I previously wrote an article on how to use the PE Reference Handbook to Ace your PE Exam, linked here: https://civilengineeringacademy.com/how-to-use-the-pe-reference-handbook-to-ace-your-pe-exam/ However, on the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, there is a FE Reference Handbook (FERH) that is provided. It is similar to the PE Reference Handbook. However, in my opinion, the FERH is more difficult to navigate and requires the student examinee to be much more familiar with the handbook to use it effectively. In this blog post, we take a deeper dive into the FERH and some of its nuances and offer you some tips to use it as an effective resource during your FE Exam!
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) administers the Civil Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam. At the time of this writing, the FE Exam is only offered in computer-based testing (CBT) format. During the exam, the FERH will be provided in an electronic, searchable format and will be available at all times during the exam. The FERH is the only resource available to test-takers outside of the NCEES-approved calculator that examinees are allowed to bring and the dry-erase scratch pads that are provided by the testing center. This means that the FE Reference Handbook (FERH) will be the main resource to look up equations, charts, and other relevant information during the exam. A complete list of exam specifications and the resources available during a specific exam discipline can be found on the NCEES website. While the current list of NCEES-approved calculators can be found here. (click on “Calculator Policy on the menu on the right side of the webpage).
Format of the FERH
As we mentioned earlier, the FERH will be available during the exam in an electronic, searchable format. Since the transition to the CBT format, there have been several versions of the FERH. At the time of this writing, Version 10.3 of the FERH is currently in use and NCEES has published an effective date of July 2023 for this version. Version 1.2 of the FERH consists of 496 pages. The FERH starts with a table of contents that lists some of the topics covered in the handbook. However, this is where the FE Reference Handbook differs from the PE Reference Handbook. The FERH breaks down the content into 6 chapters, based roughly on civil engineering discipline. Whereas, the FERH does not and just lists some topics randomly in the table of contents. In my opinion, this formatting of the table of contents of the FERH, makes the FERH trickier to use and more cumbersome to look up needed reference material during the exam. This is a challenge you will need to work through by becoming familiar with the FERH and what is included in it.
How to Use the FERH
In the FERH, just like the PERH, the searchability function, better known as the “CTRL+F” function is engaged by simultaneously pressing the Control key and the “F” key on your keyboard which will display a search box in which you can type in to search terms and equations. However, with the “CTRL+F ” function, spelling counts! If you spell a term incorrectly in the search box, no relevant results will appear. This includes hyphens too! If any of these characteristics are incorrect, the term will not be found in the search and you will struggle and lose time searching frantically for the equation. Alternatively, you can search for the first part or word or the first few letters of the term. This could take up a lot of time during the exam, especially with more common civil engineering terms. Remember, for the FE Exam you have 5 hours and 20 minutes of actual exam time and the timer is still ticking as you are searching through the FERH, so choose your approach wisely.
Become Familiar with the FERH
As a content creator for Civil Engineering Academy, I see the question asked often of our students “How do I use the FERH effectively?” or “How do I know which equation to use?” My best advice is to become familiar with the FERH far ahead of your exam day and practice solving absolutely every single practice problem you work with the FERH. This will help you to become familiar with the FERH, how to navigate it, which equations are included in it, and how to read the information presented in the included charts and graphs (which admittedly, is a little clunky). I highly recommend downloading your free copy of the FERH before you tackle a single practice problem and start using this resource. If you are still in your civil engineering undergraduate coursework, consider downloading a copy of the FERH and use it as you work through solving problems as part of your undergraduate coursework. Use it as a reference at your internship or work. Again, the more time on task, the better equipped you will be to know how to use the FERH as an effective resource during your exam. The FERH is only available in electronic form during the exam, so use it only in electronic form during your studying and practicing to best simulate exam day conditions. A free copy of the PERH is available through your myNCEES account.
Similarly, using the FERH will also equip you to know what is not included in the PERH. Some equations or topics you may just need to simply memorize and know. This is valuable information to know and plan for ahead of your exam. You don’t want to be caught by surprise on the day of the exam!
Oftentimes, the FE exam will include a theory-based question. This is another topic we see as a common struggle point with some of our students. The theory-based questions on exam day almost seem to be a situation of either you know it or you don’t. However, sometimes a graph in the FERH or an equation in the FERH can help you reason through a problem or at least eliminate an answer choice or two as being incorrect on your way toward the solution for a particular concept problem. .
Remember earlier we said that as you search and navigate the FERH on exam day, that exam timer is still ticking down? The pressure is on and most exam problems tend to require a few steps or equations to successfully solve. You need to identify the subject and concept being tested in the problem, be able to successfully recognize this, and make connections to relevant themes or terms you can search in the FERH to guide you to the correct equations to use. Oftentimes, there may be multiple ways to solve a problem. However, during the exam, you want to find the most direct, straightforward method of successfully solving the problem. In my experience, I noticed that most problems you encounter on the FE Exam can be solved in 2-steps using the most efficient method. This means to be successful you need to find the fewest equations from the FERH to use in order to maximize your time.
So what are you waiting for? Download the FERH and head over to our Youtube Channel to start using it with some free practice problems!
All of us here at Civil Engineering Academy to help you every step of the way towards becoming a licensed PE – acing both those FE and PE Exams!. These courses were the keys to success on my journey and I invite you to check time out at Check out Civil Engineering Academy Breadth and Depth Courses. We’ll see you there!
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Author: Matt Fanghella, PE, CFM8
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