What to study first for the patent bar
Answer in brief
Study MPEP chapter 2100 (patentability) first, then 700 (examination) and 600 (parts of the application). Wysebridge estimates these three carry about 67% of exam questions.
Weights are a Wysebridge estimate, not a USPTO figure.
Estimated weights
| MPEP chapter | Subject | Est. share of exam |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | Patentability | ~32% |
| 700 | Examination of Applications | ~21% |
| 600 | Parts, Form, and Content of Application | ~14% |
| 1800 | Patent Cooperation Treaty | ~6% |
| 1200 | Appeal | ~4% |
| 1400 | Correction of Patents | ~4% |
| 200 | Types and Status of Application; Benefit and Priority Claims | ~3% |
| 400 | Representative of Applicant or Owner | ~2% |
Estimated by Wysebridge from its question bank; the USPTO does not publish chapter weights.
Within chapter 2100
Sources for this entry
- Wysebridge MPEP Center Wysebridge (publisher of this site)
The full MPEP (9th Ed., Rev. 01.2024) free to read, with Wysebridge's estimated patent bar weight for each chapter. - Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) USPTO
The examination manual the patent bar is tested on; open book during the exam.
Practical guidance is original editorial content. Company-published figures are the company's own claims and are labeled as such.
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How to Study for the Patent Bar. “What to study first for the patent bar.” Wysebridge Reference. Content reviewed 9 November 2026.
https://howtostudyforthepatentbar.com/what-to-study-first/