Using Video as a Tool to Prepare for the PE Exam – An Interview

The Civil PE Exam is quite a broad test to take, covering 5 sub-disciplines of civil engineering.  This episode provides some ideas on how to use video learning as a way to prepare for, and ultimately pass the PE Exam.  The resource that we discuss in particular is a website called engineeringvideos.net.  This site provides tons of video demonstrations on how to work specific engineering problems that you may be struggling with, or just need a refresher.  Enjoy!

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PE Exam Podcast Shownotes

Here are the notes and links mentioned in the show:

First we learned what EngineeringVideos.net is all about.  Then, we discussed the benefits of using video as a resource for studying for the PE Exam.  Tim discusses the secrets of using video, and how it can help you get an edge on the test.

We also discuss the Survey Practice problems book that Tim has developed.  For those of you taking the survey portion of the PE exam, or for those who are actually getting licensed as a surveyor, you need to check this book out.

To fid out about engineeringvideos.net, follow the link provided.

For the Survey Practice Problems book; go to this link, as mentioned.

http://acethepe.com/surveybook

Also, all of the videos are free to view on the Engineering Videos site, but in addition, you can get the DVD as well for a limited time here:

http://acethepe.com/engineeringvideos

You can listen to the show by clicking the audio player above.  In addition, I am copying my show notes below for your use.

Notes
How much study time is needed?
300 hours per Lindeburg
Break that down to 14 weeks
That is 98 days & 3 hours per day

This is a new hobby! But it is important for your career and development.   This is the most important way to pass the PE Exam.  There are no shortcuts!!!!  You must put in the time!  There is truly so much to cover, and you have to work problems and review the material.  Studying and knowing the material makes taking the exam so much easier.

Plan your strategy
Develop a schedule
When will you study?
Before work/ after work
Weekends
Find a quiet place
You may need to make some sacrifices (family, friends)
Determine what to study, and how long
five  parts to the exam
2 weeks for each breadth section
4 weeks for depth section
2 weeks to brush up after the exam is over.
Try to cover all of the sections, but focus on your strengths and make them better
Make sure you spend more time on the depth section material than the breadth.
Work 2-3 problems minimum each day.
Organize your worked problems
Lindeburg book has 90+ chapters.  read chapter a day.
Skim over theory, but know where to find it.
Highlight important concepts.
Place tabs on parts of the book you reference frequently
Follow your strategy
Write your schedule out & follow it!!!
“just do it”

Connect with others to hold you accountable
Consider joining an online forum
Get motivation from this podcast
Set a goal for how you will celebrate when you finish the PE
Think about how great it will feel when you pass the exam.

Take Action:
Write out a study plan, post it somewhere important and then follow it!

Find someone online or off that can hold you accountable to the schedule.

What do you think?
We want to hear your comments!

What is the most important key to studying for the PE Exam?

Get updates
Sign up for our email updates if you have not already done so.  This let’s you get  the free PE checklist as well as a promo code for a discount of of some of the materials.  Sign up below.

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Study and Exam Resources

A brief listing of some of the materials mentioned in the show is provided below.  A more detailed listing is provided in the free checklist that you can sign up for on this page.

Books & Guides
Civil Engineering Reference Manual by Michael Lindeburg
Civil Engineering Quick Reference

Problems
101 solved civil engineering problems

Sample exams
Civil Engineering Sample Exam (by ppi)
NCEES Sample Exam ( on NCEES website)

Design Standards - The PE Civil modules of Transportation, Structural and Construction require you to have design standards.  You will need these for the afternoon session.

Structural –

IBC 2006  and referenced standards.
ASCE 7-05
ACI 318-05
ACI 530 – 05
AISC 13th edition
AISC Seismic
NDS 05
PCI 2004
AASHTO  LRFD Bridge Design Specifications

Transportation -
AASHTO  A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 2004
edition (5th edition), American Association of State Highway &
Transportation Officials, Washington, DC.

AASHTO
Roadside Design Guide, 3rd edition with 2006 Chapter 6 Update,
American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials,
Washington, DC.

HCM
Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2000), 2000 edition,
Transportation Research Board—National Research Council,
Washington, DC.

MUTCD   Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2003, U.S.
Department of Transportation—Federal Highway Administration,
Washington, DC.

PCA  Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 2002, 14th edition,
Portland Cement Association, Skokie, IL.

ITE  Traffic Engineering Handbook, 1999, 5th edition, Institute of
Transportation Engineers, Washington, DC.

Construction -
ASCE 37-02 Design Loads on Structures During Construction, 2002, American
Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, www.asce.org.

NDS National Design Specification for Wood Construction, 2005,
American Forest & Paper Association/American Wood Council,
Washington, DC, www.awc.org.

CMWB Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls During Construction,
2001, Council for Masonry Wall Bracing, Mason Contractors
Association of America, Lombard, IL, www.masoncontractors.org.

AISC Steel Construction Manual, 13th ed., American Institute of Steel
Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL, www.aisc.org.

ACI 318-05  Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, 2005,
American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI,
www.concrete.org.

ACI 347-04 Guide to Formwork for Concrete, 2004, American Concrete Institute,
Farmington Hills, MI, www.concrete.org (in ACI SP-4, 7th edition
appendix).

ACI SP-4 Formwork for Concrete, 7th ed., 2005, American Concrete Institute,
Farmington Hills, MI, www.concrete.org.

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction
Industry, 29 CFR Part 1926 (US federal version), US Department of
Labor, Washington, DC.

MUTCD-Pt 6 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices – Part 6 Temporary
Traffic Control, 2003, US Federal Highway Administration,
www.fhwa.dot.gov.

Water Resources & Environmental & Geotechnical – resources & texts from college.  A more detailed listing is on the free pdf checklist that you can sign up for.

Note:
For people taking the Structural I exam:
Get the Structural Engineering Reference Manual by Alan Williams
Also the Practice problems by Alan Williams

What you do not need for the exam:
Obsolete textbooks, mathematics, or calculus, etc.

It helps to know exactly what you are up against so that you can effectively prepare for and pass the PE exam.  This is an outline used for the audio show.

You can listen to the show right here or by downloading the podcast from iTunes.

General:

• 8 hour exam
• 80 multiple choice for most exams
• Structural II consists of 8 essay questions
• Environmental exam has 100 multiple choice questions
• PE Civil and Mechanical have  a breadth and depth module
  morning – breadth
  afternoon – depth

Open book exam

• bring own references
• wise to plan which references you take
• If you take a large stash, you may have your main books and then take a second box just in case
• references must be bound

Devices allowed in the exam:
particular calculators are permitted, and no other

• Casio:      All fx-115 models. Any Casio calculator must contain fx-115 in its model name.
• Hewlett Packard:     The HP 33s and HP 35s models, but no others.
• Texas Instruments:     All TI-30X and TI-36X models. Any Texas Instruments calculator must     contain either TI-30X or TI-36X in its model name.

Note: I recommend buying the calculator and using it at work. You can buy these at staples, best buy etc.

Prohibited devices (include but not limited to):

Qwerty devices, cameras, phone, laptop, calculator watches, reproduction equipment, electronic recorder, radio, headset

If such device is found after the exam, you will be dismissed and your exam not score

Some of the disciplines you can choose from

• Civil Engineering
• Electrical and Computer
• Environmental
• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Structural I & II

Civil PE Exam – Breakdown for the Breadth and Depth Format

Morning “Breadth” Portion – Covers 20% of each sub-discipline

• Geotechnical
• Structural
• Transportation
• Water Resources and Environmental
• Construction

Afternoon “Depth” Portion – You select a sub-discipline to work on

Geotechnical
Subsurface exploration and drilling
Engineering properties of soils and materials
soil mechanics analysis
earthquage engineering (liquefaction, etc)
Earth Structures
Shallow foundations
Earth retaining structures
Deep foundations
Other topics (groundawater and well fileds, aquifers, loads, construction methods, osha, temporary structures)

Structural
Loadings
Anaysis
Mechanics of materials
Materials Design (steel , cmu)
Member design
Design Criteria
Other topics

Transportation
Traffic analysis
Geometric design
transportation planning
traffic safety
other topics (25%) (hydraulics, hydrology, engineering properties of soils and materials)

Water Resources and Environmental
Hydraulics -closed circuit and open channel
Hydrology
Groundwater and well fields
Wastewater treatment
Water Quality
Water Treatment
Engineering Economics (2.5%)

Construction
Earthwork and Construction Layout
Estimating Quantities and Costs
Construction Operations and Methods
Scheduling
Material Quality Control and Production
Temporary Structures
Worker Health, Safety, and Environment
Other topics – to include groundwater well fields
Subsurface exploration
Earth retaining structures
deep foundations
loadings
mechanics of materials

Pass Rates for April, 2009
Civil PE:         66% (32% second time)
Structural I        48%    (25% second time)
Structural II        65% (36%)
Naval            100% (67%)

How is the PE graded?
Has a “cut” score to correlate with past tests.  This cut score varies from test to test.  The main thing to keep in mind is to try to get the best score you can!

Units
Most use a combination, but you can choose which units to work in.  The structural test is only US

Note: If you have not already done so, don’t forget to get your Free Checklist for the PE Exam.  It includes materials and tasks you will need to help you pass the exam.

Notes are provided below for reference.

First, Go to www.NCEES.org to find out the schedule for your upcoming exam and determine when you will take the exam.

Next, apply for approval to take the exam through your state. You will be able to download the state approval form.  Go to the NCEES site, then click on exam registration on the left to download the form.

Then, fill out the state form:
You will need to get your references and experience filled out.  Also you will need to get your transcripts from the ABET acredited university that you attended.  The deadline to receive the state approval is usually over four months before the exam.  There will likely be a processing fee for your state approval.

Finally, pay for the exam fee at NCEES
Once you get approval to take the test, you will need to go back to the NCEES.org website and pay for your exam fee for the State you reside in.   $245 for most PE exam fees.  ($735 for Structural II).  The deadline for NCEES exam registration for the 2009 exam is September 4.

You will get an email from the NCEES that your exam authorization notice can be downloaded. You will need to print that out to take to the exam.

You also get a link to the NCEES candidate agreement.  You have to sign this before the exam.  It is a good idea to read it ahead of time so that you don’t have to worry about that on the exam day.

Once you get all of the registration out of the way, you can just focus on studying.  Of course, hopefully you will have already started your studying for the exam!

Do not forget to sign up on the top right of this page for the free PE Exam checklist.

Thanks for listening, and we hope the best for you onthe upcoming exam!

Listen to the show here or by subscribing in iTunes.

You can listen to the audio here or subscribe to the show in iTunes.