ME vs General FE exam

[kingcvm]

I am about a year out of school. Working as a energy efficiency engineer so a lot of the ME concepts are not used on my day to day. Would it be easier to study for the general FE exam or should I go for the ME version.

 

[HamburgerHelper]

General is easier. You have to review all those same topics for the morning sessions anyways.

 

[Lomarandil]

Exactly right HH -- for the general exam, you'll just go 10-20% further with each of the subjects from the AM test. With a specialty afternoon, you'll end up studying a number of new concepts entirely.

----
The name is a long story -- just call me Lo.

 

[JBreunig]

I don't think I took the general exam in the afternoon, and it was quite easy. I've heard general is easier, but it would seem that you could only know if you took both tests right?

Overall though, I agree with the others that general is probably easier based on the fact that the topics are similar to the morning topics.

Good luck!

Jim Breunig P.E.
XCEED Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
FEA Consultants

 

[Ingenuity]

The OP is talking about the FE exam, right?

There is no morning and afternoon sessions in the FE exam - 6 hour duration with an optional scheduled break.

 

[MFJewell]

Back when I took it, you got to choose which afternoon session you wanted to do the afternoon of the exam day. We were given exam books with all 7 versions of the afternoon exams on them. When the afternoon session began, I spent about 30 minutes reviewing both the general and mechanical exams. Based on that review, I definitely preferred mechanical and proceeded with that exam. The general had advanced circuits and other items I didn't remember at all. I did not study or review anything for the FE exam and passed. Of the other BSME students at my university that took it on the same day, all the rest took the general and all but one passed. I would do the mechanical exam and study for both the FE and PE. Then take the PE as soon as you can.

 

[Terratek]

If I was out of school for a year, I'd consider taking a prep course. The idea of failing a test like that and then re-taking is so unpalatable to me that I'd rather over prepare.

Not useful for the OP, but for anyone soon to be graduates - take the exam while you're still in school. End of Junior year is a good time. I, too, did not study (well, I did a little, but it turned out to not be relevant material) for the exam and passed.

 

[JGard1985]

IMO, the FE (taken 8 years ago) really was that bad. The FE Forumula Book that NCEES provides you for the test is basically the entire test. If it's not in the reference its not in the test.

I remember I hadn't yet had reinforced concrete design but ended up doing fine on the test, just plugging and chugging equations. My advice is to get a copy of reference book and understand where sections are

Jeff
Pipe Stress Analysis Engineer

http://www.xceed-eng.com