For IP Professionals

General tips and FAQs

Do refer here for Examiner's Tips and FAQs [PDF, 225 KB].

Download past papers (go.gov zip files)

Note: With effect from QE2022, examples of passing scripts are also published for reference. It is important to note that the scripts have not been revised for accuracy and should not be regarded as model answers.

• Qualifying Examination 2024

• Qualifying Examination 2022

• Qualifying Examination 2021

• Qualifying Examination 2020

• Qualifying Examination 2019

• Qualifying Examination 2018

• Qualifying Examination 2017

• Qualifying Examination 2016

• Qualifying Examination 2015

• Qualifying Examination 2014

• Qualifying Examination 2013

• Qualifying Examination 2012

• Qualifying Examination 2011

• Qualifying Examination 2010

• Qualifying Examination 2009

• Qualifying Examination 2008

• Qualifying Examination 2007

• Qualifying Examination 2006

• Qualifying Examination 2005

• Qualifying Examination 2004

• Qualifying Examination 2003

• Qualifying Examination Nov 2002

• Qualifying Examination Mar 2002

Statistics on who enrolled for QE for the first time (without exemptions)

• 2010 - 2024 [PDF, 126 KB]

  
  

Index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 195 KB].

Index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 120 KB].

Index numbers of the successful ,candidates are announced here [PDF, 114 KB].

The index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 114 KB].

The index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 440 KB].

The index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 357 KB].

The index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 197 KB].

The index numbers of the successful candidates are announced here [PDF, 200 KB].

The Registrar has established the following bodies to assist in the conduct of QE 2025:

Examination Board

• Mr Tan Kong Hwee
  Chief Executive/Registrar, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

• Mr Jason Chan
  President, Asian Patent Attorneys Association

• Mr Jonathan Foong
  Chairperson of the IP Standing Committee, The Law Society of Singapore
  

• Ms Low Pei Lin
  President, Association of Singapore Patent Attorneys (ASPA)

Examination Committee

• Mr Chang Jian Ming
  Rodyk IP

• Ms Cheryl Pang
  REC Solar Pte. Ltd.
  

• Ms Choo Chiou Yu
  Spruson & Ferguson (Asia) Pte. Ltd.
  

• Mr Daniel Lee
  Dyson Operations Pte. Ltd.

• Mr David Ng
  Donaldson & Burkinshaw LLP

• Mr Edmund Kok
  Amica Law LLC
  

• Mr Edward Ng
  Marks & Clerk Singapore LLP
  

• Dr Freeman Yu
  Synergy IP Pte. Ltd.
  

• Mr Hubert Giam
  Donaldson & Burkinshaw LLP

• Ms Kristen Lim
  Shook Lim & Bok LLC

• Dr Khoo Kian Hoe
  Davies Collison Cave Asia Pte. Ltd.
  

• Mr Kwan Chungmin
  Viering, Jentschura & Partner LLP
  

• Mr Lim Teck Yeow
  Donaldson & Burkinshaw LLP
  

• Ms Lo Wen Yu
  Amica Law LLC
  

• Mr Martin Kwan
  Marks & Clerk Singapore LLP
  

• Dr Michael Koch
  Viering, Jentschura & Partner LLP
  

• Mr Seow Kian Chiew
  China Sinda Intellectual Property Pte. Ltd.
  

• Dr Soo Ee Lin
  Spruson & Ferguson (Asia) Pte. Ltd.
  

• Ms Tan Shin-Yuan
  China Sinda Intellectual Property Pte. Ltd.
  

• Dr Tony Lan
  Yusarn Audrey
  

• Mr Teo Kwang Chin
  Viering, Jentschura & Partner LLP
  

• Ms Tan Hui Leng
  Bird & Bird ATMD LLP

Examination Secretariat

• Mr Chig Kam Tack
  Head, Patent Agents Unit, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

GDIPIM/MIPIM pre-requisite

1. Why implement this pre-requisite for QE enrolment?

The pre-requisite of passing corresponding modules prior to enrolling for the relevant QE papers aims to have prospective QE candidates better prepared for the examinations.

2. What documents do I need to submit to enrol for QE?

a) For candidates who have passed GCIP or the GDIPIM/MIPIM module(s) corresponding to the QE paper(s) they are enrolling in, documents to show that they have passed the relevant course/module(s), e.g., official transcript, notification of results from the school.

b) For candidates who are currently taking the GDIPIM/MIPIM module(s) corresponding to the QE paper(s) they are enrolling in, documents showing that they have passed the relevant module(s). These documents must be submitted to IPOS by 27 December 2022;

c) For candidates who intend to seek an exemption of the requirement set out in Rule 6 of the Patents (Patent Agents) Rules 2001 to pass GCIP, GDIPIM or MIPIM, documents to show that they passed a course or module they see as equivalent to GCIP, GDIPIM or MIPIM.

3. I have already passed Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property (GCIP). Will the pre-requisite apply to me?

No. The pre-requisite is not applicable to candidates who have already passed Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law (GCIP).

4. What are the modules in the Graduate Diploma in IP and Innovation Management (GDIPIM) and the Master of IP and Innovation Management (MIPIM) that will prepare candidates for QE?

5. I have worked as a Patent Examiner in Singapore for at least 7 years and am pursuing registration as a patent agent under Rule 6(3) of the Patents Patent Agents) Rules 2001. Will the pre-requisite apply to me?

Under Rule 6(3), you are only required to pass QE Papers A and C. As such, the pre-requisite applies to you in relation to these two papers. In order to enrol for QE Papers A and C, you will first have to pass the corresponding GDIPIM/MIPIM modules, namely IPM527 – Patent Claims and IPM529 – Patent Applications, and IPM531 – Patent Infringement and Validity, respectively.

6. I have already passed all the GDIPIM/MIPIM modules except for IPM523. I attempted Paper D at past QEs but have yet to pass the paper. I intend to take Paper D again at QE 2022. Can I do so?

You will be able to enrol for Paper D at QE 2022, only if you have passed IPM523 at the time of enrolment for QE 2022.

Candidates are encouraged to attempt QE only after undergoing a minimum of one-year internship in patent agency work. Together with the modules, these will provide candidates with the knowledge and practical work experience to attempt QE. There is, however, no requirement that you need to attempt these papers, or any other combination of papers, in one QE sitting.

7. I have already passed GCIP. Can I take specific modules to help me better prepare for QE?

Yes. Each of these 5 modules can be taken as Continuing Education and Training (CET) courses offered by SUSS.

8. I am currently taking GDIPIM/MIPIM module IPM 525 and I intend to take QE Paper B at QE 2022. I will only know if I passed IPM 525 in early December 2022. Can I still enrol for Paper B?

You should first enrol and subsequently complete the enrolment process by submitting document(s) showing that you have passed IPM 525. The documents should be submitted by 27 December 2022. In the event you subsequently did not manage to pass IPM 525, you will be entitled to a refund of the examination fee for Paper B.

Fees

1. Why is there a need for a 2-tier examination fee structure?

The 2-tier fee structure will encourage candidates to sit for the QE when they feel that they are sufficiently prepared for the QE.

2. I attempted Paper D in 2019 and 2020, and Papers A and B in 2021. I intend to take Paper C at QE 2022. As QE 2022 is my fourth attempt, do I have to pay the Tier 2 fee for Paper C?

No, you do not have to pay the Tier-2 examination fee at QE 2022. The QE attempt count under the new 2-tier examination fee structure starts only from QE 2022, therefore QE 2022 will count as your first QE attempt. As such, the applicable examination fee is the Tier-1 fee of $642 (inclusive of GST).

3. I am not sure how the new 2-tier examination fee structure works. Can you tell me more?

The new examination fee structure will start counting the number of QE attempts only from QE 2022 onwards. This means that any attempt at a QE prior to QE 2022 will not count as an attempt under this examination fee structure.

The table below will help illustrate this: