OK. Here is my best advice for preparing and passing the SE exam. The fundamental principle is that you will "fight like you train", i.e. - if you practice solving problems under exam-like conditions, you will be more successful than other methods of study.
I read everything I could find about the exam - magazine articles, forum posts, the SERM intro, etc...the second principle is "know your enemy". Understand what the exam is and what it is not. In my opinion, the examination tests your ability to recognize what is being asked and provide an answer within a short period of time. For the PM portion, I would add to the first two - while using good engineering judgment.
Here is a list of references that I actually took into the examination room:
ACI, AISC, TMS, NDS, PCI, ASCE, IBC codes
AISC SDM, SERM, and three 1" binders. The binders had some solved problems from the AISC, the Kaplan masonry design material, flowcharts from Reinforced Concrete by Nawy, SEAOC vol. 1, and a printed index to the SERM.
These materials all fit into an officemax copy paper box along with my exam authorizations, calculators, ear plugs, and a small straightedge.
Every time I attempted examination-like problem-solving, these were the only references I used.
In terms of preparation - I read a lot of material and followed through solutions to worked problems. I highly recommend working through SEAOC Vol. 1 and reading the code sections and footnotes for each reference covered in those problems. Seismic and Wind Forces by Alan Williams and Structural Engineering PE License Review Problems and Solutions by Alan Williams are recommended resources. I also worked through the example problems in the AISC SDM.
I took each AM practice exam twice, separated by a couple of weeks of study in between. I scored the practice exams and then reviewed my solutions against the answer keys. For problems that I missed, I read the relevent code sections and highlighted "tricky" things like exceptions and footnotes that drive you somewhere else. I photocopied the PM problems and solutions and put them into a binder. I carried that binder to work and "solved" those problems when I had time in addition to working them under exam-like conditions during my study sessions. NOTE - IN MY OPINION, the solutions provided for the PM portion of the NCEES practice exam are a minimum amount of information to successfully pass the problem.
I spent a minimum of an hour every night after work studying. I spent between 4 hours and 8 hours on weekends, depending on whether or not I was taking a practice exam. I wanted to put in 300 hours of study for the exam, I'm not sure I made it to 200 hours.
Some other factors that may have swung the needle one way or the other:
I have a Master's Degree, I took the Civil-Structural PE October 2012 (didn't study other than taking the practice exam and passed), I taught Reinforced Concrete II and Mechanics of Materials at a local university in the Spring of 2012, I am an Associate Editor for an ASCE journal (I read and evaluate a lot of research), I read a lot of technical books in my free time (mostly math and engineering), I spent the first two years out of school doing a lot of design work by hand (no software), i've spent the last four years doing more project management than design and analysis - but i try to keep my hands in the technical stuff.
I think most of those factors helped my pass the exam. Fundamentally because I'm "current" in recognizing problems and solving them mathematically in addition to being familiar with several codes. It has been said before and I think it's worth repeating. In order to pass the SE examinations, you need to recognize what is being asked, you need to know where to find your supporting information, and you need to execute the mathematics for solution in a very short time. i.e. - By the time you finish reading the question, you should already have the correct reference in front of you and perhaps even be opening to the correct chapter/section.
Last words (I promise) the above was written cold and I haven't reviewed it, so it's probably not as linear and certainly not as concise and clear as it could be. I'll do my best to clarify or answer any other questions. I hope you found something useful. Thanks for everyone before me willing to take the time and help me prepare for my exam. Good luck to all future examinees. Remember, you fight like you train, so train smartly!