SE Takers October 2022, Welcome to the suck!

[bassist]

I took both tests for the 1st time and felt lateral to be comparatively easier than the gravity one, especially the afternoon section. Both the tests had around 8~9 questions for AASHTO, but most of those were straightforward, and you could get it straight from the code. Both the afternoon sessions were more straightforward, with the gravity one slightly lengthy with the sketches asked in every question against the lateral where only one sketch was asked in the whole exam.

Sounds like SE is so "Straightforward"!

 

[SE_AEgir]

I can enjoy football and hockey again without the guilt

 

[Farsak Palia]

Sounds like SE is so "Straightforward"!

I guess it was just this time.

 

[bassist]

I guess it was just this time.

What seems to be easy may not be that easy and what seems to be tough may not be that tough when results come out...Tried and tested for SE. Haha!

 

[Manimani]

I guess it was just this time.

Having passed vertical as first time test taker in April, I wouldnt' say the bridge lateral was easy. Q3 was alot more trickier than it probably was digested to be. I would not be surprised if alot of IR/U on that question pop by.

 

[Farsak Palia]

Having passed vertical as first time test taker in April, I wouldnt' say the bridge lateral was easy. Q3 was alot more trickier than it probably was digested to be. I would not be surprised if alot of IR/U on that question pop by.

I took the buildings, and the afternoon session was easier and more straightforward than the morning one for both exams.

 

[structurenole2015 PE]

Curious for those that took it rpeviously and failed: do they give you a diagnostic like the PE exam? What does it look like?

 

[Br_Engr]

Curious for those that took it rpeviously and failed: do they give you a diagnostic like the PE exam? What does it look like?

Failed is such an ugly word.

Let's go with those that took it previously and "were not successful."

I have several examples to choose from so here are the most recent.

 

[SJRA]

Here is my grading and passing score theory I think others have done something like this and I’m just adding my two cents:

Passing score cutoff range: (55-59) 59 for an easy exam and 55 for a tough one

Afternoon:

All four building problems are 10 points each but among the three bridge problems one is a 20-point problem

Acceptable: 7-10 or 15-20
All parts completed but with simple calculation mistakes, not getting the correct final answer, incomplete sketches, and minor analytical/design mistakes.

IR: 5-7 or 10-15
All the above plus major analytical/design mistakes. Missing one or two small parts completely (say parts E or F) or incomplete main parts (A or B).

UA: 0-5 or 0-10
When we have no idea, bomb the question, and don’t do shit other than adding some text and referencing some equations (mostly unrelated)

So, I passed a vertical bridge and failed a lateral, here is what I think I had:

Vertical (I thought it was a medium-tough exam): 25-28 morning and 10/10, 10/10, 17/20 = 62-65 >57 pass!

Lateral (from diagnostic): 22 morning and
7/10 (acceptable) 5/10 (IR) 12/20 (IR) = 46<55 fail!


I wonder how those who failed or passed get with this rubric.

 

[structurenole2015 PE]

Failed is such an ugly word.

Let's go with those that took it previously and "were not successful."

I have several examples to choose from so here are the most recent.

See I never had an issue with the word fail. Fail and "not successful" are just synonyms. When I'm not successful at something, saying it that way makes me just as upset as saying i failed lol.

But in either case, it seems like your only problems from these results are concrete in the morning and foundation design in the afternoon. So at least your study plan was easy to determine!

 

[Br_Engr]

Tell me you have taken the test multiple times without telling me you have taken the test multiple times...

 

[Br_Engr]

See I never had an issue with the word fail. Fail and "not successful" are just synonyms. When I'm not successful at something, saying it that way makes me just as upset as saying i failed lol.

But in either case, it seems like your only problems from these results are concrete in the morning and foundation design in the afternoon. So at least your study plan was easy to determine!

Historically the morning has been my Achilles heel. 31-33 building problems an 7-9 bridge problems is a slog for a bridge person. The only reason for the afternoon "U" was I could not remember a pile formula and that was part 'a' of a five part problem that all were dependent on the results of 'a'.

Not a fan of the ACI code.

They cycle before the one shown I was fortunate enough to go A/A/A on the afternoon. Again, sunk by the morning.

We will see in mid-December...

 

[structurenole2015 PE]

They cycle before the one shown I was fortunate enough to go A/A/A on the afternoon. Again, sunk by the morning.

I guess that's one good thing about when this thing goes computer based. You can pass all four parts separately. Even the morning vs. afternoon on the same component (vertical or lateral) can be passed independently.

My only complaint is that the total time of the exam, if you pass all four parts on the first try, totals about 21 hours instead of 16 hours.

 

[bassist]

I guess that's one good thing about when this thing goes computer based. You can pass all four parts separately. Even the morning vs. afternoon on the same component (vertical or lateral) can be passed independently.

My only complaint is that the total time of the exam, if you pass all four parts on the first try, totals about 21 hours instead of 16 hours.

I am not aware of this. What's the duration of each exam? Do you know?

 

[Br_Engr]

I am not aware of this. What's the duration of each exam? Do you know?

There is an entire thread in this forum that goes into detail on the transition to a CBT exam. It is very thorough.

 

[MambaMentality24]

I am not aware of this. What's the duration of each exam? Do you know?

https://engineerboards.com/threads/ncees-podcast-on-transition-to-computer-based-se-exam.38459/

 

[bassist]

https://engineerboards.com/threads/ncees-podcast-on-transition-to-computer-based-se-exam.38459/

Thank you for sharing.
So looks like the AM will be 5.5 hrs long with 55 questions and PM will be 5 hrs long with 60 questions (5 scenarios with each scenario having 12 questions).

 

[Farsak Palia]

The only drawback I see with the CBT exams is that you can't carry any cheatsheets or formulated tables with you anymore, which would save you time on the exam.

 

[structurenole2015 PE]

The only drawback I see with the CBT exams is that you can't carry any cheatsheets or formulated tables with you anymore, which would save you time on the exam.

You'll have all that info in the reference manual they provide as well as the codes that they will provide.

 

[Br_Engr]

You'll have all that info in the reference manual they provide as well as the codes that they will provide.

Understood, but part of exam prep is completing practice problems with your particular set of references so you become familiar with them and know where to find things quickly. As everyone knows, the morning is all about speed and finding the formula or code section that the problem needs FAST. (I think we all have spent a small fortune on tabs.)

In addition, the codes I used had notes and highlights for things that I might have overlooked. First thing that comes to mind are all of the crazy footnotes in the ASCE-7 Table 12.2-1 as well as the tables in the NDS.

I don't understand. If it's all open book, why not let examinees bring in their own references?