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[asdad123]

Im scheduled to take my FE exam next month, and am currently studying for it, however it is now a new format compared to previous tests. It is now computer based, and everyone I know that took it, took it back when it was the old FE and was 180 questions. It is now 110 total questions in 6 hours. I was just wondering if anyone here has taken it since it switched over to the Computer Based test and has any advice.

Im currently using this to review.

http://www.amazon.com/Review-Manual-Preparation-Fundamentals-Engineering/dp/1591263336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403743654&sr=8-1&keywords=fe+review+manual

and once thats completed, Ill go to this.

http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Discipline-Specific-Review-EIT-Exam/dp/1591261775/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403743663&sr=8-2&keywords=fe+review+manual+civil

Im fine with the Civil stuff mainly since It was a majority of my last two years, but the early stuff is killing me. Fluids/Chemistry/Calculus I almost forgot a majority of it. Anyone with success in passing it recently care to share any tips on what they studied?

Thanks!

 

[uncblue]

I can't speak on the new format but I'm sure it is similar to past versions. The Linderburg book is fine but don't get bogged down on 10 minute long example questions. Most of the morning questions are pretty basic and shouldn't take longer than a minute or two. I would make sure to order the ncees sample exam to get a better indication of the types of problems. Also, make sure you are using the FE reference handbook while you are studying. I remember the fact that I knew where to find information helped save me a lot of time on problems. Sorry I can't help with the new format but I'm sure it is like the older one. If you put in the time and study, you should be fine. Good luck.

 

[asdad123]

I can't speak on the new format but I'm sure it is similar to past versions. The Linderburg book is fine but don't get bogged down on 10 minute long example questions. Most of the morning questions are pretty basic and shouldn't take longer than a minute or two. I would make sure to order the ncees sample exam to get a better indication of the types of problems. Also, make sure you are using the FE reference handbook while you are studying. I remember the fact that I knew where to find information helped save me a lot of time on problems. Sorry I can't help with the new format but I'm sure it is like the older one. If you put in the time and study, you should be fine. Good luck.

Yeah I just did the dynamics and fluids sections over the last couple of days, and some of the problems were a little excessive in my opinion. The formulas the linderburg book uses in the examples are no where to be found in the NCEES reference handbook (I have the newest one for the CBT).

 

[dhlt25]

From my exprience the actual test is a lot easier than the problems in the study guide. I took the test back in 2012 and over studied like hell. The afternoon session is a lot harder than the general session.

 

[asdad123]

From my exprience the actual test is a lot easier than the problems in the study guide. I took the test back in 2012 and over studied like hell. The afternoon session is a lot harder than the general session.

Im a lot better in the afternoon stuff compared to the general stuff lol. I love all the structural/steel/concrete stuff and can do it no problem. Dynamics and thermo are killing me though.

 

[Idesofmarch]

I recently took the computer based chemical test (and passed!).

After you answer the first 50 questions you can take a break. After you take the break you can't return to those questions and are given the next 60. So it is up to you to budget your time between the two sections. The first section is the general stuff, while the second is the discipline specific. You can flag questions in each section and then review them at the end of each section. You get a laminated notepad and dry erase pen to do work on. The computer has a searchable reference manual.

I agree with the previous poster that the practice test and study guide questions were harder than the actual test. I didn't study very much, and most of my time was spent just getting familiar with the reference manual. There will be questions you won't know how to solve initially, but can easily find the relevant formula if you know where to look in the reference manual. I would spend some time refreshing on the areas you feel weak on, but don't worry too much since they will make up such a small part of the test. If you are strong on your discipline stuff you will pass.

Good luck!

 

[DMczaf]

The FE is now 2 hours and 70 questions shorter?! Bullshit! I ended up finishing the 2nd half in 1 1/2 hours. I just wanted to leave, I hate sitting for such long periods of time. 1st half was struggle session for me though. I answered all the stuff I knew quickly, and then I hit Chemistry, as well Civil and Mechanical shit that I knew nothing about lol. Oh well, passed!

For the Electrical test, I studied sample questions from the official sample book for a couple of Saturdays.

 

[Odoul]

I took the Civil FE two years, still not sure how I passed so I don't how helpful I can be but...

If you can try to get Air Environmental, that was a surprisingly large portion of the Civil portion of my test. Which was complete bullshit because we were taught NOTHING of air environmental in either the required class or FE review.

Also actually go over the Ethics portion. You'd think they would be common sense and some of those questions were tricky as hell.

Also drill down on Calc 2 and differential equations.

And Statics.


Shit I'm glad I'm done with this!

Good luck!

 

[Idesofmarch]

It is also good to note that they decreased the amount of general engineering (outside of your discipline) questions. So while previously the chemical test had significant dynamics, statics, and electrical, my test only had one very basic electrical and static question. So taking the civil test you probably don't need to worry about chemistry.

 

[asdad123]

It is also good to note that they decreased the amount of general engineering (outside of your discipline) questions. So while previously the chemical test had significant dynamics, statics, and electrical, my test only had one very basic electrical and static question. So taking the civil test you probably don't need to worry about chemistry.

Yeah I just checked it out on the NCEES website and thermo, circuits, and chemistry are no longer part of the civil test. Those are Two of my weakest parts (thermo and circuits).

I'm going to start focusing on the civil specific stuff soon since the only sections I had to review left from the general section were thermo and chemistry. I'm very strong in a lot of the civil stuff, so I figure if I focus on getting a majority of those right, it'll help me with my weaker sections like dynamics.

 

[asdad123]

Just a quick bump. I finished both Lindberg review books (General and Civil) today and am out of problems to do! I still have a little over three weeks to go until the exam.

Does anyone have suggestions on where to get some practice exams apart from the NCESS website? I will be doing their practice exam this weekend. I got 67% and 70% on the two practice exams in the Lindberg books so Im feeling pretty ready so far.

 

[asdad123]

Ugh, just finished taking this about an hour ago. I really don't know how to feel about it..

I felt as if I was prepared. Knew the NCEES practice test inside and out, walking out of this test I feel like I bombed it. As I was going through the test, I was solving the problems without looking at the multiple choice answers, and then once I solved it, looked to see if my answer was one of the choices, and for a lot of them, I was fine with. However, I skipped like 25ish (out of 110) of them that I wasn't sure about at first and went back to them. I feel like I was able to "solve" or mess around with some equations and numbers to get a number that was one of the answers haha. What screwed me was the transportation parts/reading questions. I think I guessed on only about 7, maybe 10 max of them.

Now the wait begins =/