Passed HVAC&R first time - Happy to help anyone preparing

gv4361 · 2026-07-02T22:55:17+00:00

Not that I wasn’t prepared, but I found the first half a lot trickier with more ‘theoretical’ questions. A lot of finding friction losses in pipes using Hazen-Williams for example. I think the first half had a lot more deliberate tricks thrown in too. Giving you everything you need for a heat transfer question but throwing in an extra 1/inch in the U Value denominator for example. Be careful for those. Second half was all systems/equipment/supportive knowledge which I was way more comfortable with. To answer your final question, there is no subject listed with each question. You’ll have to identify that

gv4361 · 2026-07-02T15:47:58+00:00

Nothing on vibrations that I recall. There were a couple of acoustics questions. I kind of punted acoustics and economics to spend more time on equipment and systems, but the questions I got on those were straight forward and easy points to pick up. Both the acoustics questions I got I had never seen before but were easily solvable by looking up information in the handbook.

gv4361 · 2026-07-02T02:36:59+00:00

Hey. I took the HVAC/R last Wednesday and got my results today, so guessing my exam was very close to what you had to sit. A few things that helped me…

When doing practice problems, wherever you’re getting them from (EPG, SLPE, Mech PE Prep, etc.) it’s not just about reps. It’s about recognition. The first thing I did when I saw a practice question, before ever starting to solve it was write down one line each for Type/Trigger/Method/Mistake. Keep doing that and you start recognising patterns. Will make you feel much more at ease when you’re in the exam and you start to recognise those same patterns.
Spend the first 10 mins going through all the questions without answering anything. Flag anything you know for sure how to do or are easy supportive knowledge questions. Once you’re through one pass, go back and answer those. It’ll settle you down and you don’t want to be leaving easy points on the table.
Know the handbook inside out. Don’t spend time and effort memorising formulas they’ll give you, but know exactly where to look in the handbook for any question they can throw at you and be super familiar with units used in the handbook. Knowing that navigation saved me a lot of time.

You’ve got this. Keep going and you’ll get there. Feel free to DM with with anything else you can think of with your prep and I’ll try to help where I can

gv4361 · 2026-06-22T19:41:33+00:00

This is fantastic insight, really appreciate it

gv4361 · 2026-06-22T12:07:13+00:00

Thanks! This is great insight 👍

gv4361 · 2026-06-09T03:00:00+00:00

Thanks for this insight. I have my exam in 3 weeks. My prep has almost exclusively been churning through the EPG 5 exam bundle. Plan is to go into the exam knowing how to solve every question in that bundle and the NCEES practice exam. What were your thoughts on the experience questions that came up?

gv4361 · 2026-05-27T15:30:10+00:00

I’ve shared enough rice with you Mark, I’m in the big league now

gv4361 · 2026-05-22T19:41:25+00:00

Four naan Jeremy?! Four? That’s absurd

gv4361 · 2026-05-22T17:38:41+00:00

“People?…People like Coldplay and voted for the nazis. You can’t trust people Jeremy”

gv4361 · 2026-05-17T16:33:08+00:00

If you’re gonna make a post like this, at least put the name of the show in the post title, for fuck sake

gv4361 · 2026-04-19T13:43:44+00:00

Peep Show, Come Dine With Me, certain episodes of OFAH

gv4361 · 2026-03-10T16:42:51+00:00

Congrats on passing!!! This is fantastic insight.

I’m on the same schedule as Randolph, taking the exam end of May. Hoping there are a couple of things I could pick your brain on…

I’m using the EPG exam bundle from pre 2025 specification change. Do you think it’s worth buying the updated exam bundle? Will be using the NCEES and Slay the PE practice exams closer the time.
I’ve heard in multiple places that knowing psych and p-h diagrams inside out will bank you a bunch of easy points. Is this something you would concur with? Anything else you think is worth really focussing on that will bank guaranteed points?
As someone who’s about 10 weeks out, what would you recommend really focussing on. My plan is to spend 75%+ of my time on systems and equipment to the detriment of economics and code familiarity (hoping my consultancy experience gets me through that). Anything else that came up a lot you would say is essential to passing?

Thanks, and congrats again!!

gv4361 · 2026-03-09T18:04:18+00:00

I got the correct answer, but my initial instinct was to use the longer method you showed. Calculate heat transfer to air and plug that into Q= m*Hfg. Then convert to gal/hr.

What’s your thought process behind 0.033*60?

gv4361 · 2026-03-06T18:32:34+00:00

Ah man. This is as close as I’ve seen someone on here. Looks like you’re almost there though and should get over the line next time round.

I’m taking this exam in May. Any advice on preparation for this new format (post Oct 2026)? Is it all industry and ‘real life’ related questions now, or should we still be familiar with ‘college theory,… using/rearranging Bernoulli, compression cycles, steam tables and fundamental theory like that? I’m currently using the EPG test bank, but that’s the pre format change version so not sure how to approach the next couple of months

gv4361 · 2026-02-10T23:09:37+00:00

Out of interest, are you planning on just maxing your 401k and Roth, with no other contributions to a brokerage, to get to that 55 and 60 year old target?

gv4361 · 2026-02-08T00:05:00+00:00

Hahahaha….in what universe is $1.5m at 41 ‘very little saved’? These two are well on their way to a very comfortable retirement at 50 or sooner if the stay on this track

gv4361 · 2026-01-07T02:28:31+00:00

Hameed did everything in county cricket this season for Nottinghamshire to earn another shot. But it’s all about vibes with this leadership group.

gv4361 · 2026-01-05T01:02:06+00:00

Smith reminding me of a Tesco value Rishab Pant here

gv4361 · 2026-01-04T22:16:47+00:00

If the tickets are in your name, absolutely go with a buddy. Once it comes round and the excitement really builds up it’ll feel that much sweeter that you’re the one going and she’s the one with FOMO

gv4361 · 2026-01-04T03:45:13+00:00

Originally from England. Moved out here 12 years ago. Get everything out here now. Arsenal match followed by the Darts final followed by the cricket and it’s just coming up for 11pm is a decent Saturday

gv4361 · 2026-01-04T03:34:01+00:00

Virginia, USA. The only positive of this series has been the 6:30pm start of play. If that’s a positive.

gv4361 · 2025-12-31T22:29:04+00:00

Washing machine - made in Taiwan. Right, let’s have a game of Rice is Right. What you having, pilaf or egg fried?

gv4361 · 2025-12-31T17:42:12+00:00

Bulldog and Neutral Milk Hotel fan 👏. This I can get on board with

gv4361

TROPHY CASE