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8-Week Program

Patent bar exam study plan

A structured, week-by-week schedule for working professionals. 60–90 minutes per day, covering every testable MPEP section in order of exam frequency.

8 weeks
Duration
60–90 min
Daily commitment
~80 hrs
Total
3 sims
Full-length practice exams
Study Time Calculator

Find out if you have enough time before your exam.

8 weeks away

5 days

How many days per week you'll study

1.5 hrs

Average length of each study session

Tight but doable

You'll need to stay disciplined. Consider adding one more session per week as a buffer.

64 hrs available80 hrs needed
7.5
hrs / week
64 hrs
total available

The Wysebridge 8-week program averages ~80 hours of structured study.

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Week 1

Course Orientation

Foundation & Exam Overview8–10 hrs
  • Overview — course structure and what to expect
  • Introduction to the Patent Bar Exam — format, scoring, and registration
  • Introduction to the MPEP — how the manual is organized
  • Introduction to Patent Law — core legal concepts
  • Quick Test-Taking Tips — strategies that save time on exam day
  • The Exam: Feel & Demo — simulate the Prometric interface
  • Types of Questions On The Exam — scenario, rule-based, and application questions
  • How To Search The MPEP — walkthroughs for efficient lookup during the exam
Week 2

AIA & Foundational Patent Law

AIA Overview + Patentability9–11 hrs
  • AIA General Overview — the America Invents Act and its impact
  • 35 USC 102(a) — prior art and novelty under AIA
  • 35 USC 102(b) — grace period exceptions
  • 35 USC 102(a)(2) — secret prior art
  • 35 USC 102(b)(2) — exceptions to secret prior art
  • FITF & AIA Quiz — test your understanding of first-inventor-to-file
  • Defining Patentability, Statutory Bars, The Core Criteria for Patentability, The Role of Prior Art
Week 3

Highest-Tested Chapter

MPEP Chapter 210010–12 hrs
  • Introduction to Chapter Reviews — how to approach the MPEP chapters
  • MPEP Chapter 2100 — §§ 101, 102, 103, and 112 (the single largest exam chapter)
  • Subject matter eligibility under § 101 (Alice/Mayo framework)
  • Novelty and anticipation under § 102
  • Obviousness and Graham factors under § 103
  • Written description, enablement, and definiteness under § 112
  • Complete Chapter 2100 practice questions and review all incorrect answers with MPEP citations
Week 4

Core Application Procedure

MPEP Chapters 600, 700, 12009–11 hrs
  • MPEP Chapter 600 — Parts of Application (specification, claims, drawings, oath)
  • MPEP Chapter 700 — Examination Procedure (Office Actions, responses, final rejection, abandonment)
  • MPEP Chapter 1200 — Appeal (Appeal Brief, Examiner's Answer, PTAB proceedings)
  • Complete practice questions for all three chapters
  • Run a full 50-question timed practice session covering weeks 1–4 material
Week 5

Prosecution & International Filing

MPEP Chapters 400, 500, 1400, 1800, 2009–11 hrs
  • MPEP Chapter 400 — Representatives of Applicants and Inventors (power of attorney, correspondence)
  • MPEP Chapter 500 — Duty to Disclose / IDS (inequitable conduct, materiality)
  • MPEP Chapter 1400 — Correction of Patents (reissue, reexamination, certificates of correction)
  • MPEP Chapter 1800 — PCT Applications (international filing, national phase entry, key deadlines)
  • MPEP Chapter 200 — Types and Status of Applications (continuations, divisionals, CIPs)
  • Complete practice questions for all five chapters
Week 6

Remaining MPEP Chapters

Chapters 2200, 2300, 2500, 2800, 2900 + others9–11 hrs
  • MPEP Chapters 2200, 2300, 2500, 2800, 2900 — reexamination, interference, maintenance, inter partes, international
  • MPEP Chapters 100, 300, 800, 900, 1300, 1500 — introductory, ownership, restriction, prior art search, issue and publication, design patents
  • MPEP Chapters 1600, 1900, 2000, 2700, 1000, 1100, 1700, 2400, 2600 — biotech, treaties, appeal board, design, supplemental examination
  • Focus on high-frequency rules and exceptions within each chapter
  • Run a 25-question timed session covering remaining chapter material
Week 7

AIA Deep Dive & Special Topics

AIA Lessons + Ethics + Administrative Trials10–12 hrs
  • Patent Law Treaty Implementation Act, AIA Introduction, First Inventor To File
  • Ethics and Practice Before the USPTO
  • Administrative Patent Trials — overview of PTAB proceedings
  • Best Mode, Covered Business Method Patents, Derivation Proceeding
  • Inter Partes Review, Post Grant Review, Supplemental Examination
  • Micro Entities, Inventors Oath, Common Challenges and Misconceptions
  • Complete a full-length timed 100-question simulation and review all incorrect answers
Week 8

Exam Day Prep & Final Review

Readiness check + full-length simulation10–12 hrs
  • Leading Up To The Day Of Your Exam — logistics, Prometric check-in, what to bring
  • Mock Walkthrough of Exam Day — simulate the full test-day experience
  • Examination Guidance and Training Materials — USPTO-published resources
  • Strategies for Efficient Study & Preparation — final review techniques
  • Complete one final full-length timed simulation and target 70%+ before exam day

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Create a free account to unlock all 8 weeks of this structured study plan, plus flashcards, practice questions, and your personal exam countdown.

  • Complete 8-week MPEP study schedule
  • Flashcard decks for every topic
  • 2,500+ practice questions
  • Adaptive study engine
  • Prometric-style mock exams
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