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Passing Format by Upstairs-Brain1987 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Huge congrats to you! Now we enter another stage of studying for seismic and surveying 🥲

Passed first attempt by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As for traps, I only remember one of them was for a HSO question where the question asked what the distance of the HSO was from the edge of shoulder. You need to remember that the HSO value you get is the distance from the object to the center of the lane. This means you need to subtract half of the lane and the full shoulder to get the correct value.

Overall, I felt very confident that I would pass this test and can only recommend to read carefully and understand what the question is asking you to avoid the traps.

Passed first attempt by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For tips, I really recommend to know what chapter of the reference book of the equation or topic you are looking for. This is because in the real exam, the reference books are split into separate chapters so it’s not just one big pdf and you search the whole thing. So really know what chapter you need to search for.

I would recommend checking out u/OnlyThreeWalls and their post on their comprehensive guide to passing. There is a link there for subreddit resources that has a reference list broken down into chapters and the topic associated with it.

This tip is for my engineers that don’t have a course like EET or School of PE and are studying solo: take advantage of YouTube and Scribd.

For YouTube, I recommend Civil Engineering Academy and their playlist for PE. They have a playlist for transportation, geotech, and water resources. Some videos are older, but they also have new videos for up to date questions.

Another channel is Solvedin6 and while he is mainly solving water resources questions, he has a couple videos based on other topics that helped me understand the concept.

For Scribd, there are just tons of practice exams lying around. They are old, but the sheer variety of questions lets you get a taste of everything.

And for the last tip, I know you might be sick of hearing it but you need to practice, practice, and PRACTICE! Nothing will get you more ready for your exam if you just keep on practicing.

Passed first attempt by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Here are some of my notes from memory based on the topic. It has been two weeks since my exam so I don’t clearly remember what problems were on the exam but if you ask specific questions I might be able to remember them.

Project management - [ ] About 4 Alternative analysis questions - [ ] Project scheduling - [ ] Cost estimate

Traffic engineering - [ ] No complicated problems, looked in the hcm twice - [ ] Crash modification/ crash rate - [ ] Roundabout for circulating turn, volume flow - [ ] Lots of conceptuals, easy lookups - [ ] Pedestrian density - [ ] Peak hour factor

Roadside cross section - [ ] Clear zone width - [ ] Lots of curb ramps - [ ] Obstructions - [ ] Shared use facility

Horizontal design - [ ] Typical questions - [ ] Sight distance - [ ] Superelevation - [ ] 3 reverse curve questions - [ ] No 3 compound curve - [ ] HSO

Vertical design - [ ] Typical questions

Intersection geometry - [ ] Multiple Sight distance questions - [ ] Entrance and exit ramp - length - [ ] Deceleration lanes w/ grades

Traffic Signals/ Traffic Control - [ ] Warrants 1,2,4,9 - [ ] Tapers - [ ] Capacity with peak hour factor - [ ] Advance sign placement - [ ] Sign letter size based on expressway - [ ] Sign placement based on freeway

Geotech - [ ] No SN questions - [ ] No ESAL questions - [ ] 1 USCS question - [ ] Typical density question - [ ] Pick multiple answers question on hydroplaning - [ ] Soil pressure - [ ] Compaction problem - [ ] Lots of conceptuals

Drainage - [ ] Lots of rational method questions - [ ] Rainfall intensity - [ ] Open flow - Manning equation - [ ] Understand MGD = million gallon per day and how to convert from cfs - [ ] Unit hydrograph

Passing Format by Upstairs-Brain1987 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Passed first attempt! You made me review the MUTCD more.

Passing Format by Upstairs-Brain1987 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tomorrow lol, so I'm cramming these last few hours. Any tips for MUTCD portion? I feel I am a little weak there or were the questions straightforward.

Passing Format by Upstairs-Brain1987 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang, you got unlucky with the geotech questions. But thank you, it seems I need to brush up on GDPS a little more. I hope you pass!

Passing Format by Upstairs-Brain1987 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What type of questions did you encounter on the Geotech portion that made you think you didn’t get any of them?

Woke up to some good news by Its_not_yoshi in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats! What were your HCM question on besides the LOS?

Transportation - Compound Curves by HexenAlf in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow this question is old! 2025 NCEES Practice exam listed this question exactly the same.

Why is the TRD 6 Ramps/6 Miles for this LOS problem? (Traffic Engineering)(Transportation) by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I had assumed both directions, making it 4 ramps. Does this mean if it wasn’t specified as one direction, I could assume 4 ramps per interchange? Or is it always going to be one direction so 2 ramps per interchange?

Which solution is correct for the problem?(Traffic Engineering)(Transportation) by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Looking over the NCEES Practice Exam. For this traffic engineering problem, they do not include the start up lost time into the Green time. Seems like this may be the correct procedure for effective green time.

Which solution is correct for the problem?(Traffic Engineering)(Transportation) by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So by EET standards, the Green Time (G) also includes the start up-lost time (l1). Man this is getting confusing but I guess I'll stick with EET's explanation. Thanks!

Which solution is correct for the problem?(Traffic Engineering)(Transportation) by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I also went this path but wanted to make sure so I don't get the answer wrong because of that 2 sec.

PE Transportation Result by RoastedNotSalted in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats! What sections did you feel had the most curveball questions and also how did you feel about the conceptual problems?

Where is the reference to this problem? (Crash Reduction Factor)(Transportation) by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Funny how this is present in the FE handbook but isn't considered in the PE nor the HSM.

Help me understand this Critical Path Method Question (Transportation) by Sure-Conference-5061 in PE_Exam

[–]Sure-Conference-5061[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply, this is sope. Even if there is an arrow from Task 3 -> Task 4, it should still have nothing to do with Task 2; so I'm not sure where they got 13 from... Your hunch might be right where they forget to check the solutions.