CA civil first time pass rate

[mytchell]

There are stats on the NCEES site about first time pass rates, but there is nowhere (that I have found) that says what the first time pass rate is in CA, passing all three exams at the same time... Anyone have any idea?

 

[YMZ PE]

No but we could probably take a poll here. My husband and I both passed on our first try (2001 and 2011, respectively).

 

[JMT]

I would like to see a poll on the percentage of people who pass all three exams in one sitting, and other like percentages. I think Rick said it's takes an average of three sittings for people to get their California Civil PE.

 

[palvarez83]

I know this isn't exactly what you were looking for, but it has CA pass rates for each exam administration cycle. That has both first time and repeat test takers lumped together for each exam.

http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/exam_statistics.shtml

 

[Mike in Gastonia]

I'm trying to figure out what would be the point of knowing this information? The exams aren't required to pass in one sitting. It's not somehow noted on your certificate that you took and passed all three the first time, right?

Sometimes there can be too much information shared. If somehow that was known and published, I could see an attorney cross examining an engineer and arguing his credentials and saying that his expert engineer passed all three together the first time and the other side's expert engineer took two tries to pass one of the exams or took them separately.

Same thing for people passing the exam and wanting their score. If you passed you're a licensed PE. Someone who passed by one point is just as licensed as someone who got 79/80 correct. I could see where that would cause problems with "comparisons".

 

[Enmascarado88]

I'm trying to figure out what would be the point of knowing this information? The exams aren't required to pass in one sitting. It's not somehow noted on your certificate that you took and passed all three the first time, right?

Sometimes there can be too much information shared. If somehow that was known and published, I could see an attorney cross examining an engineer and arguing his credentials and saying that his expert engineer passed all three together the first time and the other side's expert engineer took two tries to pass one of the exams or took them separately.

...

These questions are already asked by attorneys, and are fair game. They are the exact reason why I would have been asked to leave my job, had I not passed in my first try.

 

[palvarez83]

Opps looks like I forgot to included the link I was referring to... Just edited my post, but here it is again. http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/exam_statistics.shtml

 

[mytchell]

Opps looks like I forgot to included the link I was referring to... Just edited my post, but here it is again. http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/exam_statistics.shtml

That link is as close as I have seen, but it doesn't say what it is for all three. I doubt it would be 42%*45%*49%=9%, using numbers from Oct 2013. I'd bet that most who pass one of the three their first time pass two.

 

[palvarez83]

Definitely not that.

 

[YMZ PE]

I'm trying to figure out what would be the point of knowing this information?

Bragging rights in the rare chance that you do pass all three the first time. Some of us don't have much else going for us in other areas of our lives.

 

[iwire]

this are interesting numbers..Electrical barely cracked 50% passing rate in Texas...and only 36% in CA (overall score included both repeaters and first timers)...

http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/exam_stats/ppbydis_10_13.html

http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/oct13stats.shtml

 

[Mike in Gastonia]

I'm trying to figure out what would be the point of knowing this information?

Bragging rights in the rare chance that you do pass all three the first time. Some of us don't have much else going for us in other areas of our lives.

Like I said, it's not like it goes on the certificate or anything. And there's no way to prove it. So just tell everyone you did it. I myself obtained a perfect score on both the FE and PE. That makes me more of a licensed engineer than any of you. :laugh:

 

[roadwreck]

I myself obtained a perfect score on both the FE and PE.

I thought I was the only one! :huh:

 

[Road Guy]

[SIZE=medium]After getting all questions right in the AM session, I completed the first 16 problems in the PM session, packed up my books knowing that I had the required 56 / 80 questions correct… 3 Questions more than my needed cut score of 53. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]As I checked out with the proctor, I leaned over and gave her the kiss of a lifetime, she fainted, then I threw my NCEES pencil back into the room where 6 female test takers fought to the death for it..[/SIZE]

 

[NakedOrangie]

[SIZE=medium]After getting all questions right in the AM session, I completed the first 16 problems in the PM session, packed up my books knowing that I had the required 56 / 80 questions correct… 3 Questions more than my needed cut score of 53. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]As I checked out with the proctor, I leaned over and gave her the kiss of a lifetime, she fainted, then I threw my NCEES pencil back into the room where 6 female test takers fought to the death for it..[/SIZE]

It's true! I fought those 5 girls with my entire being!

 

[iwire]

I myself obtained a perfect score on both the FE and PE.

I thought I was the only one! :huh:

That what she said..

 

[palvarez83]

this are interesting numbers..Electrical barely cracked 50% passing rate in Texas...and only 36% in CA (overall score included both repeaters and first timers)...

http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/exam_stats/ppbydis_10_13.html

http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/oct13stats.shtml

I once read somewhere that CA has lower results possibly because we only require 2 years experience beyond a bachelor's degree whereas other states require significantly more.

 

[CAPLS]

First time vs. Repeat test takers are not tracked in that manner in CA. This being said, NCEES does provide that information to the member boards and typically the first time passing rate is used when comparing to national average or to passing rates for other jurisdictions. Best we can get to apple-to-apple comparison. Historically speaking, the pass rates for first time test takers from CA average slightly lower than the national average. Exactly why is anyone's guess and most likely involves multiple reasons. The 2 years less experience requirement could be a good indicator, that would be only accurate if a large enough portion of the first time taker pool has the same level of experience. Given the variances in the number of years obtained at the time of applying, the type of experience, the quality of the experience, the level of dedication to studying, etc. (any number of variables) it is difficult to definitively state that is the primary cause.

 

[ptatohed]

One could argue the opposite - that less work experience after college might result in a higher exam score/pass rate. With all due respect to the exam, it really is more academic/book related than it is practical/work experience related. It’s my strong suspicion that the CA pass rate is (or has been) lower simply because we have two additional exams to take.

Here’s where I think it gets interesting. Until recently, an examinee could pay one (low) price and take one or all three exams (8hr, Surv, Seis). So, why not sit in on the other exam(s) even if you didn’t study sufficiently? Therefore, I suspect CA must have seen a lot of “25%” scores before (thus lowering the CA pass rate). Now, each exam has its own separate (heftier) cost. So, I believe you’ll have a lot more people only paying for and taking the exam(s) that they intend to seriously study for. With my theory, the pass rate should go up. I’d be interested to know if this ends up being the case.

 

[palvarez83]

Then there is also the explanation that we have amazing weather about 360 days of the year and the last thing anyone wants to do is study when you can do something else fun.