Customer Reviews

Practice Problems for the Civil Engineering PE Exam: A Companion to the Civil Engineering Reference Manual,10th Edition

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I definately learned something from doing some of these problems, but I feel like it is only halfway converted from the old style of testing. Yes, they converted to the multiple choice answers, but still each problem built on the last. So, in that respect it was annoying. I found myself trying to look at the previous answer without seeing the answer for the next problem. If you want some good problems that are exactly like the exam, get the NCEES book. That is the best practice.

I opened up this book a few weekends ago for the upcoming test. I was really disappointed in that there were only 2 or 3 questions per chapter! It did not seem like enough for such a LARGE & expensive book (500+ pp). I was also told by my colleages that the questions do not mirror what you will encounter during the PE exam, so I really don't know how useful it will be to go through the sample problems when they won't prepare you for the exam. I suppose that is why it is titled, "Sample Problems" and NOT "Sample Exam Problems." Skip this book and just get the ones geared towards giving you sample examination problems!

Great reference book. It has almost every civil eng. eq that you need for the PE.

This book is full of multi-part problems that take a lot of time. Many state in the problem one hour limit. While it's good to do review of the topics, nothing like this is on the test and it takes WAY too long to do these problems. I used it for a week and tossed it on the shelf. Six minute solutions are MUCH better- more realistic problems, more realistic time frames for problems. Definitely would not recommend this book.

The reference Manual and Practice examples have been done quite well and Must be useful for reference and Examination as well. Good Reading Stuff.
A T Patil

This book seems to cover all of the topics covered on the exam and is a great all-in-one source for reviewing for the exam.

Although the problems in this book are MUCH harder than the actual PE Exam, it is an excellent study tool to cover all types of problems. The chapters match up to the Reference Manual and make it easy to look up problems you don't understand. I passed the exam 1rst try only studying this book and reviewing the reference manual.

I've just started to use this book and the problems are tough! I thought my chances on the PE exam were quite bleak, but the goal of the book is to expose you to very difficult complex problems so that when you get to the exam you breeze through. I appreciate this method a lot and am sure to have the confidence to take on the exam. In comparison to the NCEES sample questions, I would consider this book the much better buy. The NCEES sample questions are good to have but these practice problems are a better way to prepare.

Good luck!

The 9th Edition CERM contains practice problems in it but no solutions. This book contains the same problems as those shown in the 9th Ed. CERM, and also contains the solutions. However, the solutions do not always give a clear indication as to why the method was chosen to solve the problem. Sometimes an equation is manipultated to solve the problem but the explanation is left out as to why that equation works, which leaves you to look through another reference book to confirm that it does or else believe the author but remain uncertain how he arrived at the new manipulated equation. There are definitely other reference materials out there that are better study guides and make better use of one's study time.

I haven't taken the PE exam yet. But it works as a good book for daily practice.

Update:

After I took and passed the exam.

I think most problems in this book are too complicated for real PE exam preparation. I recommend use this for early practice. For the last week before exam, practice with NCEES' sample exam questions. Those questions are more realistic.