Demystifying the Professional Engineering Exam: What to Expect and How to Prepare

June 24, 2023 by

The Professional Engineering (PE) exam is a pivotal milestone in an engineer’s career, but for many aspiring engineers, it can be an intimidating and mysterious process. By understanding the exam and adopting a strategic approach, you can increase your confidence and maximize your chances of success.

What to Expect

Understanding the Exam Structure:

The first step in demystifying the PE exam is to familiarize yourself with its structure. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions, essay questions, or a combination of both, depending on your engineering discipline. Each discipline has its own unique exam specifications, so it’s essential to understand the format specific to your field.

Exam Duration and Time Management:

The PE exam is typically an eight-hour-long exam divided into morning and afternoon sessions. Understanding the time constraints is crucial for effective time management during the exam. Allocate sufficient time to each section based on the number of questions and marks assigned to ensure you can answer all questions within the given timeframe.

How to Prepare

Exam Topics and Content:

Identify the exam topics and content areas for which you need to study. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) provides exam specifications for each discipline, outlining the subject areas covered in the exam. Review these specifications and create a study plan that covers all the necessary topics.

Develop a Study Plan:

Creating a study plan is essential for effective preparation. Break down the exam content into manageable study sessions, and allocate sufficient time for each subject. Consider your strengths and weaknesses, and devote more time to challenging topics. A well-structured study plan will help you stay organized and focused throughout your preparation journey.

Utilize Available Resources:

Take advantage of the wide range of resources available to assist you in your exam preparation. Reference books, study guides, online forums, and practice exams are invaluable tools that can provide you with additional insights and help you gauge your progress. Choose resources that align with your discipline and learning style.

Practice, Practice, Practice:

Practice is key to success in the PE exam. Solve as many practice questions and practice exams as possible to become familiar with the question formats and to improve your problem-solving skills. Focus on both conceptual understanding and practical application of the knowledge.

Seek Guidance and Support:

Don’t hesitate to seek guidance and support from experienced engineers who have successfully passed the PE exam. They can offer valuable advice, share their experiences, and provide insights into the exam preparation process. Joining study groups or participating in online communities can also provide a supportive network to help you navigate the challenges of exam preparation.

Time for Review and Revision:

Allocate dedicated time for review and revision as the exam date approaches. Consolidate your knowledge by reviewing key concepts, solving challenging problems, and identifying and filling any knowledge gaps. Regularly revisit topics you find difficult to ensure a thorough understanding.

Simulate Exam Conditions:

To alleviate exam-day jitters, simulate exam conditions during your practice sessions. Take timed mock exams to get accustomed to the time pressure, and build your endurance for the eight-hour exam duration. This will help you manage your time effectively and reduce stress on the actual exam day.

Believe

Maintain a Positive Mindset:

Lastly, maintain a positive mindset throughout your exam preparation. Believe in your abilities and stay motivated. Take care of your physical and mental well-being by getting adequate rest, practicing self-care, and managing stress effectively. A confident and focused mindset will contribute to your success.

Demystifying the Professional Engineering Exam:
What to Expect and How to Prepare

Mastering the Professional Engineering Exam

Engineering Design Resources
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Mastering the Professional Engineering Exam: Top Tips and Strategies

June 21, 2023 by

The Professional Engineering (PE) Exam is a crucial step in an engineer’s career, as it validates their expertise and opens doors to new opportunities. However, preparing for this rigorous exam requires diligent study and a strategic approach.

Photo Credit: (c)ivelinradkov www.fotosearch.com

Understand the Exam Format

Familiarize yourself with the structure and content of the PE exam. Know the number of sections, their weightage, and the time allocated for each. This understanding will help you plan your study schedule effectively and allocate adequate time to each subject.

Create a Study Plan

Develop a comprehensive study plan that covers all the exam topics. Break down your study schedule into manageable chunks, and allocate specific time slots for each subject. Ensure you have sufficient time for review and practice exams as well.

EngineeringDesignResources has resources broken down into weekly study plans. Refer to the Review Courses and the Prep Courses at EngineeringDesignResources.com.

Utilize Available Resources

Make use of the resources available to you, such as reference books, study guides, online forums, and practice exams. These resources can provide valuable insights into the exam content and help you identify areas that require more focus.

Focus on Key Concepts

Identify the key concepts and fundamental principles within each subject. Building a strong foundation in these areas will not only help you answer related questions but also enable you to tackle more complex problems with confidence.

Solve Practice Problems

Practice problems are an essential component of your preparation. Solve a wide range of practice questions to enhance your problem-solving skills and improve your speed and accuracy. Seek out sample problems that mirror the format and difficulty level of the actual exam.

Join Study Groups or Engage in Peer Discussions

Collaborating with fellow engineers preparing for the PE exam can be highly beneficial. Join study groups or engage in discussions with peers to share knowledge, clarify doubts, and learn from each other’s perspectives. Explaining concepts to others can also enhance your understanding and retention of the material.

Simulate Real Exam Conditions

As the exam day approaches, simulate real exam conditions during practice sessions. Take timed mock exams to get accustomed to the time pressure and develop your endurance for the lengthy exam duration. This will help you manage your time effectively during the actual exam.

Review and Revise

Allocate dedicated time for reviewing and revising all the subjects. Focus on areas where you feel less confident and reinforce your understanding of key concepts. This stage is crucial for consolidating your knowledge and ensuring you have covered all necessary topics.

Stay Calm and Confident

On the day of the exam, stay calm and trust in your preparation. Maintain a positive mindset, as anxiety can hinder your performance. Remember that you have put in the effort and are well-prepared to tackle the exam.

Take Care of Yourself

Lastly, don’t neglect self-care during your exam preparation. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, and take regular breaks to avoid burnout. A healthy body and mind will contribute to your overall performance.

Mastering the Professional Engineering Exam requires a disciplined approach, thorough preparation, and a strategic mindset. By following these top tips and strategies, you can increase your confidence, enhance your knowledge, and maximize your chances of success. Remember, the PE exam is a stepping stone to professional growth and recognition, and with the right mindset and preparation, you can conquer this significant milestone in your engineering career.

Mastering the Professional Engineering Exam: Top Tips and Strategies

Mastering the Professional Engineering Exam

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Make PE Exam Prep Fun

May 19, 2023 by

How Can You Make PE Exam Prep Fun and Enjoy The Ride?
by Jeff Setzer, PE – Founder of Engineering Design Resources

Image Credit: ©acme www.fotosearch.com

While I was preparing for my first attempt at the PE Exam, I did the usual things:

  1. Took a Review Course from a local university.
  2. Bought (and actually opened) a Review Manual and the associated Review Problems.
  3. Looked through a couple of Practice Exams.
  4. And…I did not Make PE Exam Prep Fun.

I didn’t pass the exam!

Already having a PE License in Texas, which fortunately was where the majority of my projects were, I didn’t concern myself with taking the exam again. But then I moved … to another state.

My PE License was not recognized outside the State of Texas.

I had a problem.

Having been out of college for 14 years, I had already not passed the exam, and quite frankly, I was not interested in relearning engineering information that I hadn’t used in those 14 years – with the possibility of not passing again.

What to do? … What to do?

Well, skipping the narrative on all the pros/cons spreadsheets, the extrapolations, the what-if scenarios, etc., I decided to buckle down, put in the effort, and try again.

This time it worked.
How did I do it?

I was able to Make PE Exam Prep Fun!

I was able to Make PE Exam Prep Fun by:

  • Downloading the exam outline from NCEES.org.
  • Gathering, sorting, and reorganizing all the resources I had accumulated over my 14 year career.
  • Searching for additional resources where my information was lacking:
    • Internet
    • Reference Books
    • Textbooks
    • Code Books
    • Handbooks
    • Library
  • Finding example and practice questions that directly applied to each of the topics on the exam outline.
  • Making up my own practice questions from my resources.
  • Keeping a study plan and calendar up-to-date.
  • Taking several sample exams to see where I needed additional focus and preparation.
  • Constantly telling myself that I would be successful – and, honestly, I didn’t want to prepare for and take the exam again.

By making it a puzzle to be solved, a game to be played, an adventure to be lived, I was able to make PE Exam Prep fun! I realized that I had become an engineer because I enjoyed solving problems and finding answers.

After I successfully passed the PE Exam (and after being an engineer for 24 years), I decided to put my exam preparation methods to good use benefiting as many others as I could. Thus was born

EngineeringDesignResources.com

I now have the privilege everyday to talk with and assist people from all over the world as they prepare to take their PE Exam. The tasks that I constantly encourage them to pursue are:

  1. Build a comprehensive and usable Test-Prep Resource Library©*
  2. Work through as many sample problems as you can.
  3. Get help on your weaker topics.
  4. And have fun during the process. If it’s not fun, why are you pursuing it?

Make PE Exam Prep Fun

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Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

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7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources

May 19, 2023 by

Here are the 7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources we’ve found to be essential to pass the PE Exam:

lucky-seven-1187052

To be successful in any area of life, its important to develop a strategy for getting from where you are to where you want to be. This applies to your career, your health, your finances; basically anything that’s worthwhile needs to be strategically planned.

The PE Exam is NO exception!

You’ve worked hard for many years and at a substantial financial cost to get to this point. It makes sense to put together a well thought out strategy for achieving your goal.

Below are 7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources that continue to top the list whenever I’m engaged in a discussion on what’s essential to pass the PE Exam. Some of the items on the list are tangible; others are intangible.

Do not overlook the importance of each one!

NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer
permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of these Test-Prep
Resources as a method of study and preparation. For example, taking the time to
assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your
study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all
your resources in one, easy-to-access tool.
1. A Test-Prep Resource Library©

loadsa-books-1568319The Test-Prep Resource Library© is #1 on the 7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources for anyone taking any of the PE Exams.

Whether this is your first attempt or you’ve taken the exam several times, a well constructed resource library can mean the difference in passing or failing.

What should you include in your Resource Library? Here’s a partial list:

  • Example problems with solutions for every topic listed at NCEES.org
  • Information, charts, and tables for every topic
  • A comprehensive list of equations and conversion factors
2. The Right Calculator
7 Must Have PE Exam Resources
  • NCEES has adopted a calculator policy to protect the integrity of the exam and to make certain everyone is using similar devices. Don’t fight it, don’t test it, and don’t think for a minute that your old HP scientific calculator will be fine. If its not on the Calculator List, do not take it to the exam.
  • Extra batteries. Even if you are absolutely, without-a-doubt, positive the batteries in your calculator are brand new, take a second set … just in case.
3. Exam Strategy
7 Must Have PE Exam Resources

An Exam Strategy is two-fold:

Your Exam Preparation Strategy
    • Deciding which exam to take
    • Applying to your State Board and to NCEES
    • Planning how much time to adequately prepare
      • How many months/weeks/days?
      • Number of hours per day?
        • reviewing the exam topics
        • working example problems
        • taking practice exams
        • assembling a Test-Day Resource Library©
      • What’s your plan to gain the knowledge or resources you may be lacking for a particular topic or topics?
    • Gathering additional resources
    • Finding the exam location
      • Getting accurate directions
      • Knowing where to park (free parking or toll)
      • Determining trip time (including time for unexpected incidents)
    • Making hotel reservations, if needed
Your Exam-Day Strategy
    • Getting a good night’s sleep (see #4)
    • Allowing plenty of time to get dressed, eat, and get under way
    • Eating the right breakfast (see #5)
    • Making certain you have all your supplies (see #1, #2, & #6)
    • Packing your lunch and snacks (see #5)
    • Getting to the exam site early
    • Setting up your Test Day Resource Library for easy navigation
    • Timing each problem
      • Theoretically, you have six minutes per question (Eight hours x 60 minutes per hour ÷ 80 questions).
      • In these six minutes you have to:
        1. read the question
        2. figure out what the question is really asking
        3. find the right resources (if needed)
        4. work the problem
        5. mark your answer on the answer sheet
        6. move on to the next question
      • This does not allow any time for you to go back and recheck previous answers.
      • We recommend targeting an average of five minutes per question. This way, when you spend more time on some questions, you should still have +/- 15 to 20 minutes left at the end of both sessions to recheck your answers.
      • Make yourself a checklist of where your progress should be at any different intervals
        • For example, if your exam begins at 8:00am:
          • 9:00, you should be starting question #12
          • 10:00, you should be starting question #23
          • 11:00, you should be starting question #34
          • 11:40, you should be finishing question #40
          • 11:40-12:00, go back through the exam answering any unanswered questions or checking your work on others
          • also during this time, you can review the types of questions for any lunchtime course corrections you need to make
4. A Good Night’s Sleep

sleep-in-venice-1234220

This one sounds like a “no-brainer”, but the number of people who stay up late the night before or get up early to prepare for an exam is huge. The reality is they’re either (1) not prepared or (2) they think the last minute cram session will somehow give them the extra edge in passing the exam.

People who can quiet their mind, go to sleep quickly, and remain asleep for the majority of the night are more rested and better prepared to meet the challenges of the day.

Here are 7 Steps to Better Sleep from the Mayo Clinic:

  • Stick to a Sleep Schedule
  • Pay Attention to What You Eat and Drink
  • Create a Bedtime Ritual
  • Get Comfortable
  • Limit Daytime Naps
  • Include Physical Activity in Your Daily Routine
  • Manage Stress

Get prepared early – take a day or two off – review – and then spend the last day before the exam making certain all your supplies are packed and ready to go.

Then go to bed and get a good night’s sleep … happy dreams.

5. The Right Breakfast and Lunch

breakfast-of-bacon-and-eggs-1323515

Are you the type of person who gets up at the last minute, rushes to get ready for the day, and grabs a Pop-Tart® on the way out the door?

This may fit your normal, everyday lifestyle or preference, but its something you’ll want to change (at least temporarily) for taking the PE Exam.

Along with the rest and energy from a good night’s sleep, you are going to need the right “brain fuel” to make certain all your neurons are firing correctly.

Here’s a list of 12 Best Brain Foods to Eat Before Taking a Test (although there’s actually 13):

  • Nuts
  • Apples
  • Yogurt
  • Blueberries
  • Curry/Turmeric
  • Salmon
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Broccoli
  • Sage
  • Bone Broth
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Dark Leafy Greens
  • Eggs

All of these together would probably not make for a very tasty meal, but you can combine a few to get those benefits.

For example, combine broccoli, spinach leaves, eggs, and some cheese to make a healthy breakfast frittata. Have yogurt and apples or blueberries to make a near-perfect exam-day breakfast.

Nuts and dark chocolate are great snacks to have on hand during the exam.

We recommend going easy for lunch. Take an apple or two, some berries, and maybe an assortment of nuts and seeds. This way during your lunch break, you can find a quiet spot, eat, and reflect on the morning session to see if there’s anything you need to review (from the resources you left in the car).

While everyone else is out looking for fast food, you can eat, relax, and maybe take a walk. In any case, you’ll be better prepared for the afternoon session.

6. Accessories
clock-1424410

The accessories you need or want as part of the 7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources for the exam will be specific to you. These items are intended to relieve stress (stress ball, gum), manage your time (watch, clock), curb your appetite and give you energy (snacks, drinks), and help you answer the exam questions (straightedge, ruler. eyeglasses, etc.)

Decide early in your preparation time and make a list of those items you think could benefit you in the exam.

  • Wristwatch or small clock
  • Stress ball
  • Snacks (such as nuts and dark chocolate; see item 5 above)
  • Nonalcoholic drinks (I recommend water – no soda or energy drinks)
  • Two straightedges, such as a ruler, scale, triangle, or protractor
  • Eyeglasses (no case)
7. The Right Frame of Mind – the Right Attitude

7 Must Have PE Exam Resources

The last of the 7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources is the Right Frame of Mind – the Right Attitude.

Preparing for and taking any of the PE Exams is both an exciting journey and a burdensome trek. Check out this post Make PE Exam Prep Fun.

Excitement!

At times, you will be excited about the future when you are a licensed professional engineer. Signing and sealing your own designs (and perhaps the designs of others), not waiting for someone else to review and seal your work, and perhaps maybe even going out on your own. The possibilities are truly limitless when you are a PE.

You can also be excited about how far you’ve come in a relatively short time. Not long ago you were a college freshman, not really knowing where you’d end up. Now, you’ve graduated from an engineering program (no small feat) and worked under the supervision of a professional engineer for at least four years. The law says you are now competent enough to design buildings, systems, equipment, or processes that could affect society. That’s a big responsibility.

The process of preparing for the exam can be tough. You may have to go back and review/re-learn information that you haven’t used since college (or maybe never), gathering the resources that will aid you on exam day. Having to be absent from your family and friends to study, and making arrangements to be gone from work for the exam, take planning. All of this can become overbearing if you don’t keep a positive attitude.

So take time during your journey to stop preparing, realize what you’re working towards, and understand that in the big picture of your life, this is but a small inconvenience that is so worth the time and effort you have to spend. You will be glad you made the trip.

7 Additional Must-Have PE Exam Resources

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Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

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Test-Prep Resource Library©

May 19, 2023 by
NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer
permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of these Test-Prep
Resources as a method of study and preparation. For example, taking the time to
assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your
study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all
your resources in one, easy-to-access tool.

What is the most important test day resource to give you the best chance of success?

Build A Solid Test-Prep Resource Library©

Test Day Resource Library

A Test-Prep Resource Library© is a collection of:

  • Example PE Exam problems with solutions
  • Applicable Equations
  • Charts and Tables
  • Commentary on Exam Topics (refer to NCEES)
  • Codes and Standards

Organize these resources into tabbed binders – typically one binder per section (depending on the amount of information for each topic).

Assemble and personalize your Test-Prep Resource Library© based on their strengths and weaknesses.

The process of collecting, sorting, and organizing information directly applicable to your specific exam will force you to:

  1. consider each piece of information carefully
  2. make a decision on where to spend your preparation time
  3. dig deeper into your weaker topics
Retrieval Method

Devise a method of retrieval to locate information quickly. This could be:

  • A series of tabs with concise explanations of the content of each tabbed section.
  • A system of tabs directly related to an index. In this setup, the index would include the content of each tabbed section.
  • A matrix containing keywords/topics cross-referenced with labeled binders, numbered tabs, and page numbers.

Spend a portion of your allotted study time to review and fine-tune your reference binders.

Read:

Test-Prep Resource Library

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Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

Any resemblance in the images in this material to actual people or locations is merely coincidental. EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits reprinting, copying, changing, reproducing, publishing, uploading, posting, transmitting, or using in any other manner images in this material.

Filed Under: PE Exam Prep Tagged With: ,

80-Day PE Exam Countdown

May 19, 2023 by

The PE Exam Countdown doesn’t have to be a frenzied, stressful cram session where you try and stuff as much information as possible into your short-term memory. The PE Exam preparation process can actually be enjoyable and possibly career-expanding by thoughtfully planning out your time and activities.

Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to help you get and stay on track with the PE Exam Countdown:

Read
Register
  • Get registered with NCEES for your exam.
    • Note: registration typically closes at 3:00 pm EST, eight weeks plus one day prior to the exam.
Examinee Guide
  • Download and read the Examinee Guide
    • Don’t under-estimate the guidelines. People have been dismissed from the exam for as little as wearing a non-compliant digital watch. This mistake could cost you an entire year depending on which exam you are taking.
Test-Prep Resources
  • Start gathering your Test-Prep resources:
NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer
permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of these Test-Prep
Resources as a method of study and preparation. For example, taking the time to
assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your
study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all
your resources in one, easy-to-access tool.
Practice, Practice, Practice
  • Work through as many example problems, practice tests, review courses as possible between now and the exam. Working example problems helps you focus on your “weak” spots and builds your confidence for the exam. Solved problems are great to include in your test-day binders.
  • Schedule your time during the PE Exam Countdown:
    • How much time are you going to devote each day/each week to preparing?
    • Where can you find enough practice material?
    • Do you have to borrow any reference material (i.e. code books, handbooks, etc.)?
    • How are you going to organize and catalog your resources for quick reference during the exam? Remember, you only have 6 minutes per question.
    • When can you devote an entire 9-hour day to practicing with sample exams. Getting a “feel” for working through a practice exam under actual time constraints will pay huge benefits on exam day.
Plan
  • Plan your exam day:
    • Know the exact location of the exam including address, building, and room.
    • Have accurate and detailed directions.
    • Have an emergency/secondary route – just in case.
    • Know how long it will take to get to the exam site.
    • Plan when you’ll have to wake, eat, get ready, and leave for the exam.
    • If necessary, make lodging arrangements.
    • Plan how to spend your lunch break:
      • Bring something to eat in your car.
      • Map out the nearest fast-food restaurants.
      • Have your running shoes and a change of clothes for a quick walk or run.
      • Bring additional resources to look through.

By thinking through the entire process

Exam Prep → Logistics → Resources → Backup Plans

and working everything out in advance, your PE Exam experience will be much more pleasant and less stressful.

80-Day PE Exam Countdown

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Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

Any resemblance in the images in this material to actual people or locations is merely coincidental. EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits reprinting, copying, changing, reproducing, publishing, uploading, posting, transmitting, or using in any other manner images in this material.

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7 PE Exam Success Habits

May 19, 2023 by

The 7 PE Exam Success Habits Professional Engineers use to pass the PE Exam:

PE Exam Success HabitsRealize the volume of material you must review

Regardless of which PE Exam you are taking, you will have to review a great deal of information to be fully prepared. The individual exam outlines found at NCEES show that exam-writers have a wide range of topics and subjects on which to base their questions.

Your job is to cover as many of these topics as possible to ensure you’re not surprised on exam day. You want to be prepared for whatever they throw at you.

Understand the time commitment required to prepare for the exam

In order to cover the material described above, you must be willing to commit adequate time for preparation and review. Depending on when you plan to take the exam, your time commitment will vary.

For instance, if you have 12 months to get prepared, then a couple of hours during each week plus some time on the weekends will probably be sufficient. The problem is that you will most likely have to keep re-reviewing material as time goes by to make certain you can remember and recall the information.

If you have approximately three months to prepare, then you’ll need to commit a couple of hours each night, plus additional time on weekends.

And if you have one month (or less), then you’re test preparation efforts will be a full-time job.

Take the time to plan out a study schedule and stick to it. You will save yourself from a lot of anxiety and sleepless nights.

Read: Total Immersion Test Preparation

Use the right tools to prepare for the exam

Everyone learns best using method(s) they are most comfortable with and that suit their learning style. Some of you are best using books and study guides. Others excel searching the internet for appropriate exam prep tools. And still others like to make use of teachers – either in person or online.

Whatever method you use, make certain you know how you learn most efficiently and capitalize on that strength.

You can find PE Exam preparation courses, books, practice exams, etc. at:

PE Exam Success HabitsWork through as many sample questions as you can find

Working through sample exam questions is the most efficient and thorough means of getting prepared. This will expose you to relevant information, problem solving methods, and critical thinking techniques that will be beneficial on exam day.

Also, if you will take the time to work sample problems in a timed format – i.e. six minutes per problem – you gain the additional benefit of practicing under time constraints. This also teaches you how to efficiently work through the question, find the right resources, and solve the problem; all under the stress associated with time.

You can find sample questions (some free of charge) and practice exams at most of the sites listed above. You can also search the internet, old course textbooks, and some code books for additional practice problems.

Find and participate in a review course to refresh your abilities

As with the exam preparation tools outlined above, there are many types of review courses:

  • In-person at a local university or college
  • Online in an interactive program
  • Online in a self-paced course
  • On your own or in a group with a printed course

Find a course that suites your needs, learning style, time frame, etc. You can find review courses at most of the sites listed above.

The Review Course should cover all the topics listed at NCEES.org and not devote time to other subjects – such as engineering math, unit conversions, ethics, etc. If the NCEES exam outline doesn’t show a topic, don’t spend review course time studying it.

Be wary of courses that claim to get you prepared too quickly. Meeting for a couple of hours once a week over a 30-day time period is probably not enough to get you ready.

Put together a Test-Prep Resource Library©*

*NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of a Test-Prep Resource Library© as a method of study and preparation. Taking the time to assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all your resources in one easy-to-access tool.

Another of the PE Exam Success Habits is a Test-Prep Resource Library© which is your best tool while in the exam. It should contain all your reference material, solved example problems, charts and tables, applicable code sections, etc. that you need to solve the majority of potential questions.

NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer
permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of these Test-Prep
Resources as a method of study and preparation. For example, taking the time to
assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your
study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all
your resources in one, easy-to-access tool.

You cannot possibly know what questions are on the exam, but through your preparation, you should have compiled a great deal of information. You can sort and segregate this information for easy access into sections of three-ring binders.

Your resource library will give you the tools and confidence to be successful on the exam.

Read: Test-Prep Resource Library

PE Exam Success HabitsSeek the advice of others who have passed a PE Exam

The advice and input from others who have successfully passed a PE Exam can be a useful source of motivation and encouragement. You can typically ask for and receive guidance on what to study and what not to study, what resources to take to the exam, and answers to any questions you may have.

Ask:

  • Coworkers
  • People in Professional Societies
  • Contacts in other engineering companies
  • Professors and instructors from your university

Find engineers on:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Google+

Search the internet for:

  • forums dedicated to your discipline
  • independent consulting engineers

There are multiple ways to find engineers willing to give you their advice and opinions on how to prepare for a PE Exam … you just have to look.

7 PE Exam Success Habits

PE Exam Success Habits

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PE Exam is Almost Here

May 19, 2023 by
Are You Calm And Confident?
Do You Have The Reference Material You Need?
Are You Ready?
Have You Adequately Prepared?

It has been recommended that an engineer-in-training (EIT) would need to prepare for at least two hours a day, for six months, to be ready for the PE Exam. He was also informed that one year would be even better.

Really?
A year to prepare for the PE Exam?
That’s 364 hours to 728 hours.

CRAZY!

If you are sitting for the PE Exam, then you already have four or more years experience performing engineering tasks. Why in the world would you need six months, nine months, or a year to prepare?

The only reason someone would need that much time is because they haven’t really been practicing engineering or they are attempting to take a test in a discipline totally unrelated to their field. Either of these scenarios is reason enough to not take the PE Exam.

But, since this is not you, your preparation time should be much less.

Preparation Time

Your preparation time should be spent refreshing your specific area of expertise knowledge. You can then brush up the topics that aren’t in your everyday activities. For example, if you practice mechanical engineering as an HVAC engineer, you should spend some time going over sample problems in electrical, plumbing, fire protection, structural and project management. And during this preparation, putting together your reference resources on each of the different problem types outlined at NCEES.org.

Whatever discipline you are planning to test in, the majority of your time should be spent assembling your Test-Prep Resource Library* and becoming extremely familiar with the location of the different test topic examples. This way, when you are actually in the PE Exam, you will know exactly where to go to find the information you need to answer the question at hand.

NOTE: As per the NCEES Examinees Guide, books, notes, notebooks, etc. are no longer
permitted in the testing room. This does not diminish the importance of these Test-Prep
Resources as a method of study and preparation. For example, taking the time to
assemble a resource library will naturally help you categorize and document your
study materials, help you determine what’s essential to pass the exam, and keep all
your resources in one, easy-to-access tool.

The last thing you need – in terms of both time and sanity – on test day is an overload of material that you have to rifle through in an attempt to answer a question. This practice will frustrate you, waste your time, and ultimately derail your chances of passing the PE Exam. But, on the bright side, you will provide entertainment to others in the room watching you furiously searching for answers.

Steps To Success

Well that’s it … our guidance to preparing for the PE Exam. We believe these four steps are all you need for success:

  • Take the time necessary to prepare for the exam.
  • Assemble the “right” resources for the test.
  • Get adequate rest and give yourself enough time to arrive early to the exam.
  • And relax … you’ve been a practicing engineer for at least four years … you know this stuff.

We wish you the best of luck on the PE Exam and in your career!

PE Exam is Almost Here

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Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

Any resemblance in the images in this material to actual people or locations is merely coincidental. EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits reprinting, copying, changing, reproducing, publishing, uploading, posting, transmitting, or using in any other manner images in this material.

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Total Immersion Test Preparation

May 19, 2023 by

Total Immersion Test Preparation – How to Dramatically Improve Test Preparation Benefits

Total Immersion Test PreparationDoes this sound familiar?:

  • Test preparation has been put off as long as possible.
  • The amount of time you can devote to preparation is limited.
  • A strategy is needed to make the most of your study time.

According to The Pomodoro Technique, the trick is to break your study sessions down into small, 25-minute increments, and then,

  1. Totally immerse yourself in the study session for 25 minutes,
  2. Take a short five-minute break,
  3. And repeat!

After four study sessions, take a longer 15-20 minute break.

Study Schedule

Your study schedule would look like this:

  • 1st Study Session- 25 minutes
    • Rest/Break – 5 minutes
  • 2nd Study Session – 25 minutes
    • Rest/Break – 5 minutes
  • 3rd Study Session – 25 minutes
    • Rest/Break – 5 minutes
  • 4th Study Session – 25 minutes
    • Rest/Break – 15 to 20 minutes
Chunking

By breaking each task or topic down into small “chunks”, our brains are able to focus on that specific issue and retain the information longer.

The short breaks between study times helps to give your brain a period of non-focus, or other-focus. It’s the times when we try to cram as much as possible into our memories that we often “forget” the most recently-studied material. The rest periods allow the information to pass from our short-term memory into our long-term memory for later recall, and if necessary, you can revisit the topic or task at a later date to refresh your recall.

If you’d like to be more efficient in your study time, improve your understanding of the material, and have greater recall of the information, then start your own Pomodoro-style study plan… it will not disappoint.

Check out these resources for more information:

Total Immersion Test Preparation

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NCEES
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Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, web addresses or links in these materials may have changed.

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100 Days to PE Exam Success

May 19, 2023 by

PE Exam SuccessTo PE Exam Success

That’s 14 weeks
(plus a few days)

Have you started preparing?
Where are you starting?
What are you studying?
Is a study plan in place?

If you answered no to any – or all – of these questions, then the next blog posts should prove to be beneficial. Not knowing where to start or what to study can cause you to procrastinate or skip preparing at all.

Future blogs will post tasks that will help you get on track, stay on track, and prepare for PE Exam success.

As you spend time preparing, let us know how you’re progressing, what other information you might need, and any strategies you’re using that may be useful for others.

Let’s get started …

Week 1:

  • If you haven’t done so, go to NCEES.org and:
    • Register. Be aware of the date the PE Exam registration closes.
    • Check your state’s licensing requirements.
    • Download the Examinee Guide.
    • Download the Exam Guide for your specific discipline.
  • Read the blog post 10 Must-Have PE Exam Resources. Start assembling the suggested items, and keep a running checklist of those things you need to acquire.
  • Read the blog post PE Exam Success – The 10 Best Ways To Be Prepared.
  • Download as many Sample Exams as you can find. To get you started, go to EngineeringDesignResources.com. By familiarizing yourself with sample exam problems, you get a feel for what to expect on Exam Day. Also, don’t overlook Sample Exams from related Disciplines. For example, if you are taking the Civil Engineering – Structural – PE Exam, find and use Sample Exams from Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering, etc.
  • Determine a plan of study. How much time are you going to spend each day? Each week? Without a plan, you may tend to stray and not cover all the topics.
  • Sign up for a review class – either online or at a local college. It’s probably been four years since you were tested on some of the topics. Reviewing the topics on the exam would be helpful.
  • Jump in. The next 100 days will go by fast. If you don’t commit to starting now, April 17th will be here before you realize. By spending a little time each day starting now, you won’t have to cram at the end.

Tune in again, as we’ll get more specific and go deeper into your preparation for PE Exam success.

100 Days to PE Exam Success

Engineering Design Resources

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EngineeringDesignResources.com prohibits the use or reproduction of this material by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. This includes photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system.

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