Structural Engineering Exam 1

[PEFLWI]

Does the AM portion of the new structural engineering exam have both building and AASHTO questions on it or are there separate exams for buildings and bridges?

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

AM of both vertical and lateral will have both building and AASHTO, PM will be specific to buildings or bridges.

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[PEFLWI]

Thanks.

What percentage of the AM questions are on AASHTO?

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Looking at the sample exam is the best estimate, I'll have to take a glance when I get back to the office if you don't have one. If I remember it's about 20% on the sample exam (8 problems).

I of course can't tell you what I actually saw on the exam.

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[PEFLWI]

Thanks for your help.

I do have the sample exam.

 

[MrHershey]

20% is about correct from both practice exams I took and the real one, IIRC. Doesn't seem quite fair to the bridge guys, but is what it is.

As a building guy my strategy was to focus almost 100% on buildings and try to know the building stuff so well that even if I didn't get a single bridge question right I should still be okay. Then every bridge question I can snipe off buys me an incorrect building question. Out of 20 weeks of studying spent maybe one on bridge stuff just to get the gist of their lane loads and lateral stuff.

 

[Antnyt23]

Just remember just because the question count comes out to be 20% bridge doesn't mean its 80% building. There are several questions that really don't fall under either specifics. I think it is pretty well balanced if I recall.

 

[8thStreet]

I just took the gravity and lateral in october 2015, and there were many more bridge problems than in the practice exam. I dont remember the exact amount, but probably about 35% bridge and the questions were more difficult than the practice exam. I took the building afternoon section, but I would highly recommending spending a good chunk of time on the bridge questions and heavily tabbing AASHTO.

 

[Antnyt23]

Agree with 8thstreet. I took the exams last April and there are definitely a lot of bridge questions I don't think you can get by with ignoring AASHTO by any means. Like I said before it is pretty well balanced between bridge and building in my opinion for the morning sections.