Structural Exam April 2011 Advice 1

[EngSD]

I am looking for advice on whether to try an take both modules of the Structural Exam (all 16 hours) in one sitting or do one module at a time. I know no one has experience on taking the full 16 hour exam since this is the first time offered but I would still like to hear opinions.

One of the concerns I have is spreading myself to thin studying for the full 16 hours and then doing poorly on each module instead of focusing on one portion at a time.

The other concern I have is the cost ($510 dollars per module), ouch!

 

[henri2]

In CA until last year, you had to be a CA PE(Civil) before you were allowed to take the 2 day exam. How did examinees fare with the 2 day 16 hour exam?

The link below was for the October 2010 exam. National Structural and State Specfic structural exam results are shown at the bottom of the page. In the National exam,the pass rate was 48% and for the State Specific exam, it was 29%. One wonders how many folks passed. I'd figure less than 30%. I think it makes sense to take the new NCEES exams one part at a time, unless you have the mental and physical stamina.

http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/oct10stats.shtml

 

[TXStructural]

I'm registered for both days. Yes, you can take them at different times. No, they will not report any results until both are taken (But, that is exactly what they told the states about Str I & II.) You can choose the Friday exam or the Saturday exam, according to the sections below:

Friday morning is vertical (gravity/other) and incidental lateral breadth
Friday afternoon is vertical depth
Saturday morning is lateral (wind/earthquake) breadth
Saturday afternoon is lateral depth

http://ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php

scroll down to the new structural exam files.

 

[slomobile]

henri2 - If i read your post correctly, you are implying that you now need not be a licensed civil to sit for the SE exam, that is not the case. You still must be a licensed civil with 3 years practicing structural beyond your license as a PE and all the references etc, etc to sit for the 16 hour NCEES exam + state specific exam for CA.

The Oct 2010 exam was the last time CA offered the National SE-II and the State specific Seismic SE-III. It was not the new 16 hour exam which will be offered in April in CA. There are no results for that exam yet as it has not be administered in our state.

 

[ToadJones]

IceNine-
I dare you to sleep in your car in the area where I took the PE...You'd have a lot more to worry about than Seismic Provisions!

 

[henri2]

slomobile,

Sorry if I conveyed the impression that a PE (civil) was all that was needed to qualify for the exam. That was not my intent. As you rightly stated, potential examinees need at least 3 years of structural engineering experience.

 

[BAretired]

Toad,

Are you thinking about the possibility of getting mugged in your car?

BA

 

[AlienMonkey]

Take both.

 

[IceNine]

Toad: Looking back, I was a little jumpy each time I heard a noise. But, I saved $125 (my boss wouldn't pick up the bill).

 

[slomobile]

Henri, That is what i thought you meant, but i didnt want any youngens to get the wrong impression.

 

[ToadJones]

BA-
Yes, it was a few years back, but even then I wasn't into sleeping in cars in inner city areas....now, out in a corn field in the back of a pick-up truck in August...ahh, that's a much better scenario.

 

[steellion]

If you don't have your PE yet, I'd suggest taking the Civil PE and get that first.

If you have your PE and are going for an SE, it's up to you personally if you think that you can handle 16 hr's at once or want to break it up into two separate modules. I think that's an awful lot to study at once, personally.