Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated (Wednesday, 19 August 2009 17:29)

What does TAPRE Course include?

TAPRE Course includes everything you will need to pass the patent registration exam.  The exam is based on the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, or MPEP, which is more than 3,000 pages long.  To help you conquer the mountain of material, the complete TAPRE Course includes the following seven resources:

1. Prosecution Overview.  A plain-English, big-picture description of patent prosecution.  This resource creates a framework and introduces you to vocabulary that will make understanding the more detailed information easier.
2. MPEP Abridged.  A highly edited and condensed version of the MPEP covering only the most tested material.  Read less and understand more with this vital resource that is less than 1/10 the length of the complete MPEP.
3. Most Wanted.  Practice exam questions and material focused on the 10 most-tested laws.  Mastery of the basic laws governing patent prosecution is essential to passing the exam.  Most Wanted provides material about a law followed by actual exam questions so you can focus on mastering one law at a time.
4. MPEP Drills.  Exercises designed to familiarize you with the MPEP and its navigation tools.  Getting to the right material quickly is essential to success on exam day.  These exercises help you to master MPEP navigation.
5. Complete practice exams with answers and explanations.  Actual timed exams and in-depth explanations of the answers allow you to try out what you are learning and get ready for test day.
6. Flash Cards.  Complete coverage of the material to be memorized for the exam.  Most of those who fail the exam do so because they did not realize the importance of memorization.  Mastering the flash cards assures you will have memorized the right material.
7. Computer-based exam environment. TAPRE Course provides instructions and the complete, unabridged MPEP so that you can setup your practice environment similarly to the computer-based exam environment you will experience on test day.

Is the June 2008 Edition up to date for taking the exam in late 2009?

How much is TAPRE Course?

The base price for TAPRE Course is $449.00 (USD) plus shipping and handling.  For more information on any promotions that are currently being offered, see the Buying TAPRE Course page.  When you purchase a course through TAPRECourse.com, you get a complete, brand-new course.  You are also eligible to receive a $100 rebate (see below).

How do I receive the $100 rebate?

1. Buy TAPRE Course complete.
2. Request a rebate form by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your invoice number.
3. Send your complete, used course and completely filled out rebate form to the address on the form within seven (7) months of your purchase date.
4. When we receive your form and verify your course is complete, we'll send you $100.  Allow up to 30 days for processing.

Why is there a rebate?

The rebate helps you 1) save money and 2) provides valuable incentive to study and take the test sooner rather than later.

How long will it take to get my course?

Please see the Buying TAPRE Course page for more information on shipping.

How many hours does it take to prepare for the patent bar?

While no general answer can address every situation, a patent novice can expect to spend at least 150 hours preparing for the exam.  Fortunately, TAPRE Course makes the preparation as efficient as possible by skipping passive learning and jumping straight to the active learning needed to pass.  See more on active learning.

Does TAPRE Course include everything I need to prepare to take the patent bar?

Yes!  You will not need any other material to prepare for and successfully pass the patent bar (also referred to as the "patent agent exam").  Read more about what's included.

I have already taken a different patent bar course.  Will I benefit from TAPRE Course?

Yes.  TAPRE Course compliments other courses if you have already taken one.   In particular, the flash cards are a great way to do your final preparations to make sure you are ready for the test.  TAPRE Course materials are highly condensed and also provide an efficient way to review the most important materials.  And, for the price, TAPRE Course is a realistic supplement to another course.

I am taking the patent bar in less than a month.  Will TAPRE Course do any good in that time?

Yes!  TAPRE Course is especially designed for short study schedules.  No other course will allow you to get as much done when you are down to crunch time.  TAPRE Course helps you pick up as much as possible during crunch time by providing you flash cards, MPEP drills, practice tests and the most commonly tested rules and laws.  Flash cards help you immediately begin working on memorizing materials.  MPEP drills, unique to TAPRE Course, help you learn how to quickly find material in the MPEP on test day.  All the answers are given to you!  It's just a matter of finding them.  Practice tests are a very important part of your preparation because you get a feel for the questions asked and you will see some of the exact same questions repeated on your exam.  Knowing the most commonly tested rules and laws gives you a basis from which you will be able to answer many questions and from which it will be easier to figure out the answers to many other questions.

Why doesn't TAPRE Course include videos?

That is a great question!  TAPRE Course does not include videos intentionally.  Having someone talk you through all the material does feel good.  It's easy.  It's easy and it feels like you're getting something done - you're preparing to take the patent bar!  What could be better?  Well, unfortunately, easy doesn't always translate into effective.  The best way to learn is by doing.  TAPRE Course gets you right to the doing that will help you pass the test without wasting your time.  With other courses the videos will basically provide an introduction to the material and a road map for what is to come.  You'll spend a lot of time getting your "brief" introduction though.  TAPRE Course instead gives you an actual brief introduction that helps you quickly gain familiarity with key terms and the overall process of patent prosecution.

Do I get real books or do I have to use the materials online?

With TAPRE Course you get real books.  The books are not huge like the MPEP or like those included with other courses which makes them convenient to carry around.  Does that mean you are getting less material?  No.  You are simply getting relevant material instead of tons of irrelevant fluff.  TAPRE Course is highly condensed (and we don't mean font size) which helps you get the most out of every study hour you put in.  In addition, we recognize it's often more convenient to do drills, take practice tests, or read without lugging a computer around or finding Internet access.

How much explanation is provided for practice exam questions?

The average explanation is about 175 words.  However, with the flash cards and other materials, by the time you get to the practice tests you won't even need that much explanation.  It'll be more about memorization and figuring out the "tricks" of the test at that point.

How up-to-date is TAPRE Course?

TAPRE Course is the most up-to-date course out there having been created in June 2008.  It is not uncommon with other courses to find material that is simply wrong because it is out of date.  The next release of TAPRE Course is not yet scheduled simply because the exam has not changed since June 2008.  The PTO is still testing revision 4 of the MPEP.  While they can change the focus of questions a little, the underlying material on which the questions are based has remained the same (the MPEP).  See more about the MPEP revision tested here.

What exam taking strategies does TAPRE Course include?

TAPRE Course includes MPEP drills to help you master using the MPEP.  Other courses do not.  Being able to effectively and efficiently use the MPEP makes a huge difference.  Anyone can pass the patent bar who has 1) a solid grasp on a relatively small core of information, and 2) the ability to very quickly look up material in the MPEP.  Patent law is not as complex as the MPEP's thousands of pages would suggest.  Basically, you must know and master tree and branch concepts of patent prosecution.  But, when you need individual leaf material, it is time to turn to the MPEP.  A surprisingly large number of questions can be answered at the tree and branch level.  Unfortunately, many courses give you a big mass of information consisting of tree, branch and leaf concepts all mixed together.  It is very confusing and does not help you organize the concepts in your mind in a way that will help you pass.  Without mental organization, looking up material in the MPEP is also very difficult.  With TAPRE Course every effort is made to leave the leaf concepts out of the core course materials so that students can get a firm understanding of the tree and branch concepts.  Not surprisingly, once those are in place, the leaves and the MPEP are a lot easier to deal with.  The MPEP drills then build on the foundation to help you learn how to quickly find the leaf concepts.

In addition to the MPEP drills, TAPRE Course includes general test taking strategies specially tailored for the computer-based exam.  The strategies can help you use your time most effectively on the test and provide you with options based on your individual preferences and abilities.

What does TAPRE Course include?

When you receive TAPRE Course, you will get two course book volumes, a CD and a set of flash cards.  The first course book includes a Read Me First letter, a guide to exam strategy, a study schedule, MPEP Drills, Patent Prosecution Overview, MPEP Abridged, Most Wanted and more.  To find out more about what each of these is, read more about what's included.  The second course book includes all the practice exams, answers and explanations.  Having the books in two volumes makes the course more convenient.  For example, if you are going to the library to take a practice test, you can just take the second volume and still have the ability to take, score and then review the test.  The CD includes the complete MPEP, USPTO General Requirements Bulletin and helpful links.

Why doesn't TAPRE Course include a paper copy of the MPEP?

TAPRE Course includes the complete MPEP on CD in electronic format (PDF).  TAPRE Course does not include a paper copy of the MPEP with the course for four reasons:

1. It's massive.  If you have been unfortunate enough to encounter a paper copy of the MPEP, you already realize it is massive.  The complete MPEP is over 3,000 pages long.  Other courses include this environment-destroying wonder in all its paper glory.  Other courses even expect you to read from it which means you are going to have to lug it around with you.  It is very heavy.
2. You can't use a paper copy of the MPEP on the computer-based exam.  The vast majority of people today take the computer-based patent bar.  During the exam you are not allowed to use a paper copy of the MPEP.  Instead, you are given a PDF version.  TAPRE Course includes tips on how to setup your computer and use the electronic MPEP in a manner very similar to the exam environment.  Using the MPEP this way will help you feel comfortable with the version you have access to on the exam.
3. The MPEP is not focused on the exam.  The MPEP is a manual for patent examiners.  It is not designed to help prepare you for the patent bar.  95% of all the material tested on the exam comes from less than half of the pages.  Material commonly tested comes from a tiny fraction of the total pages.  TAPRE Course includes the MPEP Abridged which focuses on the most important areas of the MPEP and leaves out material which is irrelevant for the exam.
4. It's expensive.  Including a paper copy would increase the price of TAPRE Course needlessly. We figured you would prefer to pay less while not compromising the effectiveness of your study.