Customer Reviews

Quick Reference for the Civil Engineering PE Exam

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If you already bought the review manual, save your money! This is nothing more than a regurgitation of the text without the problems. If you have not purchased the review manual, its still not worth the money.

I purchased this book on the assumption that it would be a "quick reference" for the PE exam, similar to the quick reference NCEES provides for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Far from it. It is just a bunch of equations. None of the variables are defined for the equations. There are no useful tables. For example, everyone knows the equation for thermal expansion, but a table of expansion coeficients (not to mention other material properties), that would be helpful! but, of course, not included. I will conclude by saying that I am very disappointed.

This book was most helpful in prearing for the comprehensive portion of the P.E. exam. I was able to answer most all general questions in the morning session of the new test. I did use the entire book and worked the problems in each chapter. I recommend additional references for your specific field of study, unless your field is water supply or structures. Both of these sections are extensive, particularly when using additional information from geotechnical chapters.

I guess some people would find this book useful, but I had already tabbed up the big book and had my other formulas I needed in my notes. I just never found a reason to use it.

Quick Reference only contains equations found within the main reference manual. If studying from the main book, this quick reference is of limited usefulness if you know where everything is in the big book (e.g. use lots of the sticky tabs).