PE test

"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
03/19/2019 at 14:14 • Filed to: Exams, licensing, shitpost

I’m currently studying for the PE in my field. While I say a whole bunch of dumb stuff from time to time, I’m pretty good with numbers as it turns out.

Anyway, any pointers? I’ve been studying since December and the test...carry the 1, find the k factor, divide by pi.....a little over two weeks. April 5th to be exact.

I seriously hope I pass this stupid thing. I don’t want to study all over again.

F or your time.

DISCUSSION (12)

For Sweden > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 14:22

Bring more books than you think you will need

bshappy > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 14:23

No tips but I’m taking the test in October. I haven’ t started studying yet and you’re making me feel bad about that lol.

Good luck!

Ash78, voting early and often > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 14:23

If you can’t do pullups, you’re technically allowed to do a bent-arm hang like the girls .

/presidential award 5 consecutive years

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 14:34

I reckon the best advice would be that which is specific to the exam you’re taking. I did the PE Civil - Transportation.

But a few general pointers:

The pass/fail rate is not a certain percentage of the test takers that they want to pass (i.e.: the top 40% or whatever). It is purely individual based on how many you get right and that exam’s cut score .

E xam questions, while some can have nuanced wording or solving techniques, are not deliberately developed to “trick” you.

Being familiar with your references is a big part of taking the exam. Tab your stuff out. You don’t want to lose time looking in indexes if you don’t have to. There will likely be questions out of left field for which you’ll have to be searching indexes, but you don’t want to be doing it regularly .

When studying: work problems, work problems, work problems. Don’t just skim over one and think, “Oh yeah, I remember doing that in college”—WORK IT.

The sample tests that NCEES publishes are identical in format and style to the actual exam. Work as many of them as you can.

You’ll likely hear people telling you to arrive early for the exam. That depends on you. For some, standing in the huge line and hearing all the other folks chit chat about the exam can really cause anxiety and get them out of their zone. This was the case for one of my coworkers, so he timed it to where he was the last person in the room. Keep in mind though, that they DO lock the doors and WILL NOT let you in if you’re late. That happened to a different coworker.

MrDakka > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 15:06

Did you take the EIT?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 15:48

I took the test so long ago all my pointers are irrelevant. I just did what they recommended, took a review class, did the study problems to familiarize myself with the material and did a couple of practice exams.

If you have half a brain and don’t suck when you take tests you should be fine.

EngineerWithTools > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/19/2019 at 15:51

Lots of good advice in here. For reference: I’m an ME, took the test in IL, and I took it at a relatively old age (early 30s).

- Definitely bring more resources than you think you need, and know where the stuff is. However, don’t be the person with the hand truck full of books.

- Take the practice tests, then go back and figure out the questions you got wrong. Although your mileage may vary, the practice tests were the only truly useful studying I did.

-Make sure you understand the allowable calculators. It’s complicated, at least in IL. Also, understand the writing instrument situation. IL provides cheap mechanical pencils. I researched and bought a few beforehand so I could get used to them and not spend the test annoyed.

-Mr. Jalopy makes a point about anxiety caused by arriving early. Personally, I want to be able to pick my seat. In IL, they don’t let you in the room until a short while beforehand, but a line forms well in advance.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/19/2019 at 17:04

This is my standard answer for the last 10 years. My experience with the test is now irrelevant. Thankfully I passed on the first try.

Future next gen S2000 owner > MrDakka
03/19/2019 at 17:42

Passed last spring.

Future next gen S2000 owner > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
03/19/2019 at 17:47

I’ve tabbed the hell out of my reference book. I’d be more worried about missing the test that standing in line. Traffic could screw my day. So far I’ve worked through 3 NCEES books, 6 minute solutions and have another I’ll be going through in the next week.

Final week will be making sure my practice manual is tabbed correctly and making sure common things are easily found. Then familiarize with tabs again.

Future next gen S2000 owner > EngineerWithTools
03/19/2019 at 17:49

Calculator is ready to go, needed one for the FE. I’ll have to make sure to bring a few pencils with me. I’ve become a mechanical pencil snob.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Future next gen S2000 owner
03/20/2019 at 09:19

It sounds like you’re in good shape. I too didn’t work problems the last few days before the exam.

We generally felt that the sample NCEES exams were about 80% as hard as the real thing, and the 6 Minute Solutions (and all of the Lindberg/PPI materials) were about 120% as hard as the real thing.