8 Quick Tips About the PE Civil Exam

Civil Engineering is arguably the broadest discipline in the field of engineering. According to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), there are five PE Civil depth exams offered, which is more than any other discipline. It is important to begin thinking about your chosen depth toward the end of your college career. This way, you can enroll in the electives that suit your depth subject interest. If you decide to wait and work for a few years, you can also select your depth subject after you've gained some experience. Keep in mind that your depth subject must be selected upon registering for the PE Civil exam. 

Selecting your depth subject is critical to your success as an engineer. After all, you will spend the next 15-20 years developing and cultivating your specialty to ultimately become a subject matter expert. This means being a long-range thinker and taking the time to make deliberate decisions being cognizant of opportunities that develop, supplement, or offset your career experience. 

The greatest resource for understanding the PE Civil exam is the NCEES. This organization administers the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE), Principals and Practices of Engineering (PE), Fundamentals of Surveying (FS), and Principals and Practices of Surveying (PS) exams. Some of these exams are administered with pencil and paper, while others have made the switch to CBT, or computer-based testing. According to ncees.org, all exams will be computer-based by 2024. Click here to view the conversion schedule. 

Currently, in 2020, the PE Civil Exam is an 8-hour, pencil-and-paper exam with 80 questions. The exam is administered in two parts: The breadth portion and the depth portion. No matter your chosen specialty, the breadth portion of the exam will be the same. Then, the second half of the exam will focus only on the depth subject of your choice. 

The breadth section of the PE Civil exam is administered during the morning and is typically 4-hours long with 40 questions. According to the NCEES, these 40 questions consist of the following: Project Planning, Means and Methods, Soil Mechanics, Structural Mechanics, Hydraulics and Hydrology, Geometrics, Materials, and Site Development. This portion of the exam is meant to test the Engineer's broad knowledge of these subjects within Civil Engineering. As a licensed Engineer, you will most likely be expected to possess broad knowledge in order to make certain decisions in these subject areas. 

The depth section of the PE Civil exam focuses on a specific area of practice. Exam candidates are expected to be able to use all applicable design manuals and criteria related to the depth subject. The PE Civil exam has five depth subjects to choose from: Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, and Water Resources and Environmental. As a licensed Engineer, you will be expected to possess depth knowledge and be responsible for projects within your specific area of practice, your specialty, or depth. 

There are many resources available to assist students as they prepare for the PE Civil exam. These resources include refresher courses and one-on-one tutoring which are offered by School of PE. School of PE also offers practice problems and exams for students to become more comfortable with their respective subjects. Other resources include relevant and sometimes required exam publications and textbooks. For more information about School of PE's exam review courses, email info@schoolofpe.com or call 614-873-7475.

About the Author: Sidney May

Sidney May is a multi-state licensed Civil Engineer with over 15 years of work experience in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Her expertise includes public works processes; managing capital improvements projects; developing project scopes and budgets; preparing design drawings; developing project specifications; and managing construction projects. Sidney develops course content; teaches refresher courses; and has co-authored the Civil Exam Transportation Depth Review Guide for the School of PE. Her civic duties include volunteering with S.T.E.A.M programs; serving as a professional mentor for the University of Alabama civil engineering students; and serving in leadership roles within the ASCE.

10 Strategies to Pass the California Surveying Exam the First Time

Table of Contents

1. Use a graphing calculator

2. Get a clear, flexible ruler

3. Take a surveying dictionary into the exam

4. Make a cheat sheet

5. Do as many practice problems as you can

6. Focus on the important topics

7. Know how to recognize "errors"

8. Be comfortable with sign conventions

9. Watch your units!

10. Be invested

1. Use a graphing calculator 

You can use a graphing calculator on this exam, and you're going to want to. This will make the conversion of Degrees Minutes Seconds to Degrees so easy! 

2. Get a clear, flexible ruler 

A lot of the diagrams on the exam will be to scale, and guess what? That means you can literally measure the screen and multiply to get your answer! Forget the distance formula on these and save some crucial time. 

3. Take a surveying dictionary into the exam 

Definitions are huge on this test, and there are more terms than you can possibly take notes on in a review course. A surveying dictionary is the best way to ensure you have all the knowledge you could possibly need on this exam. 

4. Make a cheat sheet 

Making a cheat sheet is the best way to have all the info you need for calculations in one place. This should include the formulas for curves, formulas for differential leveling, unit conversions, and area formulas (at least)! Just make sure it's "bound" in a notebook or binder so you can take it into the exam room, loose paper is not allowed. 

5. Do as many practice problems as you can

Practice makes perfect, and you'll want to do a lot of practice problems for this exam. There may not be too many topics, but the topics can be tested in many ways, so be sure you're prepared. 

6. Focus on the important topics 

In my opinion, the best way to do this is to take a review course or do some online research before you start studying. There are a lot of topics (looking at you, photogrammetry!) that you need to be familiar with but shouldn't spend a week on intensive studying. I found it hard on this exam, in particular, to know what was important and what wasn't, so a prep course would be a good idea. 

7. Know how to recognize "errors" 

Error questions are common on the exam. There can be errors in so much of surveying and you need to be able to apply a "correction factor," know how to "close the transverse," or calculate the "ratio of error." Make sure you don't skip the error sections when you're studying. 

8. Be comfortable with sign conventions 

These can be so tricky on the exam, especially if you're stressed and pressed for time. Knowing your positives and negatives for cut/fill problems, magnetic declination, or even taping corrections will be really important for getting those problems right. 

9. Watch your units! 

Beyond the obvious conversions, one super common "trick" is to give you a scale in length and ask for a scaled area. You need to apply the scale factor twice for the change from distance to area. 

10. Be invested 

I know this test isn't very popular among many engineers. It differs from the bulk of what we learned in undergrad and do in our professional lives, but if you can get excited about learning something new and leaning in to the material in whichever way suits you, this process will be a lot more enjoyable and effective!

School of PE offers comprehensive exam review courses for the CA Seismic and CA Surveying exams. Visit our website to register for a prep class that best fits your schedule.

About the Author: Erin E. Kelly

Ms. Kelly is an experienced structural engineer with a focus on seismic risk. She has extensive experience in structural failure investigations, seismic structural design, and seismic risk assessments. Through the School of P.E., she has taught a 32-hour course for the California Seismic P.E. Exam, authored several blog posts, and contributed to other review products. She has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters of Engineering in Structural Engineering from Lehigh University.

Pass the PE Civil Exam: Strategies to Overcome Failure

We've all heard the phrase "failure is not an option." This was my resounding statement to myself each time I received my exam notification results that I had failed yet again. I have always been very smart, intuitive, and at the top of my class for most of my life, but I could not score high enough to pass the PE Civil exam. Many candidates find themselves in the same boat. If you are like me, it can be the most frustrating and discouraging experience of your career. The first thing I'll say is that you are not alone. Many candidates find themselves failing the exam multiple times and ready to discontinue the pursuit of becoming a licensed Professional Engineer. Here are some strategies to overcome failure and press forward toward passing the exam: 

First, exam candidates should develop the mindset to stay and endure the journey. This can be way easier said than done, but if your ultimate dream is to become a professionally licensed Engineer, then you should do just that. Exam candidates can sometimes feel the mental pressure from their employers and colleagues to pass the exam. This can certainly compound the issue because now you are expected to pass for reasons outside of yourself. Try to stay focused on your mental health, well-being, and ultimate goals. Also know that the PE exam is the most challenging exam of an Engineer's career and it takes time to understand the concepts and apply them in a timed exam. 

Candidates should think long-term when they are preparing to take the PE Civil exam for the first time as well as any subsequent times. Thinking long-term means devoting time and putting forth the effort to understand the concepts and problems of the exam while striving for continuous improvement and a passing score. According to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the PE Civil exam is a pencil-and-paper test in which results are scored and mailed to the candidate when he or she has failed. This diagnostic can be used to help candidates as they prepare to retake the exam. Candidates should be especially attentive to subjects at which they were not as successful. 

The PE Civil exam contains "exam tripwires," which are set to test the candidate's aptitude, agility, and understanding of the particular subject matter. Candidates who have thought they failed during the exam because of a "curveball" could very well be experiencing "exam tripwires." If you've failed because of this, you should look to strengthen your understanding of that specific subject by reading, researching, interpreting, utilizing other resources such as tutoring or refresher courses, and practicing problems. This can definitely make you better prepared for your next attempt at passing. Having a thorough understanding of the subject matter will more than likely mitigate the likelihood of being subject to "exam tripwires."

School of PE offers comprehensive review courses for the PE Civil exam. Learn more about how our classes can help you prepare, practice, and pass by visiting our website, emailing info@schoolofpe.com, or calling 614-873-7475.

About the Author: Sidney May

Sidney May is a multi-state licensed Civil Engineer with over 15 years of work experience in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Her expertise includes public works processes; managing capital improvements projects; developing project scopes and budgets; preparing design drawings; developing project specifications; and managing construction projects. Sidney develops course content; teaches refresher courses; and has co-authored the Civil Exam Transportation Depth Review Guide for the School of PE. Her civic duties include volunteering with S.T.E.A.M programs; serving as a professional mentor for the University of Alabama civil engineering students; and serving in leadership roles within the ASCE.

PE Civil Exam Preparation Guidelines

Taking and passing the PE Civil exam is quite the accomplishment for Civil Engineers. On the opposite end of the spectrum, not taking the PE Civil exam can present the Engineer with many challenges that include limited project oversight, lack of promotional opportunities, and/or not being the responsible charge over projects during their career. This is certainly not to say that Civil Engineers who do not pass their PE exam will not have rewarding careers, but there are definitely some limitations. If you have decided to pursue professional licensure as a Civil Engineer, here are some guidelines that will make it easier to prepare for-and hopefully pass-the exam. 

Civil Engineers pursuing professional licensure should first check with their state licensing boards to ensure they have met the minimum qualifications. Each state board is different; however, the general requirements state that exam candidates must attend an ABET-accredited institution and successfully pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Candidates who meet these minimum criteria, along with other application requirements, are permitted to sit for the PE exam. However, they are not able to apply for professional licensure with their respective boards until they have the required years of qualifying experience (typically 4 years). In some situations, qualifying experience will suffice for candidates who did not obtain a degree from an accredited institution (typically 8-12 years minimum). 

Currently, the PE Civil exam is offered twice per year in April and October. Prior to studying, candidates should consult with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for exam dates, guidelines, and exam specifications. Typically, it takes 4-6 months to thoroughly prepare for the PE Civil exam. This time varies depending on life circumstances and is not meant to say that candidates who have shorter time periods to study will not be successful. Candidates should develop a study routine by taking the exam specifications and developing a dedicated schedule with dates and times to study. 

Candidates should select their PE Civil depth subject, review the specifications, and obtain the required depth manuals. A great number of depth exam problems come from the required manuals and publications. Candidates should also utilize exam review courses like those offered by School of PE. These courses give students hands-on opportunities to review important concepts, ask questions, get tutoring, practice problems, and become familiar with depth manuals and exam material. Depth manuals should be reviewed independently, and candidates should familiarize themselves with the manuals and tab them. This saves time during the exam and helps candidates remain focused. 

Candidates should take timed practice tests at least 2-4 weeks before the exam. This gives a final assessment and shows exactly where last-minute deficiencies are. The last few days prior to the exam should be rest days where candidates relax from the material, so they are refreshed and ready the day of the exam. A relaxed candidate is better equipped to think clearly, be thorough, avoid "exam tripwires," and better at problem-solving during the exam.

About the Author: Sidney May

Sidney May is a multi-state licensed Civil Engineer with over 15 years of work experience in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Her expertise includes public works processes; managing capital improvements projects; developing project scopes and budgets; preparing design drawings; developing project specifications; and managing construction projects. Sidney develops course content; teaches refresher courses; and has co-authored the Civil Exam Transportation Depth Review Guide for the School of PE. Her civic duties include volunteering with S.T.E.A.M programs; serving as a professional mentor for the University of Alabama civil engineering students; and serving in leadership roles within the ASCE.