Is the PE exam changing in 2024?

Starting in April of 2024, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is making a big update to PE Civil Exam Specifications to better test engineers on their specific discipline within civil engineering.

What is the hardest PE exam to pass?

Which PE Exam is the Hardest? According to NCEES® stats, the structural depth and geotechnical exams are the hardest of civil PE exams. Only 64% and 55% of students managed to clear it in the first attempt.

Do they curve the PE exam?

The examiners take special measures to identify flawed questions before scoring takes place. They look for ambiguity, gender or ethnic bias, technical accuracy, and unusual statistics. The PE Exam is not graded 'on a curve' and so there is no set percentage of candidates who pass each time.

How many people fail the PE exam?

Only 50% of engineers become licensed Professional Engineers. The first time pass rate across all disciplines is 65%.

Is the PE exam different in each state?

4 - Is the PE exam different in each state? No, The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) ensures the uniformity of the PE exams nationwide.

NCEES PE Civil Exam 2024 Changes

Can you call yourself an engineer without a PE?

In California, electrical and mechanical engineering in particular can be done without a PE licensing in manufacturing, research and development, mining and some other areas, including Federal employment. If you find work in these areas you may have “Engineer” in your job title without having to have the PE license.

Can you graduate if you fail PE?

The minimum requirement for graduation is two courses in PE.

Is the PE exam really hard?

This professional engineers' test is a grueling 8-hour long test. Just the time is given to complete it hints at how exhausting and extensive it is. The percentage of successful candidates can be as low as 49% or as high as 82% for first-time takers.

Is PE easy to pass?

Also, you will learn some tips from working in the industry, but the PE exam is ultimately separate from your workplace. Ultimately, if you take the time to prepare, the PE exam really is not that difficult.

Is the PE exam no longer open book?

You are not allowed to bring any books to the PE exam. It is not an open book exam. You will be provided with a PDF version of the PE Reference Handbook for your specific engineering discipline on-screen.

Is PE exam open book?

PE exam is open book, meaning you can bring as many books/reference as you like.

What score do I need on the PE to pass?

As mentioned earlier, there is no predefined PE passing score set by the NCEES® you need to achieve for the PE Exam. However: It is suggested that the average passing score for the PE exam is about 70%. It means you will need to correctly answer about 70% of the problems, that is roughly 56 out of 80 correct responses.

Why do I keep failing the PE exam?

Underprepared. One of the significant causes of failing the PE exam is not being fully prepared for the exam. Many students think that quickly reviewing the exam specification, NCEES® Reference Handbook, and working through some problems may be good enough to pass the exam – but trust us, that is not the case.

What is the hardest exam in the UK?

The United Kingdom's Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) hasn't been around for as long as some of the other exams on this list — it was created in 2004 — but it's quickly found its place as one the hardest tests to crack. Lasting nearly 2.5 hours, it includes a reading and an essay section.

How long do I need to study for the PE exam?

The approximate time frame for in-depth preparation and promising success comprises 200-300 hours. On average, students can easily pass the PE exam after studying for 3-4 months.

Is the PE harder than the FE?

On average, the FE exam passing rate for all the disciplines is 71% for first-time test takers. In contrast: The PE exam pass rate across all the disciplines for first-time test takers is 65% on average.

How many questions can you miss on the PE exam?

However, for the PE Mechanical exam, it is generally believed that the cut score is around 70% (56 out of 80 multiple choice questions). If you fail the exam, you will receive a diagnostic report identifying areas of deficiency so you can improve and refocus for retaking the exam.

How many people pass the PE exam each year?

NCEES PE pass rates updated. Average pass rate for civil is 57%.

Do universities care about PE grades?

All grades matter in college admission. They will all affect your final GPA which matters for college admission. Your specific PE grade in and of itself is not one that the colleges are likely looking at. They are going to care more about your core classes.

Is it bad to fail PE?

“If you fail P.E., your probability of graduating is a little bit lower than if you failed just algebra, or just English, or just biology,” said Jenny Nagaoka, the deputy director of the Consortium on School Research.

Do universities look at your PE grade?

While colleges do look at your overall GPA, they typically place less emphasis on non-academic courses like PE. That said, a not-so-great PE grade isn't likely to significantly impact your overall application, especially if your academic performance in core subjects is strong.

Is 2 months enough to study for PE exam?

You'll hear several tips repeatedly for the PE Exam, including studying 200-300 hours over three to six months. However, some engineers have passed the exam after just glancing at a practice exam the day before. Others took more than three attempts and over 300 hours of studying. Most will fall somewhere in between.

How can I study myself for PE exam?

Take out a calendar, mark the date of the PE exam, and plan out your time leading up to that date. Be sure to include family trips, birthdays, and any other events that may impact your study schedule. Then, try to find blocks of time where you can study each week for at least 2 hours.