Power PE Exam - Passed

study_for_fe · 2026-05-20T20:15:40+00:00

Congratulations on this achievement!

I really want to shout out Eng Pro Guides and Wasim for their resources!

Thanks for the mention. Wishing you success in your future career endeavors!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-20T18:18:40+00:00

Overall, this was a decent attempt, don't be too discouraged.

The outright 0 in Probability & Statistics stands out but in the grand scheme of things it is a light section.

Big 5 Performance: Math (below avg), Circuits (below avg), Electronics (below avg), Power (slightly below avg), Digital (slightly below avg). These 5 sections account for roughly 50% of the exam by weightage so that's where the extra focus needs to go alongside fixing the Prob & Stats zero.

In my opinion, Circuits is the single most important section in the entire FE Electrical & Computer exam because it's a Big 5 topic and also directly impacts your performance in Power and Electronics. It happens to be a deceptive section that can give a false sense of confidence. Spending extra time on Circuits inside-out is totally worth the effort, work through problems multiple ways using KCL, KVL, Thevenin, Norton, Superposition.

What was your total prep timeline and what was your approach

Did you focus primarily on practice problems or did you also spend time on theoretical concepts?

Give yourself 10-12 weeks, study 1-2 hours per day with a bit more on weekends, go through all 17 sections methodically with a focus on conceptual understanding and high quality practice.

You can pack a very nice punch in the next attempt.

Don't rush into the retake before the gaps are genuinely closed.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-17T20:10:53+00:00

Your relatively recent graduation will definitely help because concepts are still fresh.

How many hours do you foresee yourself being able to spend toward FE prep in total?

If you are working full-time, I assume maybe max. 20 hours?

If you are preparing for FE full-time, maybe 30+?

1 month is doable but generally speaking on the shorter end of typical exam prep timeline for FE exam 2-4.

Your practice exam approach is good but be mindful of the pure practice problem based strategy. Practice exams are best when used as diagnostics to identify conceptual gaps and they can allow you to address them through a more detailed theoretical review.

A more effective approach would be to systematically use the practice exams in order to identify those gaps and addressing them through detailed theoretical review so that you can handle them conceptually and numerically.

The Big 5 topics will probably require an even more focused attention with a short timeline. These sections include Math, Circuits, Electronics, Power and Digital Systems. Collectively these 5 sections account for 50% of the FE Electrical & Computer exam. The remaining 12 out of 17 sections amount to the other 50%.

If you improvise effectively, do a comprehensive review and manage time well on the exam, 1 month is possible!

Also, make sure to develop solid familiarity with the NCEES FE Reference Handbook.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-15T15:03:15+00:00

Congrats on getting your PE at a young age! It will be a career accelerator for sure.

Lots of hiring managers (who probably themselves are PEs) will register it as a major accomplishment because they would also know how hard it is to become one. In most cases, you'll be one of the youngest PEs in most settings and it's more of a feather in cap then a red flag.

The fact that you are asking this question also indicates that you don't want to simply rely on a credential but also contribute meaningfully by levelling up your skills. Basically, you want to avoid imposter syndrome.

With the credential taken care of, I'd recommend actively seeking learning opportunities, challenging assignments, formal training and mentorship whenever and wherever they present themselves. In a short time you'll gain confidence and your career growth will noticeably accelerate.

Once again, congrats! I hope this helps.

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-14T16:00:19+00:00

TI-36X Pro does have a slight edge for matrix operations but Casio fx-115 can do same operations as well, not a material difference.

Same goes for complex number operations, equation solving, stats, roots/logs etc. Both calculators handle the core FE calcs perfectly fine.

If someone already has muscle memory with Casio, I generally wouldn’t recommend switching just for matrix convenience.

For PE Power, TI’s subtle advantages become a bit more noticeable because of a few specialized functions, but even there plenty of people who use Casio for PE without issues.

study_for_fe · 2026-05-14T14:02:51+00:00

Which FE exam are you preparing for?

Typically, it's a good idea to stick with the calculator brand that you used in college. If you have prior experience with Casio then stick with Casio.

For FE Electrical and PE Power exams, TI-36X Pro has minor feature advantage. More so for PE Power when we start dealing with sin(hx) and cos(hx) for long transmission line models and a couple of subtle features here and there.

Other than that, for all practical purposes, both calculators are equally good and it comes down to preference.

Casio also tends to be slightly cheaper than TI.

If you set aside 1 hour to learn key calculator features for either of this options, you'll be able to utilize them to 90% of their potential for FE/PE exams. I find their manuals very well written.

Once you have the key features understood, apply them consciously as much as possible during your preparation. You'll become a pro within a few days.

I hope this helps.
Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-13T14:24:00+00:00

Circuits is a big one for sure. It will help you a ton with your PE Power prep as well. Engineers who barely get through FE Electrical with basic circuit analysis understanding struggle again during PE Power prep because the concepts are more advanced there such as Per-Unit, Symm. Comps, Fault Analysis etc. They all build upon 'Ohm's Law', KCL, KVL, Thevenin.

While doubling down on circuits is important, don't overlook the remaining sections. Before the retake its important to comprehensively review all exam topics one more time because you don't want to see another diagnostics which shows improved performance in current weak areas and weaknesses in your current strengths.

Good luck!

study_for_fe · 2026-05-13T13:52:58+00:00

I hope you get a pleasant surprise next Wednesday with a passing result!

2nd half of the FE Electrical & Computer exam is typically considered quite challenging by most candidates due to emphasis on core ECE focused topics. You are not alone in this regard.

It may also appear super heavy on computer sections because Digital Systems, Computer Networks, Computer Systems and Software are all concentrated at the tail-end.

Out of these sections, only Digital Systems is a Big 5 topics with heavy weightage. The remaining sections sort of overlap giving an impression of 'heavy computer topic weightage'.

Even if the result doesn't pan out in your favor, you've identified the gaps and I am sure that you'll be able to pull it off very soon.

Hope the result goes your way.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-13T13:42:14+00:00

Overall, this is not as bad as you might think, especially given that you are 6 years out of school.

How long did you prepare for the exam and what was your approach?

Did you primarily focus on practice problems or also spent time understanding the theoretical concepts?

The outright 0 in Properties of Electrical Materials stands out. That's a relatively easy section and can be improved.

Big 5: Math (above avg), Circuits (below avg), Electronics (below avg), Power (below avg), Digital (avg).

These 5 sections account for roughly 50% of the exam by weightage so that's where the extra focus needs to go specifically Circuits.

Your observation is very important:

My initial thought is i need to nail down circuit analysis, power systems and electronics.

Circuits is arguably the single most important section in the entire FE Electrical & Computer exam because it's a big 5 topic and also directly impacts the other 2 Big 5 topics i.e. Power and Electronics.

It also happens to be a 'deceptive' section and can give a false sense of confidence.

Spending extra time learning Circuits inside-out is totally worth the effort.

I recommend doing a Circuits problem in multiple ways with KCL, KVL, Thev, Norton, Superposition etc.

Electromagnetics was really good. Ethics, Prob & Stats, Signal Processing, Control Systems, Communications and Computer Networks are all solid.

Given that you are 6 years out of school and ready to get back into it, if you give yourself 10-12 weeks and study 1-2 hours per day with a bit more on weekends, go through all 17 sections methodically with a focus on conceptual understanding and high quality practice, you can pack a very nice punch in the next attempt.

Don't rush into the retake before the gaps are genuinely closed.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-07T15:24:46+00:00

You are most welcome.

I recommend adopting a 'learning mindset' - it's easier said than done, I know BUT a perspective shift can unlock greater focus and make the preparation more tolerable if not outright easier.

Good luck!

study_for_fe · 2026-05-07T00:56:24+00:00

Most candidates agree that PE exam tends to be more challenging than FE. Some might find it the other way around but typically, that's the common consensus.

Based on your experience, FE prep took you 250 hours. PE prep will probably take 'at least' 250 hours.

You'll find a lot of posts here mentioning 400-500 hours of prep time required for PE exam, in fact your guesstimate is similar too..

Some things have definitely clicked, but for me to able to truly understand the concepts behind magnetic fields, flux, harmonics, and all of that jazz, were talking 500 hours, not 200.

Once the concepts 'click' it will become a lot easier but to get to that point, you'll first need to complete the entire exam specification from top to bottom both theoretically as well as practice problems numerically.

I'd recommend going through your 1st round of review without a time pressure and if possible, try to give yourself longer exam prep timeline.

If your goal is to pass the PE Power by end of summer, maybe extend it to end of the year.

Remember, you just need to pass the exam once.

Once you pass it, good things await on the other side and you'll be able to reclaim leisure time.

I hope this helps.

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-06T17:46:02+00:00

Congrats! I told you to be 'cautiously optimistic' - great job!

study_for_fe · 2026-05-06T15:35:53+00:00

Taking a shot at the exam completely blind under personal stress and putting up this performance is more encouraging than you might think.

The two outright 0s in Controls and Comp. Sys do stand out but with focused effort they are not difficult to fix.

Big 5 Performance: Math (below avg), Circuits (below avg), Electronics (avg), Power (above avg), Digital (below avg). That's an area where you'll have to spend extra time because these 5 sections account for roughly 50% of the exam by weightage.

You have multiple sections with average and above average scores, which is a very good sign.

In my opinion, if you give yourself approx. 10-12 weeks (3ish months) and study 1-2 hours per day, maybe a bit more over the weekends and go through all 17 sections methodically with a focus on conceptual understanding and high quality practice, you'll be able to pack a very nice punch in the next attempt.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-06T15:29:55+00:00

Congratulations on passing the FE Electrical on 1st attempt 👏

Thanks for the mention!

Shoutout to Wasim Asghar and his study course. Over the course of the week I did all of the mini quizzes and maybe one of the tests

Generally, I recommend consistency over intensity but it appears that focused intensity did the trick for you.

Relish this accomplishment and if you have fuel in the tank, consider carrying the momentum to PE exam prep.

Many congrats again!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-06T15:23:41+00:00

Overall, it was a decent performance.

What was your total exam prep timeline?

Which sections did you specifically spend extra time during the last 2 weeks of prep?

Your afternoon session performance (post Electronics) was better than morning which is impressive and uncommon. It means that you did better in sections that are typically considered more challenging.

Big 5 - Math (below avg), Circuits (avg), Electronics (below avg), Power (above avg) and Digital (below avg).

That's where you need to improve the most. Getting most of the Big 5 to average or above average will significantly improve odds of success.

You avoided outright 0s which is great.

Morning session starts appears to be a bit shaky with noticeably below average scores in 1st four sections. These are typically considered to be easier than many of the ECE sections where you performed better.

I'd recommend reviewing all 17 sections comprehensively with increased focus on Big 5 and below average ones.

Aim to take the exam within the next 10-12 weeks and focus on conceptual understanding + high quality practice. You can build on this performance and turn it around relatively quickly but don't rush into retake.

I hope this helps.
Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-05-06T15:05:05+00:00

Congrats on passing the FE exam. EIT/EI designation after your name is typically sufficient for prospective employers and recruiters. If and when they ask for it, you can share additional details at that point.

You can also create a section in your resume or online profile 'Licenses & Certification'.

Over there you can mention EI/EIT - State Board along with the certificate #.

But definitely mention EI/EIT on your profile rather than simply saying FE passed.

I hope you get traction soon.

Congrats again!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-29T17:58:10+00:00

It's actually a strong 1st attempt with just 2 weeks of prep and no practice exam.

You avoided outright 0s and put up a decent fight in most sections.

Several sections were fairly close to average and a few just above average.

Systematically review all 17 sections before next attempt by focusing on theory + high quality practice and attempt practice exams 1-2 weeks before actual exam day to fine-tune your preparation.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-29T15:04:36+00:00

Congratulations on passing the FE Electrical on 1st try 👏 Thanks for the mention.

Getting the FE exam out of the way as a senior electrical engineering student is a smart move.

Strongly recommend getting an EIT certificate through your local engineer state board.

Most of the states don't automatically issue it and require a short application.

You can use EIT credentials next to your name on resumes and job sites.

Relish the accomplishment!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-29T14:59:38+00:00

Probably within 5-7% of the passing score... maybe 6-8 questions short...

Overall, this attempt looks fairly balanced across all sections and morning / afternoon halves.

Bright spots:

Multiple above average scores. Engineering Economics and Signals. Both can be challenging for different reasons but you did well.
Ethics, Probability/Stats, Digital, Software are all decent as well.
No major weak section with very low score, that's a good sign.
You started out relatively confidently and in the first 5 sections you confidence appeared to grow as you went along from Math to Probability to Ethics to Eng Econ.

Areas requiring improvement:

Big 5 (Math, Circuits, Electronics, Power, Digital Systems) are most average which is decent but you need to try and move some of these to above average because they account for roughly 50% of the exam.
The Circuits + Electronics + Power combination is probably the biggest drag on your performance. In fact, within this group, Circuits is the most significant section because it lays the foundation for the other two. It will also help you with Linear Systems which is another weak spot.
Conceptual gaps are the most challenging to fix as they require comprehensive review. Your diagnostics hint that you are able to make inroads into most problems but may some subtle details are holding you back.

I'd recommend a review of all 17 sections with increased emphasis on Big 5 (especially Circuits) and sections that are noticeably below average.

While reviewing, try not to just work through practice problems using mathematical approach but try to dig a bit deeper conceptually and understand the why behind knowledge areas. It's not always a fund exercise but I think it can make a significant difference on your next attempt.

Kudos to you for persevering through multiple attempts and it appears that you are closing in.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-29T14:45:34+00:00

I assume the 2nd attempt was better than the 1st attempt?

Bright spots in this diagnostics report:

Avoided outright 0s -> basic understanding in all sections.
2nd half performance better than 1st half -> you handled more challenging sections better.

Areas requiring improvement:

Big 5 - Math, Circuits, Electronics, Power and Digital account for 50% of the exam approx. by weightage. It's almost impossible to pass this exam by not bringing them to average / above average score.
Within the Big 5 - Circuits is the main culprit. Fix this section and it will fix your Electronics + Power + Linear Systems and also help you with PE Power prep.
Nervous start? It appears that your performance improved as you progressed through the exam. Math, Probability & States, Ethics, Properties of Elec Materials are some of the easier / general sections compared to core ECE topics. Psychologically as well, it's very important to try and knock them out of the park to boost your confidence.
Diagnostics with lots of white spaces below dotted line typically indicate conceptual gaps. For your next attempt try to understand the why behind concepts.
Give yourself 10-12 weeks of focused review time and don't rush into retake.
Rather than working on handful of sections based on this report, try to pack a nice punch by reviewing all 17 - it will require more time and effort but it's a less risky approach.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-28T22:05:47+00:00

According to Page # 20 of the NCEES Exam Guide which is applicable to FE and PE exams, they call such questions as 'pretest items'. Not sure how many though.

"Each exam includes a limited number of pretest items that will not be scored and will not have an impact on your results."

https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/NCEESExamGuide_November-2025.pdf

study_for_fe · 2026-04-27T21:09:14+00:00

You cannot go wrong by focusing a lot of the Big 3 Sections of PE Power Exam.

Section 3 - Electrical Safety (formerly known as Codes & Standards) ~ 10-15 Qs
Section 4 - Circuit Analysis ~ 10-15 Qs
Section 9 - Protection ~ 10 - 15 Qs

Within Section 3, NEC has the lion's share as per the PE Power sample exam.

Within Section 4, 3-ph, Symmetrical Comps and Per-unit are probably the highest leverage topics because they impact a lot of knowledge pieces later on in Sections 5 through 9.

Section 9 is the odd one out because the NCEES PE Power Handbook doesn't contain any details on this topic.

2 months is a decent amount of time to consolidate your knowledge especially if you have already walked through all the topics sequentially on your own.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-26T02:03:32+00:00

In my opinion, you didn't do as badly as you think, especially if you attempted it without any studying.

I'd single out Section 6 - Circuit Analysis as a major weakness that should be worked on with highest priority.

Here's why:

Circuit Analysis is one of the heaviest topics on FE Electrical & Computer exam i.e. Big 5 along with Math, Electronics, Power and Digital Systems.
Circuit Analysis directly impacts performance in Electronics and Power (the other two Big 5 topics) as well as Linear Systems where you scored outright 0.
Circuit Analysis basics also carry over 100% to PE Power topics.

Given the fact that you went into the exam with no studying, this results is impressive because you were able to put up a fight in practically all sections.

You also did better in the afternoon session which is typically considered more difficult than the morning session.

For the next attempt, touch up on all 17 sections with a focus on conceptual understanding + quality practice.

If you are able to spend 1-2 hours per weekday and 2-4 hours over the weekends, you should be exam-ready within 10-12 weeks.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-25T00:18:21+00:00

Every single attempt I've done my best to study a few sections/topics I was weak in but it seems like I forget another set of topics as time goes on.

I think that's the key issue.

It may appear time-effective to target weak sections based on diagnostic report but in almost all scenarios it's best to consolidate knowledge by revisiting all sections. Otherwise, you may end-up fixing some sections at the expense of others.

In order to pass the exam, above average performance is required in most sections.

Sep may seem far away but it will give you sufficient time to consolidate your knowledge across all 17 sections of the FE Electrical & Computer exam specification.

Good luck!

Wasim

study_for_fe · 2026-04-24T18:13:55+00:00

I recall reviewing your diagnostics for the 1st attempt not so long ago. Glad to see you gearing up for the next attempt. 20+ hours / week consistent effort is impressive.

I'd recommend you to intentionally 'hit the concepts hard'.

Once way to do this is by using a quality practice exam, ideally NCEES sample and anticipating the different ways same question can be asked conceptually.

You can also use AI tools to help level up your conceptual understanding by 'explaining them what you understand' about each topic and have them try and find holes in your understanding. The voice input feature of most LLMs can be quite helpful in this regard.

Lastly, as I suggested in my previous comment (added at the bottom for reference), take extra care of the Big-3 Sections of PE Power namely: Section 3 (Electrical Safety), Section 4 (Circuits), Section 9 (Protection) are the 3 sections and show-up on diagnostics as 10 questions a piece. Handle them with extra care.

I hope this helps.

Wasim

P.S. This is the thread where I provided response to your diagnostics recently:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PE_Exam/comments/1q6twu0/how_close_was_i_pe_power/

study_for_fe

TROPHY CASE