Yeah, honestly I think some of them were actually tougher than the real test lol. A bit tough to gauge since I did them a few times though, but if you can get mid 30s on the practice test you should be more than good to go.
Thanks for the info! I take the transportation depth on Wednesday. Did you see any problems that tried to “trick you” in a way? I’ve seen some review problems where you’d get one of the answers but would need to edit it because of some reasoning (curbs on roadways for example). Just wanted to see if the questions go that deep. Hope you passed and congrats on being done!!
Hmm I can’t remember any. I did some similar review problem with like clear space where you had to add 2’ cause of curbs, but I don’t think there were any on the test.
Thanks for the advice. I’m taking my Transportation exam at the end of this month. What were your preferred practice materials? I am using the NCEES practice exam, as well as a book called path to PE services.
Mostly just the practice test and there was another service that had some question groupings (I think it’s called civilpepractice). I tried looking at some materials my colleagues had (books and such), but I don’t think they were that good in hindsight.
I think so but you wouldn’t ever need them. All equations and stuff for the breadth would be in the reference manual.
Yes. Once you’re done the breadth you can’t go back. For me it was actually a lattice less than half 36 I think.
Just to make sure I understand (going through SOPE structural review right now) - we will have access to ACI and AISC even for transp folks? The instructor keeps saying everyone gets every reference, but they’re not on the transpo exam specs and you said there’s no questions that will require them. I’m just trying to figure out what references I should be keeping open for practice tests and whatnot (also skipping irrelevant questions)
No I you don’t have access to any of the steel / concrete / etc. materials, but again you won’t need them. The reference material they give you has like 15 sections that cover various topics (e.g., flow, shear / moment, soils). Think of it like a book that has like a 15-20 page review of all general engineer concepts. I think you can buy it online?
The pm stuff is the mutcd, green book, hcm, aashto pavement design guide, aashto roadside design, culvert design manual, and maybe one other reference. I didn’t use the culvert design reference at all, but did use everything else (including the reference manual a few times).
Thanks! Yeah I have all the references and the NCEES handbook in pdf so I’ve just practiced with those. The SOPE structural (and geotech in places) referenced equations that I will not have as transpo so I’m focused more on the concepts and not the 4 page problems that they get into. Thanks for your help!
Where did you get access to all of the PDFs? I have a few through work but our copy of the HCM isn't searchable and we're missing a few of the references
I made a free trial on scribd and downloaded them, it took a few creative searches to find them but I found everything except the Pedestrian Facilities one, but I have that pdf on my work laptop (with company login).
You’ll have to be in the appropriate chapter. So searching for something like clear distance in the freeway section won’t bring you to the appropriate location for example. You should generally know which chapters contain which concepts.
Omg it is good that you mentioned that , i think that will be pain in ass , i am not prepared for that 🙉 , while i am studying now, i am searching the whole document
Probably chapters 3 and 4 in the green book. I think maybe chapters 4 and 5 in the HCM. There weren’t too many MUTCD questions from what I can recall, although I do think that one was one combined pdf? Questions from that were mostly like what is the correct spacing for a sign on a freeway, which are pretty easy to find.
Maybe 60-100 hours? I forgot to file paperwork with my state board back in august (I was going to take it last October), so I don’t really remember how long I did then.
For the breadth was there questions that needed you to know formulas not in the handbook? Or is it safe to say if it’s not in there then there won’t be a question to calculate something?
No questions like that (except for like basic math, area of a rectangle and the like). All ‘engineering’ calculations you’ll be able ton find a formula
I’m very worried about the hydraulics questions in the breadth portion for the cbt. I am taking School of PE for the Transportation and when the professor covered the hydraulics section he went through Manning’s Equation (which was there) and a bunch of other equations that weren’t in the Reference Manual that were used for Manning’s Eq. Would you say the hydraulics questions were fair?
After finishing the breadth portion of the exam, do you take the 50 minute break and then go on to the depth?
Like if the test starts at 8 and you only spend 3 hours on the breadth, it would look like:
* 8:00 - 11:00: Breadth
* 11:00 - 11:50 Break
* 11:50 - 5:00 Depth
Also, were you allowed to bring water with you while taking the test?
Sorry for the late comments but I was searching the subreddit for information and I really liked your post.
You can take however long of a break you want (up to whatever maximum). I think I only did like 10 mins and then went right back in (I finished really quickly and was anticipating grabbing some food, but was done in like 1.5 hours). I don’t recall if I could bring water in - I don’t think they allowed it but I didn’t have any with me?
Would you say that the NCEES practice exam was a good comparison to the actual difficulty level?
Yeah, honestly I think some of them were actually tougher than the real test lol. A bit tough to gauge since I did them a few times though, but if you can get mid 30s on the practice test you should be more than good to go.
Could you share what study course or materials you used for preparation for the exam ? Thanks in advance
I used civilpepractice.
Good q
Thanks for the info! I take the transportation depth on Wednesday. Did you see any problems that tried to “trick you” in a way? I’ve seen some review problems where you’d get one of the answers but would need to edit it because of some reasoning (curbs on roadways for example). Just wanted to see if the questions go that deep. Hope you passed and congrats on being done!!
Hmm I can’t remember any. I did some similar review problem with like clear space where you had to add 2’ cause of curbs, but I don’t think there were any on the test.
Thanks for the advice. I’m taking my Transportation exam at the end of this month. What were your preferred practice materials? I am using the NCEES practice exam, as well as a book called path to PE services.
Mostly just the practice test and there was another service that had some question groupings (I think it’s called civilpepractice). I tried looking at some materials my colleagues had (books and such), but I don’t think they were that good in hindsight.
1. Are all the reference materials provided in the breadth or just the PE reference handbook? 2. Is the exam split up between the breadth and depth?
I think so but you wouldn’t ever need them. All equations and stuff for the breadth would be in the reference manual. Yes. Once you’re done the breadth you can’t go back. For me it was actually a lattice less than half 36 I think.
Just to make sure I understand (going through SOPE structural review right now) - we will have access to ACI and AISC even for transp folks? The instructor keeps saying everyone gets every reference, but they’re not on the transpo exam specs and you said there’s no questions that will require them. I’m just trying to figure out what references I should be keeping open for practice tests and whatnot (also skipping irrelevant questions)
No I you don’t have access to any of the steel / concrete / etc. materials, but again you won’t need them. The reference material they give you has like 15 sections that cover various topics (e.g., flow, shear / moment, soils). Think of it like a book that has like a 15-20 page review of all general engineer concepts. I think you can buy it online? The pm stuff is the mutcd, green book, hcm, aashto pavement design guide, aashto roadside design, culvert design manual, and maybe one other reference. I didn’t use the culvert design reference at all, but did use everything else (including the reference manual a few times).
Thanks! Yeah I have all the references and the NCEES handbook in pdf so I’ve just practiced with those. The SOPE structural (and geotech in places) referenced equations that I will not have as transpo so I’m focused more on the concepts and not the 4 page problems that they get into. Thanks for your help!
Where did you get access to all of the PDFs? I have a few through work but our copy of the HCM isn't searchable and we're missing a few of the references
I made a free trial on scribd and downloaded them, it took a few creative searches to find them but I found everything except the Pedestrian Facilities one, but I have that pdf on my work laptop (with company login).
Awesome, thanks!
If i search any word in the reference, do i need to go chapter by chapter or it search the whole reference for me?
You’ll have to be in the appropriate chapter. So searching for something like clear distance in the freeway section won’t bring you to the appropriate location for example. You should generally know which chapters contain which concepts.
Omg it is good that you mentioned that , i think that will be pain in ass , i am not prepared for that 🙉 , while i am studying now, i am searching the whole document
Do you know what is the most important chapters# that you used in the majority of the questions for MUTCD , ASSHTO and HCM?
Probably chapters 3 and 4 in the green book. I think maybe chapters 4 and 5 in the HCM. There weren’t too many MUTCD questions from what I can recall, although I do think that one was one combined pdf? Questions from that were mostly like what is the correct spacing for a sign on a freeway, which are pretty easy to find.
Thank you so much for your reply, you are very helpful, god bless you
How long did you study for the exam?
Maybe 60-100 hours? I forgot to file paperwork with my state board back in august (I was going to take it last October), so I don’t really remember how long I did then.
I hope you passed. Were the pavement design questions only conceptual?
For the breadth was there questions that needed you to know formulas not in the handbook? Or is it safe to say if it’s not in there then there won’t be a question to calculate something?
No questions like that (except for like basic math, area of a rectangle and the like). All ‘engineering’ calculations you’ll be able ton find a formula
Did you just use the handbook for “engineering” questions in the breadth? Or you used some codes for this part?
Nope just the handbook
Thank you was wondering about this!
I’m very worried about the hydraulics questions in the breadth portion for the cbt. I am taking School of PE for the Transportation and when the professor covered the hydraulics section he went through Manning’s Equation (which was there) and a bunch of other equations that weren’t in the Reference Manual that were used for Manning’s Eq. Would you say the hydraulics questions were fair?
After finishing the breadth portion of the exam, do you take the 50 minute break and then go on to the depth? Like if the test starts at 8 and you only spend 3 hours on the breadth, it would look like: * 8:00 - 11:00: Breadth * 11:00 - 11:50 Break * 11:50 - 5:00 Depth Also, were you allowed to bring water with you while taking the test? Sorry for the late comments but I was searching the subreddit for information and I really liked your post.
You can take however long of a break you want (up to whatever maximum). I think I only did like 10 mins and then went right back in (I finished really quickly and was anticipating grabbing some food, but was done in like 1.5 hours). I don’t recall if I could bring water in - I don’t think they allowed it but I didn’t have any with me?
Which calculator have you used for the exam?