The switch to CBT PE has really begun

[snickerd3]

I had seen hints that CBT was coming sooner rather than later, but I didn't think this soon!!!  Only one more paper and pencil offering of the Chemical test!!!

http://ncees.org/engineering/pe/pe-chemical/

 

[envirotex]

Wow.  So is this only for Chemical?  When will they start phasing in the other disciplines?

 

[snickerd3]

I went through the other disciplines, it looks like it is just chemical for now.  They probably want to see how it goes.  Chemical isn't exactly a code heavy type so it makes sense it would be the first to make the switch to closed book

 

[matt267 PE]

I wonder if having 1 reference to learn will make the exams "easier?"

 

[snickerd3]

I wonder if having 1 reference to learn will make the exams "easier?"

That's what I was thinking!!  At the very least more equitable since everyone has the same reference to look at no more, if I only remembered that other book that had that info in it

The 500+ page reference manual doesn't look half bad.  The kinetics chapter has more info than that of the Lindbergh reference manual. it would be interesting to see how the questions evolve to the closed book style.    

 

[snickerd3]

on the other hand it eliminates the ability to pigeon hole problems so for some people this might make it harder.  

 

[matt267 PE]

I"m looking forward to downloading the Environmental and Civil-WRE reference manuals. Looks like they could be a good resource.

 

[snickerd3]

I"m looking forward to downloading the Environmental and Civil-WRE reference manuals. Looks like they could be a good resource.

tru dat and it's free.  When I took the FE we had to buy the reference manual because it wasn't electronically available back then.

 

[matt267 PE]

 When I took the FE we had to buy the reference manual

same here.

 

[youngmotivatedengineer]

Any word on when the Civil would be available, or is it only once it goes to CBT? I'm not really sure how I feel about them switching Civil over to CBT. Since Civil is heavy on codes and charts,   I could see frustration kicking in when trying to navigate a computer based reference manual during the exam and trying to locate different sections or flipping back and forth between sections. It seems like it could be a big time waster. I took my LEED AP and GRE at testing centers, and those computers were not the most advanced. 

 

[snickerd3]

Any word on when the Civil would be available, or is it only once it goes to CBT? I'm not really sure how I feel about them switching Civil over to CBT. Since Civil is heavy on codes and charts,   I could see frustration kicking in when trying to navigate a computer based reference manual during the exam and trying to locate different sections or flipping back and forth between sections. It seems like it could be a big time waster. I took my LEED AP and GRE at testing centers, and those computers were not the most advanced. 

not a clue.  

 

[SK82 P.E.]

I liked how on the FE CBT,  you would do a quick word search on the FE Reference manual and get to something quick without thumbing through the index.  The one problem I had is this manual kept freezing up and lagging when I was trying to get to something.  I wrote a complaint about it in the survey they send out after taking it.  When I retook it, the person checking me in said that they corrected the problem with the manual. I was too nervous and focused on the test to ask if that was a response to my complaint or if they had a wide spread issue with the freezing.  

CBT test takers will miss out on seeing the crazy amount of books people bring to the test.  It's was kind of entertaining to see people haul in wagons and luggage cases.  One guy brought a shelved cart with all his books stacked on them.  He couldn't go 5 ft without all his books falling off.  I kind of laughed internally.  He ended up being one of the few people who finished up early in the evening - I wonder if he was laughing at the rest of us internally.

 

[CU07]

I can't find where I heard it, but I am pretty sure they are planning to release the PE reference manuals before the switch to CBT so they can be used on the last paper exams and get feedback on anything missing.  Since it's searchable electronically, that will be nice.  I remember thinking the paper FE reference was very disorganized.

 

[snickerd3]

the chemical ref manual is available to those taking the April test to print out and bind, but there is a huge disclaimer about not limiting your reference to just that for the april test. 

 

[gpoli111]

I can't find where I heard it, but I am pretty sure they are planning to release the PE reference manuals before the switch to CBT so they can be used on the last paper exams and get feedback on anything missing.  Since it's searchable electronically, that will be nice.  I remember thinking the paper FE reference was very disorganized.

That sounds like a bad idea to me. Either the test has to be written as open book or centered around one reference manual. Why would they re-write the paper Civil test for one exam date around the reference manual OR write a reference manual around the paper test? 

 

[Ken PE 3.1]

Won't this equate to dumbing down of the overall exam?

 

[matt267 PE]

I might take pe exams for fun now.

 

[knight1fox3]

Won't this equate to dumbing down of the overall exam?

To me it just seems that it's making it more of a standardized test vs. that of an exam where one must gain experience in their respective field. But perhaps they aim to capture that in the ref. manuals (not going to be easy). But why couldn't they just make the exam CBT and still allow it to be open book? 

Either way, it's an easy test anyway. Especially electrical power.

 

[wilheldp_PE]

I don't see how they can call the exam the "Principles and Practice" exam any more.  You can now take the exam prior to gaining any real engineering experience.  Plus, I don't know how you guys practice, but when I need to know something, I look it up in reference material instead of relying on my memory of said reference.  Switching to "closed book" exams for the PE does not adequately represent what engineering work is really like.  It encourages rote memorization of some facts or applications of certain formulas.  That is fine for the Fundamentals exam, because they are just that...fundamentals.  But the actual practice of engineering is vastly different from engineering school (unless you work only in R&D).  I think they are diluting the profession for profit.

 

[snickerd3]

To me it just seems that it's making it more of a standardized test vs. that of an exam where one must gain experience in their respective field. But perhaps they aim to capture that in the ref. manuals (not going to be easy). But why couldn't they just make the exam CBT and still allow it to be open book? 

Either way, it's an easy test anyway. Especially electrical power.

The testing centers apparently don't have the space and it avoids differences in opinions btwn centers on what they allow in.

I don't see how they can call the exam the "Principles and Practice" exam any more.  You can now take the exam prior to gaining any real engineering experience.  Plus, I don't know how you guys practice, but when I need to know something, I look it up in reference material instead of relying on my memory of said reference.  Switching to "closed book" exams for the PE does not adequately represent what engineering work is really like.  It encourages rote memorization of some facts or applications of certain formulas.  That is fine for the Fundamentals exam, because they are just that...fundamentals.  But the actual practice of engineering is vastly different from engineering school (unless you work only in R&D).  I think they are diluting the profession for profit.

THe swtich to CBT is actually more expensive to implement, the only one making more profit is the pearson testing company.  The only gain to NCEES was a theoretically more secure test by switching to CBT.