How Many Questions are There?

The exam itself is a 80 question paper and pencil based exam comprised of a AM and PM section.  The AM or Breadth Section is the same for all civil engineers testing you on a variety of subjects from the five major disciplines.  The PM or Depth section is another 40 questions that are specifically designed for the depth exam of your choice.  This could be construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources.  You chose the exam upon registration with the NCEES.

How is the Exam Scored?

This is a question that get's often asked.  In fact many wonder What Score Do I Need to Pass the PE Exam?  The NCEES has a massive description to how they score and factor things into what a passing score should be.  

Here's what they say:

After each pencil-and-paper exam administration, every exam undergoes extensive statistical analysis to determine the minimum level of performance required for entry into the profession. This rigorous process helps ensure an equitable licensure system for examinees while upholding the standards of the profession. The steps are as follows:

1. All answer sheets are scanned as they are received from the exam sites. Scanners are calibrated before and during scoring.

2. A psychometric analysis is performed on a sample of answer sheets from each multiplechoice exam to identify any questions with unusual statistics. These questions are flagged for review.

3. At least two subject-matter experts, who are licensed engineers or surveyors, review the flagged items. In addition, the subject-matter experts consider examinee comments about specific exam questions. If the reviews confirm an error in a question, credit may be given for more than one answer.

4. When the analyses and reviews are completed, NCEES changes the answer keys as necessary. The passing score and final correct answers for each exam are then used to score all answer sheets. A percentage of the answer sheets are manually verified, and the results are compared to the machine score to ensure accuracy.

5. NCEES releases the results to the licensing boards and testing agencies, who in turn report the results to examinees

The actual results are simply reported as a pass or a fail.  So you can imagine the elation of getting a pass and the crushing results of a fail in your inbox.  They do however provide you with a diagnostic report that breaks down what areas you did well at what areas you sucked at, er, I mean, didn't score as high on.  It's at least helpful in letting you know of areas to boost your study efforts.  

Here's an example of one:

When Can I Take the PE Exam?

Every civil engineer is anxious to get the PE exam done and passed.  The question about when you can take the exam comes up often.  Most states require that you have at least 4 years of engineering experience (working under a licensed PE) to earn your PE license.  Some states require less so you really need to look into your own state's division of professional licensing (DOPL) and figure that part out before you take the exam.  

This also affects where you might like to be employed because you need to work under a licensed PE to qualify for the experience.

Many states are de-coupling the exam from the experience.  So, what the heck does that mean?  It means that you can take the test earlier than the experience required to earn the PE.  It means you can take the PE really soon after graduating and then earn your experience later.  After you've earned your experience then you can apply and presto, you've got your license.  De-coupling is becoming more popular but you'll still need to check with your own state to see what the qualifications are.

I myself tried taking the exam in Arizona after only two years of experience (all they required) but I failed the first time so I decided to wait it out until I have my four years of experience (what Utah requires) and then take it.  Taking and re-taking the exam can be expensive to find out all you can from your own state's DOPL and learn when you can take it the PE exam and when you can earn your PE license.

The exam itself is offered every April and October (unless you get hit by COVID, and then they cancel them on you - which really sucks).  Eventually the exam will become computer based, or as the NCEES calls it, CBT or computer-based-testing.  When this happens it will be offered year round similar to the fundamentals of engineering (FE Exam).

When Do I Get My Results?

Based off experience it typically takes 10 weeks to get results back.  They use to be mailed to you but now they just post the result in your NCEES account and shoot you an email.  So if you take the exam in April you can expect results back around July and if you take the exam in October then you can expect a nice Christmas present to arrive in your inbox (it could be the best present you'll ever receive or the worst!).

Here's what the NCEES has to say about it, "Typically, NCEES releases results to licensing boards 8–10 weeks after the exam date. How and when examinees receive their results varies by state. Some boards use NCEES Exam Administration Services to release the results directly to examinees; some release them through another testing service such as PCS; and other boards release the results themselves. In addition, some state boards must validate the results at a board meeting before they can release them to examinees."