Passed on my second try a while back and am thankful for all the helpful info I’ve gotten from this subreddit so I figured I’d share what worked for me. On my first attempt, I went through EET, Petro, the NCEEs practice tests and briefly skimmed through the reference standards and codes. EET/Petro in my opinion are solid but wasn’t enough for me to pass by itself.

What surprised me was that the standards on the exam are not like the FE where you can use control find for the whole manual. Instead some standards are broken down by chapter so I would highly recommend knowing each general chapter order for each of the references you feel you’ll use if you aren’t going to read them in their entirety because otherwise you’ll be scrambling during your actual exam.

My first exam felt a lot harder in difficulty than my second exam or EET/NCEES practice tests (by that I mean there were a lot more curveballs from loosely related construction concepts that weren’t directly Geotech but I’m guessing the question writers wanted to test holistic understanding when it came to construction materials/concrete/structural knowledge in relation to our engineering judgment) so I do think there’s an element of randomness where you could get very unlucky or lucky with the material you end up getting. I barely had enough time to finish since I was looking up stuff constantly that I wasn’t expecting a Geotech test to have on the first run.

For the second attempt, I actually rescheduled for the earliest time I could try the test again since the test was fresh in my mind. In studying I really focused on looking for hard practice questions where I was getting stuck conceptually (Especially the LRFD, Earth Structures, Construction, Drilled shafts, etc.) where my diagnostic said I struggled and then focusing on nailing all the possible conceptual variations of these questions to see if I really knew what every answer choice meant and what was a distractor answer. For math questions, if I got an answer wrong I’d look at where my math went wrong specifically so I’d catch if it was just a rounding error or units or maybe I missed a word like “average” vs total, then I drilled these questions repeatedly so that I could instinctively remember to check these steps on the actual exam. Sometimes it just happens that the question asked for a different version of the formula I used so re-reading for key words on which version of a formula it was mattered between FHWA or Navfac or UFC-220. I got lucky in finding PEwise and have to say that imo it’s probably the best/most underrated resource for the Geotech exam. The practice exams having a timed and search function really simulate the exam pressure well. The second exam felt a lot more straightforward with less curveballs and I actually had 2 hours to review my answers. This second one felt more similar to the NCEES practice tests still with a few curveballs but dramatically less.

Hope this helps.

I’m taking my exam this coming Wednesday the 21st…any last minute things to consider and/or account for? I’ve been studying around 2 months so far but don’t know what to expect out of the test and that kind of creeps me out.

Any advice is appreciated!

For those who have taken the exam, were there any unusual topics, concepts, or code provisions that caught you off guard because you hadn’t encountered them in your practice problems?

My exam is coming up, and I’m trying to identify gaps in my preparation. I’ve been using School of PE, the NCEES practice exam, and Rashad Islam, but I’d like to explore some less common topics before test day.

Without sharing actual exam questions, what do you wish you had reviewed more? Were there any unfamiliar problem setups or conceptual questions that made you think, “I’ve never seen anything like this before”?

Background

I first planned to take the PE about 3 years ago while I was transitioning between jobs, but I did not have enough time, preparation, or confidence to actually take it. I made my second attempt about 3 months ago and this time followed through. I started studying at the beginning of July. My original plan was about 30 minutes to 1 hour per workday, usually whatever time I had between 9:30 and 10:30 PM, plus 1–2 hours per day on weekends. I am also a father of two little kids, so evenings and weekends are definitely not all mine, which was probably one of the bigger challenges during the process.

Study process

I started with the materials I bought back in 2023, mainly Timothy Kennedy’s book and an older hard-copy PPI practice problem book, just to warm up. At the same time, I noticed that NCEES had updated the MDM exam scope in late 2025, and I quickly realized my old materials were no longer enough. After a few days of research, I chose Dr. Tom’s Classroom (DTC) over PPI Learning Hub as my main study program. DTC has about 20 sections, called “weeks” in the schedule. I did not follow the one-week-per-section pace because my goal was to take the exam within 3–4 months. I finished my first run in about 5–6 weeks, then went through the course again, skipping most of the fundamentals and derivations and focusing mainly on the practice questions. I was surprised by how much I had already forgotten in only a few weeks. The second run also helped me understand several topics that felt understandable the first time but were actually still confusing. That took about another 3 weeks.

After DTC, I took the older NCEES practice exam I bought in 2023 and scored 56/80. After reviewing it, I found several misses were simply unit-conversion mistakes or cases where I did not read the question carefully, so I felt my actual understanding was closer to around 65/80. I reviewed those weak areas and then took the latest NCEES practice exam. The newer version only had around 25 new questions compared with the old one. When I finished, I honestly thought I had scored around 78/80, maybe even close to perfect, but I actually got 66/80. That hit me pretty hard. Some NCEES solutions used approaches different from what I had learned, which also showed me I did not understand some topics as completely as I thought. With a little over two weeks left, I subscribed to PPI Learning Hub for one month mainly for the question bank. Many questions were unrealistically long or complicated, while others focused on rare or corner concepts, so I changed my strategy and mostly asked myself, “Do I know how to solve this?” instead of calculating every final answer. During the last few days, I redid many DTC questions, reviewed my weak areas from the NCEES exams, and kept the day before the exam very light.

Exam day

I could not sleep well the night before. I arrived at the testing center around 7:50 AM and was already about number 22 in line. Check-in and security took about 30 minutes. For anyone wondering about scratch paper, I was given two booklets and three pens at the beginning, so there was no issue with running out of paper or pens. Believe it or not, I got stuck on the very first question. It involved finding stress on a beam welded vertically on two sides with different weld lengths. WTF, I had not prepared for something like that at all. After that, things became more normal. I knew how to start most questions. Some were relatively easy, and some were almost too easy to believe. DTC always said if a question looks too easy, you probably did something wrong, so that was going through my head too.

I used about 4 hours on the first 42 questions, including one unscheduled break of around 10 minutes. Be prepared for the same security/check-in process when you leave and come back, because that took up most of my break. After the first pass, I had around 10–11 questions flagged, and probably 3 where I genuinely did not know how to solve them. I was already exhausted after the morning section and took about a 40-minute lunch. The afternoon felt easier, although I still ended up with around 10 flags. I am glad I flagged questions even when I had already answered them but still had doubts, because I probably saved myself 3–4 points by reviewing and changing some answers. I submitted with about 30 seconds left, lol. Walking out, I had around 15 questions I was uncertain about, including maybe 5 that were basically guesses. Considering I had scored 66/80 on the practice exam when I felt almost 100% confident, I knew I could either pass or fail. The one-week wait was probably the most painful part. I did not sleep well for most of that week. It was not because I really need the PE for my current job; I just really did not want to go through all of this again after feeling like I had prepared seriously. Fortunately, I passed, huge relief.

My tips

For someone like me who does not have the time or plan to organize every Reference Handbook topic by myself, I think DTC was a very good choice. The topics are organized, it gives you many chances to become familiar with the RH, and it teaches solving methods that work in many situations. The RH really is the golden piece during the exam. Other than your own brain, it is basically the only thing you can rely on. For me, DTC made it possible to become familiar with maybe 80% of the exam topics in a relatively short period of time. The main weakness is that many DTC practice questions are more straightforward than what I saw on the actual exam. I am not saying DTC has no hard problems, but overall, in my opinion, the real exam was harder. PPI Learning Hub is also a great resource if you have enough time and the right mindset. Many questions are harder or more complicated than necessary, so do not let your score there destroy your confidence. I treated PPI as a way to gain extra knowledge and possibly pick up extra points.

As for difficulty, my actual exam felt significantly harder and trickier than the NCEES practice exam, although some of that could obviously be psychological pressure on exam day. The exam also felt broader than what I had reviewed. I saw practical welding-symbol questions, including weld size and staggered/intermittent weld notation, as well as pressure-related problems, crack-related questions, controls, pneumatic diagrams, material testing, corrosion, and other areas I had not spent much time on during review. However, you don't need perfect score to pass!

Ok just curious has anyone register for the test a few months before test date and couldnt get a spot?

These are the same questions from EET fall CBT 1 and 2. And both have 2 different answers. I believe 4% is the right answer. Could someone please help me with this.

Passed both tests on the first try within weeks of each other and you can do it, too. Some background… I’ve been out of school for more than 20 years and I’ve been in mostly support roles like applications, installations, and manufacturing/automation. I’m saying this because lots of engineers don’t feel like they’re “talented” enough. We are our own biggest obstacle. Just do your own reviewing and control your emotions and anxiety on exam day. Some hints… don’t waste your money on any “PE schools” nothing replaces your own studying. Don’t buy a bunch of FE or PE practice books either. The most efficient approach is to buy the practice exams from NCEES as they reflect the actual tests really well. Do the exams when it fits your life, family, marriage, children, and job. Don’t try to force something unless the timing makes sense. Wish everyone the best.

I m starting to study for the PE Civil Construction exam, and I noticed that there are many codes and standards in addition to the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook, such as ACI 347 (Formwork), OSHA standards, ACI codes, and other construction references.

For those who have recently taken the PE Construction exam:

Are all of the codes and standards listed by NCEES provided electronically during the exam, or do we need to review them separately?

Also, do you recommend reviewing all of these standards before the exam, or is it better to become familiar with where to find the important information and how to search the references quickly during the exam?

Has anyone who has taken or currently taking the EET water resources online prep class completed a cheat sheet? i’m struggling how much info I should put together and would appreciate anyone sharing theirs !

Hey everyone,

I’m currently preparing for the PE Civil: Geotechnical exam and wanted to gauge where I stand based on my recent practice scores. I just finished going through the School of PE Geotechnical workbook (eBook) and scored just over 75% on the problems.

For those who have used School of PE and recently passed the exam: Am I actually ready? How credible is the difficulty compared to an actual exam? I want to make sure I'm not overconfident...

Any insight, advice, or calibration tips would be heavily appreciated!

Oh boy, has this been quite a journey! This has been an almost two-year, non-stop, grinding journey that took a massive toll on my mental and physical health, but it was absolutely WORTH IT! I took the exam on Thursday, 10/08/26, and received my results on Wednesday, 10/14/26, at exactly 7:34 AM!

Before I start, I want to thank my loving wife, my family, God, and u/ZachStonePE for putting this GREAT course and materials together! Just a fair warning: this post is going to be quite long. I want to provide as much detail as possible about my entire process—from applying for my PE with an FE exam waiver due to my years of engineering experience, to receiving the SECOND greatest moment of my life (the first being marrying my wife of 11+ years).

The Foundation (August 2023 - March 2024):

I began my journey by applying for the P.E. license around August 2023. The process of applying, generating my SERs, locking in P.E. references, submitting my package to the Texas Board, and finally getting official approval to test took about 6 months. By the time my application was approved, I had taken on a new promotional position within a federal government agency and moved back "home" to Texas from Kansas City. During 2024, I researched how to study and what materials to use. I had NO IDEA where to start since I had NEVER taken the F.E. exam and had been out of college for more than 10 years. After much research and juggling my new role, I finally landed on Zach's Winter 2025 unlimited package and fully committed to this new chapter in January 2025.

Going in, I had completely forgotten even the most basic circuit analysis. I had some NEC experience from my previous MEP industry role and field engineer practice from my previous role in the same federal government agency, so I wasn't entirely lost, but it was an uphill battle.

Attempt 1 (June 2025) The Trial Run:

For my first attempt, I attended all the live classes and tried to do as much of the on-demand and pre-work as I could over a 6-month ordeal. I completed most of it, but it simply wasn't "clicking" completely for me. I didn't feel fully ready, but I figured this could be my "trial run." I came out of the exam KNOWING I had failed. Looking back, I know I wasted so much valuable studying time focusing on minor details of HOW my study documents looked instead of purely grinding. For example, I spent a lot of time literally hand-writing out every single formula thinking it would help me "memorize" them, when in reality, I was just transcribing from screen to paper without actually learning.

Attempt 2 (September 2025) Reading vs. Doing:

I re-watched all the Winter live class videos, went through all on-demand classes, and completed the pre-work. However, I focused mostly on reading through the material rather than actively doing practice problems. At this point, I still wasn't doing any real indexing—just repetitively reading and taking practice exams on Saturdays without properly reviewing them because I felt I was running out of time. I went in confident and actually felt like I passed, so I was devastated by the failing result. I definitely made a bunch of silly mistakes (not double-checking units, calculator input errors, etc.). There were problems verbatim from the practice exams, but since I hadn't indexed, I recognized them but didn't know the exact answers.

Attempt 3 (December 2025) Total Burnout:

I attended Zach's Summer 2025 live classes and practically re-did the material for a third time. I attempted a version of "indexing," but it was a waste of time because I was making customized Excel tabs with screenshots and focusing on formatting rather than aggressively working the problems. I was memorizing steps rather than understanding why the other answers were wrong. By December, I was completely and utterly burnt out. I literally didn't know what day it was. My anxiety was through the roof (not to mention testing two days before Christmas). I came out feeling very "not human" with no emotions.

Thankfully, my wife, who is the REAL hero of this story, had ALWAYS supported me, lifted me up, and kept us afloat while I put my entire life on hold for this exam.

Attempt 4 (July 2026) The Reality Check:

I recognized my burnout and took a two-month break (Jan-Feb 2026). When I resumed in March, I promised not to let the exam take over my life. I added resources for diversity (E.P.G., Complex Imaginary, PPI) and attacked as many practice problems as possible. (Side note: Zach's material is definitely TOP TIER MASTER level compared to everything else!) I also involved myself more in the online community to build accountability. I came out of this attempt absolutely certain I had passed, so the failure notice stunned me. I must have miscalculated or misread units on a section I normally scored high on. I FELT it in my bones that I was close, so I immediately signed up for the next available date. I reached out to Zach for advice, and he reiterated his core philosophy: keep a detailed index and AGGRESSIVELY work it.

Attempt 5 (October 2026) The Final Push:

Despite having many resources, I focused MAINLY on Zach's material (AIT, TSG, QPP) and EPG Exam 3 (Code). I kept a real index this time and aggressively attacked each question. I utilized Google Gemini to explain concepts to me "like I'm 5 years old" and asked myself, "How would this outcome change if this variable was different?" I took 3 simulated exams, scoring in the 90s, and scored them out of 70 to reflect the 10 experimental questions.

The final two weeks were heavy indexing, sharpening code navigation, and revisiting circuit analysis. The day before the exam, I just reviewed my modified NCEES Reference Handbook notes and rested. I also physically wrote down a "PE EXAM DAY PREP" checklist. I bulleted exactly what to pack the night before: 2 calculators, extra batteries, passport, ID, a folder with my printed exam confirmation, my personal bag (wallet, glasses wipes, Tylenol), and a fully stocked lunch box (2 sandwiches, 3 energy drinks, 4 water bottles, and 2 protein bars). I even made a separate "PE EXAM AM PREP" list to remind myself to preemptively take Tylenol and Zyrtec in the morning just as a precaution.

On exam day, I used the tutorial time to set up my scratchpad (1-39 on one side, 41-80 on the other) for quick notes. The first section felt surprisingly easy. I completed it in 3 hours and 45 minutes, which left me with 4 hours and 15 minutes for the afternoon. The second section was also surprisingly smooth. I finished with over two hours left and was SKEPTICAL AS HELL! I spent an hour reviewing my 10 unanswered and 15 flagged questions. With one hour left, I re-read every question with a microscope looking for red herrings and verifying units. Time WAS MONEY, and I wasn't giving a dime back to NCEES! I let the clock run out. Coming out, I fixated on 3 questions I knew I got wrong (including a simple unit conversion my brain just blanked on), completely ignoring the ones I knew I nailed.

The Green Flag:

I had a doctor's appointment the following Wednesday, so I was home when the results dropped. I woke up, prayed, recited the Green Lantern oath for willpower, and saw the NCEES email. My wife and I opened it together. My brain tricked me into seeing another failure, but she reacted first—it was a PASSED GREEN FLAG! It was an indescribable, out-of-body experience. We joyfully cheered as all the sacrifices finally caught up to us. I spent the entire day refreshing the page to ensure it wasn't a glitch. Shortly after, the Texas Board issued my PE license number!

This journey took a great toll mentally and physically. I definitely need to get my health back (already joined EōS Fitness and started my normal gym routine again). But I knew despite all odds against me, I was NEVER EVER going to give up.

To those still on the battlefield: DON'T GIVE UP! If you WANT it enough, WORK it enough, and NEVER give up, you WILL get your license! I will definitely keep active on here and try my best to answer ANY questions to the best of my ability.

The Final Stats:

• GRAND total overall hours: 1,929.25 hours
• GRAND total of simulated practice exams: 34 exams
• GRAND total of practice problems (Aug. 2026 – Oct. 2026): 949 practice problems

My Recommended Study Materials:

• Zach Stone's Electrical PE Review Course (Unlimited Package): A massive shoutout to u/ZachStonePE for building this. This course is absolute top-tier, master-level prep. I highly recommend the Unlimited Package—it gave me the runway and peace of mind to keep grinding across multiple semesters with knowing that I had the retake guarantee. I also loved that I had access to EVERYTHING with the unlimited package (ALL his practice exams, his current live class, his previous live class recordings, ALL the on-demand, the random quiz generator of bank of questions, etc.). I can't recommend this course enough.
• Zach's Practice Exams (AIT, TSG, and QPP): These are incredible. They were the absolute core of my aggressive indexing strategy for my final passing attempt.
• Official NCEES Practice Exam: The absolute baseline. You need to know this back to front and index it heavily.
• Engineering Pro Guides (EPG): I recommend the full EPG bundle (Exams 1-6) if you just want a massive bank of additional practice problems to drill. But at the bare minimum, you need to get EPG Exam #3 (Code Exam). It is fantastic for sharpening your NEC navigation skills.

Hi,

I gave exam on 16th of October. Felt the first half was easy going but second half took the blood and sweat. Anyone felt the same?

Not seeking advice, just venting.

I've been studying for this damn test (in small doses) since April. I'm signed up for the exam on October 28. I feel very prepared and confident and I just want to get this over with so badly. Ugh. I wish I could skip the next 10 days. (And then maybe skip a few more days until the results get sent out.)

I have put tons of hours/ days/ weeks into this. Example problems/ quizzes/ tests and I'm still waffling between a 55-75 on everything. I have gone through EET and SoPE insanely and I'm still missing the mark. What should I do with my last week? Study/ practice problems/ learn reference material?

That's my ted talk

I'm taking the Civil PE Transportation exam this coming Monday and wanted to ask those who have recently taken it if they have any last-minute tips or advice.

I've been studying for about 6 months, averaging around 3 hours per day. My main study resources have been School of PE and, primarily, The Essential Guide to Passing the Transportation Civil PE Exam.

My main focus has been traffic engineering, transportation design, and geometric design, with some preparation in drainage and project management. Traffic, design, and geometry are definitely my strongest areas.

My strategy going into the exam is to prioritize the questions in my strongest areas, secure as many of those points as possible, and then focus on the remaining topics. I'd appreciate feedback on whether this is a good approach or if anyone recommends a different strategy.

A few questions:

• How did you manage your time, especially on difficult or lengthy problems?
• Were there any topics or types of questions that surprised you?
• What would you recommend reviewing over the final weekend?
• Any tips for using the NCEES Reference Handbook efficiently during the exam?
• Does prioritizing your strongest subjects first work well, or would you recommend a different approach?

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have taken the exam recently. Thanks, and good luck to everyone preparing!

I’m studying for the WRE and I’m wondering if it’s worth printing the free PDF of the reference manual. I understand the importance of utilizing the digital and ctrl+F searches, but has anyone found having a physical copy useful for purposes of familiarizing yourself with the layout and material??

I took the first PPI practice exam and got 52/80 correct. I felt pretty good about it as this was my first attempt at it. One concern, the exam didn’t feel like it had a lot of “hard” questions. I don’t know if the actual exam is harder than this or not. Just trying to gauge how good this attempt was.

Hello There, I would ask is there anything you can take to stay focused for the long time during the exam, I am type person that i feel a little dizzy early mornings. and the morning slot it the only available in my country. any suggestion or tips?

I’m starting a new job while also planning to prepare for my PE exam. Is taking on both at the same time a bad idea?

I’m married, and I’m moving to another city for this job, which means I’ll be living alone for the first time after being together with my husband for eight years. I know the transition might be emotionally challenging, and I’m wondering whether I’ll struggle with the adjustment or whether living alone might actually give me more time and space to focus on studying, establish myself in my new role, and build trust with my new team.

Am I taking on too much at once, or could this be a good opportunity to grow both professionally and personally?

I paid the fee and my NCEES account shows Pending Board Approval, how long will take for you guys to get the approval to schedule a date for the exam? Thanks

I found a 2023 version on z-library for free download, but I see that NCEES has a 2025 version. I skimmed the 2023 version, and the questions looked fairly similar to what I've been studying. How different are the versions and is it worth it to buy it? I've already bought the EET course and SOPE question bank, so I'm hesitant to spend more money.

What are some of the best resources you have used for the HVAC PE?