Once you successfully clear the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE), the next goal is cracking the PE Civil exam. When you pass this test, you will be called a professional engineer in the United States. And if you are thinking of the mantra to clear this exam, it is for your information that it remains relatively the same as FE. But you certainly need to put in some extra effort to pass the PE exam.
So, when you embark on the preparation, how far do you plan for it? Course completion, practise exams, and revision are some of the pivotal factors, but are they really enough? If you take the words of professionals, they have a piece of advice for candidates: do not limit yourselves to these when it comes to PE exam prep. It is imperative to prepare for the exam day, too.
In other words: you should have an in-depth idea of the routine to be implemented before the exam day as well as on the exam day. This will certainly give a boost to your preparation and eventually enhance your chances of clearing this examination.
Further through this article, we will guide you about everything you should keep in mind about the PE Civil exam day preparation.
A Day Before the Exam
In comparison to the months you spent studying, this day is considered one of the most important. Calling these hours the make or break of your preparation is certainly not wrong. Many candidates are under the misconception that they must continue to remain glued to their books and keep on revising the concepts. However, this is not true.
On the day of the exam, you must step into the examination centre with a fresh mind. Remember, you have already studied a lot in the past few months. It is now time to relax and let go of the references, your PE review course, and so on.
Also, make sure that you have packed all the necessary things required on the exam day, like your ID card, for instance. Once you are done with them, sit with your friends and family. Or you can also listen to your favorite music or watch a show on Netflix. The ultimate motive is to relax the mind immensely.
Apart from the above, it is vital to fulfil your slumber time. A minimum of 8 hours before the examination day is a must. After all, you don’t have to be in the examination centre with a tired body and mind.
Exam Day Preparation
After a restful sleep, ensure you wake up on time. This should be planned based on the distance of the examination centre from your place. If it is quite far, then you should wake up accordingly so that you don’t have to do everything in haste.
When you are fully prepared for the exam, it is critical to avoid a heavy breakfast, at least on this day. Devouring brain-boosting and nutritious items should be on your priority list. So, you can eat an egg sandwich, an omelet, oats, and other light foodstuffs.
It is advisable to reach the examination centre at least an hour early. Reaching there before time will ease your nerves, and you will be more confident about the exam. And here is another tip for you: after reaching the center, avoid conversing with any other candidate related to the course.
How should I go about the exam?
After stepping into the examination hall, meticulously listen to the instructions given by the examiner. Implement all the guidelines set by the NCEES. And try to remain calm through the test, which is quite pivotal.
When you begin solving the questions, try to pick up the ones that you are confident about. Do not waste enough time on a single question, and try heading towards the next one if you believe that it is taking longer than anticipated. And if you have solved practise papers at home, you will have a better idea of how to pace the exam.
You will have 8 hours to complete the examination. Make sure to use every single minute wisely. If you get done with the exam before time is up, you can utilize the remaining time by rechecking the answers or solving the ones you skipped initially.
Some mistakes that you must imperatively avoid when preparing for the PE Civil Exam
Now that you’ve gotten a sense of how to approach the exam, it’s time to shed some light on some mistakes you must absolutely avoid while studying for it.
- Not preparing a study plan
Creating a comprehensive study plan is a necessity that should not be overlooked at any point. A timetable for your PE exam will help you track your progress. Furthermore, you will be able to complete your overall course on time this way.
- Overlooking solving practise papers
You already know the virtues of solving the practise papers. This approach better prepares you for the big day. But despite its worth, many engineers overlook solving practise papers. This is because they are unaware of the advantages these papers offer.
Hence, it is vital that you do not commit the same mistake.
- Maintain your pace when solving questions
There are engineers who ignore solving practise papers and appear for the examination straightaway. Consequently, they are unable to build up speed and endure difficulties during this test.
Before appearing for the exam, you must solve three to four practise papers. And with every paper, try building up the speed.
To conclude
If you intend to become a professional engineer, you need to give your all to the preparation. Do not anticipate the results and try to follow the basics.
And if you are looking for an online PE review course provider, scout no further and take the services of the Civil Engineering Academy for the best results. Here, you get relevant tips, several resources, and NCEES-approved practise papers to work on.
