For those discovering they didn't pass...

[hjg7715]

So i am a two time taker and failer (is that a word?).  I took my diagnostic exam and studied the EFF out the three topics i whiffed at the first time.  For example, 1st exam I was 0/8, 0/4, and 0/6 in 3 sections hat i didnt give much effort in studyng the first go round.  My results for Oct showed gains of those same 3 sections to 6/8, 3/4 and 4/6.  Those are great gains.  However, I was counting on SUSTAINING my competeny level in the other sections, which i didnt spend too much time on, thinking that I "knew the material".  Well, bad assumption.  I regressed substantially in 2 sections i was counting on a certain score.  End result, a marginal increase in the number of correct answers this 2nd time around.

I am debating whether to take a course this time.  Not sure, but i have to do something different. My way hasnt worked twice. 

Yeah, I had a similar mindset going into this first exam where I didn't spend a lot of time studying certain sections and all turned out to be sections I got less than 50% of the problems correct. However, it's really only one subject (wastewater treatment, water quality & water distribution) that I could really benefit from having a review course, however, review course in specific subjects seem hard to find. I took the WRE depth (Civil) because I work in stormwater field and scored very well in all those sections, however, I have no experience working with wastewater and water treatment. I think I will be fine in using my original preparation in the other subject areas, but will definitely keep in mind that I should still put in the time to adequately them so I sustain or even improve my scores in those areas.

 

[nhrrs10]

This is my second failure.  For some reason this one was easier to swallow than the first.  The good news is I improved 7 points overall.  I prepared really well for the Geotech afternoon which was my weak area the first time.  Like others, I found the Oct 15 morning more difficult which hurt.  If you had taken my morning from April and my afternoon from October then I would be on a different forum, but that's not the way the cookie crumbles.In the end, all you can do is press on.

I completely agree with you when you said the morning was harder then the April test. I failed for the second time also. But improved my score.

 

[John QPE]

Everyone that failed, that is in civil, just take the EET class already ..... I've yet to come across anyone who took EET and failed. I'm still convinced that these guys are the ones that write the exam.

One other thing, and yes, I am lecturing you a bit, but this ******* board was virtually dead for the past 6 months. So dead that we figured Matt was the only one taking the exam. You should not be going into the exam unsure of a topic. If you are unsure of a topic, post the question here. This board is more than just a place to check to see when results are out. There are a lot of really smart people on this board, use them!

 

[nhrrs10]

@Sooner100 I took a course each time so I think that isn't the way to go for me. I almost want to find a tutor for areas I'm weak in but I honestly have no idea how to go about finding if that even exists. Going to start studying again in mid January after the holidays. Hopefully third times the charm because I'm only giving it one more go. [emoji20]

You are not alone I failed again also and took a review course twice and felt it did not help me enough to pass. I am also going to start studying in January. Hopefully we both pass next time.[emoji4]

 

[InternetUser]

Everyone that failed, that is in civil, just take the EET class already ..... I've yet to come across anyone who took EET and failed. I'm still convinced that these guys are the ones that write the exam.

This is exactly what I heard about School of PE (minus PM part - they are not that strong for PM and I now see why). They were even showing us certain problems and keep saying you will see something very similar, but there were none on Oct. 2015 exam. I was told 9 out of 10 people pass PE exam first time after taking School of PE, but it didn't work for me. I must say I didn't study as hard as I should and relay of School of PE on the most part. Will change it for April exam.

 

[matt267 PE]

This is exactly what I heard about School of PE (minus PM part - they are not that strong for PM and I now see why). They were even showing us certain problems and keep saying you will see something very similar, but there were none on Oct. 2015 exam. I was told 9 out of 10 people pass PE exam first time after taking School of PE, but it didn't work for me. I must say I didn't study as hard as I should and relay of School of PE on the most part. Will change it for April exam.

In my opinion, no mater what class you take, you'll likely have to do additional studying. No single class can cover every possible question type. I did lots and lots of studying before I took the EET class and there were still AM questions that stumped me. 

 

[InternetUser]

In my opinion, no mater what class you take, you'll likely have to do additional studying. No single class can cover every possible question type. I did lots and lots of studying before I took the EET class and there were still AM questions that stumped me. 

I understand that. I was kind of bumped when we all were told to expect certain topic and it was not on the exam. I would prefer School of PE not to mention it at all. I would like to make it clear, it's nobody's but my fault I didn't pass PE this time. I did much better job studying for FE exam while I was in school, but kind of let it flow by itself this time. No excuses for me really. Still feel like School of PE is a little overrated (or I am not that smart)

 

[CntrlEngrPE]

I am shattered as I failed the Control Systems exam the second time around..I had scored a 55/80 in my first attempt..and this time I put in an extra 4 months and scored 40/80...a 15 point drop...Compared the two diagnostics sheets...and it was shocking to realize that where I did well the first time I gave it was exactly where I slipped this time..but the exams are so broad I just cannot know how to answer it all...surprised so many people pass this exam and I cannot..there are folks at work who I advise on how to execute designs..and they have PE in control systems and I dont...the PEs I work with dont even have a grasp of the basics or they have forgotten...it feels so lop sided...anyway, I guess I will wait another year and go at it again next October (Control systems is offered only once in Oct). IF anyone could suggest what to do differently this time..PLEASE share your thoughts..as I want to break out of this cycle next year..thanks! 

 

[user 30371]

In my opinion, no mater what class you take, you'll likely have to do additional studying. No single class can cover every possible question type. I did lots and lots of studying before I took the EET class and there were still AM questions that stumped me. 

Yep. I tabbed all of my references per the spec-and-ref method starting in April, except the CERM. Then SofPE during the week and reworked example problems during the weekend. I also tabbed up my CERM during this time and created indexes of all the things I tabbed. The class ended two weeks before the exam and I spent those two weeks drilling problem after problem until my eyes crossed. I also called a hard stop on all studying at 4pm on Thursday so I'd have time to relax.

There were topics SofPE worked really well (soil phase relationships) and ones that were a total miss (ACI-318 Appendix D in the afternoon). I had a friend's notes from SofPE from October 2014 and they tripled the amount of material covered on the afternoon section for the October 2015 class. And there was still stuff on the exam that I hadn't seen before and was guessing at. I think the exam is less a test of knowledge and more of a test of how well you can find and apply the needed information.

 

[John QPE]

I understand that. I was kind of bumped when we all were told to expect certain topic and it was not on the exam. I would prefer School of PE not to mention it at all. I would like to make it clear, it's nobody's but my fault I didn't pass PE this time. I did much better job studying for FE exam while I was in school, but kind of let it flow by itself this time. No excuses for me really. Still feel like School of PE is a little overrated (or I am not that smart)

NCEES publishes a list of what is on the exam. There are only so many ways to calculate a vertical curve, figure out the capacity of a 36" pipe at this slope, find pressure on a retaining wall, classify a soil ... etc etc etc ....

You have the NCEES practice exam, Goswami, Mike's, and Lindeburgh plus I'm sure there are others, but they pretty much cover ever possible way you can ask any engineering topic on this exam. Again, the topics you will be tested on are published, by NCEES. You have 5 months. Just learn them, practice them, and put them in binder. You should walk out of this exam and say I missed these 2 in the AM and these 3 in the PM. You should walk out knowing you passed, and saying that was easy.

You have 5 months, put the work in this time.

 

[Sooner100]

@Sooner100 I took a course each time so I think that isn't the way to go for me. I almost want to find a tutor for areas I'm weak in but I honestly have no idea how to go about finding if that even exists. Going to start studying again in mid January after the holidays. Hopefully third times the charm because I'm only giving it one more go.

 

[Sooner100]

paigelida, with due respect, I would say do not waste a single day. Start studying now instead of waiting for the holiday season is over. Even if you can understand one topic in a week, you will be done by five topics by mid January. It is hard to solve problems when you are on the road or in holiday mode. In this case, read literature related textbook such as CE Materials, Site development and improvements, etc. If I am not mistaken, about 25% questions are theoretical. You can answer them in 15 sec if you know the concept/topic. If you do not know the topic, it will take several minutes (sometimes 10 mins) till you can eliminate wrong answers by reading bunch of texts in the exam room. In fact, these textual questions are sometimes overhanging fruits. Sometimes they could be time killer. So, start today!  

 

[poke386 PE]

Everyone that failed, that is in civil, just take the EET class already ..... I've yet to come across anyone who took EET and failed. I'm still convinced that these guys are the ones that write the exam.

One other thing, and yes, I am lecturing you a bit, but this ******* board was virtually dead for the past 6 months. So dead that we figured Matt was the only one taking the exam. You should not be going into the exam unsure of a topic. If you are unsure of a topic, post the question here. This board is more than just a place to check to see when results are out. There are a lot of really smart people on this board, use them!

I have to eco this. Took Civil Transportation with them and honestly if you pay attention in class, do all their practice problems (work as many problems as you can, plus NCEES, Goswami...ect) and know where to find everything really quickly in the binders they provide, there really should not be any reason you fail. 

 

[lisfs]

Failed the Electrical Power on my first run. This is one depressing Holiday Season for me; if I can even call it Holiday.  Don't really know how to get myself up at this point

 

[jnuengr]

Olden, I'm with you. 40/80 for Water Resources Environmental first try. I studied 6 months for this exam. After I took it, I knew there were questions I didn't answer correctly but felt like I couldn't have studied more to even have touched on those topics. I am feeling a bit stunned. In fact, I felt like I had aced the afternoon portion, which clearly did not happen. Not sure where to go from here. Actually, that's BS. I'm either going to enroll in the EET class everyone is raving about or quit my f'ing job and become a yoga teacher/dog walker. 

 

[lisfs]

Jnu, I studied for 4 months giving up weekends & evening time and good decent meals to dedicate for this exam.  I thought I had it walking in the exam room.  Many questions stunned me and like you I thought I could not have studied for those topics.  By the end of the exam, I thought I did a decent job and thought I did enough to pass but apparently that was not the case.  I cannot even look at my score right now, because I'm still stunned & can't think.  Did you take a review course?  I didn't, but I'll have to rethink about taking a review course.  I don't think I want to have this "failed" experience again.

 

[2folxtrynapass]

I didn't pass Construction.   Along with some serious studying I went over a couple of sample exams.  I felt the breadth was much more difficult than the depth...which probably explains why I did better in the afternoon than the morning...just not well enough to pass.

Question for those that took 2015_Oct Construction:  What are your thoughts on the breadth portion?  I studied and reviewed 3 different sample exams (2 of which were NCEES practice exam problems)  but felt the morning was NOTHING like the sample exams.

Well, I'm going to sulk for about the next 10 minutes and them I'm going to continue organizing and planning my month-long vacation to the Philippines and Taipei set to begin after Christmas.  As long as I have my health and my loved ones are safe...life is good!  I'll be back at it when I return at the end of January.

 

[2folxtrynapass]

There is still hope! Don't give up.

Thanks Audi driver...I'm not!

 

[jnuengr]

Did you take a review course?  I didn't, but I'll have to rethink about taking a review course.  I don't think I want to have this "failed" experience again.

I did take a review course and would NOT recommend PPI. The instructor was clueless. In fact, he told us we would have the option of answering the questions in English or Metric, which, at the time, I knew was completely false. It was a mess.

But I only took a review course for the afternoon portion. I figured, if I could answer the 40 afternoon questions correctly, and answer even half of the AM questions correctly, I'd pass. Apparently, it didn't work out as planned.

 

[Audi Driver P.E.]

Thanks Audi driver...I'm not!

Good to hear.  It's a huge pain, but well worth doing again, if it was worth doing a first time.