April 2008 PE Exam 3

[ChipperB]

I will take the Water Resources Engineering section of the PE Exam.

Does anyone know of any online and free study materials?

 

[francesca]

Unfortunately study materials are a huge money-earning business. Fortunately they are tax deductible as a work expense. Online you can do Exam Café, which is quite reasonable.

http://ppi2pass.com/ppi/ECMain

You have to use Microsoft Internet Explorer with some plugin installed to see the solutions correctly, but can print them out and put them in a binder and take them to the exam with you.

 

[chetoce]

For the Spring 2008 exam, Water Resources and the Environmental portions have been lumped together to add Construction Management as a breadth/depth topic. Since the WR and E are carrying less weight, pick a different depth topic or remember to study both WR and E.

 

[vzag]

I am also taking the WR/ Env depth exam in April! I am kind of annoyed that they are changing the format for this go round, I don't want to be a guinea pig! Also this hurts me beacuse my two strongest subjects are now lumped together.
At least from the outline, the contruction portion doesn't sound super hard.

 

[francesca]

Surely it helps you if your two strongest subjects are lumped together as it gives you a leg-up for the depth section. The breadth section is surprisingly easy.

 

[vzag]

That's a good way to look at it! I am definetly not worrying too much about the morning section, I am leaving structural out even, because I want to use that time for the other subjects, and that is surely my weakest.

I am taking in CA which means I really need time for the other two tests as well - Seismic and Surveying. Plus those are supposedly much harder (pass rates of only 30-40%) and i never studyed them or use them at work.

 

[bimr]

Have you tried the public library? Most libraries now have inter-library searches and lending. You can even obtain text books from colleges and universities.

Here is the search form from the libarary in my town. It has Lindeburg book listed:

http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search/X?SEARCH=lindeburg&SORT=D&searchscope=1

You can also buy and sell used books on bookfinder.com if you want to go that route.

 

[ctbailey]

Really, you can not beat the PPI "Civil Engineering Manual."

I worked every problem in it, bound all my "homework" and had them with me during the exam.

Passed easily.

Plus all the code books (I took the transportation) were invaluable.

IMHO it is irresponsible of a test-taker to try and take the PE exam "on the cheap."



___
Craig T. Bailey, PE

http://www.bailey-associates.com

 

[cvg]

vzag
the California special survey test is not particularly difficult. However, the special seismic exam is quite difficult and I would expect pass rates to be closer to 10 - 15%. First time I took it the pass rate was 7%. If you have not put the time into studying for the seismic, you had better get moving because it is a bearcat!

 

[vzag]

Yes I'm already scared of it! ha ha, but really I am having a hard time finding one of the refrences that everyone seems to mention: the Hiner workbook. Also since there is the new CBC out, the test is supposedly going to be updated.

Did anyone who took the CA seismic need the Code books for a lot of look-ups? would you recommened buying it and getting familiar before the test?

Also here's where I found the pass rates for seismic:

CA Special Seismic Principles Exam Results

Exam Passing %, Cut Score, Total Points, BPELS Pass Rate*, SDR Pass Rate**
April 2004 48% 125 263 32% 77%
October 2004 51% 154 300 35% 79%
April 2005 54% 159 292 37% 80%
October 2005 56% 164 295 42% 81%
April 2006 51% 152 300 34% 80%
October 2006 54% 142 263 35% 76%
April 2007 53% 156 292 34% 70%

* BPELS pass rate statistics exclude those who attended the Seismic Design Review course

** SDR pass rate statistics are based on the following:

http://www.seismicreview.com/seismicresults.html