PE Exam Study Materials
PE Exam Study Materials
(OP)
I am taking the PE Exam in Civil Engineering in October of this year. I have received everything under the sun from companies saying their PE exam study guides are preferred for preparation of the exam.
I am looking for some advice from other colleagues. I would like to know what other engineers recommend or have used to prepare for the exam. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I am looking for some advice from other colleagues. I would like to know what other engineers recommend or have used to prepare for the exam. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.





RE: PE Exam Study Materials
I hear a lot of prospective PE's talking about getting ready for the exam. I took it cold and did ok. I think the biggest difference is that I knew my text books. Where to find things, formulas, variables, and similar problems. A lot of people say they study and cram, but I really believe that you already know the stuff that will be on the exam just from your training. Having a non pressured attitude when you walk in is the most important and I remeber taking it that there were all sorts of people still studying in the parking lot. It is a grueling exam and you will pretty much feel a bit worse that you did after the EIT exam.
I think the most improtant thing you can do is bring bottled water, I went through a gallon and the pee breaks were a very welcome break in the action since you were forced to take a break and could regroup!!!!
As I remember the easiest part of the exam was the ethics parts followed by the engineering economics parts of the problems. I do recall a first order diff eq in one problem. I took the Environmental Exam by the way....
Good luck and don't sweat it....remember, the state will take your money again to reseat you at the next exam!!!
BobPE
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
I took the Civil plus the special seismic and survey sections in California. Seismic was the toughest...
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
1) Get a good calculator that you know how to use. Use it to study with. I have two TI-89's. The equation solver and the equation history helped alot. They really were more help on the EIT, but I pre-programmed linear interpolation and it helped also.
2) Go to the WWW.NCEES.ORG website and buy the sample exam. About 20% of the questions or some very simmilar ones will be on the exam.
3) Go to www.ppi2pass.com
3a) Buy CERM and the solution manual (civil engineer's reference manual), it is the only book you need to pass the Civil, water. I reviewed the whole book and solved every problem except for structural. I bought many other books, but I found everything I needed in CERM except for some structural data.
3b.) Sign up for the PASSING ZONE ~100$. This is an internet review course for the exam. An unbeatable deal.
3c.) Use the other resources at ppi2pass website, including the exam forum, website links, what past examiniees have to say etc..
4) Buy a pillow for your butt. Some one offered my 31$ for mine just before the exam.
5) Study, study and study.
Best of Luck.....
Clifford H Laubstein
FL PE 58662
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
Brian
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
Good luck...
BobPE
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
My advice is forget your textbooks. They are too full of derivations and esoteric information. It's all stuff you need to know for developing background and thinking skills but few practical applications.
When I took the PE my background was almost entirely in steel and aluminum structures, ship stability, and drydocking with some hydraulic machinery design (not a subject for the Civil PE) and some minor septic system design. There was only one structural problem the whole day. Talk about panic. But I passed in one try thanks to the advice of a friend.
My friend told me to get the Civil Engineering Reference Manual by Michael R. Lindeburg PE. It is essentially the official reference for the PE exam. Without it I would have gotten NO POINTS WHATSOEVER on the exam except for the structural problem which, for me at least, was a gimme.
Most university book stores that are not strictly liberal arts colleges (shouldn't those be called BS degrees?) will have this book. Two identical calculators with spare batteries and maybe an engineering handbook with lots of tables is all you need. I had a total of maybe four books. The proverbial guy with a hand truck loaded with about 300 lbs of books (I am not kidding) did show up (late) and got a laugh. Maybe it was just a practical joke staged by the exam people but he did look worried.
Good luck, it is not as hard as you think.
DPA
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
I studied 10 days before the exam and passed with a 79 (i think) with a 70 being passing.
It's not THAT bad, just relax and don't get psyched out. I took it last october and didn't get my passing letter and cert. until February sometime...
RE: PE Exam Study Materials
The California special exams were a twist. The survey exam took 7 minutes - literally. It was a vertical curve problem. Seismic was a different story; had to take it a second time. That was the only test that I needed study materials in order to pass.
Please see FAQ731-376 by VPL for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: PE Exam Study Materials