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Introduction How hard is the FE exam? There are a couple of factors that make the FE exam difficult. First, some problems on the exam require the students to point and click on answers, fill in the blanks with the right answer, or even drag and drop the correct answer, making them more challenging to predict. Examinees who have successfully graduated from a 4-year degree program in electrical engineering will likely be familiar with the FE exam’s content. Let’s look at a breakdown of what the FE exam is like: The total exam time is 5 hours and 20 minutes. 110 questions are broken up into two halves. You can take a 25-minute pause between portions in the second part of the examination, which has 50-60 problems.
Since the allotted time for the exam is 5 hours and 20 minutes, a 25-minute interval set for a break isn’t accounted for in the total exam time. If you do not take a break, you will not be able to spend time dealing with questions in the second section of the exam. A PDF edition of the FE Reference Handbook will be available to you during the FE test. We have a separate blog that will help you learn how to get the FE Reference Handbook. There are almost 500 pages of equations in the FE Reference Handbook to help you with any difficulty you run into. In addition, all of the exam-related formulas are contained in this reference guide. Because many theoretical problems do not require equations, the FE Reference Handbook will not be of much help for such conceptual questions. However, conceptual-theoretical challenges account for 15% of the topics you will find. So for the rest of the 85%, the Reference Handbook is a MUST!
Furthermore, candidates are only allowed to use FE-approved calculators. During the exam, you will be given markers and a spiral book to use for a manual calculation. Considering the test lasts more than 5 hours, it can be psychologically and physically taxing. However, taking the FE exam and applying everything all at once is an entirely different ballgame, which means the FE exam is complex and challenging.
What Does the FE Exam Consist Of? The FE test covers material covered in an EAC/ABET, Inc. approved B.S. engineering degree program. It covers a wide range of engineering topics in a suitable manner. The test consists of 110 problems to solve, as we mentioned earlier. Most college students studying an engineering field have the opportunity to take the FE exam while still in college. One of the best ways to prepare for the FE exam, for two reasons, is to study while completing an engineering degree. First, it is very likely that the information has been studied recently and is fresh in mind. Second, if there are questions about the study material, there is expected quick access to classmates, instructors, courses, or books that can help answer those questions.
It is best to use many small efforts over a long period of time when studying for FE. Whether someone preparing for the FE exam is still in college or graduated, studies must begin at least three months before the test date. Some find it helpful to take just one or two subjects per week for the first month so there is a constant focus on the subjects in question. Taking FE practice exams can also help. As the test date approaches, one should examine sample issues from all engineering-related areas to help ensure that the material is less likely to be forgotten. A beneficial tip for FE exam preparation is ensuring you get suitable study materials. The university exams or personal property available from acquaintances certainly have all kinds of relevant problems that can help the study. NCEES® offers many study materials for sale, including books containing sample questions and answers. The NCEES® Study Book is valuable because it indicates the exact format of the questions in the FE.
One of the most common mistakes students make is to hand in their exams early, even though they have plenty of time remaining. Double or triple-check all of your answers on both halves of the exam. For example, if you get through half of a test early, don’t just hand it in and move on. Double-check your answers to any questions you had difficulty with, especially those that were difficult for you. The difference between passing and failing an exam may be as simple as finding a mistake in one or two questions. Use the extra time to double-check or recalculate any unsure answers. Even though time is a significant consideration, DO NOT rush through the exam! Preparing for an exam by taking practice exams in a timed environment will help you better understand how long each problem takes so you don’t rush through it and make mistakes. Once again, a single blunder can mean the difference between passing and failing an exam.
Is the FE Exam Difficulty the Same for Every Candidate? No, NCEES® provides a scaled score for exam comparisons because the difficulty level of the exam varies from person to person, and the scale is necessary for that purpose. A large problem bank that the NCEES® develops with the help of volunteers has been used to generate unique questions for the exam. The NCEES® sets passing scores that are not influenced by the achievement of other examinees. When you look at the pass rates for each exam, you’ll see that they vary year over year.
