The PE Civil Engineering exam is designed to evaluate an individual's level of competency and fundamental knowledge of Civil Engineering. The PE Civil exam has breadth and depth examinations.

1. Things to Know Before Taking PE Civil Exam
Index
 Introduction
 PE Civil Exam Difficulty
 NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook
 List the Important Topics
 Practice, practice, practice
 Conclusion
Introduction
 The PE Civil Engineering exam is designed to evaluate an individual's level of competency and
fundamental knowledge of Civil Engineering. The PE Civil exam has breadth and depth
examinations.
 The depth examination questions focus on a single area of practice.
 The breadth examination consists of questions from the five areas of Civil Engineering:
 PE Civil: Construction
 PE Civil: Geotechnical
 PE Civil: Structural
 PE Civil: Transportation
 PE Civil: Water Resources and Environmental
 The PE Civil exam will have eighty multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and alternative item types
(AITs).
PE Civil Exam Difficulty
 Although the PE civil exam is considered difficult, with proper strategies and planning, the PE
Civil exam is passable.
 One of the primary reasons for finding the PE exam challenging is not giving yourself enough
time to analyze and study the PE Civil syllabus.
 So, ensure you understand the syllabus and topics well using NCEES specified reference
handbook and prepare well for the exam.
 Find out your areas of weakness and spend more time on these subjects.
 Use a proper time management approach to answer the questions on time and avoid making
silly mistakes that make you lose marks.
NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook
 Since the PE Civil exam has transitioned to a computer-based testing (CBT) format, you cannot
bring personal copies of any reference materials into the test center.
 An electronic copy of the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook is the only reference material you
can use during the FE Civil exam.
 You can register or login into your MyNCEES account to access a copy of the handbook.

2. List Out the Important Topics
 It is vital to note the critical topics and focus on them to excel in the PE Civil exam. You need to
check the topics that have maximum marks.
 In structural engineering, the topic having the maximum mark is the Analysis of Structure.
 Also, in geotechnical engineering, the top topics are Site Characterization, Soil Mechanics,
Laboratory Testing and Analysis, Earth Retaining Structures, Shallow Foundations, and Deep
Foundations.
 In transportation engineering, concentrate more on traffic engineering topics.
 Focus more on Construction Operation and Methods, Temporary Structures topics for
construction engineering. Lastly, in water resources and environmental engineering, focus on
Hydrology and Hydraulics topics.
Practice, practice, practice
 The most crucial factor while preparing for the PE Civil exam is practicing the question
frequently, which improves your knowledge retention.
 Take time-based practice tests regularly and evaluate your performance to identify your
weaknesses.
 Extensive practice is the best way to maximize your PE Civil exam score.
Conclusion
 Passing the PE Civil exam is easy with hard work, preparation, and practice.
 Students can enroll in a review course in a renowned institute like the School of PE to enhance
their preparation and pass the PE exam.