Flashcards

[JoeysVee]

If you have made flashcards to study for the PE how did you do it? Electronically or hand written on postcards? I'm thinking electronically may be the best way since I could use them on my computer at work and nobody would know I'm studying.

 

[benbo]

If you have made flashcards to study for the PE how did you do it? Electronically or hand written on postcards? I'm thinking electronically may be the best way since I could use them on my computer at work and nobody would know I'm studying.

YMMV, but I don't believe flashcards are of much use in studying for the PE. My reasoning is that anything you can write and memorize from a flashcard could go into some well organized notes that you could find later. My personal opinion is that time is better spent working problems, and practicing extracting information from notes. If you read and work problems you will memorize a good deal of stuff just by the process.

But like I said, just my opinion. And I took the elecrtical exam, so it may not apply to mechanical.

 

[maryannette]

I agree that flashcards are not as useful as some might think. Flash cards are a tool for memorizing. The PE exam does not test memory as much as reasoning.

 

[JoeysVee]

Thanks for your opinions. Personally I think flashcard could be a good study tool. I'm using them to memorize like 50 of the most basic formulas in the book, ie. vol of a sphere, reynolds number eq, frictional head, etc. and for constants ie, joules constant, Gas constant R, stefan-boltzmann, etc. I know the exam is open book but if I can memorize some of the very basic equations and constants then I will be able to work them faster.

Also, it's hard for me to study the MERM at work or bring in practice problems and solutions, but it would be real easy for me to use electronic flashcards on the computer.

I have started an electronic flashcard set. I'll share when I get them completed. If anyone has anything similar please let me know and I'll add your card set to mine (mechanical only).

 

[benbo]

^^^I guess it couldn't hurt, especially if you have a time problem. You might still want to write them all on a couple sheets in the front of your notes to double-check if you have time.

 

[IlPadrino]

^^^I guess it couldn't hurt, especially if you have a time problem. You might still want to write them all on a couple sheets in the front of your notes to double-check if you have time.

I second the summary sheets... you should have one or two pages with ALL the stuff you think you'll need for easy reference. No need to memorize equations when you can turn to a single sheet of paper to find it (which takes, what... five seconds? that's NOT the difference between pass and fail).

 

[JoeysVee]

I'll have the summary sheet as a backup.

Also, when I'm at work I can't study anything but flashcards....so it's nothing or flashcards. I'll use the flashcards so I don't have to look a bunch of the most used formulas and constants. But I'll have the summary sheet as a backup. All those 5 seconds add up.

Thanks for the help! I was really hoping people would chime in that has done this before and what they suggested. I know by doing a search, others have used flashcards. I started an online flashcard set, but if anyone has any mechanical flashcards I could add them to mine.

Thanks!

 

[IlPadrino]

Also, when I'm at work I can't study anything but flashcards....so it's nothing or flashcards. I'll use the flashcards so I don't have to look a bunch of the most used formulas and constants. But I'll have the summary sheet as a backup. All those 5 seconds add up.

Joey,

I get concerned when people are studying "harder" instead of "smarter". If you spend ten hours memorizing flash cards, I think that's ten hours you should have spent reviewing problems. If you're already studying hundreds of hours, and you've got the extra time, sure... but if you've only got a hundred hours to study, is the juice worth the squeeze?

Anyway... good luck!

 

[JoeysVee]

I can't study problems at work. I can however sneak in some electronic flashcard studying.

 

[IlPadrino]

I can't study problems at work. I can however sneak in some electronic flashcard studying.

Can you review some PDFs of NCEES Sample Problems?

 

[Paul S]

What about flashcards that have theory content, or maybe definitions instead of equations? I suppose there is nothing wrong with studying equations, but why spend time on them when you can put them on paper and look at them during the exam? Is the 5 seconds it will take to look at your organized equation sheet and find the equation worth it?

 

[JoeysVee]

I don't think it can hurt. Thanks for the opinions!

 

[Paul S]

I don't think it can hurt. Thanks for the opinions!

Agreed, studying something is better than no studying at all! Good luck!