67 replies to this topic

[Bigwiggz]

Hello Guys, If you took the October 2012 PE/SE, How did you think you did? Is there anyone from SC that took the exam and think they did not pass? If so I will probably see you next year.

[aslater]

I took the PE Power. I thought I did alright. Now this is the hard part waiting to see if you passed or not.

[elminses]

A Slater.... I think I know that guy.

Took PE Power as well. I think I did pretty well. It seemed to not have an equal balance of problem types.

very few lighting and econ problems.

The sample exams I took had about 75% work (calculation) problems with 25% word (theory) problems.

The actual exam seemed to have an equal balance of word to work problems, 50/50

[Raiden]

I did took the PE Power too and I think it was not as demanding as I expected it to be. One mental note in case I have to do it again,...make sure you know the concepts (not just the formulas).

[ajosh]

With Seismic and Surveying exam being computerized, does it make wait time for Civil PE results Shorter for California?

[bhook20]

I took the civil water resources/environmental exam in Louisiana. I must admit, the morning was surprisingly brutal.
I talked with a buddy of mine and he says it wasn't bad at all lol. I still felt ok about the test until I ran across this site yesterday and saw where some folks in April got as high as 54/80 and did not pass. Obviously a true 70% is 56/80 but I thought it was general rule of thumb that a score between 48-52 was passing. That's scary lol

[wvgirl14]

Bhook20 I took the geotech and I used rhe same word to describe the morning's portion brutal. I took it once before in April and it was not as bad as this times morning. I came out and one guy was saying it wasn't that bad. I hope he was mechanical. I am not feeling great about it.

[VTEnviro]

I took the PE Power. I thought I did alright. Now this is the hard part waiting to see if you passed or not.

I assume you are familiar with AC Slatering?

[bhook20]

Bhook20 I took the geotech and I used rhe same word to describe the morning's portion brutal. I took it once before in April and it was not as bad as this times morning. I came out and one guy was saying it wasn't that bad. I hope he was mechanical. I am not feeling great about it.

Great to know I wasn't alone. Good to you and everyone else.

[sumpnz]

Just took the Mechanical w/Materials and Mech. Systems exam in Puyallup, WA. Kind of wish I'd found this site before hand. Anyway I think I did reasonably well. Now comes the waiting.

I took the FE last April. Overall I'd say the FE seemed harder, if only because of all the power cycle problems. Was very happy not to see any of those on the PE. Still, not an easy test given the time constraints.

[ruffryder]

I took the PE / Electrical w/ Power in Puyallup. I did better on the morning then the afternoon. I feel good about the testing, but now I have to wait to be sure.

[MONTAG455]

I took the PE Civil and was my second attempt, having previously taken it in April. I felt the AM was more in depth than the AM in April, although I studied much more in depth for this exam and felt I was able to field the questions asked. When I was going through the AM answering some of the questions, I was saying to myself at the time of the exam that the majority of people in here are probably struggling with these questions.

I mentioned I took it in April, however I did not pass. I believe I did not pass because I was not fully prepared for the exam even though I started to prepare 4 months out. Regardless of not passing, I had 4 months of knowledge and preparation under my belt, and for the Oct Exam, I just kept building upon what I've already learned. Thankfully, I took my studying to another dimension this time around, because if I hadn't, I think I would be going back in April 2013. Fortunately, I don't think this will be the case (nothing's guaranteed of coarse).

To those of you who are going to attempt this exam, my advise is to take it seriously because your're not going to SWAG your way into a passing score. (there's always those few who do of coarse)

now lets wait!

[K19]

I took the civil water resources/environmental exam in Louisiana. I must admit, the morning was surprisingly brutal.
I talked with a buddy of mine and he says it wasn't bad at all lol. I still felt ok about the test until I ran across this site yesterday and saw where some folks in April got as high as 54/80 and did not pass. Obviously a true 70% is 56/80 but I thought it was general rule of thumb that a score between 48-52 was passing. That's scary lol

Bhook20 I took the geotech and I used rhe same word to describe the morning's portion brutal. I took it once before in April and it was not as bad as this times morning. I came out and one guy was saying it wasn't that bad. I hope he was mechanical. I am not feeling great about it.

I took the Civil - WR/Env as well and agree that the morning session was tougher than expected, particularly the geotech and structural portions. Even some of the water resources questions seemed more appropriate for the afternoon session.

In contrast I didn't think the afternoon WR/Env session was that bad at all, finished with about 45 minutes to spare. Essentially there were a bunch that I was certain to near-certain I got right; as for the ones I was unsure on, no amount of number re-crunching or sifting through my references was going to get me any further. Hopefully I stole a couple by narrowing it down to 2 possible answers.

[roadwreck]

I did took the PE Power too and I think it was not as demanding as I expected it to be. One mental note in case I have to do it again,...make sure you know the concepts (not just the formulas).

Seeing as the exam is open book I'd say knowing the concepts is far more important than knowing the formulas off hand.

[STEEL MAN]

I suggest post here if you say its easy, if not its better to say nothing.

[VoltageDrop]

A Slater.... I think I know that guy.

Took PE Power as well. I think I did pretty well. It seemed to not have an equal balance of problem types.

very few lighting and econ problems.

The sample exams I took had about 75% work (calculation) problems with 25% word (theory) problems.

The actual exam seemed to have an equal balance of word to work problems, 50/50

This would be my response almost exactly. Only one econ and one lighting problem that I recall. Luckily the word problems didn't seem too hard. I actually enjoyed myself on the morning part, if that's encouraging to any future examinees! I'll get back to you late December to relay whether my enjoyment gets squashed by bad news

[jayache80]

I took power as well. I felt the test was hard. As some of my colleagues said right afterwards "That was a TEST." Like everyone said, there were more conceptual questions than I expected. I wanted to get a bunch of easy econ questions, but no...I'm very glad I borrowed a Schaum's machines book for the test! Also, I had to learn more about relays DURING the test to solve some of those problems. I mean, good thing I had some reference material on it, but sheesh man, I wish I'd fully learned that stuff properly before going into that exam! Also, I would've benefitted from bringing more practical reference material (equipment catalogs, cutsheets, etc). I felt like I prepared the most I could have, yet I'm really on the fence about it. We. Shall. See...

[VTEnviro]

I love the town names in western WA. Puyallup, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.

[ruffryder]

I love the town names in western WA. Puyallup, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.

How about my town, Fall City.. lol.

I agree with the machines book. Dang I don't think mine was that good. It took "Electric Drives" by Mohan with an incorrect assumption that there probably wasn't much they could ask about machines that wasn't already on the sample exams. Holy crap was I wrong. I am kicking myself for not bringing my "Electromechanical Energy Devices and Power Systems" book. I straight machines book would have been even better. Probably going to need to invest in one of those.. well, depending upon the results. Even with that said, I still think I did pretty good.

[ricochaz]

I took the Civil Construction depth PE in Colorado. The morning was not too bad, but I did have work until the last minute trying to get as many problems correct as possible. The afternoon was difficult with a few common sense or experience related problems thrown in there. I feel that I have a good chance to pass, but you never know. I guess I'll just sit back a wait until NCEES sends the email out second week of December. If I fail, then I will immediately begin studding for the April exam. After seeing the exam for the first time last Friday, I feel that the difficulty is not out of reach for me so I'll continue to grind it out until I pass the darn thing.

[VTEnviro]

I love the town names in western WA. Puyallup, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.

How about my town, Fall City.. lol.

We got enough funky names in upstate NY too.

[Aidin]

Bhook20 I took the geotech and I used rhe same word to describe the morning's portion brutal. I took it once before in April and it was not as bad as this times morning. I came out and one guy was saying it wasn't that bad. I hope he was mechanical. I am not feeling great about it.

I agree, I can say morning and Geotech afternoon was brutal.

[sumpnz]

I love the town names in western WA. Puyallup, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.

How about my town, Fall City.. lol.

We got enough funky names in upstate NY too.

Heh. I live in NW WA now, but I was born and live until 10 in upstate NY (Rochester). I know what you mean.

[STEEL MAN]

I talked to a guy PE Civil Geotech he said AM was tough, Geo PM very tough.

Good Luck guys.

[allenmn85]

It took "Electric Drives" by Mohan with an incorrect assumption that there probably wasn't much they could ask about machines that wasn't already on the sample exams.

Hah! Back in college (~2005), Ned Mohan was the professor for my Electric Drives class. Small freakin' world. Dude wasn't that great of a teacher.

[ruffryder]

It took "Electric Drives" by Mohan with an incorrect assumption that there probably wasn't much they could ask about machines that wasn't already on the sample exams.

Hah! Back in college (~2005), Ned Mohan was the professor for my Electric Drives class. Small freakin' world. Dude wasn't that great of a teacher.

I guess that explains the book then... it wasn't very good either..

[Jaylaw_PE]

I took the Civil Construction depth PE in Colorado. The morning was not too bad, but I did have work until the last minute trying to get as many problems correct as possible. The afternoon was difficult with a few common sense or experience related problems thrown in there. I feel that I have a good chance to pass, but you never know. I guess I'll just sit back a wait until NCEES sends the email out second week of December. If I fail, then I will immediately begin studding for the April exam. After seeing the exam for the first time last Friday, I feel that the difficulty is not out of reach for me so I'll continue to grind it out until I pass the darn thing.

i took it for the first time in oct 11 without studying for one millisecond and i didnt even bring any reference materials haha. i was convinced by my friends (who had all failed it at least once) that you can't pass it the first time so you are better off just failing it and seeing what its like, then going for it hard the next time. anyway i ended up failing with 53/80...which was even more annoying because i realized that if i had just brought some books or studied a little bit i probably could have passed easily, which is exactly what i did in april 12!

[ee1234]

i took it for the first time in oct 11 without studying for one millisecond and i didnt even bring any reference materials haha. i was convinced by my friends (who had all failed it at least once) that you can't pass it the first time so you are better off just failing it and seeing what its like, then going for it hard the next time. anyway i ended up failing with 53/80...which was even more annoying because i realized that if i had just brought some books or studied a little bit i probably could have passed easily, which is exactly what i did in april 12!

If you are going to throw down hundreds of dollars and hours of your time to take the exam, you might as well bring books and hope to get lucky your first time. It seems like a monumental waste of time and money to just "wing it" like you did.

[mevans154]

i took it for the first time in oct 11 without studying for one millisecond and i didnt even bring any reference materials haha. i was convinced by my friends (who had all failed it at least once) that you can't pass it the first time so you are better off just failing it and seeing what its like, then going for it hard the next time. anyway i ended up failing with 53/80...which was even more annoying because i realized that if i had just brought some books or studied a little bit i probably could have passed easily, which is exactly what i did in april 12!

If you are going to throw down hundreds of dollars and hours of your time to take the exam, you might as well bring books and hope to get lucky your first time. It seems like a monumental waste of time and money to just "wing it" like you did.

+1

[bryantucf01]

I took the environmental down in orlando fl. I failed back in april so took it again in oct.
This one seemed not as tough, but I did have a few more references with me, which I found out I did really need from the April exam

[Brian]

I took the Civl/Enviro PE in 2007 and passed (I thought i was pretty easy, actually). I was fortunate enough to have to take it again because of the Ohio Regs and my degree in engineer techology - they tell me I didn't have enough time between FE and PE per the OH regs (8 yrs vs 4 yrs in PA - and they wouldn't grant me reciprocity from PA with additional experience).

Anyway - I took Civil/WR in and thought that the AM was more difficult than the last time, and the afternoon was pretty easy. Morning was about 95% from the CERM. Afternoon was tougher but not impossible (if you had the right references). I was actualyl surpirsed by the general lack of a number of types of questions. But overall I think I passed (again).

Brian

[structeng]

Took Civil/Structural for the 2nd time this past Friday. Not feeling good at all in fact I almost guarantee that I did not pass. Not because I did not know the material but rather my poor test taking skill!! Feeling anxious/nerves and lack of clear concise concentration (due to it) I believe was my downfall. I studied (both times) systematically, methodically and logged over 220++ hours each time. I was a PE study monk. Lived it, Ate it, Slept it. I took School OF PE class and attended every minute of every class. I still wake up with the Darcy-Weisbach equation in my head. The AM was tough, the structural problems were cake, water resource was tough. I just got flustered and flustered equated to dumb mistakes. PM was fair, a few questions that stumped me. It bothers me so much that the questions I was stuck on I figured out within 5 minutes (2) days after the exam at the breakfast table...The problems just pop in my head, hahaha.....Only if there was a few points for effort and determination.....sooooo frustrating ahhh!

[wvgirl14]

I know how you feel structeng. I had two in the morning I knew how to do and just made a stupid mistake but I didn't realize it until the afternoon. I hate the timed test.

[structeng]

Agreed wvgirl14, the correct easy solution comes to you too late....At least I have the confidence that I know the material outside of a timed atmosphere, but that is not enough to get me the stamp.....April is a ways off for me...blaahhhh....I wish you the best of luck, if you stumbled on only a couple I am sure you will be fine.

[tpl146]

I took the Civil Construction after failing in April. I got 52/80 in April and thought the exam was easier but got fooled by lots of distractor questions. This time October 2012. I think the exam overall was harder than April but I don't think I got fooled by many. Trick Questions. hopefully as this October was harder. The passing score will be lower

[wvgirl14]

Structeng, I didn't only stumble on a couple. I just knew how to do those 2. Unfortunately I struggled with a few so I am not feeling confident. Good luck to you! It sucks having to retake. I have been there once before as well.

[casperutah]

Took PE Mechanical with Materials and design for first time in Utah. Managed to go through all answers. Hopefully I did not fall to exam traps and circled wrong answers. I guess will know around December 16, 2012 how I did based on historical trends for result release date.

[cableguy]

Don't worry, the world is scheduled to end about a week after PE results are released. 2012 and all that.

[Jaylaw_PE]

i took it for the first time in oct 11 without studying for one millisecond and i didnt even bring any reference materials haha. i was convinced by my friends (who had all failed it at least once) that you can't pass it the first time so you are better off just failing it and seeing what its like, then going for it hard the next time. anyway i ended up failing with 53/80...which was even more annoying because i realized that if i had just brought some books or studied a little bit i probably could have passed easily, which is exactly what i did in april 12!

If you are going to throw down hundreds of dollars and hours of your time to take the exam, you might as well bring books and hope to get lucky your first time. It seems like a monumental waste of time and money to just "wing it" like you did.

well let me elaborate a bit. i had to take the FE on friday and the PE the very next day. i studied for the FE to make sure that i at least passed that one which i did. tbh the FE was MUCH harder in my opinion taking them both at age 31, 8 years out of undergrad. also it didnt help that the night before the FE was probably the best game ever played game 6 of the 2011 WS where freese hit the walk off in extras, and then that next night was game 7! so my real goal for last oct was to pass the FE and i really thought i had NO SHOT at passing the PE, turned out it was way easier than i was expecting.

[STEEL MAN]

i took it for the first time in oct 11 without studying for one millisecond and i didnt even bring any reference materials haha. i was convinced by my friends (who had all failed it at least once) that you can't pass it the first time so you are better off just failing it and seeing what its like, then going for it hard the next time. anyway i ended up failing with 53/80...which was even more annoying because i realized that if i had just brought some books or studied a little bit i probably could have passed easily, which is exactly what i did in april 12!

If you are going to throw down hundreds of dollars and hours of your time to take the exam, you might as well bring books and hope to get lucky your first time. It seems like a monumental waste of time and money to just "wing it" like you did.

well let me elaborate a bit. i had to take the FE on friday and the PE the very next day. i studied for the FE to make sure that i at least passed that one which i did. tbh the FE was MUCH harder in my opinion taking them both at age 31, 8 years out of undergrad. also it didnt help that the night before the FE was probably the best game ever played game 6 of the 2011 WS where freese hit the walk off in extras, and then that next night was game 7! so my real goal for last oct was to pass the FE and i really thought i had NO SHOT at passing the PE, turned out it was way easier than i was expecting.

SOMETHINGS IS WRONG HERE FRIDAY IS PE DAY, AND SATURDAY IS FE DAY.

[VTEnviro]

I love the town names in western WA. Puyallup, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.

How about my town, Fall City.. lol.

We got enough funky names in upstate NY too.

Heh. I live in NW WA now, but I was born and live until 10 in upstate NY (Rochester). I know what you mean.

Long Island has better town names than here - nothing like a Ronkonkoma and a Happauge.

[Mike in Gastonia]

I love the town names in western WA. Puyallup, Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.

How about my town, Fall City.. lol.

We got enough funky names in upstate NY too.

Heh. I live in NW WA now, but I was born and live until 10 in upstate NY (Rochester). I know what you mean.

Long Island has better town names than here - nothing like a Ronkonkoma and a Happauge.

Intercourse, PA or Blue Ball, PA.

FTW.........

[ee1234]

well let me elaborate a bit. i had to take the FE on friday and the PE the very next day. i studied for the FE to make sure that i at least passed that one which i did. tbh the FE was MUCH harder in my opinion taking them both at age 31, 8 years out of undergrad. also it didnt help that the night before the FE was probably the best game ever played game 6 of the 2011 WS where freese hit the walk off in extras, and then that next night was game 7! so my real goal for last oct was to pass the FE and i really thought i had NO SHOT at passing the PE, turned out it was way easier than i was expecting.

SOMETHINGS IS WRONG HERE FRIDAY IS PE DAY, AND SATURDAY IS FE DAY.

Also, don't you have to pass the FE exam before you are even eligible to apply to take the PE exam? I didn't think you could take them essentially at the same time. That's how it works in California anyways. I remember having to supply my EIT number on the PE application.

[Jaylaw_PE]

well let me elaborate a bit. i had to take the FE on friday and the PE the very next day. i studied for the FE to make sure that i at least passed that one which i did. tbh the FE was MUCH harder in my opinion taking them both at age 31, 8 years out of undergrad. also it didnt help that the night before the FE was probably the best game ever played game 6 of the 2011 WS where freese hit the walk off in extras, and then that next night was game 7! so my real goal for last oct was to pass the FE and i really thought i had NO SHOT at passing the PE, turned out it was way easier than i was expecting.

SOMETHINGS IS WRONG HERE FRIDAY IS PE DAY, AND SATURDAY IS FE DAY.

Also, don't you have to pass the FE exam before you are even eligible to apply to take the PE exam? I didn't think you could take them essentially at the same time. That's how it works in California anyways. I remember having to supply my EIT number on the PE application.

no you definitely do not in Illinois, as i took them on back to back days. maybe i did take the PE first then the FE, i dont really remember but i took them both in a 32 hours period in oct 2011 on the days after game 6 and 7

[bhook20]

Yeah he's right....some states don't require the FE to sit for the PE. I believe Michigan is one of those states. However, you won't be issued a PE license until you pass the FE

[K19]

^ A neighbor of mine told me about his brother taking them both in succession; I seem to recall that he was in gov't work (possibly military), and that his employer was able to get whatever exceptions were needed.

[Jaylaw_PE]

^ A neighbor of mine told me about his brother taking them both in succession; I seem to recall that he was in gov't work (possibly military), and that his employer was able to get whatever exceptions were needed.

i didnt need any exceptions, just went in knowing that if i passed the PE and failed the FE i wouldnt be getting my license until i passed the FE. the guy at the illinois idfpr acted like it was common practice when i asked if i could do that

[Maddriver20]

I took the Civil/ transportation in NC. Morning was brutal. I didn't bomb it, but didnt do excellent either. The afternoon I smoked it. Lots of design questions and less traffic questions. I feel good about the test.

[badwill]

I took power as well. I felt the test was hard. As some of my colleagues said right afterwards "That was a TEST." Like everyone said, there were more conceptual questions than I expected. I wanted to get a bunch of easy econ questions, but no...I'm very glad I borrowed a Schaum's machines book for the test! Also, I had to learn more about relays DURING the test to solve some of those problems. I mean, good thing I had some reference material on it, but sheesh man, I wish I'd fully learned that stuff properly before going into that exam! Also, I would've benefitted from bringing more practical reference material (equipment catalogs, cutsheets, etc). I felt like I prepared the most I could have, yet I'm really on the fence about it. We. Shall. See...

Hi Jayache80,

I plan on taking the PE Power Exam in NY on April 2013.

I hope you passed your exam. Good luck.

Could you please be more specific as to what practical material you would've brought to the exam?

Thanks,

Badwill

[upstatemike]

I've taken the PE a few times now - actually more than I care to admit. This past October was very difficult, far more difficult than the previous April.

I know nobody will agree with me, but the October exam has always always been far more difficult than the April (I always said that about the FE as well). Everybody always says that it isn't the case, but it is...period.

I took the Civil/Construction, against my better judgement I guess, the construction exam has always been a totally crazy exam without anytype of "normal" question. It was very difficult, there were at least 8 or so questions I had to really buckle down on and "try" to get. Nothing on this exam was even similar to the previous ones.