New here and need all the support I can get..

[venus]

Hello all, I've been working as a Transportation Engineer, last 10 years now(started working immediately after my Masters). Neglected to get PE all these years. Tried last year and was sure that I'd clear the 8 Hr. I didn't!! Now I paid again and I am hoping to clear 8 Hr at least this time. I don't want to take any review courses, but I have a lot of borrowed material.

I am starting my prep from today, aiming for at least 4 hrs a day. I hope I can clear the 8 hr this time. Good luck to me and to you all.

-V

 

[maximus808]

Venus,

I'm assuming you're taking the civil pe transportation depth. Sorry to hear you didn't pass the first time. I also didn't pass on the first try but did on the second. Here's some tips for you which I hope you can use.

1. Don't get down on yourself for not passing and stay motivated to keep learning, doing problems, and be positive.

2. You have take the exam serious. By this I mean, doing numerous problems, taking practice exams, and dedicating a good amount of time to your preparation. Like any test, game, match, contest, the results will be based on how much effort you put in before the big day.

3. If possible, find a study partner or group to keep you on track. Be sure you both are on the same page as far as putting in a good amount time and are both serious. This will help a lot and push you both to do better.

4. Since you took the exam once, you know what to expect. Work on the areas that you didn't do well and be sure to make sure you are still good and items you did well.

5. If needed, get more material. I searched for more material and found Goswami's All in One PE guide to be really helpful. It was much more concise than the CERM. The example are much better laid out. I believe the NCEES released new study books. It wouldn't hurt to pick these up as well as they suppose to closest thing to the real exam. I am still waiting on a couple of my coworkers to get their new NCEES study books so I can verify this.

6. Practice, practice, and more practice. Do timed problems, take sample exams, put yourself in the real test situation. You don't know how much this helps. I didn't do this the first time and I was in total shock when I was taking the exam. It was about 4 years since I took my last final in college and that's a long time from taking a test. Like a boxer or shall I say UFC fighter, these guys prepare like crazy before the big day. They also go through numerous spars and try to put themselves in the real situation against their opponent. If they simply just ran a couple of miles and hit the bag there is no way they could do well. Same thing applies to the PE.

For me and many others, this exam was much more than just a PE exam. It was a life test and a test of will, determination, and I promise you, when you get that PASS letter it will be one of the top 10 best feelings of your life Keep up the studying

 

[solomonb]

I would approach this task differently. You have taken the PE exam once and did not achieve a passing score. You have been out of school for some time, >10 years. The NSPE web site strongly suggests that you take a review course, work lots of problems and stay focused on achieving a passing score. This was the logic that I used and it worked fine! I don't think that having been out of school for >10 years, you may not focus on some of the material that is testable. Remember, this is a test of minimal competency-- the PE test determines or is designed to determine if you are minimally competent to practice your engineering discipline.

Take a review course, use all of your material and work lots of problems. The review course will cost a couple of bucks, however, you don't want to do this ad infinitem-- get the routine down, pass the test and move on! My simple advice.