My area was not Civil (Computer Engineering), but I imagine many of the test taking strategies to be the useful on all disciplines.
I found it helpful to create a 'Cheat Book' - containing all those unusual items on the practice exams, that I could only find online (many through Wiki). It tuned out to be a70-page document that I had spiral bound and in the center of my most trusted references on the exam table. I would up using it to helped me on at least a dozen questions.
Also, I have found a four-pass method for taking multiple choice exams to be extremely helpful (mostly written tests - which are becoming dinosaurs, however the method is mostly applicable to online tests that mimic written in their first few iterations).
First pass - only answer the questions you are absolutely sure you know, without taking longer than the average time to work (6-minutes for the PE). If you can, also flag (I use numbers in the upper corner of the problem page, such as 1 or 2), to indicate any answers you believe can be eliminated. For example, I put a number two in the corner if I can eliminate two of the answers, and a number one if I can eliminate only one). Also, if you see a problem that you are fairly certain you can answer if you take more time, put a Start on the corner of that page.
Second pass - go through and work on the problems you marked with number 2. Try and limit yourself to two-thirds or half the average time per problem on this pass - for the PE, I used 4 minutes for a '2' and 3 minutes for a '1' - limiting the time is critical on this pass.
Third pass - go after any of the Stars, and try to divide the time you have left by the count of those stars minus 10 to 15 minutes. On my test, I believe I got three out of the four Stars correct in the morning and 4 out of the 6 in the afternoon.
Optional Pass 3.5 - If you have time left at this point - beyond the 10 to 15 Final pass allocation, then go back and visit any of the number '2's you may have not completed.
Fourth pass - try and estimate which of the letters (A, B, C, or D, for the PE) you used least (and if this is the morning session, try and remember the morning letter ratios as best you can for use in the afternoon session), then use that 'least-used' letter in answering all the remaining unanswered questions.
I'm sure some will have issue with my method, however, I passed not only the FE and PE the first time using this test strategy, but it also worked on both of my other Certification exams.
Good luck.
I am also doing EET to try and strengthen some weaknesses. I've already started studying (instead of waiting 2-3 months before to start like in the past) and I'm going to focus on doing as many problems as I can. Good luck to you in October, I know this time you've got it.
