Need HELP passing the PE and CA Surveying & Seismic

[sassybear]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum. I am going to be retaking the PE exam in April 2014, in addition to the surveying and seismic. All the exams were tough the first time, and I didn't adequately prepare for them so I was not entirely surprised by my results. As I begin my preparation again, I'm concerned about falling into the same traps I did before. Not mapping out a schedule and plan, not studying enough hours per week, not focusing on the right things. Could some of you guys who have been successful with the exams offer me some tips? I don't want to revisit these tests again.

 

[ptatohed]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum. I am going to be retaking the PE exam in April 2014, in addition to the surveying and seismic. All the exams were tough the first time, and I didn't adequately prepare for them so I was not entirely surprised by my results. As I begin my preparation again, I'm concerned about falling into the same traps I did before. Not mapping out a schedule and plan, not studying enough hours per week, not focusing on the right things. Could some of you guys who have been successful with the exams offer me some tips? I don't want to revisit these tests again.

sas, there really is no magic too it. You need to obtain the appropriate study material (there are lots of useful threads at this site on this topic) and you need to put in a lot of hours preparing/studying/working problems. That's it. Decide if you are a self-studier and/or a group studier and/or maybe you prefer a class. Also, be realistic. Personally, I made a realistic goal to pass one exam each time (Oct 10 Survey, Apr 11 8-hr, Oct 11 Seismic). You can consider something similar, if need be. But start studying! Today. Good luck.

 

[TheyCallMeJohn]

I passed my first time.

Consider taking a course, School of PE offers a courses in both and I know several of my friends have taken Hiner's course and raved about it.

Also get a bunch of practice test and problems and work thru them multiple times till you know how to solve them by heart. Create a cheat sheet of the formulas you will frequently need and bind it to you notes.

Lastly this sounds like a weird tip but practice working the problems not on the problems page but on scratch paper since you won't be able tot write on the computer screen during the test.

Also with respect to Seismic make sure you read the chapter in the ASCE code book and understand what they mean and which to apply where. I highlight and tab what you got to while you are doing your practice problems.

I am also selling some of my books I used to pass last time if you are interested. http://engineerboards.com/index.php?app=classifieds&module=core&do=view_item&item_id=168

 

[daxx1313]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum. I am going to be retaking the PE exam in April 2014, in addition to the surveying and seismic. All the exams were tough the first time, and I didn't adequately prepare for them so I was not entirely surprised by my results. As I begin my preparation again, I'm concerned about falling into the same traps I did before. Not mapping out a schedule and plan, not studying enough hours per week, not focusing on the right things. Could some of you guys who have been successful with the exams offer me some tips? I don't want to revisit these tests again.

I took the 8-hour in the fall and passed the first time by taking the School of PE review course and spending countless hours doing the problems. Also, I supplemented the studying with the 6-minute solutions workbooks. Since counting the hours studying wouldn't accurately tell the amount of work I put in I used one particular type of pen throughout my studying as a unit of measure. I went through five Bottle 2 Pen pens worth of ink from beginning to end. I made certain that I did not use them for anything else so I could accurately measure it.

I personally would recommend the School of PE review course for the 8-hour. I was astounded by how close the problems were to the exam. Because of this I believe that I got 36+ out of 40 correct in the AM section. If you have the opportunity to take the class, you should.

Tab and color code your material. I chose 5 colors, color coded each binder to the associated color, tabbed all materials on the right side of the binders/books consistently so I knew what problems were where. I indicated the type of problem on each tab and added "chapters" in my binders on the top of the pages where new sections started and wrote the type of problems. This way I could find open flow channels, closed channels, singularly reinforced concrete slabs, retaining walls... anything within seconds. Below is a picture of my binders (the transportation binder is hidden between the green and yellow tabbed binders).



To put is simply, if you're going to run a marathon, you need to do a marathon's worth of training.

This is only for the 8-hour. I intend to do similar amounts of studying for the seismic and survey tests this spring.

 

[jcvv98]

Hi John..im interested to buy all the books you're selling..how much is it? What's your email add? Thanks

 

[ptatohed]

Hi John..im interested to buy all the books you're selling..how much is it? What's your email add? Thanks

I believe that TCMJ included a link in his Post #3, right? http://engineerboards.com/index.php?app=classifieds&module=core&do=view_item&item_id=168

 

[saidek]

Hello All,

I wish all the best for the people who will take the PE exam in April. Good luck.

You start now and study smart, try to do practice exams as much as you can and note your weaknesses.

redo them two to three weeks before the exam and see where you stand.

regarding the material you should purchase all the references suggested by NCEES.

I have some material for sale especially for AM, Construction PM,& Geotech PM, if you are interested to know more email me: [email protected].

Good luck once again!

 

[ptatohed]

Hello All, I wish all the best for the people who will take the PE exam in April. Good luck. You start now and study smart, try to do practice exams as much as you can and note your weaknesses. redo them two to three weeks before the exam and see where you stand. regarding the material you should purchase all the references suggested by NCEES. I have some material for sale especially for AM, Construction PM,& Geotech PM, if you are interested to know more email me: [email protected]. Good luck once again!

Most people don't buy all of the NCEES references and they still pass. I know I didn't buy them all.

 

[b_f_well]

Considering that you did not pass any of the sections yet, I would say that taking review courses is a good idea. I hear good things about school of PE for the 8-hour though I didn't take them. For Seismic, Seismic Review by Hiner is a good way to go www.seismicreview.com. For Survey, Civil PE Surveying Review is good. www.civilpesurveyingreview.com. I think taking all of those review courses is too much for one sitting though. Try spacing them out. You have your whole life ahead of you.

 

[jcvv98]

Thanks ptatohed...btw, does anybody know TCMJ email add?

 

[jcvv98]

Hi TCMJ, interested in your CERM13..what's your email add? Thanks

 

[steenwm]

Can anyone recommend good practice exams for the Seismic? I have been preapring using the Hiner book for the last couple months and have gone through all of the problems in it, but would like to take a timed practice exam (similar to the ones Mansour offers for Surveying). Preferably I would like to buy from somewhere I can download in electronic format as I cannot have it physically delivered where I'm at.

Thanks

 

[ptatohed]

Can anyone recommend good practice exams for the Seismic? I have been preapring using the Hiner book for the last couple months and have gone through all of the problems in it, but would like to take a timed practice exam (similar to the ones Mansour offers for Surveying). Preferably I would like to buy from somewhere I can download in electronic format as I cannot have it physically delivered where I'm at.

Thanks

I would definitely recommend EET's simulation exams (CBT style). http://engineerboards.com/index.php?showtopic=22044

Good luck.