Has anyone taken the CBT version of the FE?

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Surf and Snow said:
Surf and Snow said:
Surf and Snow said:
First post, but I've been lurking for a bit. Mainly trying to gleam bits of advice for the FE exam. I'll be taking it tomorrow, 13 hours from now! :unsure:

I'll give all of you looking for feedback on it any advice I can. This is my first attempt, so I can't offer comparison with the old paper exam. I've only been studying for the FE exam for about 4 weeks now, but not much due to my school work load, and my job.

Background: In school currently - graduating this coming June w/ a BSEE specializing in power. I also work in the power industry.
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Well, I took it today. Pretty sure I nailed it. kept a tally of the # I knew I had right, as well as the ones I was pretty sure of and those that I had no idea and just guessed. Based on that I should be in the 75-80% correct range, so I should easily be good to go. But, I'll know for sure in 7-10 business days…
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I received my results today. As I expected, I passed. Woohoo! Glad to have that weight off my shoulders!

FYI: Ive been keeping track and have determined that all those taking the new CBT based FE exam receive their results on Wednesdays at 10:00 am EST, 7:00am PST. They do the tests in one week batches ending on Sundays, and give the results the following Wed. That is, if you test on a Sat, you will receive your results 4 days later on Wed, if you test on a monday, you will receive your results a 9 days later on Weds the following week. Just letting you all know so you you aren't going crazy watching your email inboxes. Anyway, glad I don't have to study anymore!

<a href="http://s999.photobucket.com/user/surfandsnow71113/media/75767A23-967A-4377-8CAB-5514999D5DFA_zpsf2rroips.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af112/surfandsnow71113/75767A23-967A-4377-8CAB-5514999D5DFA_zpsf2rroips.png~original" border="0" alt=" photo 75767A23-967A-4377-8CAB-5514999D5DFA_zpsf2rroips.png"/></a>
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Congrats on passing. Was the practice exam similar to the final one? Were your scores on both similar?

 
Thanks! The practice online exam and the NCEES exam questions book were both very similar. The Linderburgh PPI book helped, but the questions were not a very good representation of those on the real exam. The PPI questions seem to take longer to solve, and require more steps. Again, good for practice, but bad for true representation.

As for my grade, I don't know. The exam is pass/fail, so when you pass it just says PASS. You don't find out your actual score if you pass. I think you might if you fail though, but gladly I don't know that for sure. On my practice exams I was averaging around 80-85% correct, and I'm pretty sure that's about where I scored on the real exam.

 
ive brought and taken the practice test on the ncees website. some questions required equations that are no longer in the new reference manual. will i see such a thing during the actual exam?

 
I just took the CBT yesterday. I can't add too much new insight as others have covered things well, but one thing that surprised me was most of the general topics (math, stats, ethics, economics) were only addressed on the first portion of the exam. I had thought each topic would have some easy questions in the first half and harder questions in the second, but the second half was exclusively questions on my discipline. I felt most questions were easier than in practice exams I had taken. They really tried to get you with unit conversions, otherwise it was a lot of looking up the equations and just plugging the numbers they gave you in.

 
That guy keeping track of when they post your results was spot on. I took it last Tuesday, got the email today at 9 AM central saying they were available.

I took and passed the FE Chemical on the first try. I studied for I think four weeks, three times a week for about 3-4 hours. I had Lindeberg's Rapid Prep 2nd edition a guy I worked with let me use, I just wanted to work a lot of problems. I also went to the review sessions the Civils at my school put on twice a week. I didn't think it was very hard. Asking questions specific to your degree makes it real nice. I only outright guessed on no more than 10 of them, so I was pretty confident I passed when I was done. The key I think is just to watch your time and know what equations are available to you and how to use them. I think roughly half of my conceptual questions were in the manual too if you searched for keywords. Now if I can get me one of those pesky jobs.

 
Ditto about the results! I took it on Sat and also got the email this morning! :) It saves a lot of anxiety to know exactly when you will learn your score. Also, I passed! What a relief!

 
I took the Environmental portion last Wednesday and did not pass. I didn't know you have to manage your time and totally wasted time on the first portion thinking it would tell me time was up. The diagnostic report SUCKS. It gives you performance ratings. What do they mean? No key. Just 0-15 scale performance. Having something that says, "8 to 10 is average or 1-5 means you suck" would have been nice. I have several 15's, 11 and 9's and the rest are mid to high 7s. I have no idea what that means or how I failed. No one knows what the passing rate is. In my defense I was sick, I have three kids, haven't taken fluids in 6+ years or math in 8 years, and my husband just got laid off. Suffice to say, not the best way to take a 6 hour exam. I signed up for the next exam and plan to study my ass off during spring break (I am a senior in my BSC program). Any resources in helping with sections? I got the NCEES practice exam, but don't plan to take it until half way through my study session.

I think fluids and chemistry were tough. I thought the math was easy but scored in the 7s on that. I felt like the questions were random through out, not section by section. I liked the search function of the manual. I thought the unit conversions were TOUGH and unnecessary in the problems. If I only have 3 min to solve, why give me a problem with complicated unit conversions???

My diagnostic report was also missing the comparison to average of passing examinees. Supposedly get it by June or when 100 people have taken my module.

 
Envirogeer,

You sure do have a lot on your plate!!

For help with some of the math, chemistry, and fluids, check out Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/). Some of the material is basic, but it helped me a lot. I was 7 years out of school when I started to study for the FE exam.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/calculus

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/differential-equations

Also, if I can offer a piece of advice on time management. You have 3 minutes on AVERAGE to solve each problem. Some will take less time, and others will take more time. Try not to get hung up on how long it takes you to do each problem. When I took the FE this past October, I timed myself by the hour. Meaning after one hour, I should be at least 1/4 of the way through the questions. (the test was 4 hours morning and 4 hours afternoon) Taking a few practice tests will help you find your pace. Practice tests also help you realize when you're stuck on a problem and should move on. I took a review class with School of PE and one of the instructors advised us to answer the easy questions first. It will be confidence boost and easy points earned.

Good luck on your next attempt and don't be afraid to give yourself a few months to study. With family obligations it's hard, I know. I studied everyday while working full time and being a husband and father.

 
Hello guys,

I found out I passed it, really happy to be over with this now, will be taking PE in October.

My advice to you is that if you are a recent graduate, take the test right away and pass it, don't wait, if you fail don't quit or wait to take it later.

I took this test and failed it after I graduated and didn't take it for a few years, then you forget everything, it gets really hard to study again.

If you did this mistake and ready to take it again and if you are civil, take the civil, i wouldn't recommend taking the other disciplines if you are civil.

When you ready to take the test, get yourself prepared well for the cbt format, try to use your time efficiently, know units, where they are on the reference book. If you fail study again where your weak areas are. If something is not clear about the test, make it clear, either ask here or contact ncees.

I've got two civil books for the FE that I am willing sell, if anybody is interested please let me know.

 
Michael Lindeburg has a new FE Civil Review Manual that's now available www.ppi2pass.com/shop/fe-eit-exam/fe-civil/fe-civil-review-manual-fecerm-print.html

There's also a free study schedule you can access through feprep.com--click the "Study Schedule" button and set up an account. Check out the Recommended Study Schedule to start. Be sure to click the "Edit Profile" link to set your expected exam date, as this will affect the study schedule.

You will also have access to a self-diagnostic assessment for your discipline. Use this to determine which knowledge areas you'll want to focus on in studying for the CBT.

Best of luck!

PPI Marketing

 
I am looking to take the FE CBT soon ( 3-4 months) I am electrical and have taken the paper exam before and failed I graduated in 06, so I am having to do a mjaor refresher. Question is:Should I take the general knowledge or the electrical specific? I am in the power field and some of the computer baffles me.

Thanks

 
The format has changed since then. There is no general morning/specific afternoon anymore. I would say take the electrical test.

 
snickerd3 said:
The format has changed since then. There is no general morning/specific afternoon anymore. I would say take the electrical test.
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The style of the exam may have changed but I don't think the content has. That said, the general "other" engineering section is geared toward most of the general engineering courses taken (i.e. physics, chemistry, statics, calculus, etc.). Whereas the electrical exam was very specific with certain disciplines. Meaning, there's probably a good chance that there's content in the electrical exam where you may have never been exposed to it. Conversely, the general exam would have subject matter that you would at the very least have seen once or twice in your gen ed. courses.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you read the ncees site the other disciplines exam is meant for the people who don't have a specific discipline test listed. Look through the new test content and look to see what you are more comfortable with.

 

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