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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
[Read more…] about FE Exam Statics – Determining the Internal Force in a Truss Member
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.
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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.
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:
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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.
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The biggest challenge in passing the PE exam for most people is not having enough time to answer difficult PE questions. You can be proficient in every technical concept on the exam, but if you’re not fast enough, you may not answer enough questions to pass the PE exam. The best possible way to feel less anxious about the PE exam is to be prepared.
My wife is a licensed professional engineer, and she struggled with this. She was really good at the technical concepts, and could answer any question if she had unlimited time, but when she got into a pressure type exam situation with limited time, she really struggled. So I helped her to create a process for tackling the exam questions with a focus on time management and I want to share that process with you in this video.
With regard to tackling difficult PE questions, I have to acknowledge that some of the PE exams, depending on discipline, have already gone to the CBT or computer based testing format. And the biggest change with CBT is that you cannot bring in personal reference materials, you can only use the digital handbook that NCEES provides. So the approach in answering questions may be different depending on whether or not your test is computer based. However, if your exam is CBT, it should go without saying that you must know the NCEES reference handbook inside-out.
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