In this article (and the video above), Mauricio Bernal, a returning intern at Burns & McDonnell, talks with Katie Lev, an Engineer-in-Training and Assistant Structural Engineer at Burns & McDonnell. They discuss everything from exam format insights to personal study strategies and exam day tips, providing valuable information for aspiring engineers looking to pass the FE Exam with flying colors.
Here Are Some of the Questions Asked:
- When is the best time to schedule the FE exam, and how far in advance should it be done?
- What is the format of the exam, and what types of questions are included?
- Did you create a study schedule with the given timeline, and if yes, how did you organize your study sessions and set specific goals?
- How did you balance studying for your exam with your other school commitments and responsibilities?
- What strategies did you use during the exam to ensure you could answer all the questions within the allotted time?
- What advice do you have for aspiring engineers preparing to take the FE exam for the first time?
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:
- The best time to schedule the FE exam is after finishing relevant coursework in your senior year. It’s wise to book your exam several months ahead to ensure you get your preferred date and location at a nearby testing center.
- The FE exam consists of 110 questions divided into two parts with a break in between. It primarily features multiple-choice questions, alongside alternative questions that may require selecting correct points on graphs, dragging and dropping items, or filling in numerical answers.
- A structured study schedule is essential for preparing for the FE exam within a specific timeline. Study sessions are organized to focus on key exam topics, with goals set for mastering unfamiliar terms and practicing with sample exams using the provided reference booklet.
- Balancing study for the FE exam with other school commitments involves adjusting study time based on workload fluctuations throughout the academic term. During less busy periods, focus more on exam preparation, and during busier times like midterms, manage overall school workload effectively.
- During the exam, effective time management is crucial. Candidates can use timed practice sessions beforehand to become comfortable answering questions within the three-minute average per question, ensuring they maintain a steady pace and complete all sections within the allotted time.
- For aspiring engineers preparing to take the FE exam for the first time, it’s important to take the exam even if you’re uncertain about your future career path. This credential is valuable across different engineering fields and offers flexibility for future educational and career opportunities.
About Mauricio Bernal
Mauricio Bernal is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, with an expected graduation in May 2026. On campus, he is a UMKC Trustee’s Scholar, serves as Vice President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and is actively involved in the Latinx Student Union, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the concrete canoe team. After his freshman year, Mauricio began his internship at Burns & McDonnell in the transmission and distribution global practice, working on underground and submarine cable projects. Returning for his second summer, he is now contributing to the power group, providing civil work for solar, wind, and power plant projects. On Saturdays, he serves as a Data Science Instructor for the K-12 Initiative Pipeline Programs, teaching soil science and developing STEM curricula for over 200 students. Through his studies and his time at Burns & McDonnell, Mauricio has gained experience with Autodesk Civil 3D, SolidWorks, HydroCAD, Power BI, and FLO-2D. Mauricio is preparing to take the FE exam in Spring of 2025.
About Katie Lev, EIT
Katie Lev is an accomplished assistant structural engineer in training at Burns & McDonnell, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Northwestern University. Day to day, she mainly focuses on supporting coal-burning power plants to add natural gas capacity, plant services and most recently solar power generating facilities. During her time at Northwestern, she served as a Civil/Structural Engineering Intern at Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. as well as a Structural Intern at Burns & McDonnell. Additionally, she worked as a tour guide at Northwestern’s Office of Admissions as well as a teaching assistant and student grader. In her spare time, she co-managed the Smart Tree project for Engineers for a Sustainable World and held a leadership role in Relay for Life. Katie recently passed her FE exam in the Spring of 2023.
About Matthew Douglas
Matthew currently serves as a content creator and host of The Engineering Project Management Podcast. A civil engineer by trade, Matthew has developed a passion for construction and stormwater management by way of maintenance and rehabilitation services. Matthew has also had experience working with private consulting firms and public agencies, and has even held a role of an educator. As such, he loves to lead, build, mentor, and help those in need.
Most recently, during his time working for the public sector, he has taken the role of Public Works Operations Manager. He led quite a few public infrastructure rehabilitation projects and implemented new asset management technologies at a very young age. It is here that the passion for “fixing what’s broken” developed.
Sources:
Burns & McDonnell
Northwestern University
FE Exam
Connect with Mauricio Berna on LinkedIn
Connect with Katie Lev, EIT, on LinkedIn
This Episode Is Brought to You by Burns & McDonnell
At Burns & McDonnell, our engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, planners, technologists, and scientists do more than plan, design, and construct. With a mission unchanged since 1898 — make our clients successful — our more than 13,500 professionals partner with you on the toughest challenges, constantly working to make the world an amazing place. Each professional brings an ownership mentality to projects at our 100% employee-owned firm, which has safety performance among the top 5% of AEC firms. That means we think like owners, working through each challenge until it’s resolved, meeting or exceeding our client’s goals. Find out more about Burns & McDonnell here: burnsmcd.com/careers
I hope you found this week’s FE Exam article helpful. In upcoming articles, I will answer more FE Exam questions and run through more practice problems. We publish videos bi-weekly on our Pass the FE Exam YouTube Channel. Be sure to visit our page here and click the subscribe button, as you’ll get expert tips and tricks – to ensure your best success – that you can’t get anywhere else. Believe me, you won’t want to miss a single video.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of the videos or here on this page, and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.
I’ll see you next week.
Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
