Anthony Fasano, P.E.

How To Deal With FE Exam Test Anxiety

February 23, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this week’s Pass the FE Exam article (and video above), I provide some strategies on how you can deal with FE Exam test anxiety.

Feeling nervous before an exam, or in any situation, is never a good feeling. However, the first thing to realize is that, especially in a situation like the FE exam, feeling nervous is completely normal. In fact, if you’re not nervous, I might question how serious you are taking this exam.

The big problem with feeling nervous or anxious is when it prevents you from focusing, and starts to cost you on your exam score, by impacting your performance negatively.

Whether you feel a little nervous, or are feeling overwhelmed, there are a few things you can do prior to and during the FE exam to help you cope with FE Exam test anxiety, nerves, or stress that you might encounter. [Read more…] about How To Deal With FE Exam Test Anxiety

How To Beat PE Exam Nerves and Avoid Exam Anxiety

February 17, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Preparing for PE Exam Day: How To Beat Nerves

In this post (and video above), I discuss a challenge that many engineers struggle with, during the PE exam – NEVES. How can you try to overcome nervousness for the exam and avoid exam anxiety as it can truly cripple you?

It all comes down to practice and preparation…

3 Mistakes To Avoid When Taking the FE Exam

February 16, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

3 Mistakes You Should Never Make in Your FE Exam

In this post (and video above), I talk about the 3 most common mistakes people make during the FE Exam and how you can avoid making the same mistakes. Thinking about what you shouldn’t be doing can give you a better idea of what you need to be doing during the exam.

Understanding Load and Resistance Factor Design

February 15, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Understanding Load and Resistance Factor Design is a guest blog by Aaron Simmons

Whether you’re an engineer or not, you’d probably agree that each structure built, regardless of how big it is, should be made with integrity, stability, and strength.

Do you want to know how engineers do it? Read further in this article to learn about one of the philosophies or concepts they use to ensure safety in structures: the LRFD method.

In this article, we are going to talk about Load and Resistance Factor Design, or LRFD, a design method used in structural engineering. We’ll also do an ASD vs LRFD comparison.

For ordinary people, the subject might seem as complicated as taking the SAT, and that it’s almost always necessary to enroll in SAT prep courses. Not for the folks deeply involved in structural engineering, however.

Let’s look at the science behind LRFD and appreciate its significance to the engineering world.

What Is LRFD?

Are You Eligible to Take The PE Exam?

February 10, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this Pass the PE Exam article, I explain how you can determine if you’re eligible and qualify to take the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam also known as the PE Exam.

The Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (or PE Exam) is administered by the (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), also referred to as NCEES, a national organization tasked with regulating the testing of engineers and surveyors. The PE exam is a standardized test administered nationally across the United States.

FE Exam Statics – Determining the Internal Force in a Truss Member

February 9, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

During the FE Exam you will have to solve problems on internal forces in members. In this post (and video above), I will provide you with a practice problem on determining the internal force in a truss member to help you prepare for these questions.

The following sample problem was provided to us by PrepFE.

PrepFE is one of the most effective FE exam self-study prep services out there and happens to be one of the most affordable too. PrepFE is an app that gives you access to countless sample FE problems to bolster your self study efforts.

You can visit www.prepfe.com/redeem and use the discount code PASS-EXAM-0010 to receive 10% off and get some great FE practice problems.

PE Exam Practice Problem: Water Resources Wetted Perimeter

February 3, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this Pass the PE Exam post, I am going to solve a Wetted Perimeter problem that is part of the Water Resources section that you will encounter on the PE Exam. The term wetted perimeter is common in civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, geomorphology, and heat transfer applications; it is associated with the hydraulic diameter or hydraulic radius. The wetted perimeter is defined as the length of the line representing the interface between a fluid and a channel.

Here’s The Wetted Perimeter Problem:

Here’s The Solution:

How to Prep the Week of Your FE Exam

February 2, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

After weeks of studying and preparing for the FE Exam, the final week before the exam has arrived. You’re ready to ace your upcoming exam, but you might be feeling stressed out and not sure if you prepared well enough. The last week prior to the FE exam is extremely important and that is why in this week’s Pass the FE Exam video, you will be provided with five actions you should take during that last week that might be the difference between you passing the FE Exam or not.

What PE Exams Are Now CBT (Computer Based Testing) in 2021

January 27, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Do you know that all PE Exams are eventually going to be CBT (computer-based testing) and what exactly that means for you?

You can find the details from NCEES here, however NCEES had always planned to move the exams to computer-based testing or CBT, however, it is now fast-tracking the move to CBT for some of the PE exams, as part of its response to COVID-19. Currently, PE exams are administered in either CBT format or a pencil-and-paper format depending on the discipline of the exam. Once an exam is moved to CBT, the biggest difference is that you can’t bring in your own books or reference materials anymore – you only get one reference book that they provide you with which is an online reference manual.

Computer-based testing or CBT exams include traditional multiple-choice questions as well as alternative item types (or AITs). AITs, provide opportunities to assess the technical knowledge of examinees using methods not available through traditional pencil-and-paper testing.

All questions, including AITs, are scored as either correct or incorrect. There is no partial credit. These AITs or alternative item types may include but are not limited to the following:

Angle of Rotation Problem (Practice and Solution)

January 26, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Angle of rotation problems can come up in several NCEES FE Exams: Civil, Mechanical, and Other Disciplines. In mathematics, the angle of rotation is a measurement of the amount, of namely angle, that a figure is rotated about a fixed point, often the center of a circle.

A clockwise rotation is considered a negative rotation, so that, for instance, a rotation of 310 degrees (counter clockwise) can also be called a rotation of negative 50° (since 310 degrees + 50 degrees = 360 degrees, a full rotation ( or turn)).

A counter clockwise rotation of more than one complete turn is normally measured modjulo 360 degrees, meaning that 360 degrees is subtracted off as many times as possible to leave a non-negative measurement less than 360 degrees.

Before I move ahead, let me remind you that the FE EXAM or fundamentals of engineering – is the first step to getting your professional engineering license, and through the videos on this channel, including this one, you will learn not only how to properly prepare for the exam, but how to ensure you PASS THE FE EXAM!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here, as our weekly videos will help you Pass the FE Exam. Leave your FE questions in the comments below and we will answer them in future videos.