A couple of things I learned through the years of being an engineer and moving around to different areas. -
If you can get examples of earlier tests, that can give you a "feel" for the different types of questions/problems regarding areas and you can see a trend of questions and subjects. This gives you comfort (not hard knowledge) and not be panicked. When I took the CA exams they were available and were for prep info. - These are very valuable even if not for your state because of the need for reciprocity. the seismic emphasis is somewhat geographical.
Regarding the versions of the references to be used, keep in mind that the system is based on:
1. Materials, testing methods and current standards are very slow to change because of the sub-committee/committee system and only voting once a year. - It took me 10 years to become a voting member for ASTM standards because it requires a balanced membership between users, specifiers and interested parties and the voting is individual (no corporate votes) and no not more than one voting member per corporation that has become a problem with buy-outs and mergers.
2. The adoption of these into codes is also a very slow since many other parties other than design engineers have input, such the public groups and the local code administers (fire, structures, etc.). ACI, ASCE, etc. as an enforceable code for engineering and legality.
3. After all this time involved in creating a "current" standard/reference, it is necessary for the individual standards to be published for review and show up in a annual (or so) test for registration.
I was fortunate that I was hired by a person that required me to become registered and active in any group that I felt was necessary, even though I never had to officially sign a plan or design. After working in CA as an EIT and supervising a CA SE (private/NASA/Air Force, Army, Navy and corporate) design work only, it was nice to be able to go back to CA for tests because CA was the "king" of all in structures at that time.
As far as references, keeping current and bringing with you as refernces references will give you ease and confidence. Rushing out and buying a recent/"last minute" reference is not absolutely necessary since the tests cannot be written and approved immediately before they are administered.
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
