game-changer for my exam preparation. Zsofia's deep legal knowledge combined with her clear and patient teaching style, made complex topics much more manageable.
Her structured approach and practical tips were invaluable, helping me to stay organized and focused throughout my study journey. The real-time sessions were particularly beneficial, providing a dynamic and interactive learning experience that kept me engaged and motivated.
Moreover, the supportive community Zsofia fosters is incredible. Being part of a group of like-minded individuals all working towards the same goal was both inspiring and reassuring. Zsofia's encouragement and guidance were instrumental in boosting my confidence and ensuring I was well-prepared for the exams.
If you are preparing for the EQE and seeking a comprehensive, supportive, and effective tutor, I highly recommend Zsofia's C and D (D1 and D2) courses.”
Ibrahim Öztoprak
"I attended Zsofia's paper D1 and paper D2 course. With regards to the D1 course in particular, Zsofia advertises her course as being similar to a personal trainer. And the course delivers exactly that. Zsofia motivates you during your downs and praises you during your ups. She is extremely knowledgeable on patent law, and she shares a lot of good tips on how to deal with the studying, the exam and the pressure. The meetings are informal but efficient, and there is also time to have a bit of fun".
Afrim Berisha
“Your D1 Mock exam definitely contributed to getting the right mind set, as well as the D2 video I ordered from you. I also learned from some of the templates you provide on your website, which made my own materials more complete.”
"I can’t say I lacked motivation to practice D1 questions — I actually did many extras from the D paper book. What I was really missing, and what I found in Zsofia’s D1 group, was the opportunity to ask questions when I didn’t fully understand something, when I was overthinking, or when I had alternative answers that didn’t quite work.
The course absolutely helped me with that. The discussions with Zsofia were always insightful, and I also benefited from the exchange within the group. Even when the motivation was there, the peer pressure was always a good extra push to make sure I really answered all the questions each week!
Since motivation wasn’t an issue for me, the most valuable aspect was definitely being able to ask questions and explore complex points more deeply. I also really appreciated the legal summaries at the start of each session — they were a great refresher and served as helpful revision material before the exam.
Zsofia’s willingness to prepare custom topics and share tailored material made a big difference. All the tables, summaries, and additional resources she provided were extremely useful and played an important role in my exam preparation and during the exam.
I truly appreciated the support, and I would highly recommend Zsofia’s D1 course to others preparing for the EQE."
Maryna Welsch
“Zsofia’s course was perfect for my needs. I think the 6-month format with regular sessions so that most of the information is drip-fed to you works very well if you have commitments outside of work. I found it a good way to manage the syllabus which can get overwhelming if you cannot spend time studying in the evenings after work and every weekend in the last few months (because you have small kids, for example!). Zsofia is also very helpful in answering any queries you may have afterwards.”
Ash
I watched all your paper D videos last year and practiced and practiced and ended up passing paper D. Of course I was really happy about that. 🤩 I really liked your "no bullshit" straight on approach where you actually do the exams on time. Have not seen anyone else do that! Thank you! This was great 😊
“Zsofia is a very knowledgeable tutor and also genuinely cares and wants you to succeed, which is a fantastic combination because not only can she answer questions that may arise, but she also takes the time to provide meaningful answers in an effort to make sure everyone understands and learns.
The approach/methodology taught by Zsofia during the study group is very helpful and streamlines the process of approaching the exam, and doing multiple exams together in a step by step manner gives the opportunity to apply the methodology and learn it at the same time. Therefore, I would highly recommend Zsofia's study groups to anyone looking for an edge when it comes to approaching and passing the EQE exam.”
David
“Zsofia taught me how to read legal questions, how to analyse legal situations methodically, where to spot hints and tricks, how to formulate round-off answers. And trained me to do that under time pressure. She did it by being prepared, structured, up-to-date, but also and not less importantly by being always very supportive and caring. She is really one of a kind!”
Emilia
"Zsofia's D1 study group was the best EQE preparation that I experienced. The study group is well-structured and she is excellent at explaining the relevant legal background of EPC and PCT."
Susanne
"The D1 study group has a very precise study plan and Zsofia is a great tutor, explaining in a very calm and clear manner the topics and our doubts. The study group kept me motivated to study over the months. Thank you Zsofia!"
Maria C.
"I took part in Zsofia's 25-week D1 course and also the D2 course and passed the D-part on my first attempt in 2025. For D1 it was particularly helpful that questions are discussed in a small group every week. This ensures that you can really address your questions and the weekly rhythm helps you stay engaged over a longer period of time until the exam. In addition to the very detailed answers to the practice questions, Zsofia also provides very helpful summaries and repetitions of important topics. Video recordings are also provided, so you have the opportunity to study topics in more depth afterwards. Zsofia has an enormous amount of knowledge for D1 and D2, which she passes on to her candidates in a very friendly and professional way. All in all, highly recommended courses!"
Wadim
Related EQE blog posts
There are many Paper D related blog posts, you can use the arrow on the right to browse between them.
If you are preparing for the EPAC or EQE, you will definitely need an EPC and PCT reference book. In this post, I am listing the different PCT reference books I am aware of. I am also summarising their features, advantages and disadvantages.