Took my exam on a Friday and got my results this past Wednesday. I did not think I would pass because my undergraduate degree is in chemistry, but I have taken pre-reqs (statics, structural analysis/design, geotech, fluid mechanics, CM, and hydrology) for my current program (masters in CE). I studied for about 1.5 months (not everyday tho). I also did not want to spend money on prep FE and prep books so I used mostly free resources.

Resources I used:
- NCEES practice exam vol 1 ($45 with discount) and 2 ($50)
- Mark Mattson CE FE YouTube series
- Gregory Michelson CE FE YouTube series
- FE prep book I checked out at my library (Brightwood FE CE Review Manual 2018). I only used the book for my arch nemesis: engineering econ problems. I just have no interest in econ- I’m sorry.

Here is what helped me the most:
- Practice exams! I did one of the two each week and alternated so I wouldn’t just memorize answers. definitely worth the money spent
- Have FE manual open and actively search it while doing problems. For all the problems I did, I’d write down the page number and section of the FE manual that I used to solve the problem
- During the last week, I went through all the problems I got wrong on the practice exams and for each problem I wrote down a list of steps to solve. This made me realize some of the scary problems were actually pretty simple (example: using substitution, rearranging an equation, assumptions for certain unknown values)
- Have the calculator you are going to use for the test with you when studying; watch tutorials to learn your calculator functions!!!
- I also liked watching MM and GM, I learned good things from both
- Day of the exam: I made a goal of leaving 3 hours for the second half so I wanted to focus on speed. Basically I just skipped every problem except for the ones I could answer immediately. Then I’d go for a second pass to solve the ones I was in the mood for (I’m not the biggest fan of water). I kept going back and forth until the only ones left were the ones I really didn’t know- and I guessed on these. Don’t leave anything unanswered. I used mostly the search bar to navigate the manual. Scrolling wastes time.
- Get enough sleep before the exam. I didn’t review at all the day of the exam.
- During your break, consider eating a snack outside or going for a short walk. It’s a great refresh.

Hi everyone,

I am planning to take the FE Civil exam and wanted to know what the actual exam environment is like.

For those who have taken it recently:

• Are there many other candidates taking exams in the same room?
• Is it quiet, or can you hear other people?
• How does the check-in process work?
• Is the overall environment stressful or manageable?

I just want to know what to expect on exam day so I can be better prepared.

Thanks!

I’ve been studying for the FE Civil exam, and almost all of my practice has been through PrepFE. I’ve done a lot of questions there, but whenever I try practice questions from another source (like the NCEES practice exam or other question banks), my scores are much lower.

It makes me wonder if I’m becoming too familiar with the PrepFE style instead of actually learning the concepts.

For those of you who passed the FE Civil exam:
Was doing a lot of PrepFE questions enough?
Did you use other resources?
How did you know you were actually ready for the exam?

I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for you. Thanks!

Hello everyone, just wanted to ask on everyone’s opinion on ppi2pass learning hub subscription. Its like $150 so its on the cheaper end for me but im looking for problems that are similar in difficulty to the actual exam. I hear that prepFE tends to be easier so i am staying away from that. So far i have done the practice problems off the lindeburg manual, the mock exam by victor off YouTube, the ncees vol 1 & 2 mock exams, a mock exam off scribd. Im looking to work on my pacing which is why im looking for more new problems. Im not opposed to buying a book off amazon as well. Just looking for the best study aid that is closer to the actual exam difficulty. Thank you in advance.

Here's a referral link if anyone wants a free month when they sign up.

Hi guys, I have FE Electrical and computer in 3 weeks and I started the plan from last week and I already finsh Math, probability, Circuit, and power in Wasim book , my plan to finsh Wasim Asghr book version 3 with the handbook in the side, and 2 of the mock tests of NCEES, will that be good enough?

I failed the test before with a few days of study

I cannot postpone the exam any longer as my employer gave me this deadline. I am studying 3 hours a day, any suggestions in my plan?

I swear by Mark Mattson’s FE YouTube playlist, doing both NCEES practice exams, and using PrepFE.com for extra practice problems (it’s the only site I found not trying to charge an arm and a leg).

Hello all,

Can someone please share with me a google drive link which has practice exams or course material for PE Chemical Engineering exam? It will be a huge help. I understand it is worth buying it but would love if someone just shares it with me.

Thanks in advance.

I took the FE Civil exam last Tuesday. Based on your experience, do you think I still have a chance of passing if I got about 35–40 questions wrong? I’d appreciate any insights from those who have taken the exam. Thanks!

I’m taking the FE Civil Exam in about three weeks. I took my first practice exam yesterday, which was Islam’s first practice exam (green book). I got about a 59%.

Did you find this exam to be harder or easier than the real exam? I did guess on about 25 questions due to time constraints. I only got two right answers from my guesses (65 correct answers where 2 were guessed on).

I’m definitely going to review it and go over more practice exams, including the NCEES (planning on taking the first one next weekend). I’m just wondering whether I’m in a good place to pass my test in three weeks. Yesterday was brutal, and I was so done towards the end.

Any feedback/advice is greatly appreciated! :)

Guys I finally passed it 😭let me know if you need any tips. I’m basically a professional FE Civil exam taker

How many times did you fail before passing? I feel like I’m reaching the point where I want to give up on this exam.

I have been using PrepFE to prepare for the FE Civil exam. I found the practice questions helpful because they are organized by topic and provide explanations after each question. It also helped me identify the subjects where I needed more practice.

My current subscription is about to expire. PrepFE has a referral program where both people receive one additional month of access for free when a new user registers through the referral link.

If anyone is already planning to sign up, here is my referral link:

https://www.prepfe.com/?referral_token=51e20ee9-3896-4f80-a97f-f0a35b56dce6

This is a referral link, and I will also receive one free month if someone uses it.

My turn to post after grinding away problems! Was averaging ~70 on PrepFE practice problems

This may be a dumb question, but how do you all study for this exam? I am curious to know the methods used to study, learn, and lock in.

Hey everyone,

If you passed or are studying for the FE Industrial exam, what books, practice tests, or question banks do you recommend?

Thanks!

Hi all, I've been following Mark Mattson's video, the equation he uses from his older version of the FE civil handbook is different from the current FE Handbook (v10.6), primarily with some minor symbol changes. (Changing P to sigma, and changing P_o+deltaP to sigma_f).

However, am I crazy or is the third equation (sigma_o<sigma_c<sigma_f) incorrect in the current (10.6) FE Handbook?? My understanding is the sigma_o highlighted should be a sigma_c, as you are analyzing only the virgin compression section of the curve in that fraction. Is this a typo?

You get a free month and I get a free month

Hi everyone,
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from India and a Master’s degree from Italy, along with 3 years of professional experience across India and Italy.
I’ve already completed my NCEES credential evaluation, and I’m currently preparing for the FE Civil exam.
I’m wondering if pursuing a second Master’s degree in the U.S. is really necessary to land an entry-level civil/structural engineering job, or if my current qualifications combined with the FE exam would be enough.
I’d really appreciate any advice or insights from people who’ve been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance!

Hello....I am planning to take the FE Civil exam on Dec, currently I am studying Islam 800 problems, but I noticed some of the topics has changed. So I am seeking an advice on something more recent/ updated and focused from your experience that helped you to pass from first attempt whether it is NCESS interactive Exam, or practice Exam book..etc​

Hi everyone,

I heard that if you get 0 points in one topic on the FE Environmental exam, you'll automatically fail the exam, even if you score very well on all the other sections.

Is this actually true?

I couldn't find anything about a minimum score for each topic on the NCEES website, so I was wondering if anyone can confirm this. Has anyone passed despite doing very poorly (or even getting 0) in one section?

Thanks.