Continue to Site

Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet

Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals

  • Congratulations IDS on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Passing Zone PE Exam

Status
Not open for further replies.

LIGWY

Civil/Environmental
Nov 11, 2005
78
Does anyone recommend taking the "Passing Zone" Class offered through ppipass?

 
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

thread194-150044

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve
 
If you are doing Transportation, I can't recommend it.
If you are doing the Water Resources, then perhaps.

It would be better to go to a live review course in your area. If not, consider it.
I live in a smaller town without a review course within driving distance.

Get the NCEES practice exams, and the Six Minute Solutions books. Double check all the errata online! The CERM is decent for the morning, and you need the required references (as listed by NCEES) in the afternoon.
 
The Passing Zone is EXCELLENT. It is the most cost efficient and problaby the most expertise. You just must use it properly.
-----------------------
My story - I have a BSChE from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology and I practice civil engineering. About 16 years after my degree, I took and passed the EIT, first try, with a 90 using the PPI2PASS.COM materials. Then I took a 6 month break and studied another 6 months and passed my Civil PE Water Resources, 1st try, with an 89 due to the Passing Zone and other materials from that site.
------------------------
How to use to Passing Zone for Civil Engineers - You must buy the current CERM & the solutions manual. You also must be able to keep up with the pace - begin your studying early and plan to solve every problem in 4 out of 5 Civil disciplines. (One discpline will be your sacrifice discipline, in this one you will only study the basic concepts for the morning exam.) You may only ask questions on the topic being studied until the last two weeks of the Passing Zone when there are open questions. I found this to be GREAT, my biggest problem was reading too much in to the questions, which the teachers alerted me to this issue.(Then I had a mantra - "When in doubt, take the easy way out")
-----------------------------
There are many FAQ's for the exam at the PPI site - READ THEM. I took a pillow for my butt and followed their advice about tabbing, making a 1" study guide, downloading the Erata, etc.
READ THE WHOLE CERM, ESPECIALLY EXAM ADVICE AND LEARN ALL THE APPENDICES AND THE USE OF ALL TABLES/CHARTS.
----------------------------
I took maybe 25 books to the exam, but I only used three - CERM, the NCEES practice test (~25% of this test will be on the exam) and my 1" (3) ring study guide with all the units conversions on the front/back cover for easy access. I looked at some other books during, but none were really useful.
--------------------------
Best of Luck! STUDY HARD & WELL!


Clifford H Laubstein
FL PE 58662
 
I agree with gibfrog, except to shortcut the 1" (3) ring study guide with all the units conversions on the front/back cover, buy the accompanying Quick Reference.

The CERM and the accompanying Quick Reference were all I used for 90%+ of the test.

I scoured my discipline-specific texts during last few minutes of each session, in that frantic scramble for answers; but I honestly doubt I got many of those. By that time, you will have already done everything you are truely competent in, and you are basically fishing.

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve
 
I used the CERM, Quick Reference and lot of codes. CERM and its Quick Reference are excellent.
 
Thank You for all the suggestions. I just been debating on taking that class and it sounds it could be very helpful.

I am trying to decide to do structural or transportation. I work for a small company and I do a little of everything. In college I took many structural classes and some water classes. I feel like I have a little knowledge in all but not emphasize in any particular.

Any suggestions?
 
To repeat my rant from several other threads--the structural PM portion is significantly harder than the other CE PM portions. If you don't believe me, flip through the sample exam book and try some questions in each section.

Actually that's not a bad idea anyway. Do a page from each and see how you feel about it. Or better yet buy the ppi2pass review CD-ROM, run through that (should take a coupla weeks if you put a lot of time into it each evening & weekend), and then do a page from each. The CD-ROM covers almost (but not quite) everything you need to know for all the disciplines except structural (their structural review is pathetic).

Based on what you've said, I would look at transpo & water resources if I were you. The only problem with transpo is you have to dig up lots of manuals.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376
 
Do some states inform candidates of their scores when they pass the exam? I notice that gibfrog was informed of his/her exam score.
 
PA does.

I got a 78 on both the EIT and the PE.

Results-wise, though, 70=100 and 0=69.

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve
 
TX does, and even posts scores over 90 on their website for the world to see. In MA I was mailed my FE score; I don't know if they still do that.

Hg


Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376
 
all PE exams are quite simple if you finish all the practice questions in the Lindernburg's reference manual. I only brought my PE reference manual to take the exams on the 1st day, since that is the only book I have. if you dont major in structual, you'd better spend time on study seismic, understanding those equations and their applications is very important.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor