PE in metallurgy thread (anybody else taking the test in October) 2

[EngineerDave]

Hi all,

I plan on signing up for the PE in metallurgy. The test is in October for my state (Ohio). I will be creating a condensed formula and topics sheet to take along with my books.

The deadline for registration is coming up. It is typically 3 months before the test date. I plan on getting my info sent in by the end of the week or early next week.

If anybody else is taking it, perhaps we should confer on the studying process. It appears the pass rate currently is around 50% so I don't expect this to be a cakewalk by any means.

 

[NickelMet]

Good Luck Dave!

It wasn't a cakewalk 5 years ago...and that was when the test was half "show your work". I understand it is all multiple choice now?!? Arg! I'd rather show my work and get partial credits!

Hopefully you have picked up some good references for review and study. There aren't many out there for metallurgists though, unfortunately.

Anyway...study...study...and relax (the key on test day is not to panic)...PASS the #$!@ thing!

Good Luck!!

~NiM

 

[FrancisEMoore]

Good luck. As has already been noted, study and relax. When I took it, I was the only one taking the Metallurgical P.E. in Missouri. I took way too many books in. Use common sense, and look into a lot of the materials properties. I found the ASM Materials books to be the most helpful.

Good Luck!!

Frank Moore, P.E.
Consulting Metallurgical Engineer
Kansas City Power and Light Co.

 

[kenvlach]

I hope you are using the TMS site

http://www.tms.org/Education/education.html

"Professional Registration: As a professional society for metallurgical and materials engineers, TMS actively encourages professional registration. Hence, the society takes a lead role in developing the test employed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying to register professional metallurgical engineers in the United States. To facilitate the taking of this exam, TMS provides a free study guide to use in preparing for the Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination."

Good luck,
Ken

 

[jackboot]

EngineerDave:

You and I wrote about the PE exam. I took the last one in Mechanical last April.

The comments from here were very helpful - especially the one that said. "No matter how smart you are - if you don't study you will fail."

I studied like a fanatic - and today, I hung my PE certificate on the wall. I pass by a slim margin, but the headache before, during, and after is now gone.

Good Luck. I am slightly interested in doing the Metuallurgy. But I am going to wait and catch my breath.

Let us know how you do.

jackboot

 

[EngineerDave]

Thanks guys. The TMS board is great. I also plan on contacting a professor in my area who used to give review classes for the PE. The only thing is that he hasn't done this in a few years, and the format has changed, but at least the general topics of study should be similar.

I have been remiss in never owning the Metals Handbook Desk Edition as every place I work had one! The reason I must study now is because in the fall I will be back to graduate classes. I have an excellent 3 month window to study now (although there are so many other things I'd like to read as well!)

I don't own the heat treat books eithers. I could be looking at considerable expense to buy a few of those. Fortunately most of the other recommended references were my college texts, or are easily available from the university.

 

[EngineerDave]

Well after submitting the paperwork, I found out last week that I am approved to take the test.

I haven't been studying as much as I would have liked. I now have a month and half before the exam! (Not to mention work and graduate classes which will start in 3 weeks in a slightly different field)

Any advice on what to focus on? I am going to make a formula sheet based on the TMS practice site.

I wish there was a comprehensive listing of important formulas used in metallurgy. Looks like I'll be creating one!

 

[CoryPad]

EngineerDave,

I don't recommend creating a formula sheet. Make sure you print the TMS study guide, take some simple math/stats/conversion formulas (sine, Cpk, pounds/newtons), and know the ASM Metals Handbook Desk edition. TMS creates the test questions, their study guide has similar questions to those on the actual tests, and many questions can be answered using this one book.


Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[Maui]

EngineerDave, give us some feedback after completing the exam. I plan to take it in Pennsylvania next October, and am curious about the content and type of questions asked.
I'd also like to know which references you find most useful during the exam.

 

[EngineerDave]

I sure will. I'm hoping as CoreyPad says that the Metals Handbook Desk Edition helps with the bulk of it. I still plan on taking several more references? I'm wondering if I should take one of those rolling suitcases full of books?

Do you know that the protocol is for books CoreyPad? I want to have everything I need but don't want it to be too ridiculous!

 

[CoryPad]

maui,

The sample test available at the TMS website is a perfect guide for the content and style of questions that will be on the PE test.

EngineerDave,

Take whatever device will carry the references you want. Many people had rolling suitcases, many had backpacks. No matter how many books you take, you won't look ridiculous - there will be people who take more than you ever would think to take. In addition to the MH Desk Edition, I would take books that deal with deformation/mechanical properties, fracture mechanics, and physical metallurgy. My test had lots of questions regarding stainless steels and high performance alloys, so ASM Handbook Volume 1 or similar would be useful.

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[arunmrao]

Engineer Dave,
I have personal copies of Metal Handbook vol1 and also Stainless steels. If you need someone to compile some formulae and text material I can do it for you,as I have some free time and it will be enjoyable. I can mail the text material too. Please let me know how we can go about. I also have books on Physical Metallurgy, Mechanical Metallurgy and ofcourse Steel castings handbook. I have been promising to buy the Heat Treatment volume too shortly.

 

[EngineerDave]

Thanks arunmrao, I may take you up on that. I need to work the problems in the practice test.

I own a few of the textbooks from undergrad, but the rest I need to borrow from work. Finding time to study has been tough, I'm typically pretty tired after work. The only thing that wakes me up is a workout!

 

[arunmrao]

engineer dave my email id is kasc@satyam.net.in. Please give me alittle moretime than you would normally expect as age has slowed down my speed. Good Luck in your preparations for the exam.

 

[EngineerDave]

General question. The exam is 80 questions. It takes all day. Is there any rule that you can only complete 40 in the first section and the next 40 in the second session? Just wondering. Thats one item I didn't see explicitly addressed in my documents for the test.

I take it this Friday.

 

[Metalguy]

Don't know if it will be the same as mine (AZ), but no, you are only given the booklet with the first questions in the AM, and the rest after lunch.

Just remember to take "practical" books-you won't have time to be looking up any theory stuff. You also only have to answer some of the problems-you're free to pick and choose which ones-at least way back when I took it.

 

[EngineerDave]

Thanks. Sometimes I'm a pretty quick test taker. In any event I'd love if they gave me all the questions so I could fly through the quick ones and spend more time on the tough ones.

Supposedly for Metallurgy you have to answer all 80 multiple choice now. You can't pick or choose.

 

[Badplaid]

I am late to the conversation. I too am taking the test this friday and have been studying for a few weeks...much easier for me to do since I am out of work. One thing about the TMS study guide (which they magically made $43 after it being free to download in pdf just a few weeks ago) is that the rationale is a bit sketchy. There are a few errors and I have to wonder where they got some of the equations, especially the thermodynamic questions...I have a lot of the books they recommend, but some of the equations used are just not to be found.

A lot of the study guide theory questions are right out of the ASM Metals Handbook, Avner's Physical Metallurgy book and Dieters' Mechanical Metallurgy book. I've spent a lot of time with those. I only have Gaskell's Thermo book (he taught it to me at Purdue) so that's why I may be having issues, that book is a bit, well difficult (the class was even harder)...would tracking down Thermodynamic Loop Applications in Material Systems be worth while in this last week? Those are the only questions that worry me.

Alex
badplaid@comcast.net

 

[stanweld]

When I took the exam '98, there were a number of questions to choose from, depending on your expertise; e.g., welding, welding metallurgy, heat treating, surface cleaning, surface treatments, corrosion, forming, casting technology, process metallurgy etc. If you are a mechanical metallurgist, like I am, there are enough questions that you can choose from to pass the exam. I would definitely recommend bringing heat treating reference materials as well as applicable Metals Handbooks. The multiple guess questions were extremely exacting.

FYI there are often questions regarding railroad rails/wheels.

Good luck!

stanweld P.E.

 

[EngineerDave]

Yeah I have some but not all of the references. Gaskell's thermo book was an often read reference. Good luck badplaid, I'm taking the test in Ohio. I wish I had a bit more time to study but I think I'll do just well enough.

Some of those formulas were difficult to find.