12-Day Study Plan - Patent Bar Prep

Day 1: Patentability Foundation

§§ 101, 102, 103

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

Read MPEP 2106 (§ 101 eligibility) - Alice/Mayo framework

Review Alice, Mayo, Bilski case holdings

Study § 102 novelty - AIA first-to-file, grace period

Learn § 102(b)(1)(A) and (B) exceptions

📋 Afternoon Tasks (2-3 hours)

Practice 30 questions on § 101 eligibility

Practice 30 questions on § 102 novelty

Review incorrect answers - understand WHY wrong

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

Read § 103 and MPEP 2141-2144 (obviousness)

Study KSR case - rationales for obviousness

Review Graham factors and secondary considerations

⏱️ Target: 7-8 hours total

Day 2: Obviousness Deep Dive

§ 103 Mastery

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

Study MPEP 2141 - combining prior art, teaching away

Review In re Oetiker, In re Hyatt cases

Learn prima facie obviousness burden shifting

Study secondary considerations (commercial success, long-felt need)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3-4 hours)

Practice 50 questions on § 103 obviousness

Focus on KSR rationales and motivation to combine

Review all incorrect answers thoroughly

📋 Evening Tasks (1-2 hours)

Create flashcards for KSR rationales

Review § 101, 102, 103 quick reference sheet

⏱️ Target: 8 hours total

Day 3: § 112 Requirements

Written Description, Enablement, Definiteness

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

Study MPEP 2161-2165 (written description)

Review Ariad case - WD vs. enablement

Learn MPEP 2164 (enablement) - Wands factors

Study best mode (post-AIA changes)

Review § 112(b) definiteness

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

Practice 40 questions on § 112(a) - WD & enablement

Practice 15 questions on § 112(b) definiteness

Review mistakes - common § 112 traps

📋 Evening Tasks (1-2 hours)

Study § 112(f) means-plus-function claims

Review claim construction - BRI during prosecution

⏱️ Target: 7-8 hours total

Day 4: Application Filing & Priority

§§ 111, 119, 120, 121

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

Study MPEP 201-211 (application types)

Learn provisional vs. non-provisional requirements

Review § 119 foreign and provisional priority (12 months)

Study § 120 continuations - copendency requirement

Learn § 121 divisional safe harbor

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

Practice 30 questions on application filing

Practice 25 questions on priority claims

Practice 20 questions on continuations/divisionals

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

Review double patenting - statutory vs. obviousness-type

Study terminal disclaimers

⏱️ Target: 8 hours total

Day 5: Prosecution Procedures

MPEP 706-715

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

Study MPEP 706 (rejections, prima facie case)

Learn MPEP 714-715 (responses, amendments)

Review non-final vs. final rejections

Study after-final amendments (37 CFR 1.116)

Learn RCE practice (§ 132(b))

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

Practice 40 questions on office actions and responses

Practice 20 questions on amendments and RCE

Study timing - response deadlines, extensions (37 CFR 1.136)

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

Review examiner interview practice (MPEP 713)

Study NOA and issue fee payment

⏱️ Target: 8 hours total

Day 6: Restriction & Appeals

MPEP 800, 1200

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

Study MPEP 804-806 (restriction requirements)

Learn independent vs. distinct inventions

Review election with/without traverse

Study MPEP 1205-1216 (appeals to PTAB)

Learn 37 CFR 41.31-41.47 (notice, brief, answer, reply)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

Practice 25 questions on restriction

Practice 30 questions on appeals

Review appeal deadlines (6 months notice, 2 months brief)

📋 Evening Tasks (1-2 hours)

Study Federal Circuit appeals (§ 141, 63-day deadline)

Review new ground of rejection in Examiner's Answer

⏱️ Target: 7-8 hours total

Day 7: FULL PRACTICE EXAM #1

100 Questions - Timed

📋 Morning (3 hours)

Take full 100-question practice exam (timed, 6 hours)

📋 Afternoon (3 hours)

Continue practice exam

📋 Evening (2-3 hours)

Review EVERY answer - correct AND incorrect

Identify weak areas for targeted review

Create list of topics needing more study

🎯 Goal: 65-70% correct

Don't panic if below 70%. Use this to identify gaps. Most people improve 10-15% from first to final practice exam.

⏱️ Target: 8-9 hours total

Day 8: Weak Area Focus + Post-Grant

Targeted Review + IPR/PGR

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

Review weakest topic from Practice Exam #1

Re-read relevant MPEP sections for weak areas

Practice 30-40 questions on weakest topic

📋 Afternoon Tasks (2-3 hours)

Study § 311-319 (IPR) and § 321-329 (PGR)

Review reissue (§ 251-252) and reexamination (§ 302-307)

Practice 25 questions on post-grant proceedings

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

Review design patents (MPEP 1500) and plant patents (MPEP 1600)

Study PCT basics (MPEP 1800)

⏱️ Target: 7-8 hours total

Day 9: Rules & Ethics

37 CFR Part 1 & 11

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

Study 37 CFR 1.4-1.8 (signatures, certificates of mailing)

Review 37 CFR 1.56 (duty of disclosure)

Learn 37 CFR 1.97-1.98 (IDS timing and requirements)

Study small/micro entity status requirements

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

Study 37 CFR Part 11 (practitioner conduct)

Review conflicts of interest, confidentiality

Practice 40 questions on rules and ethics

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

Review patent term (§ 154) - PTA and PTE

Study maintenance fees and deadlines

⏱️ Target: 8 hours total

Day 10: FULL PRACTICE EXAM #2

100 Questions - Timed

📋 Morning & Afternoon (6 hours)

Take full 100-question practice exam (timed)

📋 Evening (2-3 hours)

Review all answers thoroughly

Identify remaining weak spots

Note any recurring mistake patterns

🎯 Goal: 70-75% correct

You should see improvement from Exam #1. Focus remaining days on areas still below 65%.

⏱️ Target: 8-9 hours total

Day 11: Final Weak Area Blitz

Targeted Practice on Weakest Topics

📋 All Day (8 hours)

Identify 3 weakest topics from both practice exams

Deep dive into MPEP sections for Topic #1 (2-3 hours)

Practice 30+ questions on Topic #1

Deep dive into Topic #2 (2-3 hours)

Practice 30+ questions on Topic #2

Review Topic #3 and practice 20+ questions (2 hours)

💡 Priority Topics (if weak):

1. § 103 obviousness
2. § 112(a) written description/enablement
3. Priority/continuation practice (§§ 119, 120)

⏱️ Target: 8 hours total

Day 12: Exam Eve - Light Review

Confidence Building & Rest

📋 Morning (2-3 hours)

Review quick reference sheets (35 USC, MPEP top 50)

Skim exam traps document

Review formulas (patent term, deadlines, fees)

📋 Afternoon (2-3 hours)

Light practice: 25-30 questions from strongest topics (confidence builder)

Review case law holdings (KSR, Alice, eBay)

📋 Evening - RELAX

Prepare exam materials (ID, confirmation, pencils)

Light dinner, early bedtime

NO STUDYING after 6pm - your brain needs rest

🌙 Exam Eve Strategy:

Do NOT cram tonight. Cramming increases anxiety and impairs performance. You've prepared. Trust your preparation. Get 8 hours of sleep.

⏱️ Target: 4-6 hours study, then REST

🎯 EXAM DAY: November 26, 2025

You've got this!

📋 Exam Day Checklist:

✅ Government-issued photo ID
✅ Exam confirmation number
✅ Arrive 30 minutes early
✅ Eat light breakfast (avoid heavy/greasy food)
✅ Bring water bottle (if allowed)
✅ Use bathroom before exam starts

💡 During Exam:

Read EVERY question carefully
Flag difficult questions, move on, return later
Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
Trust your preparation - first instinct usually correct
Manage time: ~3.5 minutes per question (100 questions, 6 hours)
Take 5-minute break halfway through (stand, stretch, breathe)

🏆 You're Ready!

12 days of focused study. Targeted practice. Strategic preparation. You've built the competency to pass. Now go show that exam what you're made of. 💪

Fractured Crown: The Final 12 Days

📚 Study Strategy

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (2-3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3-4 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (1-2 hours)

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (1-2 hours)

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (1-2 hours)

📋 Morning (3 hours)

📋 Afternoon (3 hours)

📋 Evening (2-3 hours)

🎯 Goal: 65-70% correct

📋 Morning Tasks (3-4 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (2-3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

📋 Morning Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Afternoon Tasks (3 hours)

📋 Evening Tasks (2 hours)

📋 Morning & Afternoon (6 hours)

📋 Evening (2-3 hours)

🎯 Goal: 70-75% correct

📋 All Day (8 hours)

💡 Priority Topics (if weak):

📋 Morning (2-3 hours)

📋 Afternoon (2-3 hours)

📋 Evening - RELAX

🌙 Exam Eve Strategy:

📋 Exam Day Checklist:

💡 During Exam:

🏆 You're Ready!