Hey, I am Zsofia 😊

While preparing for the EQE, I began sharing my summaries, templates, and concerns with other candidates through the EQE Blog you’re reading now.

I passed all four Papers for first sitting in 2021 as a non-native candidate. My marks for both Paper C and D – the most difficult Papers – were above 80%. My average across all papers was 77%. 🥳

I know how difficult it is to study for the EQE for months on end. What made the biggest difference for me was accountability. I believe in the power of having a reason to study consistently; whether through a study group, a mentor, or a structured plan that requires you to show up every single week.

But not everyone has the support of an employer. That’s why I decided to start this passion project and offer my services to candidates who want to study with me.

I got to tutor

200+

candidates in 2022-2025 regularly

My study groups were attended by candidates
working in prestigious offices and companies, such as the

EPO, Cooley, Finnegan, Keltie, Grünecker, Maiwald, Hoffmann Eitle, df-mp, Barker Brettell, Brann, Laine IP, Bergenstråhle & Partners, Nestle, Kuhnen & Wacker, Betten & Resch, P&TS, ZBM, Cantaluppi, Fish & Richardson, Appleyard Lees, Onsagers, Clarke Modet, Kolster, NLO, Pirelli, Adidas, Novo Nordisk, Knauf, tesa, Japan Tobacco International, Ramboll, Ascendis Pharma, thyssenkrupp, Schneider Electric, Philip Morris International, Philips and Roche

As an EQE tutor, I held

400+

meetings in 2022-2025

 
 

Can I help you pass the EQEs?

I’m in the process of finalising the list of study groups and their details (study plan, start date, length, price, etc.) helping you prepare for the next EQE exams. This means brainstorming, meeting with other tutors, collecting feedbacks of this year’s study group participants and reflecting on how our last courses went.

You can already register for my M2/D1 (M2 and D1 candidates together) study groups (with 15 or 24 weekly meetings) and three Paper D2 study groups that are always super popular.

Furthermore, after the success of the first Paper F study group, I am excited to announce that there will be a 6-month long Paper F study group starting in September. The improved study plan of this group has actually just been finalised, so you can already register.

Although I will personally not have capacity to tutor for the new M1 exam, I’m in contact with a few people and will do my best to provide some support (hopefully at least a few meetings and mock exams) for M1 as well.

Enjoy your spring and hope to meet you at the next Meetup in Munich on 28 June! 😊

Zsofia’s study groups for EQE 2026

 

22-week Paper F study group

Are you unsure where to start with your preparation for Paper F?

Would you like accountability, ongoing guidance, and a well-structured study plan during your preparation for the Paper F exam?

I'm excited to announce that, following the overwhelmingly positive feedback and a 93% pass rate from my first Paper F study group, I’ll be running a new group for the second Paper F exam as well.

Join my 22-week Paper F study group starting on 15 September 2025. We will cover all the legal topics in the syllabus in a relaxed and supportive environment, so you don’t have to stress in the final weeks before the exam. You will definitely learn a lot, since we will go through more than 200 legal questions together! A strong legal foundation will also help you in the next modules (especially M2 and M4).

The study plan was already a success last year, but I have refined it further based on the experience and feedback from the first Paper F study group. I have increased both the number and the length of meetings.

Please note that participation in this group includes weekly homework. It’s time-consuming, but essential for real progress. (Unfortunately there are no magic tricks…) I promise that if you follow the study plan and do the homework, you will feel confident and well-prepared on exam day.

For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.

 

24-week Paper D1/M2 study groups

Would you like to have constant guidance, support and a well-structured study plan during your preparation for Paper D1/M2?

These long-term study groups are by far the most popular courses I tutor. Candidates really appreciate starting early and progressing week by week, topic by topic, without feeling too stressed in the final weeks.

Good news: I’ll be tutoring three 6-month study groups starting this September!

The goal of these courses is to create a supportive environment; and after six months together, these group sessions often become friendly and (almost) fun weekly meetings. Together, we’ll tackle the overwhelming syllabus by discussing and answering multiple legal questions each week. Please note that participation in this group includes weekly homework.

Since Paper M2 will likely be identical to Paper D1, I’ve decided to combine the M2 and D1 study groups, allowing each candidate to choose the timing that works best for them.

The study plan is designed to support consistent learning: We’ll spend the first 15 weeks reviewing and discussing all legal topics (starting with the PCT). After a 3-week winter break, we’ll spend 9 weeks from January onwards working through 9 past D1 exams to refresh everything and improve your speed.

For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.

15-week Paper D1/M2 study group

Would you like to join a shorter course, but still benefit from guidance, support, and a well-structured study plan for your preparation for Paper D1 or M2?

Many of you may not be able to start studying in September due to national patent attorney exams, or may prefer a more compact course for financial or scheduling reasons. That’s why Ignacio Lobato (see his course below) and I will both be offering shorter, intensive legal courses as well.

My 4-month D1/M2 course will include 15 group meetings. In the first 12 sessions, we will revise all key EPC and PCT legal topics by answering and discussing multiple legal questions each week. In the final 3 sessions, you will test your knowledge under time pressure as we go through the last 3 D1 exams (2023, 2024 and 2025).

Although this course is shorter, it still covers the entire syllabus and includes the discussion of around 110 legal questions. The main difference compared to the 6-month study groups is the number of past D1 exams we will have time to cover.

My goal is to create a supportive, relaxed, yet professional environment for EQE candidates. You’re very welcome to join if you can only start studying in November, but still want guided preparation, consistency, and a safe space to ask questions.

For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.

 

D2 study groups

Would you like to learn a WISEflow compatible Paper D2 methodology and become confident in Paper D2?

Come, join me and a small group of candidates as we do previous Paper D2 exams together. Slowly, going step-by-step, taking the time and making sure that everyone understands all steps and legal issues.

Paper D2 is my favourite exam to teach, and the methodology I use is simple but effective, candidates love it too (as much as you can love EQE preparation!). I am organising and tutoring three Paper D2 study groups:

  • Autumn Sunday edition (21 September - 2 November 2025)
    (four long meetings, in total about 26 hours)

  • November-December, weekday edition
    (three long meetings, in total about 20 hours)

  • Winter Sunday edition (January - February 2026)
    (four long meetings, in total about 26 hours)

The D2 courses have a progressive study plan, every meeting being a bit different.

The Sunday courses and weekday study group cover different exams, so you can combine one of the Sunday courses with the weekday course for a 7-day D2 study group.

For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.

6-day Paper C study group

Would you like to learn and practice a WISEflow compatible Paper C methodology?

Come, join me and a small group of candidates as we learn an efficient methodology and do three previous Paper C exams together. Slowly, going step-by-step, taking the time and making sure that everyone understands all steps.

The pass rate of Paper C is relatively low, but believe me, it is absolutely not impossible to pass for the first time! You need to have a WISEflow compatible method and practice many, many old papers to understand what you are expected to do and to improve your speed.

In my study groups I always focus on the practical side, provide you with a template and many tips to make sure the information you learn is really helpful and helps you pass the exam.

For EQE 2026, I will tutor only one Paper C study group, with meetings on weekends (Saturday afternoons and Sundays). The course starts in November and ends in December.

For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.

 

Courses with other tutors for EQE 2026

 

3-month D1/M2 study group with Ignacio Lobato

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 four meetings.

For more details, exact dates and testimonials, click on “Learn more” below.

 

Recordings of my real-time e-EQE methodology sessions (for Paper A, B, C and D2)

In 2022, I organised online sessions in order to show and explain my e-EQE methodology. I showed the tables and templates I used, how I wrote my answer electronically in WISEflow and how I tried to save time. These sessions were incredibly popular, and many candidates have used these videos as a starting point during their preparations since. You can still purchase the recordings to learn simple but efficient e-EQE methodologies for any of the main exams.

New online Paper A and B courses have been added in August 2024.

What I find the most important

  • Accountability

    The most important aspect in my opinion. If you study regularly, your chances of passing the EQE are very high. However, it can be very hard to find the time every day or week to study when you also have a full-time job.

    This is why I suggest studying together with a colleague or joining a study group. If you need a little help to study for Paper D regularly, why not join a Paper D study group where you can study together with a small group of people weekly?

    As a tutor, I act like a personal trainer who makes you show up and do the work.

  • Mental health

    Studying for exams is hard. Studying for one of the most difficult exams in Europe is harder. Studying for the EQE while having a full-time job and family is extremely hard.

    That is why taking care of yourself during this period is really important. Your mental health matters. Don’t give up your hobbies, meet your friends every once in a while. If you need a break, take a break.

    I will also try to support you and make sure that you enjoy studying as much as possible!

  • Network

    Unfortunately not everyone has colleagues or friends to study together with. By joining one of the study groups, you can meet people who are going through the same difficulties as you.

    This is how you can grow your network and make new friends who will support you along this EQE journey. What’s more, these relationships will not end with the EQE but will stay with you during your career and life.

    Many times, we even had informal meetings with all of study groups after the EQE. It was really nice to also chat about non-EQE related topics!

    Since then, I also started organising in-person meetups, informal gatherings (so far in London, Munich and Eindhoven) to help maintain these connections.

  • Practical training

    When creating my EQE programs and study group plans, I am always thinking what would have helped me the most while preparing for the EQE.

    I always start planning by making a study plan to make sure that we have time for everything we need to cover.

    It is very important for me to not waste your time (and mine either) but actually provide you with useful training, give you practical advice and my personal tips. This is why during our weekly study group meetings we also go through the most frequent mistakes.

    Moreover, this is also why I shared my e-EQE methodology in real-time, on screen. Candidates love those videos, since that few hours are much more helpful than listening to a tutor who took the paper-based EQE 10-20 years ago.

Testimonials about my tutoring sessions

  • “The study group allows you to manage study times and to be able to review all topics at least once. Thanks to the good vibes created in the group it has been much easier to deal with the long study days.

    Zsofia is a great tutor with good communication skills!”

    Fatima
    Participant of the 25-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “The weekly sessions are the best way to keep the pace of studying on time and up to date. Zsofia carefully selects the questions to study and provides the relevant support material about them, selecting the most important highlights we must be aware of. Zsofia is also very supportive, answering all our doubts with a lot of patience.“

    Mariana Oliveira
    Participant of the 15-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Zsofia offers all you need for EQE. She is calm and patient explaining questions, she is organised and follows a well-structured plan. Her course includes a methodology which is based on "do a bit every day so you don't have to panic on the last moth" and this really helped me to be constant and to feel prepared when the exam was approaching. Also, having her until the very last week or two weeks before the exam made me feel relief as I know I could count on her for last-minute questions. Thank you Zsofia 😊”

    Maria
    Participant of the 15-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Zsofia was an amazing tutor! She gave us a short introduction to the topics and showed how to answer each question with detail and care. Through the weeks that we had the study group, she was always on time and prompt in giving answers if you needed even outside of the study hours. Her calm voice gives you serenity and makes this compelling study process much easier.

    I can now confidently say that she exceeded my expectations about the Paper D course. Receiving feedbacks regularly from Zsofia has helped me to gain confidence answering Paper D questions. I wish all the luck who are looking forward to studying with Zsofia for preparation for the EQEs!”

    Melis Ezgi Engin
    Participant of the first Paper D1 study group

  • “The D1 study group provides a framework for consistent effort in preparing for paper D.

    Individual work on D questions and weekly discussion in a group setting were the key to learning steadily and consolidating the knowledge in an effective way. The study group was key to avoiding the nightmare of binge learning weeks before the exams.

    Highly recommended! I actually miss it now.”

    Participant of the first D1 study group

  • "Zsofia is a unique tutor in the EQE tutoring landscape, it feels like being helped by one’s bigger sister, or a very friendly colleague. I had only a brief chance to have 1:1 sessions with Zsofia, but it was a useful experience. She will go the extra mile. Working with her brings, in addition to the thorough support on legal aspects, a lot of practical tips for the actual exams.”

    Alex

  • “Thank you again for the nice presentation! The method you used is very efficient and helps in saving time during the exam, which is probably one of the biggest issues for many candidates.”

    Gustav Boije af Gennäs
    Patent Specialist (PhD, Pharmaceutical chemistry)

  • “I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of a D1 study group led by Zsofia and I would highly recommend it. The course helped me to do a focussed revision for D1 in an efficient manner. The weekly topic-wise group study was adequately paced for an effective and thorough revision which I found to be particularly helpful during the last few months leading up to the final exam. Thank you very much Zsofia for your excellent tutoring and guidance!”

    Deepti
    Trainee IP Counsel

  • “Thank you for your great presentation and for forwarding all the materials from your last Paper C webinar.

    Your session was really helpful. I have attended one of the renowned preparation courses for Paper C, but we never got into real-time practice of the paper and with such an accurate simulation of exam conditions as you provided last Friday. Thank you very much. The job you're doing for EQE candidates is great.”

    Bernat Serra
    Patent Consultant (PhD, Chemistry)

  • “Many thanks for your support and all the good advice during the preparation this year. I could not have made it without your support.”

    1:1 tutoring participant

  • “It has been an amazing learning journey with Zsofia! After postponing my paper D exam I accidentally found Zsofia as a coach. And although the results are not yet known I am convinced that due to her dedicated support, constant motivation and her persistence, I will pass the D. She is a wonderful person, with a consolidated knowledge in IP and a great coach.”

    Participant of Paper D 1:1 tutoring meetings

  • “Thank you for showing your approach to the C paper.

    It looks clever, and I will try to do it in the same way ;-) “

    Real-time e-EQE methodolgy session participant

  • “I am very happy for doing the 1:1 sessions with Zsofia. I have learned several tips and tricks on how to approach the papers of the main examination and she was available for any follow up question. Zsofia is very professional and she tries to convey the most of her experience from the EQE and her experience in the IP world in the tutoring session. Highly recommended!”

    1:1 tutoring participant

  • “This course is a hidden gem: perfectly well-prepared topics and legal questions.”

    Paper D1 study group participant

  • “Thank you very much for your Paper C-session and for providing the video and materials afterwards. I really liked the way you went through the exam. It was easy to follow and well explained. Keep up the good work!”

    Real-time e-EQE methodolgy session participant

  • “Thank you Zsofia for the extraordinary work you are doing!”

    Paper D1 study group participant

  • “Today I went through your real-time Paper C exam video. I found it very clear and useful. Thank you so much!”

    Real-time e-EQE methodolgy session participant

  • “I appreciate very much the time, help and advice during today's meeting and also thank you for the documents you provided.

    I am pretty sure it will help me to move on further with our adapted methodology; especially the first table we discussed was very helpful and the detailed explanation we did on G1/15 examples.”

    Participant of Paper C 1:1 tutoring

  • “Zsofia is a strong ally to have by your side when preparing for the EQE: she is knowledgeable of the topics and can guide you in your study, she understands the dynamics of the exams and can recommend different approaches that are better suited for your learning style and she is nice and empathetic and always ready to encourage you (which is most definitely something needed throughout the long preparation months).

    I enjoyed working with Zsofia and her tutoring style.”

    Participant of Paper C 1:1 tutoring

  • “Thank you very much for the meeting and for taking the time to dive into D2 in real time. I think it is really useful to see the methodology applied in real time and, especially, with the new online format. This is something that other courses seem to lack for the time being. It also has become much clearer to me how to structure the answer and not to forget too much when "stating the obvious".“

    Dr. Felix Schröter
    Patentanwalt
    Real-time e-EQE methodolgy session participant

  • “I had a wonderful experience with the 1:1 sessions preparing for the D exam.

    Zsofia is an excellent coach, very professional, with a bright IP knowledge and clear motivational capacity.

    Her great advice, her understanding of the dynamics of the exam and of the patent attorney profession as well as her nice and empathetic tutoring style, were for sure exceeding my highest expectations, so that I consider her a very advisable tutor, at least for the preparation of the D exam.

    Undoubtedly, I have to thank her for the contribution in my passing paper D!”

    Participant of D 1:1 tutoring meetings

  • “It is very obvious from the first minute that Zsofia is putting in a lot of work and wants her students to succeed!”

    Hermeto
    Participant of the D2 study group (EQE 2023)

  • “It was incredibly helpful attending your course!

    I liked having a group of study buddies but also the schedule that was available from the beginning.”

    Sara
    Participant of the 25-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Independently from the results of the examination (not available yet) my experience was really positive and I gained a lot of confidence in answering D1 questions.

    Zsofia is an amazing tutor, very supportive and nice.”

    Arianna P.
    Participant of the 15-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • "Zsofia's paper D1 study group was an excellent way for me to study regularly, with a precise study plan, create a network of people to study with and cope better with the stress of the EQE preparation.”

    Elena
    Participant of the 25-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Individual work and effort when preparing the EQE are the basis for the exams. However, if you are alone, maintaining regular periods for studying during so many months, it is very difficult. The D1 weekly study group helps to stay motivated all over the months. Moreover, the clarity of the explanations of Zsofia and her human work while listening to our EQE problems, is just indescribable.

    Thank you Zsofia for your patience and guidance.”

    Chiara
    Participant of the 25-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Zsofia's study group for D1 was incredibly helpful. I struggled studying for the pre-exam so I knew I needed some help. The study plan was very well structured. It was very helpful to discuss the answers with her and with the group.

    Zsofia is very patient and explains very well and makes sure all doubts are solved. Also, I met amazing people! Our group was very supportive and I didn't feel alone during this journey. I fully recommend joining a study group with her.”

    Andrea Paz
    Participant of the 25-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Joining this group was the best decision I made for my EQE preparation. We had a clear plan and goal, a weekly routine and access to a tutor and colleagues to discuss the relevant legal questions. The weekly meetings were a good motivator to me.”

    Fabricio Belgrano
    Participant of the 25-week D1 group (EQE 2023)

  • “Zsofia‘s pre-exam course took me from having no clue about EPC and PCT to easily passing the pre-exam. The course is well structured and covers all relevant aspects, so that no open questions remain. And if they do, Zsofia will immediately reach out to whoever is competent and provide the answers as quickly as possible. All in all it was a great course, and I already look forward to preparing for the main exam with Zsofia and Fillun again!”

    Florian
    Participant of the Pre-exam study group

  • “If it were not for the study group, I would never have made time to get that bit of revision in. It was very helpful to be able to go through the material with a group of candidates in the same boat whilst having you there as the voice of reason to answer our tricky questions.”

    Participant of the Pre-exam study group

  • “Zsofia did an amazing job in structuring the content and in helping us to go through the topics each session.

    I joined the group because I had no idea how to make plan for exam preparation: how to form learning blocks, which are the most important topics one should focus on, and also how profound the understanding of each of the topics must be.

    Having an experienced tutor like Zsofia gave me the feeling of security that I could have a successful exam preparation.

    The atmosphere during the study sessions was very relaxed. It was almost like having an informal chat with friends every Friday evening.”

    Benedikt
    Participant of the Pre-exam study group

  • "The balance between a relaxed atmosphere and a serious, in-depth consideration of the material was refreshing for me. Even with topics I thought I had adequately gone through on my own, I found that there was always a tip or additional aspect to consider that came up during the meetings, and at the end of it all, I felt not just prepared for Paper F, but that I had received a solid foundation to prepare for the upcoming main papers."

    Lina
    Participant of the first Paper F study group

  • "The Paper F study group really helped me stay on track with my preparation. I appreciated the weekly homework, the quality of the study materials, and the structure of the course. Zsofia’s way of teaching made things easy to follow, and the class interactions were genuinely helpful. I’m feeling confident about moving on to papers M1–M4. Thanks so much, Zsofia!"

    Alicia Ortega
    Participant of the first Paper F study group

  • "Zsofia goes above and beyond to support everyone in the group. She provides a well-structured and focused preparation, with short introductions to each topic that really helped in understanding the material. Her dedication and knowledge made a huge difference in my success."

    Benedek
    Participant of the first Paper F study group

  • "Zsofia runs an efficient and effective tutoring practice. The weekly sessions are informative, collaborative and tailored to the participants' needs. I highly recommend this course to anyone preparing for Paper F, especially if you're seeking an interactive study group!"

    James
    Participant of the first Paper F study group

  • “You were a great tutor. Always patient, very competent and you gave us the right information on the right, oriented towards the knowledge of the participants.

    I felt well prepared and I felt comfortable with my reference books. I would say the study group was the key to pass!

    The format of the study group was perfect for my needs. Over several months, topic by topic, with a doable amount of well selected question, great other participants and helpful overviews and summaries. You always have addressed our questions and needs and you flexibly adapted the program! 🙏

    Olivia
    Participant of the first Paper F study group

Please let me know how I can support you!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Send an email to Zsofia