Looks like I'll be eligible for the Fall 2014 exam so it's time for me to start my studying (slowly of course). Any suggestions on prep/procedure/exam? Good/preferred prep materials?

Just ordered the NCEES exam prep book, but looking for others.

I'll be doing the waterboy version.

4/24/2013 2:26:17 PM

I've taken it twice. I'm in structures, but took geotech based on dr. nao's suggestion on the online ncsu course. That was a bad decision, stick with what you work with. The geotech questions might have been easier, but when a question hits you in the face and you have to rationalize through it, it's a lot harder with something your not familiar with.

The second time I just took it and think I did well.

The morning - I really recommend an online course. The NCSU one I felt really prepared me. Both times I walked out of the AM section feeling confident.

The afternoon - Don't be discouraged by the "Six Minute Solutions" problems. They should rename then, cause they take at least double the time. Just make sure you can look at the problem and figure out how you would solve it. The NCEES example problems definitely mimic the test problems.

gl

4/24/2013 2:36:30 PM

Thanks. It looks like NCSU refers to the PPI books, so I guess I'll look at those. Definitely looking at taking the NCSU review course. Are there 2 different ones (there are two websites for PE review courses).

Also, I assume I have to have my 4 years completed before I can sit for the exam? This information is probably buried somewhere on the NCBELs website, but I haven't seen it.

4/24/2013 3:03:31 PM

ah dammit; I think I'm eligble for this fall... just realized I had never considered my work between undergrad and grad, which gives me 4 months and puts me eligible this july, for the fall exam.

shit shit shit. don't know what to do now...

4/24/2013 3:34:21 PM

Take it, might as well. That is enough time if you dedicate yourself. At worst, you fail and have to re-apply for 100 bucks.

The NCSU class might have changed, but depending on the person lecturing, they had different materials. The thing about the review course is that you got a great set of reference materials that mimic a lot of questions that can be asked.

4/24/2013 3:49:11 PM

yeh; that class starts tonight and they're going to fit me in.

turns out in addition to forgetting my 4 months between grad and undergrad; i put my current work start date on the wrong year... all fucked up! I'll have 51 months come october.

4/24/2013 3:52:33 PM

I am a structural person that took GEO as well.

Focus alot of breadth. Don't think you can just ace the Structural part and guess on teh rest....the easy answers will be in the morning.

The afternoon is rough, even if you know your stuff. IMO, you can be a structural expert, but odds are you get the morning traffic question right over the afternoon structural question. They're designed such that someone can't study one topic in depth and pass the test...you must know a little about everything. If you study a little of everything, the morning problems will be hilariously easy for the most part.

When I took it there were 40 morning problems (i think there still are). If you don't get 30-35 of them, give up. The afternoon was brutal (Might also be because I took GEO and some stuff I was completely unfamiliar with...despite studying a lot for it and doing a bit of GEO daily at work). I guarantee you I got 35-37 out of 40 in the morning...there were very few problems I knew I did 100% correctly in the afternoon. The good thing was that they all count the same and I was able to (likely) bomb the afternoon and still guess enough correctly to pass. I mean statistically you'll guess 25% correctly (I think its A-D?)


[Edited on April 24, 2013 at 5:23 PM. Reason : s]

4/24/2013 5:18:54 PM

I, too, am structural and took the geo. The NCSU review course is awesome for the morning section and gives you a ton of good, practical, practice problems. If you take that review course and really study you should ace the morning section. The afternoon is tough and, like others said, since I took something out of my expertise it was harder to work through the problems I hadn't seen before. I did pass, though, so I guess there was something to Dr. Nau's recommendation.

I did have the PPI books but mainly used NCEES practice problems as well as the ones that you get from the review course.

4/24/2013 5:46:11 PM

It's a breeze. When I took it, it was less about actual thinking and more just looking up random specs and values in books that you just happen to have (hopefully). The class at ITRE is really good, teaches you a lot on what to expect. And, believe it or not, I used to be one of the instructors for the course when I worked at State

4/24/2013 7:13:19 PM

Definitely check out the PPI2pass materials. I took the Structural I exam though, not the civil exam (and it was five years ago). I used their Structural Engineering Reference Manual and just worked my way through it, which was pretty fantastic. I actually still pull that manual out on a fairly regular basis at work. Someone also passed along copies of the Six Minute Solutions books, and I did some problems from those. I actually ran into some very similar problems on the exam. Take a look at their forums also...you might be able to score a used copy of their CE Reference manual (or Water Resources Reference Manual), or used copies of other reference materials. You also may find some pretty great advice in there from people that took the water resources section.

I also heard very good things about the NCSU review course (again - five years ago).

Good luck!!!

4/24/2013 9:01:17 PM

thanks. got into the NCSU civil course last night, so all is good there. Ordering some of the PPI books today and have a coworker's for now.

Last night in class, the instructor said the application process is all online now... is that right, because there is nothing on NCBELs website or downloads about that... they all seem to reference hardcopy being mailed...

4/25/2013 8:43:59 AM

It's still mail I believe.

4/25/2013 9:56:14 AM

thanks.

Anyone remember the Verification of License form? I got my EI in NC... so I don't see the point of this form....

4/25/2013 10:08:20 AM

ah, finally saw where it said out of state certifications. guess that form isn't needed.




do I need to get the 6-minute solutions for all disciplines or just my afternoon discipline?

4/25/2013 11:51:59 AM

I was a structures guy, but took the construction afternoon module because that's what I do on a daily basis. I took mine, and passed, 5 years ago. My study path was a three month process. I broke the three months in to five parts (traffic, geo, hydro, structures, construction) and studied on average 5 hours per week--no class. I found practice problems in ppi and ncees in the different groups and kept all the notes and solutions very organized for easy finding during the exam. The time aspect of the exam is more difficult than the problems, so, for me, organization was key. It's amazing to see how much material some took to the exam (one guy wheeled in a hand cart with at least four crates on it). I had about 4 books and one three ring binder.

Now, if I can just pass the PLS exam! I've tried three times, and missed 70 by 3 twice. I've passed nc pls parts, just not the national.

[Edited on April 25, 2013 at 10:39 PM. Reason : Ps .. Good luck!]

4/25/2013 10:39:07 PM

i would have thought that "structural engineers" would at least be embarrassed to admit that they opted to take the geotech exam... but i guess not.

smh dr. nau.

5/2/2013 1:27:02 PM

5/2/2013 3:52:09 PM

Quote :

"i would have thought that "structural engineers" would at least be embarrassed to admit that they opted to take the geotech exam... but i guess not."

There are a few reasons why structures guys often do this. One is that many young structural engineers don't have experience in multiple aspects of structural engineering (bridge standards, steel, concrete, timber, etc.). Personally I've been in a very specialized industry and have a lot of experience in steel and reinforced concrete but little else. Furthermore, the questions on the structural section seem like they are written by professors rather than working professional engineers (which is how the geo and constructions sections are written). In the end, it's the same seal regardless of which section of the exam I took so I don't see any shame whatsoever in taking a section that I think will provide the best opportunity to pass. The test is just a means to an end.

5/2/2013 6:27:21 PM

In my case, at least, I deal with geotech/foundations just as much as I do with actual steel/concrete/masonry/wood design...so im actually very familiar with GEO concepts and calculations.

Geo is a much easier topic with a much smaller breadth of knowledge, so its somewhat of a no brainer for alot of structural engineers. As mentioned, it is the same stamp, after all (except in IL, NV, WA)

And for clarification...when Dr. Nau said dont take the structural PE, I dont think hes talking about the afternoon portion of the PE with a structural focus. Hes talking about the SE exam...which is completely different. I have the study texts...its BRUTAL

[Edited on May 3, 2013 at 12:05 AM. Reason : aa]

5/3/2013 12:03:10 AM

Saving this topic for next year when I'll be eligible. I'll probably take the construction option, although working for the government most of my construction experience is reviewing contractor documents...

5/3/2013 8:15:33 AM

Quote :

"And for clarification...when Dr. Nau said dont take the structural PE, I dont think hes talking about the afternoon portion of the PE with a structural focus. Hes talking about the SE exam...which is completely different. "

No, Dr. Nau recommends not taking the structural afternoon portion of the PE and recommends the geo afternoon section instead. That being said, about half of the engineers I know took the geo and about half took the structural.

5/3/2013 9:10:39 AM

Hmm...I always thought he was referring to the 16 hour SE exam. My fault.

Well, he would LOOOVE the SE!

5/3/2013 1:09:18 PM

Yeah, the pass rates for the SE are crazy low.

5/3/2013 1:53:36 PM

I think Dr. Nau just gives the best advice he can to simply pass the exam and move on with your career. Historically, the pass rates for Structural are very low (about 40% - lowest of all the disciplines I believe). "Brutal" is an excellent word choice.

5/4/2013 1:09:47 PM

so as the instructor was talking in class this week, he said, "we can jerk off the pipe". I was the only one who laughed

maybe I should grow up.

5/17/2013 2:14:30 PM

Passed

5/23/2013 2:26:57 PM

congrats

5/23/2013 3:29:08 PM

Passed

12/5/2013 3:59:04 PM

^awesome man, congrats! Welcome to the club!

12/6/2013 12:13:49 AM

Congrats fellow PEs. I took the Construction pm test a couple years ago and passed on the first try. It was very new test at the time, but I recommend it if you are unsure. Project management experience will help.

12/6/2013 10:17:02 PM

^i did the same. 2008.

12/7/2013 3:50:25 PM