What are the Fundamentals of the Engineering (FE) Exam?
The FE exam (Fundamentals of Engineering), also known as the EIT exam (Engineer in Training), or the IE exam (Engineering Intern), is the first of two exams engineers must pass for getting a certificate as a professionally licensed engineer (P.E) in the united states.
A typical FE exam is 110 questions and 6 hours long and includes:
- Nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes).
- Tutorial (8 minutes).
- Exam (5 hours and 20 minutes).
- Scheduled break (25 minutes).
The FE is offered for 7 types of specializations:
- Civil.
- Chemical.
- Electrical and Computer.
- Environmental.
- Industrial and Systems.
- Mechanical.
Please note that JobTestPrepPack™ is customized in a way that provides excellent comprehensive practice for every type of FE Civil Exam question that may appear on the actual test. Using our civil engineering FE exam practice resources and study guides will significantly improve your chances of acing the FE Civil Engineering test and securing your place at the top of the application list.
Free FE Civil Exam Practice Questions
Mathematics and Statistics
1.Determine the following indefinite integral:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Answer:
The Mathematics and Statistics Section includes the following topics:
- Analytic geometry.
- Single-variable calculus.
- Vector operations.
- Statistics.
Ethics and Professional Practice
2. One of the responsibilities of the principal contractor in construction projects before commencing with work is to have risk assessments performed. Which one of the following constitutes a risk assessment?
A. Appointment of a full or part-time construction health and safety officer.
B. Plan to mitigate or reduce risks.
C. Appoint a full-time competent employee.
D. Appoint construction supervisors.
Answer:
The correct answer is B.
Risk assessment involves the following activities:
- Identification of risks and hazards.
- Analysis of risks and hazards.
- Plan to mitigate or reduce risks.
- Monitoring plan.
- Review plan.
The Ethics and Professional Section includes the following topics:
- Codes of ethics (professional and technical societies).
- Professional liability.
- Licensure.
- Contracts and contract law.
Engineering Economics
3. What is the ratio of current assets to current liabilities?
A. Inventory-turnover ratio
B. Curren ratio.
C. Quick ratio.
D. Debt ratio.
Answer:
The correct answer is B.
• The inventory-turnover ratio is the ratio of sales to average inventory balance.
• The current ratio is the ratio of current assets to current liabilities.
• The quick ratio is calculated by deducting inventories from current assets and then dividing the remainder by current liabilities.
• The debt ratio represents the percentage of the total initial investment provided by borrowed funds.
The Engineering Economics Section includes the following topics:
- Time value of money.
- Cost.
- Analyses.
- Uncertainty.
Statics
4. The frame in the figure has a mass per unit length of 5 kg/m. What is the y-coordinate of the center of gravity of the structure?
A. 1.214 m.
B. 2.786 m.
C. 3.875 m.
D. 4.000 m.
Answer:
The correct answer is B.
Center of gravity and mass always coincide, i.e. integrate over differential mass elements.
Cross section can be split into simple shapes where the centroid is known, thus integration is replaced by summation.
5. How long will it take for a 3 lb ball thrown with a speed vA=20ft/s, as shown in the figure, to reach its highest point B?
A. 0.38s
B. 0.42s
C. 0.44s
D. 0.55s
Answer:
The correct answer is C.
The Statics Section includes the following topics:
- Resultants of force systems.
- Equivalent force systems.
- Equilibrium of rigid bodies.
- Frames and trusses.
- Centroid of area.
- Area moments of inertia.
- Static friction.
Mechanics of Materials
6. The 2m long compression member in the figure is fixed on one end and free on the other. What is its effective length?
A. 1.00 m
B. 4.00 m
C. 3.00 m
D. 3.50 m
Answer:
The correct answer is B.
The effective length factor K for a compression member (e.g. column) varies based on the end boundary conditions.
For a member fixed on one end and free on the other, K=2.0.
Therefore, the effective length Leff=L×K=2m × 2.0=4m.
The Mechanics of Materials Section includes the following topics:
- Shear and moment diagrams.
- Stresses and strains.
- Deformations.
- Combined stresses, principal stresses, and Mohr's circle.
Materials
7. Consider the following statements:
1.The most important factor that determines the strength of concrete is the water-cement ratio.
2.Consistency, rate of curing, and durability of asphalt cements are important considerations for their use in pavements.
3.Creep is a high-temperature deformation failure mechanism.
4.During the cement production process, gypsum is added to retard the setting time of cement.
5.Concrete is very strong in tension; however, it is very weak in compression. Reinforcing steel is, therefore, embedded at strategic locations in concrete members to take the compressive stresses.
Which of the following statements is true?
A. 1.
B. 1,2,3.
C. 1,2,3,4.
D. 2,3,4,5.
Answer:
The correct answer is C.
Statements 1)-4) are true.
However, statement 5) is false. Concrete is strong in compression, but weak in tension. Steel on the other hand is strong in tension. Therefore, embedding reinforcement steel at strategic locations enable concrete members to take the tensile stresses.
The MaterialsSection includes the following topics:
- Mix design of concrete and asphalt.
- Test methods and specifications of metals, concrete, aggregates, asphalt, and wood.
- Physical and mechanical properties of metals, concrete, aggregates,
asphalt, and wood.
Fluid Mechanics
8.The suction side of the water pump in the figure has a diameter of 200 mm and a pressure gauge reading 100 kPa. On the delivery side, the diameter is 150mm, and the pressure gauge, which is 400mm above the gauge of the suction side, reads 200 kPa. The pump has a flow rate of 100 l/s and the pump efficiency is 90%.
Ignoring minor losses, what is the input power of the pump?
A. 11.2 kW.
B. 11.27 kW.
C. 12.18 kW.
D. 12.76 kW.
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
The Fluid Mechanics Section includes the followingtopics:
- Flow measurement.
- Fluid properties.
- Fluid statics.
- Energy, impulse, and momentum of fluids.
Surveying
9. A steel band of nominal length 50 m was found to be 50.007 m on standardization. If the steel band measured a distance of 150.120 m, what would be the correct measured distance?
A. 150.121 m.
B. 150.135 m.
C. 149.137 m.
D. 150.141 m.
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
The Surveying Section includes the following topics:
- Angles, distances, and trigonometry.
- Area computations.
- Earthwork and volume computations.
- Coordinate systems.
- Leveling.
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
10.What is the objective of the secondary wastewater treatment?
A. Removal of Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
B. Control of pesticide runoff.
C. Removal of sand and grit without removing organic material.
D. Removal of solids.
Answer:
The correct answer is A.
The objective of secondary wastewater treatment is to remove Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
The Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Section includes the following topics:
- Basic hydrology.
- Basic hydraulics.
- Pumps.
- Water distribution systems.
- Flood control.
- Stormwater.
- Collection systems.
- Groundwater.
- Water quality.
- Testing and standards.
- Water and wastewater treatment.
Structural Engineering Design
11.A 3.0 m long rectangular hollow section strut is pinned at its ends, and has the following properties:
Yield stress 400N/mm2, E = 220,000N/mm^2, Iy= 620 cm4, Iz =450 cm4 and A = 19.6 cm2.
If the strut is free to buckle about either the y–y or z–z axes, what is the design compression strength Nb,Rd?
A. 455 kN.
B. 489 kN.
C. 503 kN.
D. 625 kN.
Answer:
The correct answer is A.
The Structural Engineering Section includes the following topics:
- Analysis of statically determinant beams, columns, trusses, and frames.
- Deflection of statically determinant beams, trusses, and frames.
- Column analysis.
- Structural determinacy and stability analysis of beams, trusses, and frames.
- Elementary statically indeterminate structures.
- Loads, load combinations, and load paths.
- Design of steel components.
- Design of reinforced concrete components.
Geotechnical Engineering
12. A 10 m thick soil layer, which has a unit weight of 15kN/m3 and shear parameters c'=0 and ∅'=40°, contains a square footing of width 3 m located at a depth of 2 m in the layer.If the footing level is well above the water table, what is the soil bearing capacity?
A. 4102 kPa.
B. 4834 kPa.
C. 5608 kPa.
D. 5678 kPa.
Answer:
The correct answer is B.
The Geotechnical EngineeringSection includes the following topics:
- Index properties and soil classifications.
- Phase relations.
- Laboratory and field tests.
- Effective stress.
- Stability of retaining structures.
- Shear strength.
- Bearing capacity.
- Foundation types.
- Consolidation and differential settlement.
- Slope stability.
- Soil stabilization.
Transportation Engineering
13. What is the flow at capacity of the flow-speed relationship:
q=37k - 0.28k²?
A. 757 veh/h.
B. 1005 veh/h.
C. 1103 veh/h.
D. 1222 veh/h.
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
The Transportation Engineering Section includes the following topics:
- Geometric design.
- Pavement system design.
- Traffic capacity and flow theory.
- Traffic control devices.
- Transportation planning.
Construction Engineering
14. An excavation equipment has a work-hour productivity of 80 bcy/work-hour, O&O cost of about $75/h and operator costs of $38/h.
If this equipment is used to move 1500 bcy of surface dirt, what would be the unit cost?
A. 1,201$/bcy.
B. 1,334$/bcy.
C. 1,334$/bcy.
D. 1,459$/bcy.
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
The Construction Engineering Section includes the following topics:
- Project administration.
- Construction operations and methods.
- Project controls.
- Construction estimating.
- Interpretation of engineering drawings.
Answer Index
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| C | B | B | B | C |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| B | C | D | D | A |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |
| A | B | D | D |
How to Pass the FE Civil Exam?
The FE Civil Engineering Exam has a fairly high 69% pass rate, among first-time takers who took the test within 12 months of graduating. While the exam is passable, intense and smart study is called for.
Included in our comprehensive PrepPack™
220 FE Civil Exams Practice Questions that will provide atotal time of 11 hours of practice.
Accurate Test-Like Questionsthat include All 14 test subjects of the FE civil exam.
Simulated Practice - Each test has a time limit that simulates the conditions you will encounter on the real test.
FAQs
Can I Use a Calculator During the Exam?
There are only three types of calculators that are permitted for use throughout the exam. Casio fx-115 and fx-991; HP 33s and HP 35; and TI-30X and TI-36X models.
What Is the FE Civil Exam Test Syllabus Format?
The test is divided into 14 sections: Please refer to the following FE Civil exam pdf page for more information about the exam's content
How is the FE Exam Scored?
All examinees receive a diagnostic report. The purpose of this report is to provide general information on the performance of the examinee. A scaled score from 0 to 15 is provided for each knowledge area, along with the number of items in each. According to the NCEE website, the pass rate of the FE Civil Exam is 62% of all participants.
What Do Civil Engineers Do?
The role of civil engineers is to design our living environment. The work they do includes the planning, designing, and overseeing of the construction and maintenance of all types of modern-day infrastructures, such as roads, railways, airports, and bridges.
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FAQs
How many questions do I need to get right on the FE civil exam? ›
NCEES generally does not provide a specific number of questions required to answer correctly for one to pass. However after doing the research and referring to different articles listed above it has been said that out of 110 problems, to pass, you will need to answer approximately 50 to 60 percent of them correctly.
Do you get a cheat sheet on the FE exam? ›The NCEES FE Reference Handbook is the only reference material that can be used during the exam. You will be provided with an electronic reference handbook during the exam. For access prior to your exam, you may either purchase a hard copy or download a free electronic copy.
What is the easiest FE exam to pass? ›Among all the NCEES® FE exams, the FE Other (General) exam is the easiest FE exam to pass, especially for those who are confused about choosing the right engineering domain.
What percentage of questions do you need to pass the FE exam? ›6. The FE Exam Passing Score. The passing score of the FE exam on average is 70%.
How many people fail the FE exam? ›To put it in perspective, the FE Civil Exam only has a 62% pass rate and continues to go down year after year. The FE is a comprehensive exam that tests your knowledge of all the fundamentals of engineering. You have to put in the hard work and dedication to pass.
How long do I need to study for the civil Fe? ›How long you should study for the FE exam depends on you as an individual. In general, we recommend 12 to 14 weeks of serious study for a minimum of three hours per day.
How do I pass the Civil FE exam? ›- Understand Your Own Learning Style. ...
- Know What's on the Test. ...
- Manage Your Time Wisely. ...
- Use the FE Reference Handbook. ...
- Practice, Practice, Practice... ...
- Get a Good Night's Sleep Before Taking an Exam. ...
- Don't Try to 'Wing It' at the Last Minute. ...
- Stay Organized.
And this is why passing the FE Exam results in being a big deal. Whether you are taking the FE Electrical or want to become a Civil Engineer, the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE Exam) is the first step towards acquiring your Professional Engineering (PE) License.
How do I ace the FE exam? ›- Know The Topics For The Exam.
- Know Your Weak And Strong Subjects.
- Follow The Fe Exam Prep Source.
- Make A Schedule.
- Take Help From The Calculator's Advanced Features.
- Solve Every Problem.
- Leave Subjects You Didn't See In School.
- Try To Solve Each Problem From Scratch.
A 54% pass rate is a hard exam, the hardest among the FE exams. The FE Mechanical and FE Environmental exams now have the highest pass rate at 66% (see our chart in the next section below), and a 34% failure rate is something we consider very demanding.
Is the FE exam harder the second time? ›
A question we often get coming in from those who are getting back on the horse after failing is whether or not the FE Exam gets harder to pass the more you take it. The short answer is No. But, that isn't the whole story. The FE Exam actually can get harder to pass the more you attempt it.
Which exam is harder Fe or PE? ›The FE exam is actually harder than the Professional Engineer (PE) exam, simply because it is much more broad. It's best to take it as close to graduation as you can, with all that schooling still fresh in your mind.
Do you lose points for wrong answers on the FE exam? ›There are no deductions for wrong answers. The score is then converted to a scaled score, which adjusts for any minor differences in difficulty across the different exam forms.
How long does it take to get results from FE? ›How long does it take to get FE exam results? You'll get results from your CBT FE Exam 5-10 days after testing. It will come in the form of an email and signing into your MYNCEES account to find out if you passed. NCEES reuses its questions for other exams, so the results don't tell you which ones you got right.
Can you skip questions on the FE exam? ›The great thing about the FE exam being computer-based is that you can flag or skip a question you don't know and you will be able to review all of your answers before submitting each half of the exam.
How do you pass the FE for the first time? ›- Review the list of FE Exam topics and classify the exam topics into buckets. Familiarize yourself with the published list of topics that could be asked on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. ...
- Develop a study schedule. Develop a study schedule that takes into account: ...
- Practice. Practice.
Failing to set aside enough time to prepare
The best way to pass the FE exam is proper preparation. Start studying for the test at least one month in advance. Buy reference materials and practice tests early to find enough time to prepare. Time yourself with practice tests so you can enter that test with confidence.
What if I need to retake the exam? NCEES allows examinees to take the exam once during each two-month period and up to three times per 12-month period.
Can I study for the Fe in a month? ›We recommend planning to study for at least 2 to 3 months before your FE exam date. Once you get started practicing problems from all of the different topics covered, you'll have a better idea if you need to spend more or less time preparing.
What is a passing grade on the FE civil exam? ›What score do I need to pass the FE-CBT Civil exam? The required score to pass this exam is not a set number used yearly. Typically, scoring an estimated 50% of the exam correctly will result in a curved passing score (70%).
What is the minimum score to pass the FE exam? ›
FE Industrial: 70% FE Mechanical: 79% FE Other Disciplines: 75%
Do employers care about the FE exam? ›As long as you have an engineering degree from an ABET accredited institution, you can take the exam in whichever discipline you like. To an employer, passing the FE exam, regardless of discipline, will most likely signal your ability to take on a higher level of responsibility.
Does passing FE exam increase salary? ›In general, after passing your PE exam, which has a prerequisite to the FE exam, you will receive an immediate promotion and salary bump of around $2,000 – $5,000 per year as well as the ability to occupy new roles such as a team manager or project engineer which definitely pay more as well.
Can employers see failed FE exam? ›Unless you give your NCEES username and password to your employer, then they will see the failure notices.
Is the FE 1 exam hard? ›It does not take much research to understand that the FE1 is a very difficult exam to sit. For this reason alone, anyone who is considering converting to a career in law would be well advised to take a course. Topics covered include: Law of Contract.
Is the FE open book? ›It's worth knowing that the FE exam format is not paper-based and open-book, but rather is computer-based and closed-book.
What happens if you don't pass the FE? ›You need to progress in your career as fast as possible. However, if you fail the FE exam, you need to keep in mind that you can only attempt to retake the test once every three months. Perhaps for this reason alone, you should consider getting a study guide for Fundamentals of Engineering (FE).
Does FE exam discipline matter? ›Does it matter which FE exam I take? No. You may take any FE exam discipline to get EIT certification, and it does not matter for your PE license.
Are you an EIT Once you pass the FE exam? ›If you have just passed your NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, congratulations! You're now considered an Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineering Intern (EI).
How long does passing the FE exam last? ›Technically speaking, it never expires because passing the FE test essentially appoints the taker as an Engineer in Training.
How is the Civil Fe scored? ›
The FE is graded on a pass/fail system. Since each test is a bit different (eg. FE Civil, FE Mechanical, FE Electrical, etc.), the NCEES doesn't publish the score needed to pass. So the FE Exam is termed a pass or fail exam and there isn't a designated number of passing students for the exam.
How much time do you get per question on the FE exam? ›FE Exam Duration
The total time you'll have to actually answer the exam questions is 5 hours and 20 minutes. The problem-solving pace works out to slightly less than 3 minutes per question, and you may work through the questions (in that session) in any sequence.
NCEES does not release exam scores, nor do they pre-determine a PE exam or FE exam passing score or passing percentage. However, for the PE Mechanical exam, it is generally believed that the cut score is around 70% (56 out of 80 multiple choice questions).
Does civil engineers have to pass the FE exam? ›For engineers, particularly civil engineers, they must pass the fundamentals of engineering exam (FE). In any profession where you can do serious help and serious damage, some kind of standardized test is put into place.
Is the FE civil exam curved? ›In short, no, the FE Exam is not curved. But it is definitely important to understand how it is scored – let's lay it out as it is defined for us by the NCEES. When you take the FE Exam, you will complete 110 questions. Of those 110 questions, you are going to get a certain number correct.
What percentage of engineers pass the FE? ›According to the January/February and April/May 2015 FE-CBT Civil exam results, 70% of 4874 test takers passed. The aforementioned examinees took the exam for the first time, after having attended EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs, within 12 months of graduation.
How long should I give myself to study for the FE exam? ›We recommend planning to study for at least 2 to 3 months before your FE exam date. Once you get started practicing problems from all of the different topics covered, you'll have a better idea if you need to spend more or less time preparing.
What is the best way to study for the FE exam? ›- Familiarize yourself with the “FE Reference Handbook” Every examinee is given the same reference to use during the FE exam. ...
- Take a practice exam. NCEES has practice exam books available on its website. ...
- Do practice problems. ...
- Know yourself.
What is the Format of the FE Exam? Examinees have 6 hours to complete the exam, which contains 110 multiple-choice questions. The 6-hour time also includes a tutorial, a break, and a brief survey at the conclusion. The actual exam time is 5 hours 20 minutes.
Is the FE harder than the PE? ›The FE exam is actually harder than the Professional Engineer (PE) exam, simply because it is much more broad. It's best to take it as close to graduation as you can, with all that schooling still fresh in your mind.
How many times can you take the FE civil exam? ›
How many times can I take the FE Exam? You can take the FE once during each two-month period with a maximum of 3 times per year.
Does the FE exam score expire? ›Technically speaking, it never expires because passing the FE test essentially appoints the taker as an Engineer in Training.
Can you be an engineer without Fe? ›You need to have passed the FE exam (this can actually be waived in some situations, for example, if you have mega years of experience working in an engineering function) You have had to acquired a certain number of years of “Progressive Engineering Experience”.
Is passing the FE exam worth it? ›Career Advancement
Firstly, passing the FE exam adds weight to a resume and indicates that you're serious about your field and your career. Secondly, while the exam itself carries little importance in day-to-day engineering work, it's the first step toward obtaining a Professional Engineer license.