3 Tips to Pass the PE Power Exam on the First Try

One of the biggest secrets to passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam on the first try is that it won't actually be your first try! Find out why and other useful strategies below.

There isn't any shame in taking the PE exam more than once to pass. Of my three mentors that verified my engineering experience for the PE, only one had passed on their first try. It's not uncommon to end up taking the test two to three times in some cases. With that being said, you'll save immense time, money, and energy by passing on your first try. The following three strategies are foundational in a successful first attempt:

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1. Build a study schedule

2. Utilize ALL of your resources

3. Simulate exam day

1. Build a study schedule:

300+ hours, 16+ weeks, 6+ months-you'll find endless opinions on how long it takes to study for the PE exam. No matter how long you decide to take, be sure you decide your course of action, build your study schedule, and get started! With the updated computer-based testing (CBT) format, the PE Power exam is available year-round. Start with the total amount of time you plan to study, carefully consider how much time you can commit per week, and then pick your test date based on how long it will take you to reach your total study time. Scheduling your test date as part of your study schedule helps hold you accountable to your plan.

It's also important to review study program options like the ones offered by School of PE. If you benefit from live classes, you can take advantage of their Live Online delivery method. Otherwise, the OnDemand courses allow you to go at your own pace. Pick whichever option you can accommodate and build it into your weekly plan.
Once you have your plan in place, start executing and evaluating. If after the first 2-4 weeks you find yourself falling behind, review your remaining schedule and update your plan to make sure you're able to cover all of the exam specifications before the test date. This step emphasizes the importance of flexibility in your weekly study commitment and being conservative with the total amount of time to study from the start.
2. Utilize ALL your resources:
It's important to acknowledge that you have many resources within your reach. Who do you know that has already taken the exam? With the experience you have accrued for the exam, (graduation from an ABET college, 4 years of work experience) you'll have at least a few peers either from college or your workplace that you should be able to ask for advice about the exam. Check with your current employer to see if they have saved textbooks or study guides in the company library. Ask newly certified PEs about their study and exam experiences. There are great lessons and tips to be learned from those who have already passed-all you have to do is ask.
Your personal contacts are a great way to establish which textbooks/study guides you should invest in. People will have great advice on what books worked for them, and you may be able to borrow textbooks instead of having to purchase. Some of the absolute staples include:

1. PE Electrical and Computer: Power Practice Exam (NCEES
2. National Electrical Code Handbook [most recent edition] (NFPA)
3. Electrical Machines, Drives, and Power Systems (Wildi)

Engineering forums are another fantastic resource to supplement formal study programs. For example, Engineer Boards provides discussion threads to official NCEES Practice Exam solutions. There are numerous great resources to gaining a much better understanding to how solutions are developed and learning tricks from individuals both within and outside of your personal network.

3. Simulate exam day:
It is difficult to pass the PE on your very first try. That' why ideally your first official exam will come after one or two unofficial exam simulations. Within 2-4 weeks before the official test, take a full day to simulate everything you need to do the day of: exact start time, your morning routine and what you're going to eat, similar testing environment, breaks (including lunch), and rules. This simulation allows you to become familiar with all the hurdles that will be in place during the actual exam. It's also an opportunity to understand and practice the stamina that will be required to maintain focus for a 9-hour day. While you won't be able to use the exact CBT system, NCEES and Pearson VUE offer resources and demos that explain what to expect in the testing environment. School of PE offers their Question Bank which simulates the CBT exam day experience.
As you can expect, there are many other steps that lead to a successful first attempt at the PE Power exam. But these three strategies are the best building blocks for creating a system that will help you pass the first time. Good luck!

About the Author: Mitch Hanson

Mitch Hanson, P.E. passed the Electrical and Computer: Power exam on his first *official* try in 2019 with the help of School of PE and practices electrical engineering in Colorado.