100+ Free Paper M2 Practice Questions

Prepare for the European Qualifying Examination - Paper M2 EPC/PCT Procedure exam with instant access — no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

Not published Pass Rate

100+ Questions

100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More European Patent Office (EPO) Certifications

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

EPO EQE Paper F - Foundation

Practice Questions100 questions

European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC)

Practice Questions100 questions

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Paper M2 Exam

3 hours

Exam Duration

EPO

Variable

Passing Score

EPO / epi

€200

Sitting Fee

Rule 8 IPREE

2 years

Professional Experience

EPO

WISEflow

Exam Platform

EPO

Lifetime

Validity

EPO

The European Qualifying Examination (EQE) Paper M2 is a modular paper checking a candidate's ability to apply European and international patent procedures before the EPO. The sit fee is €200. It requires deep procedural knowledge of EPC and PCT, and the passing threshold is set dynamically by the Examination Board (usually 30% - 60%).

Sample Paper M2 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Paper M2 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A European divisional application is filed on 15 May 2026. At the time of filing, the third and fourth renewal fees for the parent application have already become due. Under Rule 51(3) EPC, within what time limit must these renewal fees be paid for the divisional application?

A.Within four months of the filing date of the divisional application.

B.Within six months of the filing date of the divisional application, with a 50% surcharge.

C.On the next standard due date for renewal fees of the parent application.

D.Within two months of the publication of the search report of the divisional application.

Explanation: Rule 51(3) EPC states that any renewal fee already due for a divisional application at its filing date must be paid within four months of the filing of the divisional application. If not paid within this period, it may still be paid within a further six months, provided the 50% surcharge is paid.

2A European patent application is filed on 10 April 2026. The applicant wishes to claim priority from an earlier national application filed on 10 April 2025. However, 10 April 2026 is a public holiday in Munich. When is the last day to file the European application and successfully claim priority?

A.The application must have been filed by 9 April 2026 to avoid priority loss.

B.The application can be filed on the next working day, 13 April 2026, and the priority claim is valid under Rule 134(1) EPC.

C.The application must be filed on 10 April 2026 electronically, as digital filing is unaffected by public holidays.

D.The priority period cannot be extended under Rule 134(1) EPC; hence, priority is irrevocably lost.

Explanation: Rule 134(1) EPC applies to all time limits, including the 12-month priority period under Article 87(1) EPC. If the priority period expires on a day when the EPO is closed for receipt of documents, the period is extended to the first day thereafter on which the EPO is open (in this case, Monday, 13 April 2026).

3A renewal fee for a European patent application is due on 31 March 2026. The applicant fails to pay it. Under Rule 51(2) EPC, what is the deadline to pay the renewal fee with an additional 50% surcharge?

A.Within six months of the end of the month in which the renewal fee was due (i.e. by 30 September 2026).

B.Within two months of the notification of a communication of loss of rights.

C.Within six months of the due date (i.e. by 30 September 2026) or within two months of notification of the search report, whichever is later.

D.The renewal fee cannot be paid late; the application is deemed withdrawn on 31 March 2026.

Explanation: Rule 51(2) EPC states that if a renewal fee is not paid in due time, it may still be paid within six months of the due date, provided that the additional fee (50% surcharge) is paid within this period. Since the fee was due on the last day of March 2026, the 6-month period ends on the last day of the sixth month, which is 30 September 2026.

4According to Rule 50(3) EPC, if a document filed with the EPO is not signed, the EPO shall invite the party concerned to sign it within a time limit. What happens if the document is signed and returned within that time limit?

A.The document retains its original date of receipt.

B.The date of receipt is changed to the date the signed document was received.

C.The document is deemed not to have been received.

D.A fine is levied, but the document is processed.

Explanation: Rule 50(3) EPC states that if a document is not signed, the EPO invites the party to sign it within a specified limit. If signed in due time, the document retains its original date of receipt; otherwise, it is deemed not to have been received.

5An applicant fails to reply to an Article 94(3) EPC communication within the 4-month period set by the Examining Division. What is the immediate legal consequence under Article 94(2) EPC?

A.The application is rejected by the Examining Division.

B.The application is deemed to be withdrawn.

C.A late payment fee is automatically charged to the applicant's account.

D.The application is suspended for a period of six months.

Explanation: Article 94(2) EPC states that if the applicant fails to reply in due time to any communication from the Examining Division, the application is deemed to be withdrawn.

6An applicant files a European application and forgets to claim priority from their earlier application. Under Rule 52(2) EPC, when is the latest time that a priority declaration can be added or corrected?

A.Within 16 months from the earliest priority date claimed, or if the correction causes a change in the priority date, within 16 months from the corrected priority date, whichever expires first.

B.At any time before the Examining Division issues the communication intending to grant the patent.

C.Within 12 months from the filing date of the European patent application.

D.Only within two months of the filing date of the European patent application.

Explanation: Rule 52(2) EPC states that the applicant may add or correct a priority claim within 16 months of the earliest priority date claimed, or where the addition or correction causes a change in the priority date, within 16 months of the priority date as changed, whichever period expires first. The addition/correction must be made before publication.

7An applicant files a European application in Italian. Under Rule 6(1) EPC, within what time limit must the English, French, or German translation be filed?

A.Within one month of filing the application

B.Within two months of filing the application

C.Within three months of filing the application

D.Within six months of filing the application

Explanation: Rule 6(1) EPC requires that a translation of a European application filed in a non-EPO language under Article 14(2) EPC must be filed within two months of filing the application.

8An applicant files an application by reference to a Japanese patent application. The applicant fails to file the translation into English, French, or German within the two-month period under Rule 40(3) EPC. What is the consequence and remedy?

A.The application is deemed withdrawn; the remedy is Further Processing under Article 121 EPC.

B.The application is deemed not to have been filed; the applicant must re-file and will lose the original filing date.

C.The application remains pending, but a surcharge of 50% of the filing fee is applied.

D.The translation can be filed late with no consequences within 6 months of the search report.

Explanation: Under Rule 40(3) EPC, if the applicant fails to file the certified copy or the translation within two months of the filing date, the application is deemed not to have been filed under Article 90(2) EPC. Because the application was never established, Further Processing is not available (as there is no application to process); the applicant must re-file.

9An applicant from an EPC contracting state files a European patent application in a non-EPO language (e.g. Spanish) and is eligible for the Rule 6(3) fee reduction. For which of the following fees is the 30% reduction applicable?

A.The filing fee only

B.The filing fee, the search fee, the designation fee, and the examination fee

C.Only the filing fee and the examination fee

D.The filing fee, the search fee, the examination fee, the designation fee, the claims fee, and the renewal fees

Explanation: Rule 6(3) EPC in combination with the Rules relating to Fees provides a 30% reduction only for the filing fee and the examination fee (and any fee for further search if applicable), not for other fees such as search, designation, claims, or renewal fees.

10An applicant misses a deadline set by the EPO to reply to an Article 94(3) communication. The applicant wishes to request Further Processing. What are the requirements and the time limit under Article 121 and Rule 135(1) EPC?

A.The request must be filed within two months of the notification of the communication of withdrawal; the omitted act must be completed and the further processing fee paid.

B.The request must be filed within one year from the expiry of the missed time limit, accompanied by a showing of all due care.

C.The request must be filed within two months of the missed deadline itself; the omitted act must be completed and no fee is required.

D.The request must be filed within six months of the notification of the loss of rights; the further processing fee is double the original fee.

Explanation: Under Article 121(1) and Rule 135(1) EPC, Further Processing must be requested within two months of the communication concerning either the failure to observe a time limit or a loss of rights. The omitted act must be completed within this period, and the prescribed further processing fee must be paid.

About the Paper M2 Exam

The EQE Paper M2 tests procedural and substantive patent law under the EPC and PCT, including international patent law scenarios.

Assessment

Performance-based assessment

Time Limit

3 hours (two 90-minute parts)

Passing Score

Variable (typically 30%-60% of total marks)

Exam Fee

€200 (European Patent Office / epi)

Paper M2 Exam Content Outline

25%

EPC General & Filing Procedures

Filing requirements, languages, representation, fee payments, and calculating time limits under the EPC

20%

EPC Search, Publication & Examination

Search report, divisionals, reply to search opinion, and standard amendments

25%

EPC Grant, Opposition & Appeal Procedures

The grant stage, validation rules, filing oppositions, and appeal procedures

30%

PCT International & European Phase Entry

International phase filing, search, Chapter II, and entry requirements within 31 months

How to Pass the Paper M2 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Variable (typically 30%-60% of total marks)
Assessment: Performance-based assessment
Time limit: 3 hours (two 90-minute parts)
Exam fee: €200

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Paper M2 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master calculations of time limits under Rule 131 and Rule 134 EPC.

2Understand the conditions and deadlines for Further Processing (Art 121 EPC) and Re-establishment (Art 122 EPC).

3Study the exact requirements for entry into the European phase under Rule 159 EPC within the 31-month limit.

4Practice using legal texts efficiently under WISEflow exam constraints.

5Familiarize yourself with PCT international phase timelines and options under Chapters I and II.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of the New EQE Paper M2?

Paper M2 is split into two parts: Part 1 (90 minutes, objective-style questions like multiple choice, drag-and-drop, dropdowns) and Part 2 (90 minutes, free-text open questions). You must sit both parts in a single session.

What is the passing score for Paper M2?

The passing score is variable, set by the Examination Board for each exam session depending on difficulty (typically ranging from 30% to 60%). You must achieve a pass in both Part 1 and Part 2.

What legal texts are allowed in the exam?

The EQE is an open-book exam conducted online via the WISEflow platform. Candidates can reference official legal texts, including the EPC, PCT, case law (G decisions), and guidelines for examination.

How much does it cost to register for Paper M2?

The enrolment fee is €200, and the fee to sit Paper M2 is €200, making the total EUR 200 per sitting module (subject to EPO IPREE regulations).

How do I prepare for EPC/PCT procedure questions?

Candidates should practice with previous Paper D1 questions, as Paper M2 shares the same core legal content. Master the time limits (Rule 131 EPC, Rule 80 PCT), fee payment windows, and remedies like Further Processing (Art. 121 EPC) and Re-establishment of Rights (Art. 122 EPC).