One week out from the test advice

[knight1fox3]

^ this is a good strategy to go by. And you might also consider assigning the problems you skip a difficulty rank. That way it gives you a quick way to identify what you fell the problem is going to entail in terms of effort/resources/etc.

A number of other members from this forum have recommended this strategy. YMMV

 

[blewis216]

Also something I was not ready for: I opened up the test and panicked thinking "I don't know any of these", it felt like a right hook in a prize fight. After going through the test and gaining confidence with those easy ones I was able to go back and look at the ones that I was sure I didn't know and re-read and formulate strategies for answering them.

Just be prepared for a 12-round fight even if the first handful of questions knock you down. 

 

[TrishBOkay]

I like these strategies. Nailing the easy ones first is a good confidence booster too. Thanks for the suggestions!! I’ll start with the quick ones, hit the NEC and NECS in the middle, and end with the tricky problems to make the best use of the time remaining!

 

[KatyLied P.E.]

This was my strategy:

First go through the test and answer every question that you can do in under 10 seconds, it's something you just know you don't have to look anything up... there should be a few of these.

Next go through and answer ever question you can do in under 1 minute. These questions either require a simple look-up in your reference materials or require a formula you just need to look up.

Then answer any longer question that you feel confident you can get with a few minutes of time to look at your reference or formulate a solution, these also include NEC or NESC questions that require some digging through code

Last hit up the few questions that you have no idea on and will be digging through reference materials desperately finding anything to grasp onto.

I finished both sessions in 2-3 hours using this method and passed comfortably.

I'd go so far as recommending you dedicate one round on JUST Code questions.  That way you won't go back and forth between Code books and other reference materials.

 

[Matt Skillet]

Big thanks to everyone who stuck around after the exam to help us little people facing the exam.

 

[GeoDude_PE]

I probably did the exact opposite of most people, but I did what I always have done and what works for me.  I had studied for 3-4 months before. Got a hotel room by the test site the day before. Continued to look over stuff and be familiar with the CERM and my other references. Did a few practice problems, went to dinner, came back, looked over practice exams and ran a few 6 minute solution problems up until it was time for bed. Made some tea (chamomile, part of my normal routine), laid down, passed out.

Woke up in the morning and got there as the doors were opening, as someone above mentioned there was so much time between when doors opened and the exam room was opened. I sat, calmly reflected on everything, and mentally prepared before going into the room. Didn't eat breakfast, just drank some water because I rarely eat breakfast.

My point is, do what you know works for you. If you are like me and have always crammed before exams on top of studying for them in a regular manner, don't eat breakfast, whatever it may be, then that is what you should do for this. Don't change your past study habits/test taking habits because people on here suggest a different method.

I do agree with everyone on here that it is important to get a good nights sleep regardless of your past habits and make sure you are familiar with the test site and where to go.

In regards to taking the exam, again, I operate differently and just go from A-Z. The first problem on October 2018 made me scratch my head and think of impending doom and how I am not fit to be an engineer but I just sat through and figured it out as much as I thought was correct. There was only one problem that I spent 2-3 minutes on and then decided to skip, circle, and come back to after my first go through.

Again, I think everyone has different strategies to exam prep and test taking. Do what you know and what has always worked for you.

It worked for me first try and thankfully that wretched test is behind me now and I have the coveted, post-nominal letters, P.E. as of a few weeks ago.

Good luck to all test takers this go round, you got this!

 

[ItsStudyTime!]

Like GeoDude, I got hotel room near the exam. I would have preferred one that was walking distance away, but I couldn't find anything in that bubble.

I did not do any studying the day before the test (that was driving day). I drove to my hotel and checked in, and then did the drive to the test site to make sure I had that location correct, and knew how to get there. Then I went for a (familiar) dinner (i.e. don't go eat something you never eat or go to a fancy place where you don't get served enough food).

I did study on the Wednesday though, and all preceding days that week. 

Best,

 

[ruskyline]

Did everyone take a day off before the exam? Did it really make a big difference? 

 

[RBHeadge PE]

I teleworked the workweek before exam day. Three layers of management wanted me to study during official time as part of an approved professional development program. It really helped me do the last bits of studying and get into a good mindset for the exam.

I still did the minimum amount of normal work to "keep the lights on" through Monday. I did more normal work that Thursday than I did the other days and, in retrospect, it was a useful distraction from studying too hard. As mentioned above: I hit peak preparedness on Wednesday; Thursday was better spent getting in the right mindset.

I'd recommend taking the day off if your boss isn't as accommodating though.

 

[mhami]

Passed first try after lots and lots of studying.

I took the week off (comp time, Agency gave me the test day off) and worked as little as possible by telecommute.  I did not study the day before the exam, just packed and drove - I got a hotel near the exam because it's a 2.5 hour drive from my house.  I downloaded some sleep meditation videos from Amazon to make sure I got some sleep.

I made the mistake of having too much caffeine.  On the upside the lines to the women's restroom are remarkably short.  I also brought a pillow to sit on (friend recommended) which was oddly helpful.  

I panicked when the exam started.  Just move on until you find a problem that seems easy, then go from there and come back to those you skipped.  There is lots of time on this exam.

Best wishes!!!

 

[ChebyshevII PE PMP]

I took vacation the whole week before the exam, and spent it relaxing and spending time with family. I studied for maybe 2 hours that entire week; I had put in a lot and I decided I knew what I knew and cramming at that point wouldn’t help me much more.

I also got a hotel the night before the exam and drove there the afternoon before. I spent my evening walking to and around the exam site and making sure I knew where everything was. Once I wound down, I watched football, then crashed early (like 8 or 8:30). Sadly I woke up around 5 and gave myself WAY too much time to walk to the exam site, but it didn’t turn out to be a huge deal at the end.

I will say this though, check your hotel’s checkout policy if you go that route. If late checkout is a possibility, go for it; you don’t wanna be stressed about having to check out during lunch or anything.