April 2021 Post Exam Wait Period - Welcome to the Suck

[Tmanwatery PE]

The bolded is NCEES speak for 'the questions/content aren't changing much'


See commentary above.
I'm not sure if having a consolidated reference source, with a ctrl-f searchable function makes it more difficult or easier. And recall that the reference material is provided months ahead of time so the examinee can use it when studying for the exam.


If they prepared the reference correctly and cross checked the reference correctly, then the examinee will have the required raw information (codes, tables, equations, etc) required to answer the problems. They'll still have to rely on skill and experience to answer questions. OTOH the exam committee will (read: should) also remove any questions that could be answered by the reference with a simple ctrl-f search.

the exam going computer-based would have me worried about conceptual ideas. I've heard from some of the more recent environmental PE's in my office said they'll ask specific questions like when an act was approved which could be simply answered with some references, but with it being closed book made it a memory thing.

In addition to that, I have to worry for my Transpo people about how bad trying to use the HCM portion may be since you're seeking the same objective but in multiple different forms (i.e. urban road, city road, highway segment, etc.). I feel like that'll trip people up if they aren't aware and stay cognisant of it.

 

[Tmanwatery PE]

Can those of you that passed the exam comment on what the best practice problems/exams were? I'm looking to possibly purchase some and I am utterly overwhelmed with the results that just popped up in my Amazon search.

if Transpo I highly recommend civil pe practice exam - transportation depth by path to PE. I felt like this was the most accurate representation of the transport depth

 

[Tmanwatery PE]

Here's my list:

Civil PE Practice - Civil Engineering PE Practice Exams - 2 Breadth Exams
Practice Exam for the Civil PE Examination (Goswami)
Six Minute Solutions
SoPE Practice Problems
EET Practice Problems
EET Simulated Exams (mid term and full simulated exam

also loved the Civil Pe Practice exams, they were great and also came with additional problems you get for free online with the purchase of the book.

 

[mave96]

Can those of you that passed the exam comment on what the best practice problems/exams were? I'm looking to possibly purchase some and I am utterly overwhelmed with the results that just popped up in my Amazon search.

Passed first try with my wife...here is what we did:

Breadth
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1983913685/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Transportation Depth
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591266181/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I started studying 5 weeks before SoPE began after I gathered all of my books and reference materials. Both of these practice problem books contain 2 practice exams (2 forty question sections) so I took 1 week for each section to go through 8-10 problems a night. I went slowly so I could really get the hang of how the problems make you think and to more importantly familiarize myself with the overwhelming amount of books. For the record, my reference materials for the exam weighed 97 lbs.

So these books took me 4 weeks, then I brushed up on some weak points during the 5th week with SoPE practice problems and tests. Then SoPE started and I did that class and every practice problem they had. Every weekend I would completely comb through the notes, flag my notes and reference materials with post-its, and take a practice test off their portal.

I took the NCEES practice exam 3 weeks before the test at the library so I was forced to pack everything up, go to a new location, haul my 97 lbs to a random table, and sit for 8 hours with a mask on and no distractions.

The week after SoPE, I went through every page of my notes in full depth, writing down anything I think will be on the test that I should brush up on. I also created flow charts for long/situational problems such as bearing capacity, stirrups, rebar selection, etc. I spent the 2nd and 3rd day before the exam just flipping through all of my practice problems so I had a better chance of seeing a problem on the exam and realizing I had something similar in my notes.

And finally, I chilled the day before the exam and I went to TJ Maxx as my "get out of the house" for the day.

Total study hours = 350hrs

 

[RBHeadge PE]

the exam going computer-based would have me worried about conceptual ideas. I've heard from some of the more recent environmental PE's in my office said they'll ask specific questions like when an act was approved which could be simply answered with some references, but with it being closed book made it a memory thing.

The qualitative questions hammered me on the first attempt. I could tell they were easy when I tried them the first time but I just didn't know the answer. And the references I brought weren't adequate to answer those questions.

I changed my study methods for the second attempt. Much more comprehensive and thorough. I also brought a lot of extra references to prepare for a variety of potential qualitative questions. I can honestly say that I was able to learn enough from a year of studying that I didn't need to consult the references during the exam to answer those types of questions. I still used the references to confirm the answer but that had more to do with all the extra time I had during the exam and my methodology for self-grading.

Whether that approach applies to others and/or the CE exams is fully open to debate though. I personally would not want to transition from studying for P&P to CBT. However the pass rates appear to be higher for CBT, and I think the CBT uniformity and approach is superior in the long run for all involved. I would expect that a newly minted EIT would prefer the CBT in four years. Similar to how nearly everyone preferred the transition from blue book exams to the multiple choice format in the 00's.

 

[leggo PE]

Another day, and still waiting for S.E. Results to be released. Just think, all you P.E. Exam takers had it easy!

 

[steel]

I would expect that a newly minted EIT would prefer the CBT in four years. Similar to how nearly everyone preferred the transition from blue book exams to the multiple choice format in the 00's.

I can vouch for this with the FE exam. They transitioned it to CBT in 2014, and I took it (twice) in Oct 2015 and Apr 2016 and I have no complaints about the experience.

I think most of our apprehension is, like RB said, based on the possibility that some of us may have to make the transition ourselves. I know one peer that is purposely holding off and not worrying one bit about it until it goes CBT.

 

[steel]

This was a huge debate when Mech Eng switched to CBT. The way the NCEES spec is written, they are allowed to ask you anything regardless of what is contained in the official CBT reference.
But in practice it seems that any problem that has to be solved mathematically will have the necessary info in the provided reference. They do sometimes ask conceptual questions that aren't in the reference. You just have to know those.

This is based on 1 year of feedback, so your mileage may vary.

I'm going to guess that the provided reference will not help one bit in HOW to solve the problem. Only what to USE to solve it.

Sure, they'll give you all the properties of a W10x22, but I don't think you'll have any info that will help if you forget how to check that W10x22.

 

[civilrobot PE etc etc]

Another day, and still waiting for S.E. Results to be released. Just think, all you P.E. Exam takers had it easy!

i'm still here with you!

 

[Deep_Freeze26]

Another day, and still waiting for S.E. Results to be released. Just think, all you P.E. Exam takers had it easy!

Ugh, this is killing me. It's gotta be tomorrow. It can't go into next week. It just can't.

 

[Tmanwatery PE]

Ugh, this is killing me. It's gotta be tomorrow. It can't go into next week. It just can't.

I'm kind of here still, finally back after the high wore out.

 

[Tiger15]

I'm going to guess that the provided reference will not help one bit in HOW to solve the problem. Only what to USE to solve it.

Sure, they'll give you all the properties of a W10x22, but I don't think you'll have any info that will help if you forget how to check that W10x22.

Another thing to consider.

The v1 version of the NCEES Mech Eng reference has a fair number of errors in it. A couple of the class providers reviewed it very closely and submitted feedback to NCEES. I think they are on v1.2 or v1.3 now after 1.5 -2 years, and most of the error have been found an corrected.

I understand that it's almost impossible to publish something with no errors, but when it's your only reference you kind of what it to be right.

 

[leggo PE]

Ugh, this is killing me. It's gotta be tomorrow. It can't go into next week. It just can't.

Nancy is playing with our hearts for sure!

 

[Deep_Freeze26]

Nancy is playing with our hearts for sure!

Master trolling on her part. Hats off. She had us all revved up big time.

 

[steel]

Another thing to consider.

The v1 version of the NCEES Mech Eng reference has a fair number of errors in it. A couple of the class providers reviewed it very closely and submitted feedback to NCEES. I think they are on v1.2 or v1.3 now after 1.5 -2 years, and most of the error have been found an corrected.

I understand that it's almost impossible to publish something with no errors, but when it's your only reference you kind of what it to be right.

That's why I'm doing everything possible to pass in October. I don't want to deal with the initial transition to CBT, AND have to change how I study to make that transition. (Yes, I'm aware I have to change how I study this time anyway since I failed in April.......what's the definition of insanity, again?)

 

[DoctorWho-PE]

I'm going to guess that the provided reference will not help one bit in HOW to solve the problem. Only what to USE to solve it.

Sure, they'll give you all the properties of a W10x22, but I don't think you'll have any info that will help if you forget how to check that W10x22.

Well, to be fair, the full code and specification will be in that reference, so yes, the "how" will be there as well, technically.

 

[steel]

Well, to be fair, the full code and specification will be in that reference, so yes, the "how" will be there as well, technically.

Yes, but what tab do I use to flip to the correct table? I don't trust a structural engineer that doesn't tab their steel manual!

 

[DoctorWho-PE]

Tab it mentally, I guess. I mean, I know which table to use, but the tab gets me there faster, I guess.

 

[steel]

Tab it mentally, I guess. I mean, I know which table to use, but the tab gets me there faster, I guess.

I'm just joking (mostly), so it's okay, I promise!

 

[civilrobot PE etc etc]

anything yet, @vhab49_PE ??