Structural Depth Practice Exams

Structural Depth Practice Exams

    How do you prepare for the structural depth exam? How much time should you allot to review for the structural PE exam?

    The structural depth exam is the toughest option for the PE exam. You will want to acquire and take as many structural depth practice exams as you can before the date of your PE exam. The following are the best options, according to reviews by other exam takers.

    One of the first things you want to do is to take a practice exam. Set aside the full amount of time you will need to complete the exam. Be sure to choose your question answering system. The e-book Pass the PE like a Pro explains the two main strategies (lion or fox) and why one is greatly superior to the other and will almost certainly make a positive difference in your final score.

    The first practice test will provide a baseline for your strengths and weaknesses. The areas of the Structural Depth module are:

The following paragraph is taken from a review on Amazon: 

So I set the CERM companion aside and started working from this sample exam, and it was a world of difference! These are much more representative of the problems one should expect to see on the PE. The majority of problems are easily solved within 6 minutes and there are no multi-part problems, just as the exam is formatted. This book restored the confidence that the CERM companion stole. –A. Henley (on Amazon)

    Henley is correct. The best, most representative questions will be found in the NCEES Structural Sample Questions and Solutions book. So, this is the first book you want. It is the first sample exam you want to take. This book has 40 questions from the morning breadth and 40 questions in the afternoon structural format. 

    You can take only the afternoon portion, if you are hard pressed for time. But, you really should take the full 8-hour exam. Taking the full exam requires 9 hours; lunch takes one hour between the two portions of the exam. Here is the format: 

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon- 40 breadth questions covering all topics.

12:00 to 12:55 p.m. – Lunch (and a quick nap if you have time and a reliable phone or watch alarm.)

12:55 to 1:00 – Sit in your chair inside the exam room waiting for the afternoon structural depth portion.

1:00 to 5:00 – Afternoon structural depth problems

    Once you complete it, you will have a feel for the quality of the kind of questions you will find on the exam. You will understand how you need to study. And, you will have a score to compete against, to improve upon, while studying. The reason you should take the full 9-hour format is fatigue. The mind, like muscles, depends on the body system to provide what it needs to operate. It can fatigue. So, the afternoon portion includes a level of tiredness which you should build into your study program. If you take the afternoon portion alone, without working the morning problems first, your score will be slightly inflated. But, it will show your strengths and weaknesses either way.

    Every person is competitive. Something to beat provides inspiration. Schedule a second practice exam for two weeks later. This forces you to keep your scheduled study sessions. Knowing you will have another practice exam will keep you honest. You will want to show improvement; this will be motivating and increase confidence.

Here is a graph of results from one examinee who took and passed the structural afternoon exam:

The score you will need to pass will depend upon how difficult the particular exam you sat for was. A team of professionals “fine tunes the passing score based on the exam’s difficulty.” However, most sources that mention a percentage (few do) say that approximately 60% is a passing score. However, because of statistical variance, set the bar higher. You want to score 70% correct on a practice exam before your actual exam date. 

    Here are additional options for the structural depth exam: 

1.   Structural Depth Practice Exams for the Civil PE Exam. (May 6, 2014). This 96-page book contains two afternoon exams. These contain afternoon structural depth exam problems. There is no morning portion. But, you can supplement one of these with Mike’s Civil PE Exam Guide: Morning Session to create one full exam. The second practice exam you can take in an evening and score and review during the next few days.

2.   Six-Minute Solutions for Civil PE Exam Structural Problems. (July 15, 2014). Review rating: 4 stars. 108 pages. 80 structural depth problems and another 20 thrown in for the morning breadth portion.

3.   Structural Engineering Reference Manual. (May 15, 2014). This is not a practice exam. But, as it is cousin to the Civil Engineering Reference Manual. It has an average 4.6 star review on Amazon. This is very high for an engineering review book. Anything better than 3.2 is good. Anything over 4.0 is gold.

4.   Steel Design for the Civil PE and Structural SE Exams. (March, 2012). Contains 50 examples and 35 practice problems. These focus on steel design and connections. If you are weak in this area, this is a must-have.

5.   Structural Engineering Solved Problems. (November, 2011). 100 structural practice problems. Note: uses AISC 13^th edition (one edition stale, but not that big a deal with the Steel Manual); uses LRFD Bridge Design 2010. But, it covers bridge design, which is somewhat lacking in other options.
6. AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. (2012). This is a spiral bound version of the standard for the design and evaluation of bridges.

PE Exam Materials

Buy PE Exam study materials as early as you can. Here are 7 savings tips and motivational bullet points:

1. Once you pass the PE exam, your income potential goes way up. That is a no-brainer. Not guaranteed, but certainly most likely. (It did for me. Thank you, Jesus.)

2. The books will give you an economy of study and make your investment of time more effective. This is more true if you are getting a late start, or have a busy life.

3. Materials for professional advancement are tax deductible. In the year's accounting, it is less expensive than it looks at first glance. Each year, I claim my new reference and professional educational books under "office supplies."

4. The books you purchase today will remain on your book shelf. You will learn the contents of these PE exam study materials very well. In the future, when you encounter a rare engineering calculation, you will recall, "I saw that in my Civil Construction PE exam review book." You will use these books for more than just studying for the NCEES exam.


5. Most engineers have time at a premium. You really only need to search two sources: First, Amazon.com for books in general. Second, ppi2pass.com.But, the Civil Engineering Reference Manual and every other book as well, tend to be cheaper on Amazon. On Amazon, you can often get it for $220 or less, and qualify for free shipping. Click here to check Amazon prices: CERM. Be sure to compare total cost. Shipping on ppi's site is much higher than you might expect. On Amazon, the threshold for free shipping is much lower. Last check, Amazon is free shipping after $35 and PPI charges shipping all the way up to $300.

6. On Amazon, be sure to look at "all buying options." Third party sellers can sometimes be selling used books for substantial savings. You can also find new books from third party sellers. The trade-off is the risk the seller might ship a few days slower. Or, the seller might not pack your books the best way.

7. Be wary of package deals. Package deals are sometimes used by publishers to unload titles that are not otherwise moving. In other words, if you save 30% on the 2 books you really wanted, and then buy two more, also at 30% discount, you still pay more. For example, suppose each book costs $100. Without discount, you receive the 2 you want and spend $200. With a package deal, you pay $280. So, you still get the two you wanted for the $200.... and, in all the excitement of making a deal, you bought two books you were not going to buy at all, and for $40 each.

Is there a package deal anywhere that is really a deal? 

What are the best PE exam study materials? 

 If you use Amazon, you will get some recommendations. "People who bought the Civil Engineering Reference Manual also bought..."

The very best PE Exam Books and DVDs have been compiled here: PE Exam Study Materials

Best Book for Seismic PE Exam

If someone is going to fail a portion of the California PE Exam, the state-specific Seismic Principles exam is the second most likely to be that portion. (Slightly more people fail the California Civil Surveying exam.) The primary reason is that most engineers do not need to perform seismic force calculations. The second reason is people fail to study properly.

Most materials for the NCEES Principles and Practice exam focus on the morning and afternoon portions of the exam. All 50 states and the U.S. territories take those two portions, and must complete the ethics and professional code take-home exam. State specific exams are not addressed in most of the exam preparation books and courses.

And, most engineers do not own the reference books they will need. This is one reason passing rates for the California Civil Seismic are much lower than national passing rates for the PE exam. Overall rates are about 64% each year. Passing rates for the California seismic exam, on the other hand are lower. Only 47% pass. Keep in mind that people still fail to pass the Civil Surveying exam an additional 1% fewer than the rate for the seismic exam.

If you want to pass, you need review materials specific to those exams. There are not too many options.


Should you buy the ATC-20 to study for the seismic portion? Most people say no. But, read my post. This link will also take you to a list of all the required books for the Seismic Exam.

Other resources for the Seismic PE Exam:





1. Best Seismic Review Book for the PE Exam has several options.  One of the best seismic sample problems books is Seismic Principles Practice Exams for the California Special Seismic Exam. Pass rates for the civil engineering exams are just 64% in the U.S., and slightly lower in California. Even lower: pass rates for the seismic exam. Only 47% pass. People don't prepare adequately. Be sure to get your books early. And, use them well.


PE Exam Review Materials are an Investment
Study materials for the PE exam are tax deductible, so keep your receipts. The books you purchase today are not only to advance your professional credentials. They will line your reference book shelves for years to come.

2. 345 Solved Seismic Design Problems (5th Edition) by Majid Baradar, PE. This book is a little underrated. Overall, it has an average Amazon user review rating of 3.6/5.0 stars. However, this includes at least three editions. Some of the older (and lower) ratings refer to the third edition. The current, 5th, edition has an average 4.0 rating. When it comes to the review of Professional Engineering products, the ratings are typically about a 3, plus or minus 0.2 stars. So, with an average 4.0 rating, the 5th edition looks like a quality edition.

3. For other seismic review books and media, as well as other PE exam review materials, visit: PE Exam Study Materials

4. Practice Exams for the California Seismic Principles Civil P.E. Examination: This is a relatively new book. But, it already has three 5-star reviews. This book is 180 pages. It includes two 55-question practice seismic exams. Cost: $70.

5. Should you buy the ATC-20 to study for the seismic portion? Most people say no. But, read my post. This link will also take you to a list of all the required books for the Seismic Exam.

6. ASCE7-10: The basic equations and process to calculate seismic forces are in this code book from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

NCEES Practice Exam

(Link for free FE mini exam is at the bottom.)

Preparation for the FE exam or the PE exam, both prepared and administered by NCEES, absolutely requires taking practice exams.

There is really only one place to begin your search for preparation materials. This is the bookstore I put together of the best PE exam materials on Amazon. I hear people saying they invested 150 hours and more to prepare for the FE and more than 300 hours for the PE. You need the right materials to make your time effective.

I studied much less, and- get this - I do not have an engineering degree! (California is one of the states which allows experience and knowledge to qualify a person for the FE and for the PE exam.)

How did I pass when so many with expensive 4 and 5 year degrees could not? (Only about half of those with engineering degrees ever take the FE, fewer than this take the professional engineer exam.)

The reason I passed is simple. I know how to prepare for an exam. (Plus the required years of work experience, of course.) To prepare for the FE exam, I bought a fat book from Great Lakes Press on Amazon. I also took many practice exams, using the book I purchased. I studied by focusing on my strongest and weakest topics- a strategy to consolidate my base of points, and to glean the easiest additional points.

Really, it was the PE practice exams which really made the difference. There are several reasons why.

1. Practice exams familiarize you with the time constraints of 6 minutes per question on the PE exam morning and afternoon sessions, and with the 1.92 minute allotment in the FE exam (5 hours, 20 minutes for 110 questions- the CBT format.)
2. Practice exams remove stress. Once you are comfortable with the format, and have scored enough to pass (based on statistical history and rumor) on two or three PE practice exams, exam stress will be eliminated or nearly gone. Stress works against the examinee. Being relaxed frees your mind and allows good circulation for body and brain. 
3. Practice exams show you which subjects are your strongest, and which subjects are your weakest. (There is a lot about this in my book, Pass the PE like a Pro.)
4. The explanations for the solution to each of the problems allows you to immediately review mistakes. 
5. Psychology has shown through experimentation: Information given in exams is remembered far better than information covered in cram sessions, homework, or lectures. (This is why teachers are encouraged to put more True answers on exams than False. People who thought the false information on the exam was true tend to believe it years later.) Taking a practice exam, or taking one a mini-quiz with questions in subjects you choose, is a more effective learning technique than sitting at Starbucks with your CERM and attempting to work problems. 
6. Schedule your practice exams (FE or PE) regularly. Study in between. This will show you how effective your study has been. If you slack off between practice exams, your score will warn you immediately. Bad feedback will motivate you. Good feedback will encourage. But, you need to invest in some practice exam books. Buy from at least two authors/publishers.
7. I reviewed all the offerings on Amazon. Click the link above to go see pages and pages of current, top-rated PE review books. They are listed by exam topic: mechanical, civil, geotech, etc. 

Prices vary slightly month to month on Amazon. But, availability for PE Practice Exams definitely dips in the 6 weeks before the April and October exams.

Many people like to have a hard copy to take practice exams. There are good reasons for that. For one thing, you can take the practice exam anywhere you want. Here is a link to the best PE sample exams available, with reviews and explanations of why you should buy or not buy them:

Best PE Sample Exams

If you need a break, check out these engineering jokes.

PE Exam Study Materials

There are many available study materials for the PE exam. Not all of them are worth your time. The basic books you need are the code books listed on the NCEES website. (Use the search bar on this page to find some posts on that list, which contain links to the lists of reference books.)

Each prospective engineer who intends to sit for the Professional Engineer's exam needs to attain the relevant study material. Acquire these as soon in the process as possible.The best deals are consistently on Amazon.com. This is because every seller must agree with Amazon to list their products at a price equal to or lower than their listed selling price on any other site, anywhere. Even if the seller discounts their price somewhere else, when Amazon catches the sale, they automatically cut the retail price on Amazon to match it.

BEST PE EXAM MATERIALS ON AMAZON

Civil PE exam study materials

Mechanical PE study materials

Structural PE exam study materials

How to become a Civil Engineer

How to Become a Professional Engineer (PE)

The path to become a civil engineer is easy to explain. Walking that path to the end is a more challenging event.

The first part of the most common path involves making a decision in high school to pursue a science tract. Most engineering college freshmen completed physics, calculus, and chemistry courses in high school. Undergrads matriculating from larger high school campuses may also have prepared with courses in statics, advanced physics, or electronics.

Those courses are not mandatory from high school. If your heart is set on engineering, you can CLEP out of some college entrance prerequisites, and take others at a community college. 

Once in college, the engineering major must pack a little more than 5 years worth of semester units into four years. This is theoretical. Reality is that about a quarter of those who graduate finish in under 6 years. Four years is possible. However, some semesters will be 18 unit and 21 unit semesters. The underwater basket weaving major may have eight 15-unit semesters, but the future engineer must work hard.

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

The first exam in the path to professional licensure is the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. The exam formerly known as the EIT, or Engineer-in-Training, sounded more like a journeyman. The current nomenclature looks more impressive in a signature block:

John Knowitall, FE

Or, maybe:

Mary Knowsmore, FE

The National Council of Engineering Examiners Society (NCEES) administers the FE exam. Each state's engineering hopefuls sit for the same exam. There is no difference between states.

Requirements to Sit for the FE:

States vary in requirements to register and take the FE exam. Some states require only payment (e.g. New Hampshire). Other states require three completed years of engineering study at an ABET accredited college or university program. Students from those schools often have excellent prep programs to take and pass the FE exam at the end of their junior year of college engineering. Note: If you only have 2 years of community college, those years do not qualify. No community college in any state is ABET accredited. Once an engineering student enrolls at a 4-year ABET institution, and completes the junior year, those credits qualify.

Format of the FE Exam:

There are two sessions. The morning session lasts four hours. You must answer 120 questions at a pace of 2 minutes per question.

The afternoon exam gives options. You may choose a concentration of your preference. Typically, this should match your major concentration, or the work you perform professionally. The available concentrations for the FE afternoon session are: Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical. You can download the prep books here: FE afternoon

The afternoon session lasts the same time, four hours. There are fewer questions. You must answer 60 questions at a pace of 4 minutes per question. Obviously, the questions are more difficult on average than morning session questions.

Materials for the FE exam:

FE exam study book from PPI.

The FE exam is a closed book test. You will receive a reference manual on exam day. You can download a copy or purchase a copy with which to practice. However, there is a cornucopia of options to prepare for the FE exam. The largest offering of FE study materials comes from ppi2pass: FE exam study materials. You can get a discount by using this link and entering ppi2pass promo code PASS1114. You'll be amazed at the options. Check it out.

You will also need an NCEES approved engineering calculator. 

For the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, examinees are not permitted to bring books into the examination center. They are issued a clean copy of the FE reference manual. So, why not buy an e-book?

Professional Engineer Exam

Only those who first pass the FE exam and subsequently meet other criteria may sit for the NCEES Professional Engineer (PE) exam. Requirements vary by state. Typically, a number of years of experience working with licensed engineers, three letters of recommendation, and proof of any education claimed as qualifying years must be provided.

Reviewing, studying, and preparing for the PE exam can be rigorous. The book, Pass the PE like a Pro can help ease the burden. It has a lot of useful links, tips, schedules, and tips. It is a great place to start. 

There is a "take-home" exam on ethics. This is completed and sent in with the application.

On exam day, examinees take two sessions, following the same format as the FE exam. The morning session is four hours. So is the afternoon session.

The Morning session has 40 questions (=6 minutes per question). The afternoon session has 40 questions. This is also 6 minutes per question. But, afternoon sessions on the NCEES exam are correspondingly more difficult. As with the FE exam, the morning session is a breadth exam covering all the major specialties within engineering. The afternoon exam is a concentration selected beforehand by the examinee.

How to be an Engineer

Once you pass the NCEES exam, and receive a license from your state board, you can begin calling yourself an engineer. It is illegal in the United States for non-engineers to call themselves engineers or to even use the word "engineer" or "engineering" in advertising, marketing, or official documents. To do so requires having an engineer on staff. In California, an engineering business must be owned at least 50% by an engineer.

Professional Development:

Many states require professional development units. Engineers must stay current. PDU classes ensure new learning continues throughout a career. These are also called Continuing Education Units, or CEUs. If your state requires them or not, engineering is a professional field. Each engineer must stay current on civil codes, safety procedures, and design process changes.

Remember, when people say, "scientist", they almost always mean an engineer!

Checklist for Day Prior to Leaving for PE Exam:

Here is a checklist for you to use the day prior to your PE exam:

NCEES examinee letter with examinee ID number.
Read the NCEES Candidate Agreement. 

Set out comfortable clothes. Include a heavy sweater or light jacket. (Hoods not allowed.)

Fill tank with gas.

Compile all books together.

Find a box to use as a bookshelf.

Print directions to test site.

Set alarm (two, if you got ‘em.)

Calculator. Double check against NCEES list, and the California state calculator policy, if you are taking the PE exam in the Golden State. The lists are not the same!
Reserve Calculator.

Add any loose papers to a binder. Organize and tab sections.

Gatorade or G2 Perform.

Bring old NCEES mechanical pencils.
Money for parking..
Go to bed on time.

Some explanations: 

Box: the box can be set on top of your table. This allows you to easily look up from your exam, see the reference you need, and grab it. Once finished, you can easily replace it to your instant book shelf. This keeps less important books out of your work area. You also will not have to rummage around in a wheeled carry-on bag sitting on the floor. This equates to time saved and frustration avoided.

The image is the box I used to carry my books into the exam. It then becomes a very convenient book shelf.

Binder: This is a place for any vocabulary list you may have printed out. These can be valuable in the NCEES PE exam morning session, as well as the afternoon exam. Also include any problems you have worked and reworked. In my exam-day binder, I printed several problems from my practice tests. Three of them were very similar to actual test problems. Having the problems in my binder saved me time and mental energy. 

Fill ‘er up: You do not want to pull over to fill your gas tank early in the morning. You want to drive straight to the exam site and stay focused on one thing- your exam. So, stop by the petrol station the Thursday before your exam date.

Pack Books: In the morning, some unexpected thing may cause you to rush. Rushing can create room for omissions and errors. Line up your books and double check to ensure you have it all. Before Seismic Exam day, I left my Kaplan “Civil & Structural Engineering Seismic Design Review for the PE Exam” book on the floor in the bathroom. I had searched my desk and book shelf for all the references and books I planned to take. I almost missed this book! It played an important part in my exam, too. So, double check your books.

Gatorade and G2 Perform: Your brain uses the body’s resources just like physical labor uses them. Prepping for activity is just as relevant for mental competitors as it is for physical competitors.

NCEES Letter: The young woman who sat to my right printed out only her confirmation email. She somehow overlooked the attachment. This was caught at 8:43. The chief proctor sent her to the “Help Desk”. She returned several minutes later with her letter and took the exam. They allowed her to open her email, and print out the attachment on the email from NCEES. It worked out for her. But, better to bring your letter in the first place. 

Mechanical Pencils: In case they run out of pencils. You will only have one of these if you previously took an exam and are re-taking any part of the exam series. (I retook the California State Specific Seismic Principles Exam, so I had one from the previous exam.) I read the testimony of an examinee whose exam group started late because the proctors ran out of mechanical pencils. Proctors drove to the store to purchase more.

Reserve Calculator: You're only allowed one on the desktop. But, you are permitted a back up. There is an excellent PE Exam Calculator Review to help you select a second unit (If you're reading this well ahead of time, the best deals are online. If the actual day before, take a trip to the local office supply. Fill your tank on the way!)

Get to bed on time: Mental exercise actually requires more rest than physical labor. Charge up with a good rest. Actually, because of the way the body compensates with hormones, sleep on Tuesday and Wednesday nights will have more impact on your performance than will sleep on Thursday. All-nighters, of course are a mistake. Better to be fresh for an 8-hour comprehensive exam than to splurge 6 hours sleep for 6 hours' review time.

NCEES Candidate Agreement: Be sure to read this brief, two-page explanation of what can get you kicked out of the exam. For example, a cell phone or a non-NCEES pencil are grounds for an early departure and/or invalidation of your exam.

Money for Parking: The cost to park at the Sacramento, California PE exam site was $5, cash only. I previously took my FE exam there. When I didn't have cash on the FE date, the cashier told me I could park across the street, and walk over, which I did. So, be sure to have some cash for 9 or 10 hours of parking.

Did I leave something off this list? Post a comment!

Excel Test Prep Service

Results from the California PE Exam of April, 2010 were sent out mid-July. A few days prior to receiving my letter, I received two advertisements for study services. I took them as a bad omen. In fact, I failed to pass the seismic portion of the California PE exam series. Here in the Sunshine State, we have 5 portions: a take home, mailed in with the application, the two part NCEES exam, and two more exams the day following the NCEES test date. The two are a seismic and a surveying exam.

Since then, I learned about the best book for the seismic PE exam. 

I failed the seismic. This is a reasonable result. My study for the other portions had content and structure. For the seismic? Well, I noticed everyone else had seismic books with them. I had only two books: the ASCE7-05 and the 2006 IBC Structural Seismic Design Manual. These were marginally helpful on the exam. End result: my performance on two of five portions of the seismic exam was "marginal". The other three were "deficient".

This harbinger of bad news hit my post box four days before official news:

PASS THE EIT.
PASS THE PE.
We guarantee it.
Excel Test Prep

A guarantee shows some good business principles. Plus, they got my address somehow. Freedom of information act, perhaps? Anyhow, you can peruse their site at exceltest.com or phone them at (510) 490-7000. email: pe@exceltest.com

For more PE Exam Review Class reviews, see the PE Review Course List and Comparison.

PE Exam Books You Will Need:

For the NCEES PE Structural Exam:

1. Civil Engineering Reference Manual 14th Edition (CERM) Michael R. Lindeburg, ISBN: 978-1591263807

2. International Building Code 2012 International Code Council ISBN: 978-1609830403

3. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE7-10 ISBN: 978-0784412916

4. Steel Construction Manual AISC 360-10, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) ISBN: 978-1564240606

5. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, American Concrete Institute, ACI 318-08 ISBN: 978-0-87031-264-9

6. National Design Specification for Wood Construction ASD/LRFD, 2005 edition, and National Design Specification Supplement, Design Values for Wood Construction, 2005 edition, ASIN: B001K9TDFS

7. PCI Design Handbook Precast and Prestressed Concrete, 6th Edition, 2004  ISBN: 978-0937040713

8. Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures, ACI 530-08, Masonry Standards Joint Committee, ISBN: 1-929081-29-4

9. AASHTO LRFD Design Specifications for Bridges, 5th Edition, 2010, ASIN: B004C15EOA

10. Seismic Design Review Workbook: For the California Civil Professional Engineering Examination (See another post: Best Book for the California Seismic PE Exam.)

11. 2006 IBC Structural/Seismic Design Manual, 2nd Edition, ISBN: 978-1-58001-933-0 (for California Seismic Specialty exam)

12. The book of your choice for the California special Civil Engineering Surveying Exam. Link goes to an article listing all the best options available.

And, again, never be without:

1. Civil Engineering Reference Manual (the CERM), ISBN: 978-1591263418

DISCOUNT:
These books can be purchased at ppi2pass.com. Additionally, take 5% off using promo code PASS1114. . Write down the discount code. Check the ppi bookstore today.

If you want to compare the best PE Sample Exams, click the link!

PE Exam Tip #1: Take Practice Exams!

Best Tip to Pass the PE: Practice Taking Exams

PE Sample Exams Compiled in one store

The best course of preparation for any event is to practice under conditions as close to the actual conditions as you can produce at home. Buy at least two practice exams.

To take a practice PE exam, gather all the books you need for the exam. Bring your calculator, a bottle of water, a mechanical pencil and every other thing you will require on exam day. At 8 am, be in place at your desk, kitchen table, computer station, or whatever place is available to you.

The space you use for the practice exam should be equivalent approximately to half a picnic table. (In SI units, that is 2.2 times the size of a sidewalk cafe table.)

You should plan to take a minimum of five practice exams during your review. Visit Best PE Sample Exams to review all the highest rated practice exams. Snapshot on right shows page 1.

Now, begin your exam. Leave the time running when you run to the loo. On exam day, if you drink too much water, you will likewise lose the time. If you cheat and stop the clock in your practice exam, you will not appreciate the importance of the time. On exam day, you want to arrive well hydrated, but not sloshing as you walk.

Analyze Your Results

Look at your score. Do not worry that you scored only 40% on this first practice exam. This test provides you with a basis to form your studying. For the next two weeks, concentrate on just two topics.

First: In which subjects have you performed very well? You will study this subject with some emphasis for the next two weeks. In which subject did you perform most poorly? This subject will also become a target of study. In the former group, your strong area(s), study will facilitate relearning equations, variables and applications.

Second, focus on your weak area (Is it geotech for everyone?) You will harvest the low hanging fruit, the easy equations and applications. Work problems in all areas, but especially emphasize the two main areas I just mentioned: Your strongest discipline, and your weakest field as well.

The exam is going to have similar, but different, questions than those you work in your study period. For this reason, studying your strong areas will help you have a greater depth of knowledge with which to correctly answer questions and score passing points.


Taking practice exams will also familiarize you with time constraints. Learn to recognize what four hours feels like. Learn to recognize when you have been working a problem for 6 minutes. After this, you need to determine whether to move on or to dog it out (Hint: best to move on). And, of course, practicing problems in a practice exam scenario will teach you through experience which problems you can do quickly, and which problems should be skipped.

I took six full practice exams during my PE exam review period. I took one immediately, to see where I stood and which topics were strong or weak for me. Then, every two weeks, I took another full exam. There are many exams available. The best-rated, most current are on this Amazon page (where you also get the price prices):

PE Sample Exams