Has anyone started studying for the October 2014 SE exam yet?

[Andy Lin]

Just curious if anyone has started studying.

If so, what are you currently struggling with and/or what do you find most challenging?

 

[darius]

Yeah, I did.

Started to go through SEAOC Volumes. I killed 2 so far, 2 more to go.

Very nice website, by the way, I hope people will find it useful and a good tool in passing the test.

Was just wondering if using the new codes for the test, would it be possible do not get full credit? They are an upgrade from the one specified in their list so wouldn't look right to me do not be allowed to use it.

Will be so confusing because at work we all use the new codes and for the test we have to use the old ones. Any suggestion?

Cheers!

 

[Andy Lin]

Yeah this is such a dilemma... New code is adopted this year yet the exam is still using prior code.

If NCEES is anything like the building officials, my guess is that answering using the new codes won't get you full credit .

As I recall, each question actually calls out the specific reference including its year (i.e., ASCE 7-05). So answering a question that has specified ASCE 7-05 using ASCE 7-10 wouldn't make sense.

One thing I would really watch out for is the wind provision in ASCE since it's significantly different between 05 and 10. Kind of sucks that you'll have to learn 10 for work but 05 for the exam. They are somewhat similar but things got moved around a bit (they also changed the load from ASD level to strength level).

On the bright side though, even though there are some changes to seismic but in general they are pretty similar in terms of formulas and such (I think).

My advice would be to keep studying what you are studying (SEAOC 2012 IBC). Once you are done with those, make sure you ignore all the new code references and just use the prior code references when you do the practice exams.

Is that helpful...?

I'll have to do a little more digging to identify all of the important differences between prior code and new code. SK Ghosh usually has a few good ones (like this) but I would love to try to condense. Maybe that could be one of my projects if people think it would be useful.

 

[Agostage]

No way, I'm enjoying every second of April result ignorance.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Definitely not studying. I have a decent chance of passing from April so I'm going to wait before I even consider cracking my books again.

 

[BoilerEng]

I am taking the SE for the first time in October. Just started studying this week and my first goal is to work my way through the SERM and then work through SEAOC Volume 1. I had intentions of starting in February/March but just now getting started. After working through those two books, I'm going to take a practice exam and see where I stand then chug through a bunch of problems containing the topics I struggled with on the practice exam.

 

[darius]

I am taking the SE for the first time in October. Just started studying this week and my first goal is to work my way through the SERM and then work through SEAOC Volume 1. I had intentions of starting in February/March but just now getting started. After working through those two books, I'm going to take a practice exam and see where I stand then chug through a bunch of problems containing the topics I struggled with on the practice exam.

Yeah, I feel the same. As first time takers, we have to start earlier. Those who have taken the test before, they are already familiar with the material, just need to sharpen the pencil.

 

[hyphenme]

I am taking the SE for the first time in October. Just started studying this week and my first goal is to work my way through the SERM and then work through SEAOC Volume 1. I had intentions of starting in February/March but just now getting started. After working through those two books, I'm going to take a practice exam and see where I stand then chug through a bunch of problems containing the topics I struggled with on the practice exam.

I'm also taking it for the first time in October too. Seems like I need to step up my game and start studying now too. I was planning on starting in July and enjoy my summer but I'm starting to feel antsy about it. Good luck to everyone waiting for exam results.

 

[hyphenme]

I forgot to answer the OP's questions. Right now, I'm struggling with what material I would need to buy to study from and if taking a class is worth it. I'm leaning more towards going through as many example problems I can find as my method of studying but I feel so behind in the structural industry in terms of all the codes I need to refresh myself on since college. Getting this SE is might be overkill for what I do at work but I feel is a good thing for my career. Most of what I've read on this board, everyone seems to already took the PE Structural or does work related to the SE exam (buildings/bridges). I mostly do simple steel design and foundation design for electrical equipment (transmission line design) which uses completely different codes.

I'm about to submit my application to be able to take the exam to the board next week so I technically haven't signed up for the SE. So nervewrecking. However, this board seems like a very value resource and want to thank everyone who ever posted to this board. I spend around the 3 hours reading through everyone's opinion on various study materials and advice.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

In my opinion for both sections combined you need a bare minimum of 200 hours of hard study time. 300 hours is much better. Take that and divide by how much you realistically can devote to dedicated study time in your week, for me that was about 8 hours a week (which is why I broke up my exams and took one half at a time). So, if you start right now you'll need about 15 hours peer week of study time. Thus, if you are a first time taker for both sections you definitely need to start ASAP.

 

[HurryCA!]

I forgot to answer the OP's questions. Right now, I'm struggling with what material I would need to buy to study from and if taking a class is worth it. I'm leaning more towards going through as many example problems I can find as my method of studying but I feel so behind in the structural industry in terms of all the codes I need to refresh myself on since college. Getting this SE is might be overkill for what I do at work but I feel is a good thing for my career. Most of what I've read on this board, everyone seems to already took the PE Structural or does work related to the SE exam (buildings/bridges). I mostly do simple steel design and foundation design for electrical equipment (transmission line design) which uses completely different codes.

I'm about to submit my application to be able to take the exam to the board next week so I technically haven't signed up for the SE. So nervewrecking. However, this board seems like a very value resource and want to thank everyone who ever posted to this board. I spend around the 3 hours reading through everyone's opinion on various study materials and advice.

Make sure you get the AASHTO code to study and have for the test. I took mine in to get spiral bound into 5 smaller sections so I didn't have to deal with the 2 giant binders.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I forgot to answer the OP's questions. Right now, I'm struggling with what material I would need to buy to study from and if taking a class is worth it. I'm leaning more towards going through as many example problems I can find as my method of studying but I feel so behind in the structural industry in terms of all the codes I need to refresh myself on since college. Getting this SE is might be overkill for what I do at work but I feel is a good thing for my career. Most of what I've read on this board, everyone seems to already took the PE Structural or does work related to the SE exam (buildings/bridges). I mostly do simple steel design and foundation design for electrical equipment (transmission line design) which uses completely different codes.

I'm about to submit my application to be able to take the exam to the board next week so I technically haven't signed up for the SE. So nervewrecking. However, this board seems like a very value resource and want to thank everyone who ever posted to this board. I spend around the 3 hours reading through everyone's opinion on various study materials and advice.

Make sure you get the AASHTO code to study and have for the test. I took mine in to get spiral bound into 5 smaller sections so I didn't have to deal with the 2 giant binders.

Why didn't I think of that?

You're a genius.

 

[dussbucs]

I broke mine out into 2 separate binders as follows, but I assume more smaller binders is better:

Binder 1 (1.5"): Sections 1 thru 5

Binder 2 (2.0"): Sections 6, 9, 10, 11 & Index

It may have been a gamble, but I've never had a reason to reference the following sections:

Section 7 - Aluminum Structures

Section 8 - Wood Structures

Section 12 - Buried Structures and Tunnel Liners

Section 13 - Railings

Section 14 - Joints and Bearings

Section 15 - Design of Sound Barriers

 

[HurryCA!]

For my five sections, I did:

1-4: load factors, general analysis

5: concrete

6: steel

7-?: broke the rest into two approx. equal sections

This seemed to work well for the exam.

 

[bassplayer45]

The new AASHTO volume eliminated wood from it.

I plan to start studying again shortly for the second day

 

[dussbucs]

The new AASHTO volume eliminated wood from it.

I plan to start studying again shortly for the second day

Are you talking about the 2014 AASHTO (7th edition) coming out soon? Cause 2012 AASHTO (6th edition) still has Section 8 for Wood Structures. And the current SE exam is based on 2012 AASHTO without the 2013 interims.

 

[Andy Lin]

In my opinion for both sections combined you need a bare minimum of 200 hours of hard study time. 300 hours is much better. Take that and divide by how much you realistically can devote to dedicated study time in your week, for me that was about 8 hours a week (which is why I broke up my exams and took one half at a time). So, if you start right now you'll need about 15 hours peer week of study time. Thus, if you are a first time taker for both sections you definitely need to start ASAP.

I totally agree! You'll need about 300 hours of study time.

(I actually wrote a lengthy post about that in my blog and I am really curious to see what you "upcoming SE Examinees" think about it. I'd be really grateful if I could get some feedback!)

 

[Andy Lin]

I am taking the SE for the first time in October. Just started studying this week and my first goal is to work my way through the SERM and then work through SEAOC Volume 1. I had intentions of starting in February/March but just now getting started. After working through those two books, I'm going to take a practice exam and see where I stand then chug through a bunch of problems containing the topics I struggled with on the practice exam.

This is exactly what I did too and it works - but I also studied SEAOC Volume 2 and 3.

One other thing I would suggest is to do two practice exams - one from NCEES and the other one from PPI.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

In my opinion for both sections combined you need a bare minimum of 200 hours of hard study time. 300 hours is much better. Take that and divide by how much you realistically can devote to dedicated study time in your week, for me that was about 8 hours a week (which is why I broke up my exams and took one half at a time). So, if you start right now you'll need about 15 hours peer week of study time. Thus, if you are a first time taker for both sections you definitely need to start ASAP.

I totally agree! You'll need about 300 hours of study time.

(I actually wrote a lengthy post about that in my blog and I am really curious to see what you "upcoming SE Examinees" think about it. I'd be really grateful if I could get some feedback!)

Great blog, wish I had seen it sooner.

 

[Andy Lin]

In my opinion for both sections combined you need a bare minimum of 200 hours of hard study time. 300 hours is much better. Take that and divide by how much you realistically can devote to dedicated study time in your week, for me that was about 8 hours a week (which is why I broke up my exams and took one half at a time). So, if you start right now you'll need about 15 hours peer week of study time. Thus, if you are a first time taker for both sections you definitely need to start ASAP.

I totally agree! You'll need about 300 hours of study time.

(I actually wrote a lengthy post about that in my blog and I am really curious to see what you "upcoming SE Examinees" think about it. I'd be really grateful if I could get some feedback!)

Great blog, wish I had seen it sooner.

Thank you!