Studying for the October 2015 exam

[denver1000 PE]

Hello. Starting a general discussion about studying for the October 2015 exam - has everyone started yet? Which depth session are you planning on taking? Challenges? Support?

 

[JHW 3d]

Yes I've started studying. I'm doing mechanical design. The FTS chapters in the beginning of the MERM and Practice problems are killers.

 

[P-E]

I've heard mech design is the hardest. I did TFS and found it okay. Obviously if you work in HVAC you should take that. I studied for 5 months, but it was a long time since college. Skip the math chapters.

 

[denver1000 PE]

Thanks! My work has me doing 50/50 thermo/fluids and machine design analysis but I am also taking the MD depth - I've always been more comfortable with those problems opposed to thermo/fluids - never worked in HVAC. I also found myself dragging through the fluids section, so I jumped ahead and started on the MD depth chapters - really felt it boosted my confidence as I worked through those at a decent pace - just a tip that seems to be working for me. Plan for me as I'm almost 10 years out of school - work through MERM, work on PM depth by going through school textbooks and notes, then revisit MERM for a once over, and exams - tabbing and highlighting and building a small binder for quick reference as I'm not planning to read the MERM chapters in detail again. I am working on the practice problems after I'm through the related MERM chapter.

 

[Rinne]

Hello! First post as I just stumbled across this site. I've started studying, just barely, for the Oct. 2015 PE Exam. Planning on taking the TFS depth as I am more familiar with this content. It's been 11 years since I passed the FE and graduated college, so I think I'm in for a long hard road ahead.

Got the MERM, Eng Unit Conversion book, SMS, and NCEES practice exam. I feel a little rusty at this point, as it is taking me ~ 1+ hour per problem in the SMS book. But I will say that I'm arriving at the correct answers without looking at the solutions...just takes me forever. Hopefully the 2nd and 3rd times through get quicker.

 

[JHW 3d]

I do ZIP ZERO NADA TFS or HVAC at my job. Mostly just machine design and analysis, which I feel very comfortable with. I'm taking a crack at doing the TFS/HVAC stuff first in my studying because I am extremely weak in that area, and those problems represent a small, but significant portion of the morning. (something like 13-15 problems will be on TFS/HVAC). By mid August, I will have to transition to full on Machine Design problems, but until... I'll be interpolating in superheated steam tables, and making lines on Mollier Charts.

I have heard some mention that it helps bringing a copy of the MERM index to the exam. Is there a source for this index, besides just photocopying every page?

 

[Ramnares P.E.]

Here's a link to the Index JHW3. May be for the 12th edition though but should be ok:

https://ppi2pass.com/Docs/bookInfo/MERM/MERMindex.pdf

 

[denver1000 PE]

I've read about people cautioning against using pencil in books... some of my old books have pencil marks and notes - will highlighting over be good enough or should I erase and rewrite in pen?

I also checked with NCEES about taking in solution books - like sample examples, Practice Problems etc. And I was told this is ok - has anyone had a problem taking these books in on exam day?

 

[MechE_in_PA_PE]

Here's a link to the Index JHW3. May be for the 12th edition though but should be ok:

https://ppi2pass.com/Docs/bookInfo/MERM/MERMindex.pdf

Ram that is the MERM13 index.
I know there is also a link out there for the MERM12 index, if anyone one needs it let me know and I'll dig it up

 

[Monza]

I took the T&F exam this past April and passed first time. I think the most helpful item for me was creating a note book (3-ring binder) that was categorized by topic (fluids, heat transfer, statics, etc.). Each topic contained very basic notes and the most common equations. The plan was that this would be my immediate go-to while taking the exam. The notebook also contained info about where to look for references in the MERM, such as "see table 14-2 for blah blah blah...". I used this notebook when working problems and taking practice exams. This helped me to decide what goes in and what stays out. There's no point in ultimately copying an 800-page reference manual. I tried to weed out items by the 80/20 rule.

This really worked out well for me. During the exam, I just identified what kind of problem it was and then went to that section in my binder. Most of the time, what I needed was there. If not, I had notes that pointed me to specific sections in the MERM or sometimes one of my other references. During the exam, I basically only opened the MERM to look up tables and properties. I wasn't using it to find equations or decide how to solve a problem. I should also mention that I also included little hints such as, "don't forget to use absolute pressure in this equation" or "be sure to convert to Kelvin", etc.

I used both the Lindburg and the NCEES practice exams. I think the actual exam was very similar to the NCEES practice exam. Looking back, I wish I had taken the Lindburg exam a little earlier in my study (I think I did it about a month or 3 weeks out). Don't worry about time with the Lindburg exam, it is a little more difficult. Just work through and make sure you understand the problems. I would also recommend going through the exam a second time. Sure, you'll recognize some of the problems but it is still good practice to work them again. I figure between the two exams that is 160 problems so I wasn't worried about not being challenged during the second time.

I graduated university in 1997 so I've been out of school for a while. Don't let that hold you back. With some determination and effort, you will definitely be able to pass. Good luck!

 

[denver1000 PE]

Thanks for the great tips everyone.

Is there any point in reviewing the nuclear or alternative power gen chapters? Same for the control systems? In tempted to leave these out but read through the control systems only as I'm taking the MD depth.

 

[Ramnares P.E.]

Here's the EB thread with the MERM 12th edition Index link:

http://engineerboards.com/index.php?showtopic=20165

 

[Ramnares P.E.]

I've read about people cautioning against using pencil in books... some of my old books have pencil marks and notes - will highlighting over be good enough or should I erase and rewrite in pen?

I also checked with NCEES about taking in solution books - like sample examples, Practice Problems etc. And I was told this is ok - has anyone had a problem taking these books in on exam day?

Denver there was a highly spirited debate on this topic during the last exam cycle. While there is technically no need to highlight/write over in pen any of your pencil notes, many folks choose to do so to avoid any possible confusion.

For what it's worth, I highlighted over all the pencil marks in my reference books and I had no issues on exam day.

I also asked NCEES their policy regarding taking solution books into the exam and was told it was allowed (I took the exam in NYC). If you're seriously concerned you can also contact your state board.

 

[denver1000 PE]

Thanks Ramnares. I am highlighting in the MERM as I work through it. My concern was my old school books which may have pencil marks in them, I'm probably being paranoid but have this fear of not noticing something and discover it on the day. I will try my best to go through all of the references I end up taking and ensure pencil notes etc are highlighted over.

 

[lundy]

There's also erasable pens too. That way it's not permanent in your book and you could change something later down the road if you don't like what note you initially made....Just another possibility

 

[matt267 PE]

The topic about pencil marks has been discussed here:http://engineerboards.com/index.php?showtopic=24880&p=7263884

 

[P-E]

Thanks for the great tips everyone.

Is there any point in reviewing the nuclear or alternative power gen chapters? Same for the control systems? In tempted to leave these out but read through the control systems only as I'm taking the MD depth.

i skipped them and skimmed through the plant engineering chapters. I doubled back on the afternoon material in the last couple weeks.

 

[denver1000 PE]

Thanks power-engineer.

 

[JHW 3d]

I am doing Machine Design depth, which is my strength.

Does anyone actually read the entire MERM and do every single practice problem (in the MERM companion)? Or is it more common to do the problems in your depth area, and just read through the solutions in the non-depth area?

I am trying the former, but it's slow going, especially with the FTS portion (which I am weak in0. There's still time for me to re-tool my studying approach, and just trying to get a sense of what successful people have used in the past. Would really like to pass the first try on this thing...

Thanks!

 

[Ramnares P.E.]

Reading the entire MERM is a waste of precious preparation time. You can skip most of the first 14 chapters. There is no reason for any engineer to review basic Math etc. I would recommend looking at the NCEES breakdown and focus on those topics. You should certainly focus on your depth sections as well as any topics, such as Fluid/Thermal, that you are weak in.

During my prep I worked all the relevant MERM companion problems and skipped the 1-hour questions. The 1-hour questions, while in depth and thorough, simply aren't going to prepare you for an exam where you have, on average, 6 mins per problem.