I passed the patent bar on Feb 1. This was definitely a protracted ordeal as I started studying for the exam back on August 2009 but caught the swine flu and couldn’t take the exam before law school resumed. With two kids, law school and interning I couldn’t handle studying so I stopped. I resumed studying August 2010 and studied for three weeks but got 62%. Couldn’t study during law school and had a baby Dec 2010. Finally got around to studying again Dec 2011 for three weeks and got 64%. I had technical difficulties during the exam, couldn’t search the supplements. Complained to Prometric and OED, got a refund, retook and passed on Feb 1. Moral of the story, be persistent if you don’t pass and retake it ASAP!!!

The first half of my exam had long fact patterns. I felt like I was solving long math equations for three hours! If you know the fundamentals, it’s not bad – just very long and time consuming. The second half had really short fact patterns so I was excited because I thought it would be easier. Boy was I deceived! They were such obscure questions. I remember thinking, “really, the PTO wants us to know this? Why?”

I cannot stress learning to search the MPEP enough. Learn to search the MPEP. Learn to search the MPEP. Learn to search the MPEP. If I had not forced myself to learn how to search the MPEP when I studied this last time, I don’t think I would have passed. The first two times taking the exam, I tried to memorize everything. When I didn’t pass, I knew I had to change my approach so I searched the MPEP for every answer choice in the old exams this time around.

My ex-boss (patent attorney) said the patent bar was a turkey hunt. I didn’t know what he meant by that, but know I understand. You need to learn how to search effectively for key words in the answers. I noticed that if I used the verbs in the answer choices, I had a high likelihood of finding it in the MPEP. During the exam, I even ended up searching using some Latin phrase because it was in one of the answer choices and I found it and was able to answer the question.

I took the exam in the Bay Area and again, had technical difficulties. This time, I was unable to search the MPEP whereas last time, I wasn’t able to search the supplements. I complained to Prometric, Ms. Knucker yesterday and today. I also complained to a staff attorney at OED on Tuesday. I was unable to search the MPEP whenever the computer felt like it didn’t want to search, it was so random. For instance, at times I could search Appeals but then at other times I couldn’t. VERY FRUSTRATING!

I studied effectively for a total of three months for the exam.

Good luck everybody and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at sertag@hotmail. I have some study aids I can email you.

1) Roughly how many PCT questions did you see, and how similar were the concepts in those questions to the exercises/software from PLI?

2) Were the “hydrocycolone” and “door handle means plus function claim” among the repeats?

3) did you ever go into any of the supplemental materials, and if so, did you experience any technical problems with the test?

I did mostly practice tests on patware and of course, I used this site to make sure I was familiar with all the repeats.

There were a few questions on KSR and maybe a couple dealing with Bilski.

Plus, the usual 15 – 20 repeats from past exams. Off the top of my head:

the “moondust” question
the “147″ as the answer – claim counting question.
Laurel, abbot and Hardy

Good luck!

http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/aia_regexamsourcematerial.jsp

I’ve downloaded these materials (in addition to the Bilski and KSR materials (Points 2-6) and it looks like they are no more than 60 pages (including 2-9)