A new experience with an Exam: PE Exam (US)

A new experience with an Exam: PE Exam (US)

I still remember the days when one of my professor in my undergraduate studies told us to have 3-4 colored pencils with us. The cost of buying 3-4 pencil in local stationary store was expensive as compared to buying the whole set of colors in one bundled box. One of our friend had whole box in the class, and the Professor was not happy with him because he was so confused which one is blue and which one is red or green. I remember what he said at the end: Too many colors mean no color. So, too many books mean no book, .... too many dating is not a real dating. .... Have one book on one subject. Should not have multiple books on one subject, it is too confusing. Someone here recommended that you should have two or more calculators so that you can optmize output.

Using the induction rule from too many colors is no color, to many calculator is confusing, and we must remember that Casio, HP, Texas Instruments ... Sharp, all these calculators have different steps in computations, and it will be very confusing, especially, in the exam while you are trying to focus on the problems.

If I have to take the exam again, in October, I will not carry more than one book on each subject in morning session, and not more than 3-5 in afternoon session. If I fail this time because of my poor performance in afternoon session, then I will not carry the BM Das's book next time, rather I will take M. Budhu's book published by JWS. This is what I realized after the exam. What was wrong with BM Das' book? The author dumps new equations from literature which are not yet tested well for they usefulness in practice. The author purges these equations in next edition (within two years). So, too many similar equations confuse you when it comes to exam, you will hardly need a very few from these sections. I will reject a book that contains new informations based on recent publications.

This is what I will do with the other subjects as well. Particularly with highway/transportation engineering.

Since my PE Exam application was rejected twice, and I was not sure whether it will be accepted on the third attempt. I lost my motivation towards preparation for the upcoming exam. In the second attempt, I bought the exam review booklet, and I was waiting for my applications be approved before I start studying for the exam. I received my approval around middle of February: just 8 weeks before the exam.

As soon as I got the application approval letter, I focused on earlier syllabi, and I did not notice the changes in syllabi. This time they have revised the Transportation Engineering, and Environmental Engineering sections in such a way that I did not grasp the depth of changes (I relied fully on the earlier sample test questions -answer booklet). I also did not notice the changes in after noon session. I was obsessed with the syllabi given on the exam review booklet. One day, I had a free time when I was away from home, and needed to see the syllabi, then I went to NCEES website and downloaded it. When I looked at it, I was surprised. What the hell is it? I was shocked to find the new syllabi. I spent so much time on Environmental Engineering section (Chemistry stuff), and I found it is completely missing in new syllabus. I was mad on myself for being too much obsessed with the exam review booklet that I purchased 6 months ago. I had to change my study plan, because I did not have more than 5-6 weeks. I was very surprised to find the changes in Construction Management section. Whatever days were left, I needed to manage them very well so that I can at least know what is where and in which book. When I talked to a professional engineer who got the certification about 10 years ago, told me to buy Lindburg (?) 's PE Exam preparation book, I found that book did not have any new edition to match the current syllabi. I gave up that idea as well. I relied on the text books, design manuals, and reports that I had. Surprisingly, I was the only person without that exam guidebook by Lindburg(?) in my exam hall. I said, wow? I am not sure whether I really need it, based on the exam. I will be buying it only if I fail the second time.

With all these complex situations I was able to take the exam, I will not regret even if I fail this time. Considering the total number of 6 months I missed opportunities to enter into the FE and PE Exam halls, I am very happy to get chance to take these exams. I learned a lot of things out of these exam: particularly open book exams. Open book exam was a very new experience to me. Great thing with this exam was that I don't have to memorize a single formula. I am very determined that I will pass the second time. If not third time.

I am certainly geared to take the upcoming exam without any doubt. I am writing this long posting to suggest you to be careful with the changes since last time. Keep tracking every word in the syllabus. Eventhough, they say that the syllabus is not exclusive, but if we can focus on each word in the syllabus (syllabus should be worth at least 70%-80%, right?). If we can master the content in the syllabus, then we will certainly pass the Exam.