Hello nw-b:
I took the Mechanical T+F Exam in April 2010 and passed. It was my second attempt at taking the exam. This is what worked for me:
1) Surround yourself around positive, supportive people who understand what it's like to take a licensing exam. You'll need the moral support and understanding.
2) Purchase and organize study materials. Lindenberg (PPI) Manual, Six-Minute Solutions Manual, NCEES Past Exams, old textbooks, pocket reference guides, good Mollier diagram, good Psych Chart, etc. It takes quite some time to compile all this information.
3) If you are taking the T+F, highly recommend that you get a copy of Steam Tables (English Units). The Keenan, Keyes, Hill and Moore tables are excellent. The greatest advantage to having them is that you will never have to interpolate. Speed is crucial in the exam. Why waste time trying to guess or interpolating a property value?
4) Once you have all the materials, develop your own tabulated binder with worked out problems, notes, study guides, diagrams, etc. This will help you tremendously with working problems fast. Some reference information may come from the internet. If you print it out and put it in your binder, it may be of great value. You will find yourself always going to the same Material Properties Table or Formula Sheet. Make a copy of it and put it in your binder. In my case, my binder became more valuable in the exam than the Lindenberg Manual.
5) Stay organized and tab your books as you go along. The quicker you can find information, the better chances you will have.
6) I personally studied on Saturdays and Sundays, 6-9 hours each day for 6 months. It's important to keep your mind in the game, to sharpen your skills a little bit every day, to become more familiar with your reference books. To do this, don't slack during the week. Work at least one or 2 problems a day. You can do this at lunch, before bed time, or in the morning. Just like an athlete, practice makes perfect. Keep your mind on the prize.
7) As October approaches, devote time to study the practice exams. If possible, go to a quiet library and do a mock exam that is timed so that you can get some good practice. Once finished, devote time to review the exam. Review the NCEES exams thoroughly. Know how to answer EVERY SINGLE QUESTION that has been asked in previous exams.
8) Be comfortable on the day of the exam. Get good rest the night before. If possible, take the days before the exam off from work and do some reviewing and practice. Take a good lunch with you, don't try to risk going to a local restaurant and being rushed.
Like I said, this is what worked for me. Best wishes to you.
