Is PE exam hard?

The PE exam is not a “tricky” exam. Students manage to fail even when questions are straightforward. The NCEES organization doesn’t sit in a room and think of ways to trick you. You will find, however, that they do list answers to questions with very common mistakes made.

How difficult is the PE test?

The 8-hour long, 80-question PE exam is very difficult. … Pass rates for most PE exams are around 70% for first-time test-takers, with some as low as 55%. Don’t take the mental challenge of studying for months then staying focused for an 8-hour exam lightly. It’s hard for good reason, too.

Is PE exam harder than Fe?

The FE exam is actually harder than the Professional Engineer (PE) exam, simply because it is much more broad. It’s best to take it as close to graduation as you can, with all that schooling still fresh in your mind.

Can I pass PE exam without studying?

You simply cannot pass the PE Exam if you don’t study. Most engineers study for the PE for over 230 hours and some still struggle to pass. The content and test format is so advanced that if you’re not familiar with it before going in, you’ll spend the whole exam just trying to figure that out.

Which PE exam is the easiest?

Many engineers agree that the easiest Civil PE exam is water resources. According to pass rates on the NCEES website, 71% of engineers who take the water resources test pass on their first try. Transportation is a close second at 70%.

Is PE exam multiple choice?

Most of the PE Exams are 80 multiple choice questions taken over an 8 hour period – 40 questions in the 4-hour morning session and 40 questions in the 4-hour afternoon session. … This will help you gauge your tempo on test day.

How long should I study for PE?

Generally, you should study for the PE exam for about 200-300 hours if you want to pass. The average study time is around 215-230 hours over a 3-month period. Few engineers study less than 100 hours or over 300. You may think you need less time, but studying more is worth it if it means you pass.

What is the hardest PE exam?

A lot of engineers say that the hardest Civil PE exam is the structural depth exam. According to the latest pass rates for the PE Exam, just 56% of engineers who take the structural test pass on their first try. However, the construction exam may be harder as it has a pass rate of just 53%.

Is the civil PE hard?

The exam is difficult, there’s no question about that. You need to understand that it takes many weeks to prepare for this exam and in order for you to pass you have to study hard. … The exam is tricky in that the “most nearly” questions will cause you to really pause and think about your answers.

What percentage of engineers get their PE?

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


How do you pass the PE?

Tips for Passing the PE Exam
  1. Prepare to Prepare. Make a Realistic Schedule. Be honest with yourself and the people around you. …
  2. Build Your Resources. Budget and Prioritize. …
  3. Take practice exams. Simulate the Exam. …
  4. Trust the Process. The road to and preparation for the PE exam is not a short one.

How many times can you take the PE exam?

For most computer-based PE Exams, NCEES allows you to take the PE exam once within each 3-month time window and only 3 attempts are allowed every 12 months. You will also need to reach out to your state board to ask how many times they will approve you to sit for the exam.

How many questions do you need to get right to pass PE exam?

Although there are no set numbers provided to pass the PE Exam, it is believed, according to research that you will need to correctly answer approximately 70% of the questions. That’s about 56 right answers out of 80.