Construction Depth: References/Study book list

pachito13 said:

I'm currently preparing for the April 2018 PE: Civil-Construction exam and would appreciate advice on my current references/study books that I've been using. This will be my first time taking it.  I'll be starting either the EET or SofE On-Demand course this weekend. These books all come up often on generic lists but what is your opinion on how useful/useless these books were to prepare and during the exam for the Construction Depth?

References:

CERM

PPI Construction Depth Reference Manual

AISC Steel Manual

ACI-318

ACI-530

ASCE-7

IBC

MUTCD-PT6

OSHA 1926, related sections

FE Handbook

Study Guides:

Six Minute Solutions- Elaine Huang

NCEES practice exams (2 versions)

Construction Depth Practice Exam- Goswami

Four Sample Exams for Civil PE- Ruwan Rajapakse

PassTheCivilPE Practice Questions- Daniel Delisle

I have not acquired the following but would appreciate input as well. How often did questions come up from these? Has anyone passed without them?

ASCE-37

CMWB

ACI SP-4

ACI-MNL-15

Thank you!

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1. CERM - Needed.  Used a lot for vertical/horizontal curve formula's; shear diagrams; accounting tables, etc.
   
2. PPI Construction Depth Reference Manual - Used for one accounting question that I would have missed without it.  I did not open this reference during my preparation though. 
   
3. AISC Steel Manual - Almost guaranteed one question will come from this reference.
   
4. ACI-318 - Not a recommended reference and did not have nor use
   
5. ACI-530 - Not a recommended reference and did not have nor use
   
6. ASCE-7 - I had a copy but did not use for the exam
   
7. IBC - I had a copy but did not use it for the exam
   
8. MUTCD-PT6 - Will have at least one question on exam from this reference
   
9. OSHA 1926, related sections - Will have multiple questions on exam from this reference.
   
10. FE Handbook - Mine was so old I did not bring it. I am not sure if a newer version would help.
    
11. ASCE-37 - Recommended reference, you could have a question where you need this reference.  My advice - Bring a copy
    
12. CMWB - Recommended reference, you could have a question where you need this reference. My advice - Bring a copy
    
13. ACI SP-4 - Will need.  I had a couple questions where I used this reference My advice - Bring a copy
    
14. ACI-MNL-15 - New recommended reference replacing the NDS/ADS reference.  My advice - Bring a copy
    

1. SOPE Notes and problems - Worked every problem multiple times.
   
2. NCEES Practice Exams - Took on the Saturday before the exam as a simulation.
   
3. PPI Exam cafe questions - Okay, but not great.  The construction specialty exam was very heavy geotechnical focused with some tough accounting questions requiring interpolation mixed in.  I think I got a 14-day special for about $10 to $15.    
   

ruggercsc said:

References:

1. CERM - Needed.  Used a lot for vertical/horizontal curve formula's; shear diagrams; accounting tables, etc.
   
2. PPI Construction Depth Reference Manual - Used for one accounting question that I would have missed without it.  I did not open this reference during my preparation though. 
   
3. AISC Steel Manual - Almost guaranteed one question will come from this reference.
   
4. ACI-318 - Not a recommended reference and did not have nor use
   
5. ACI-530 - Not a recommended reference and did not have nor use
   
6. ASCE-7 - I had a copy but did not use for the exam
   
7. IBC - I had a copy but did not use it for the exam
   
8. MUTCD-PT6 - Will have at least one question on exam from this reference
   
9. OSHA 1926, related sections - Will have multiple questions on exam from this reference.
   
10. FE Handbook - Mine was so old I did not bring it. I am not sure if a newer version would help.
    
11. ASCE-37 - Recommended reference, you could have a question where you need this reference.  My advice - Bring a copy
    
12. CMWB - Recommended reference, you could have a question where you need this reference. My advice - Bring a copy
    
13. ACI SP-4 - Will need.  I had a couple questions where I used this reference My advice - Bring a copy
    
14. ACI-MNL-15 - New recommended reference replacing the NDS/ADS reference.  My advice - Bring a copy
    

The only problems I worked were from:

1. SOPE Notes and problems - Worked every problem multiple times.
   
2. NCEES Practice Exams - Took on the Saturday before the exam as a simulation.
   
3. PPI Exam cafe questions - Okay, but not great.  The construction specialty exam was very heavy geotechnical focused with some tough accounting questions requiring interpolation mixed in.  I think I got a 14-day special for about $10 to $15.    
   

No experience with the other study guides or sample questions.

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pachito13 said:

Does anyone know if ACI-347 is sufficient to not get ACI-SP4??

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ruggercsc said:

You need to get ACI-SP4.  You could get some shore/reshore questions or a simple code formwork code lookup questions from tables in ACI-SP4.  I know the references are expensive, but not having them when you need them is a chance I would not take.

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pachito13 said:

Fair enough.  Don't want to take this exam twice.  Will start looking for it.

I may have to buy a shopping cart for the exam to bring all my books.

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