All about Paper M4
Paper M4 Basics
Date: 11 March 2027
Length: Not yet available for EQE2027
Paper M4 lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours in total and consists of one or more tasks. (IPREE Rule 26(3))
Start time: likely 9:30 CET, but the timing is not yet available
Topic: According to the REE ("Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives"), Art.1(5)(e): “Paper M4 assesses whether the candidate can provide an answer in the form of a legal opinion responding to an enquiry from a client. The candidate is expected to reason, present and manage advanced procedural and substantive aspects of patent law.”
Syllabus: According to IPREE Rule 26(4), candidates are expected to be familiar with at least the documents listed in Rule 21(1).
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 (see IPREE Rule 6(6)(a)(ii)) in both parts (we don’t know more before the exam). So both parts have to be passed separately, just like in Paper F and M2 (see IPREE Rule 6(4)).
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.
As you might know, there is no Paper D anymore. From 2027, it is replaced by M2 and M4. The new M4 exam corresponds to the old Paper D2. This is good news, because it means you can still use past D2 papers to prepare.
In fact, there is no better way to prepare for M4 than working through past D2 exams. What you also need is a clear and reliable methodology. In my M4 study groups, you get both.
Each course includes four intensive sessions (approximately 6.5 hours each). We will complete and discuss four full past Paper D2 exams in a small group of candidates, using a WISEflow-compatible approach that you can apply directly in the exam.
You will also receive two additional updated past D2 exams, along with my answers, for independent practice, so you can continue training on your own.
No preparation is required before the course, and no special materials are needed beyond the reference books you are already using.
For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.
Paper M4 courses
Paper M4 study groups with Zsofia
(3 groups with identical study plan)
Choose your group:
Autumn, Sunday edition (Sundays from 10:00 CET): 11 October, 25 October, 8 November, 22 November
Autumn, weekday edition (Wednesdays from 10:00 CET): 28 October, 11 November, 25 November, 9 December
Winter, Sunday edition (Sundays from 10:00 CET): 10 January, 24 January, 7 February, 21 February
How to deal with Paper M4?
Paper M4 is about giving clear advice to a client after analysing a complex patent situation. The client’s letter can be quite long, but usually every sentence is important and was included in the exam for a reason. There are no tricks.
While the exact questions can differ, they usually concern the following topics:
1. Situation as is
Describe the current situation, i.e. what is the situation now, who gets the patent if we do not change anything, is the priority valid, etc. (This part was very important in the D2 exam, often worth 50% of the marks in the old D2 exam.)
2. Improvements
What are the problems, what kind of improvements are possible, and what do you recommend as next steps. You have to help the client to improve their situation.
3. Situation after (exploitation)
Describe the situation after the suggested improvements (who owns the patent rights, licensing agreements, etc.). There might also be a few specific questions to answer (for example the client has a business meeting next month, what should they do).
Please do not forget the definition of patent; it is really important for Paper M4. You cannot simply say that “the claim covering product X is granted, so the client is free to sell/produce/use/market product X”. A patent does not give right to freely sell/produce/use/market a product but only to exclude others from selling/producing/using/marketing the patented product.
In M4, there is definitely a lot of writing. However, you can use bullet point style (like in M2).
Preparation for the M4 exam
During your M4 preparation, it is very important that you practise as many past D2 exams as you can, since each of them cover different legal aspects. Each past D2 exam covers about 4 legal topics (such as divisional applications, missing parts, partial priority, entitlement, reformation in peius, sufficient disclosure, etc.).
Please start doing previous D2 exams early, do not leave them for January and February (unless you are sitting M2 and M4 in the same year, and due to limited time you first want to improve your legal knowledge by preparing for M2 first). However, regardless how early to start preparing, there might still be things in the exam that you do not know. Do not worry, you can still pass! As I wrote above, the majority of the points (at least in the old D2 exams) are in the first part: describing the as-is situation. For this part, you do not really have to solve any tricks (for example entitlement: entitlement issues do not change the current situation, since the EPO will grant the patent to the applicant on file).
Similarly to M2, write out every step, don’t just give short conclusions. (For example: “priority is not valid” is not enough for the full marks, you are expected to explain why it is not valid.)
In M4, no legal basis needs to be cited (yaaay!). You can use the same reference books and online materials from WISEflow that you are/were using for M2 exam.
Use a good timeline or table
For M4, you will definitely need a good timeline or table to have an overview of the applications, patents and their relationship. If you have a good overview, it will be relatively simple to get the points for the first part of the exam, i.e. the situation as is analysis.
As you probably know, hand-written notes cannot be filed as part of your answer. Therefore, even if you use a timeline or table, you cannot hand it in. You will have to fill it with pencil on paper, and type your answer electronically. Alternatively, you can create a table in the WISEflow editor if that is more convenient for you. (For some candidates it works quickly, but most of my candidates find the paper version better and quicker to use.)
If you don’t have the budget to join one of my Paper M4 study groups, you can also check out my old blog posts, e.g. my D2 methodology here and my template here.
Thank you for your support and kind words!
“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
“The D2 course helped me develop a sound method for approaching the exam. This not only saved a significant amount of time and relieved the time pressure on D2 but also allowed me to start the exam with confidence, knowing exactly what to do step by step.”
G.B.
“I liked that the first day you took the time to show how to build the table, and the answers (I was completely new to D2 and it helped me a lot). I also liked that we tested both types of approaches (by application and by subject-matter).”
Ignacio
"The D2 study group with Zsofia is a great support in the preparation for the D exam of the EQE. The study group is focused on practical examples (exams from previous years) so you can develop your own methodology to solve the exam using Zsofia's template and teachings as a reference."
Fatima
“The main reason for me to join the group was to receive good guidance during the study period, therefore giving a proper structure to my study plan and you did not disappoint! At the end of the study group I had a solid technique and knew exactly how to tackle the paper.”
Anna Varone
"The study group with Zsofia was really helpful. Her methodology is very practical and allows you to find the answers to the questions really easily. Also, having someone doing a live exam for (and with) you, explaining tips and traps, helped me a lot. Thanks Zsofia!"
Maria
“The Paper D2 study group was very helpful for me. I had no clue where to start, since it was my first time sitting at paper D. Zsofia explained how to solve the exam step by step with her methodology. It was very helpful to solve the exam live and ask her all the doubts. Totally recommend it!”
Andrea
"Zsofia is brilliant in her management of study groups, gives a continuous support to candidates based on a more than accredited knowledge of the subject she teaches.
I liked the comfortable but demanding atmosphere created during the sessions which were very helpful for an organized and efficient EQE preparation.”
Monica
“I really recommend to join to D2 study group, Zsofia's methodology is very good and straightforward so you optimize your time in D2, which is very important! I like that by doing this methodology, you first fill the table with all the information given in the paper so you have the whole picture in your mind, then analyze all the patent applications by subject-matter which is very helpful to structure all the information and afterwards is easier to solve the rest of the questions and to detect the improvements.”
A.P.
“These D2 study groups were great to easily and overall understand how to tackle D2, with the support of Zsofia and all of the other colleagues. The tips, methodologies and insights provided for sure allowed me to do D2 with a much increased confidence.“
Mariana Oliveira
“The study group helped me develop a clear and structured approach to Paper D2. It made a big difference in my confidence, and the group discussions were both motivating and insightful.”
M.
“I found the structure especially helpful, moving from the initial walkthroughs all the way to mock-exam-style sessions at the end. The methodology, especially the “summary of the situation as is” template, really clicked for me and made D2 much more manageable.”
Lauren
“This is a valuable course. It gives you the opportunity to work through multiple previous D2 exams with guidance. Zsofia teaches a proven method. I initially tried to use the course to refine my own technique, but only after the course did I fully adopt Zsofia’s methodology. It was an important learning experience. Her positive attitude also helps you get through the sometimes tedious preparation phase.”
Florian
“Zsofia's study group generally takes place in a small and informal setting which allows everyone the opportunity to actively participate in the discussions and ask questions. Apart from that, Zsofia is also a very patient and encouraging tutor, which gave me the much needed boost of confidence and made my exam preparation much more enjoyable! If you need a tutor who has your back or if you struggle with Paper D2 in general, I highly recommend joining Zsofia's D2 study group!”
Adeline
“Besides the positive atmosphere in the tutoring sessions among the candidates, guided by Zsofia, I liked a lot that Zsofia could provide us with step-by-step plans for many recurring problems during the exam.
Throughout the learning process, I felt like following a plan and working through individual small steps. Thereby, the overall intimidating project became digestible.”
M.
"The D2 study group was very useful for me for preparing for the D2 paper. By using a step-by-step and gradual approach, Zsofia guides you through the D2 papers and shows you how to not “get lost” with all the information presented in the text. I used exactly the same methodology at the exam”.
Valeria
“I feel very fortunate to have discovered Zsofia and studied with her for the D2 exam. In my experience doing past D2 papers together with Zsofia was a very effective way to study. The whole study organisation was extremely pedagogical in my opinion. I have learned about the format of the exam, the most important substantive issues, expectations with regard to the candidates’ answers and a methodology for maximising chances for scoring high in the exam. For me Zsofia's study sessions were a safe place where I could practise in a relaxed atmosphere. After having had four sessions with Zsofia, I felt that I was well prepared for the D2 exam format and I could fully focus on solving the substantive matters at hand. I highly recommend studying with Zsofia!”
Irina Demina
“D2 study group with Zsofia is an excellent study group in order to learn how to score points, organize the information and learn from others. Highly recommended!”
Elen
“Thanks to Zsofia we learned a simple methodology for answering D2 papers. Zsofia is very helpful and we had the chance to do 4 D2 papers with her, step by step.”
Arianna P.
“It is the perfect course to practice the D2 paper; you learn to manage the time, read the entire paper and use a very useful methodology, including how to fill out the timeline-table.”
Cristina
“It is very obvious from the first minute that Zsofia is putting in a lot of work and wants her students to succeed!”
Hermeto
“Zsofia's D2 course is a wonderfully structured course that has contributed immensely to a time efficient D2 preparation. Her step-by-step approach helped me with "exam anxiety" encountered when facing an unknown and complex situation under time- and performance pressure.”
L.
Joining your group helped me in keeping my study plan on track, maintain (and honestly sometimes even find 😉) my motivation and focus on time management. The best thing is that you are very approachable, receptive, flexible yet focussed and patient, a combination of great qualities that I would expect to find in my tutor/mentor.”
Kanika Oswal
“Great methodology and great to study collaboratively!”
J.
“I found the techniques and discussion very helpful and I referred to your model answers for a general structure for answering the questions. Some of the substantive issues that were covered in the study group were in the exam and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have spotted them without the study group discussions.
What I liked most were your model answers. As the EQE is open book, I had a collection of different answer templates for each paper and I find your methodology to be very thorough and transferable to my D2 exam (also I referred to your Paper C methodology for the Paper C exam :) )”
“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
“I joined the course to gain more structured preparation and deepen my understanding of Paper D2 through focused practice and discussion. Having already experienced the quality of Zsófia’s D1 study group, I was confident in continuing with the D2 course as well.
The course fully met my expectations — it was diverse, well-structured, and offered excellent practice. The selected exam years covered a wide range of topics and gradually increased in difficulty, which kept the preparation both comprehensive and engaging.
What I appreciated most was the clarity of Zsófia’s explanations, the interactive nature of the sessions, and especially her valuable tips tailored to the online exam format. Her methodology is incredibly effective for the Wiseflow environment, and I consider it one of her unique strengths. Zsófia’s genuine motivation to help and the time she dedicates to addressing each question truly set her apart from other EQE tutors I’ve come across.
Everything in the D2 preparation was excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the D2 Mock exam she created — it was both complex and interesting. It could be a great addition as an example or for a future Q&A session.
I’ve already recommended Zsófia’s courses to several of my colleagues and friends, and will continue to do so!”
Maryna Welsch
“I love the way Zsofia's D2 study group is structured. It's amazing how just 4 (albeit long) meetings can make a significant difference in one's preparation for Paper D2. Zsofia is a highly skilled tutor who knows exactly how to guide discussions for maximum benefit in each meeting. I definitely recommend it!”
Claudia
"Thanks to Zsofia's paper D2 course, I learned a fast and efficient methodology to deal with any type of paper D2. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to apply the methodology during the course more than once. This helped me become more confident and quicker in writing the answers.”
Elena
“It is the combination of detailed and precise case handling and a clear, concise and detailed answer to the questions asked that leads to success. Zsofia taught us all that in the group - thank you for that! Well, and the other prerequisite to success is learning, learning, learning, practicing, practicing, practicing and knowing a lot of things by heart already....
So, thanks again for the great training! It was fun to learn in the European group with many nice and eager to learn fellow candidates.”
Kristina
“If you feel you want to have a safe place to learn a methodology and discuss Paper D2, do not hesitate and join this group!”
Fabricio Belgrano
“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
“(I attended only once, as I realised that I needed more time for the other exams; Paper A, B and C.) In the session I attended I really liked how we did the first D2 exam together and that you explained the methodology in a way that was really easy to follow. This one meeting I attended and the materials provided by you, especially the list with improvements, were incredibly helpful for me for further D2 preparation and during the exam. I would thus also recommend this course to anyone preparing for the exams.”
“Zsofia uses a very effective method that is very comprehensive over other methods that I've learned from different courses (other methods tended to miss certain aspects of the paper if it was in a slightly different style). I found that Zsofia's method is very applicable to all past papers. Learning to apply her method thoroughly through the course, and onto additional past papers was a foul-proof method to prepare D2.”
Related EQE blog posts
There are many blog posts related to legal topics, you can use the arrow on the right to browse between them.
As part of Fillun’s 5th Advent calendar, PCT-related quiz questions were posted on LinkedIn on every day of December. If you didn’t follow it on LinkedIn, but would like to refresh PCT by answering the questions, you can find the questions in this post.