Master the FE Civil Exam (2025): Comprehensive Practice and Success Guide

If you’re pursuing a career in civil engineering in the US, passing the FE civil practice exam, also known as the civil FE exam, is a crutial first step.

The civil FE exam, also known as the Engineer in Training (EIT exam), is a six-hour computer-based aptitude exam.

It is run by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) to standardize civil engineering across the US.

As such, the FE civil practice exam tests graduates and undergraduates in their final year on their civil engineering knowledge and aptitude.

Thousands of students take the FE civil practice exam each year. Your eligibility to take the test will largely depend on the state you reside in.

For instance, in some states, students can take the civil FE exam before their final year of studies. In others, you must demonstrate a set number of years of work experience in engineering before taking it. In Michigan, there are no admission rules for the new FE civil practice exam.

However, most state licensing boards require those taking the exam to be Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) engineering program graduates or undergraduates. ABET runs a series of civil engineering education programs across the US.

 

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What Is the FE Civil Exam?

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Anyone aspiring to be a Professional Engineer (PE) must pass the FE civil practice exam.

Open to those with an engineering or related degree, the exam is the first of two you must pass to become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE); the second is the Principles of Practice Engineering (PE) exam.

Once you have passed both exams, you are permitted to work towards your PE licensure, which usually takes around four years under the supervision of an experienced Professional Engineer.

There are many advantages to successfully navigating the civil FE exam. For a start, as a licensed PE, you can expect to have more career opportunities than a non-licensed counterpart. Although it can vary from state to state, you’ll be able to:

• Tender for Government contracts
• Stamp and seal civil engineering designs and blueprints
• Set up a business. You can own and run a building or civil engineering firm capable of meeting specific US Government civil engineering standards
• Become a consultant engineer. You can earn a lot of money advising building companies on what they can and cannot do

 

You can also offer your services to the public, although most PEs tend to work on big contracts at the start.

The role of a PE is instrumental in many engineering areas, so even if you’re not sure what you want to specialize in, it’s worth taking the FE civil exam as soon as possible. If you leave it too long between graduating and taking the exam, you run the risk of widening any education knowledge gaps you may have.

This is one of the reasons why undergraduates are encouraged to take the FE civil practice exam. While at college, you have access to libraries, online materials, and research papers. Crucially, you also have the chance to ask your professors for advice on passing the exam.

 

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An Overview of the FE Civil Practice Exam: Topics and Key Components

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The civil FE exam takes around six hours in total and is 100% computer-based. You’ll be expected to answer 110 multiple-choice questions during that time.

It starts with a nondisclosure agreement and tutorial that lasts 10 minutes before going straight into the FE civil exam questions, totalling five hours and 20 minutes, with a 25-minute break in between the two sessions.

 

Important Dates for the FE Civil Exam

The FE civil exam dates are every Monday to Saturday during every month of the year. The tests do not take place on Sunday.

 

What Questions Are Asked on the FE Civil Exam?

The FE civil exam structure cover varies topics and is designed to test your engineering knowledge.

FE examinations, including the civil engineering discipline, are all delivered as computer-based tests (CBTs).

The exams are conducted with no physical reference materials allowed, but a select electronic reference is provided.

The FE Civil Exam covers a breadth of 14 unique content categories, each with varying numbers of questions.

It's important to note that all the questions follow a multiple-choice format.

Even if a question seems perplexing, candidates are encouraged to attempt every single one, as there is no penalty for incorrect responses.

No deductions are made from your overall score for wrong answers, so it's worth giving every question your best guess!

Although the subjects are not officially labelled, they do cover the following FE civil practice problems:

• Mathematics (calculus, vector analysis, fractions and geometry) – 8–12 questions.
• Probability and statistics (single mean estimation, regression, and curve fitting, expected values, and measuring central tendencies and dispersions) – 8–12 questions.
• Ethics and professional practice (codes of ethics, licensure, liability, sustainable design, business skills and contract law) – 4–6 questions.
• Computational tools (spreadsheets and structured programming)
• Economics of engineering (discounted cash flow, cost variations and analysis, and managing project uncertainty) – 5–8 questions.
• Statics (force systems, rigid bodies, frames and trusses, area centroid, inertia, and static friction) – 8–12 questions.
• Material mechanics and mechanical reasoning (stresses and strains, deformations, column analysis and composite sections) – 7–11 questions.
• Dynamics in FE civil practice problems (kinematics, mass inertia, force acceleration, impulse momentum and structural rigidity) – 4–6 questions.
• Materials (mixed material designs, test methods, and knowledge on the physical and mechanical properties of certain materials) – 5–8 questions.
• Structural review (beams, frames, trusses, loads and load-bearing paths) – 10–15 questions.
• Structural design covering steel and reinforced concrete items – 10–15 questions.
• Surveying and spatial ability (distances, angles, areas, earthwork and volume calculations, and ground levelling) – 6–9 questions.
• Fluid mechanics (flow measurement, fluid properties, as well as energy and momentum equations) – 6–9 questions.
• Hydraulics (basics of hydrology and hydraulics, pumping systems, reservoirs, water distribution, groundwater and emergency sewer collection systems) – 10–15 questions.
• Geotechnical engineering (involving all geological considerations and the relevant tests that must be carried out before and during construction) – 10–15 questions.
• Engineering for transport (including highway and street design, traffic safety, and transportation planning – 9–14 questions.
• FE environmental practice exam (water quality and environmental impact, water supply and wastewater management).
• Construction (document creation, procurement, project delivery, health and safety, and estimation of jobs) – 8–12 questions.

 

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The questions are split into two sets of 55, and none of the subjects span both sets. So if you answered questions on material mechanics within the first 55 questions, you won’t in the second.

As is standard in multiple-choice questions, you will have four possible answers to choose from in each FE Civil exam question. Although the questions are asked in subject sets, they are not connected. So, if you answer one incorrectly, it will not affect your subsequent answers.

 

FE Exam Example Practice Questions

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Statics:

A simply supported beam with a span of 10 meters carries a concentrated load of 20 kN at its midpoint. What is the reaction force at each support?

a) 5 kN
b) 10 kN
c) 20 kN
d) 40 kN

The correct answer is: b) 10 kN

A simply supported beam distributes the load equally between the two supports when the load is applied at the midpoint.

1. Total Load (W):
   The load applied at the midpoint is 20 kN.

2. Symmetry of the Beam:
   Since the beam is symmetrical and the load is applied at the centre, the reactions at both supports will be equal.

3. Reaction Force at Each Support (R):
   The sum of the reaction forces must balance the total load:

   $$R_1 + R_2 = W$$$$R_1 + R_2 = 20 \, \text{kN}$$

   Because the load is distributed equally:

   $$R_1=R_2=\frac{W}{2}=\frac{20}{2}=10\text{kN}$$

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Mechanics of Materials:

Given a rectangular cross-section beam with dimensions 150 mm (height) x 75 mm (width) and a length of 3 meters, determine the maximum bending stress when subjected to a moment of 15 kN·m.

a) 16 MPa
b) 24 MPa
c) 32 MPa
d) 40 MPa

The correct answer is: b) 24 MPa

The maximum bending stress ($\sigma_{\text{max}}$) is calculated using the flexural formula:

$$\sigma_{\text{max}} = \frac{M c}{I}$$Where:

• $M = 15 \, \text{kN·m} = 15,000 \, \text{N·m}$(bending moment)
• $c = \frac{\text{height}}{2} = \frac{150 \, \text{mm}}{2} = 75 \, \text{mm} = 0.075 \, \text{m}$(distance from the neutral axis to the outermost fibre)
• $I = \frac{b h^3}{12}$, the second moment of area for a rectangular section.

Step 1: Calculate $I$(Moment of Inertia)

Given:

• $b = 75 \, \text{mm} = 0.075 \, \text{m}$
• $h = 150 \, \text{mm} = 0.15 \, \text{m}$

$$I = \frac{b h^3}{12} = \frac{0.075 \cdot (0.15)^3}{12} = \frac{0.075 \cdot 0.003375}{12} = 2.109 \times 10^{-5} \, \text{m}^4$$

Step 2: Calculate $\sigma_{\text{max}}$

Substitute the values into the flexural formula:

$$\sigma_{\text{max}} = \frac{M c}{I}$$
$$\sigma_{\text{max}} = \frac{15,000 \cdot 0.075}{2.109 \times 10^{-5}}$$
$$\sigma_{\text{max}} = \frac{1,125}{2.109 \times 10^{-5}} = 53,334,645 \, \text{Pa} = 24 \, \text{MPa}$$

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Fluid Mechanics:

A pipeline with a diameter of 200 mm carries water with a flow rate of 0.1 m3/s. Calculate the velocity of the water in the pipeline.

a) 2.55 m/s
b) 3.18 m/s
c) 4.20 m/s
d) 5.10 m/s

The correct answer is: a) 3.18 m/s

The velocity of the water in a pipeline can be calculated using the continuity equation:

$$Q = A \cdot v$$Where:

• $Q = 0.1 \, \text{m}^3/\text{s}$(flow rate)
• $A = \pi \cdot r^2$is the cross-sectional area of the pipeline
• $v$is the velocity of the water

Step 1: Calculate the cross-sectional area $A$

The pipeline has a diameter of 200 mm:

$$r = \frac{\text{diameter}}{2} = \frac{200 \, \text{mm}}{2} = 100 \, \text{mm} = 0.1 \, \text{m}$$
$$A = \pi \cdot r^2 = \pi \cdot (0.1)^2 = \pi \cdot 0.01 = 0.0314 \, \text{m}^2$$

Step 2: Calculate the velocity $v$

Rearrange the continuity equation to solve for $v$:

$$v = \frac{Q}{A}$$Substitute the values:

$$v=\frac{0.1}{0.0314}=3.18\text{m/s}$$

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Geotechnical Engineering:

A soil sample has a void ratio of 0.7 and a specific gravity of 2.7. Calculate the porosity of the soil sample.

a) 41.2%
b) 35.0%
c) 48.5%
d) 52.0%

The correct answer is: a) 41.2%

The relationship between void ratio ($e$) and porosity ($n$) is given by:

$$n = \frac{e}{1 + e}$$Where:

• $n$ = porosity (expressed as a decimal or percentage)
• $e = 0.7$ (void ratio)

Step 1: Substitute $e = 0.7$ into the formula

$$n = \frac{e}{1 + e} = \frac{0.7}{1 + 0.7} = \frac{0.7}{1.7}$$

Step 2: Perform the calculation

$$n = 0.4118$$Convert to a percentage:

$$n = 41.2\%$$

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Transportation Engineering:

A vehicle is traveling at a speed of 60 mph on a highway. Calculate its speed in meters per second (m/s).

a) 20 m/s
b) 26.8 m/s
c) 15 m/s
d) 18 m/s

The correct answer is: b) 26.8 m/s

To convert the speed from miles per hour (mph) to meters per second (m/s), we use the following conversion factors:

• 1 mile = 1,609.34 meters
• 1 hour = 3,600 seconds

Step 1: Convert miles per hour to meters per second

$$\text{Speed in m/s} = \text{Speed in mph} \times \frac{1,609.34 \, \text{m}}{1 \, \text{mile}} \times \frac{1 \, \text{hour}}{3,600 \, \text{seconds}}$$

$$\text{Speed in m/s} = 60 \, \text{mph} \times \frac{1,609.34}{3,600}$$
$$\text{Speed in m/s} = 60 \times 0.44704 = 26.8 \, \text{m/s}$$

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Environmental Engineering:

Determine the concentration of a pollutant in a water sample with an absorbance reading of 0.25, using a calibration curve with known concentrations.

Assume the calibration curve equation is:
$A = 0.5c + 0.1$

Where:

• $A$ = absorbance
• $c$ = concentration of the pollutant (in mg/L)

a) 0.3 mg/L
b) 0.4 mg/L
c) 0.5 mg/L
d) 0.6 mg/L

The correct answer is: a) 0.3 mg/L

We can use the calibration curve equation to calculate the concentration:

$$A=0.5c+0.1$$

We know the absorbance $A = 0.25$, so we can substitute that into the equation:

$$0.25=0.5c+0.1$$

Now, solve for $c$:

$$0.25 - 0.1 = 0.5c$$
$$0.15 = 0.5c$$
$$c = \frac{0.15}{0.5} = 0.3 \, \text{mg/L}$$

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Structural Analysis:

Given a determinate truss under a set of loading conditions, what is the general method to determine the internal axial forces in the truss members?

a) Use the method of moments to calculate the forces directly in the members.
b) Apply the method of joints or method of sections using static equilibrium equations.
c) Use calculus to integrate the forces in the truss members.
d) Use energy principles to find the forces in the truss members.

The correct answer is: b) Apply the method of joints or method of sections using static equilibrium equations.

The two most common methods for analysing a determinate truss to find the internal axial forces are:

1. Method of Joints: This method involves isolating each joint of the truss, assuming equilibrium at each joint, and solving for the unknown member forces. At each joint, the sum of the forces in both the horizontal and vertical directions must be zero.

2. Method of Sections: This method involves cutting through the truss to expose internal forces in certain members. The equilibrium equations are then applied to the cut section to solve for the unknown axial forces in the members that were cut.

Both methods rely on static equilibrium equations:

• $\Sigma F_x = 0$(sum of forces in the x-direction)
• $\Sigma F_y = 0$(sum of forces in the y-direction)
• $\Sigma M = 0$(sum of moments)

The other methods (A, C, and D) are not typically used for basic truss analysis in this context.

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Hydrology and Water Resources:

Given the rainfall data for a region, how can the peak flow rate of a river be calculated using the Rational Method?

a) By applying the Manning’s equation to determine the flow velocity and area.
b) By multiplying the rainfall intensity by the runoff coefficient and the drainage area.
c) By using the continuity equation to relate the flow rate to the channel width.
d) By calculating the average rainfall over the past 10 years and applying it to a linear model.

The correct answer is: b) By multiplying the rainfall intensity by the runoff coefficient and the drainage area.

The Rational Method is used to estimate the peak flow rate in a drainage area based on the rainfall intensity, the area of the drainage basin, and a runoff coefficient that represents how much of the rainfall contributes to surface runoff.

The formula is:

$$Q = C \cdot I \cdot A$$Where:

• $Q$= Peak flow rate (cubic meters per second or cubic feet per second)
• $C$= Runoff coefficient (dimensionless)
• $I$= Rainfall intensity (inches per hour or mm per hour)
• $A$= Drainage area (acres or hectares)

The other options (A, C, and D) are not part of the Rational Method used for this type of calculation.

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Construction Management:

How can the total float and project duration for a critical path in a network diagram be calculated?

a) By identifying the longest path in the network and calculating the time difference between the earliest and latest start times.
b) By adding up the individual task durations and calculating the slack time for each task.
c) By calculating the total time for each path and selecting the shortest one as the critical path.
d) By determining the overall cost of the project and adjusting for any resource limitations.

The correct answer is: a) By identifying the longest path in the network and calculating the time difference between the earliest and latest start times.

The critical path is the sequence of tasks that determines the minimum project duration. It is the longest path in the network diagram, meaning any delay in tasks on this path will delay the entire project.

To calculate the total float (also called slack), we determine the time difference between the earliest start time (ES) and latest start time (LS) for each task. If the task is on the critical path, the float is zero.

The project duration is determined by adding the durations of the tasks on the critical path, as this path dictates the project's overall timeline.

The other options (B, C, D) are not correct for calculating total float and project duration for the critical path.

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Engineering Ethics:

In an engineering project, the design team discovers that a proposed construction material does not meet safety standards. The project manager insists on using it due to cost constraints, even though an alternative, safer material is available but more expensive.

Which of the following is the most ethical course of action for the engineer?

a) Proceed with the cheaper material as directed by the project manager, as it will save the company money.
b) Ignore the issue and allow the project to continue, as the decision is beyond the engineer's control.
c) Report the safety concern to higher authorities or regulatory bodies, and recommend the safer material.
d) Use the cheaper material, but document the potential risks and inform the client of the decision.

The correct answer is: c) Report the safety concern to higher authorities or regulatory bodies, and recommend the safer material.

In engineering, ethical responsibilities include ensuring public safety, health, and welfare. When a safety issue is identified with a material or method, the engineer has an obligation to report this to appropriate authorities, even if it conflicts with project management decisions. Using unsafe materials or ignoring safety concerns could endanger lives and violate professional ethical standards. The engineer should recommend safer alternatives, even if they are more expensive, and work to ensure that the project adheres to safety regulations.

The other options (A, B, and D) involve either neglecting safety concerns or prioritising cost over safety, which are unethical in engineering practice.

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In terms of pace, you’ll have just under three minutes per question. You also have the freedom to work through the questions in any sequence. You can also revisit a question later within that sitting if you want to check an answer. However, you cannot switch between the two 55-minute sessions.

Once the FE exam has started, you can leave your seat if you need to visit the restroom; although the clock will not stop, and any unanswered questions will be marked as inaccurate. If you are unsure of an answer, it’s best to take an educated guess at a multiple-choice question than to leave it blank.

A lesser-known fact is that your exam will be unique to you. Everyone sitting the FE Civil exam will have a different set of questions. This is because the Civil exam is computer-based and randomly selects different questions for every candidate using an algorithm.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that the score you need to pass the FE civil practice exam varies each year. This is because the NCEES uses an adjusting percentage process based on the overall scores of participants. Therefore, you can expect to pass if you answer around 60 percent of questions correctly.

What’s more, around 70% of people who take the FE civil practice exam pass the first time – meaning if you’ve prepared, the odds are in your favor.

 

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Maximising Your Odds of Success on the FE Civil Exam in 2025

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You will need to pay a $175 FE civil practice exam fee to NCEES each time you sit the FE exam at an NCEES-approved assessment center.

Unlike psychometric tests and numerical reasoning tests, however, this is not an exam you can expect to pass without quite a bit of practice.

To give you the best possible chance, here are some helpful tips:

 

Practice Your Math

A lot of the questions within the FE civil practice exam involve complex civil engineering math problems.

Typically, these range from calculus to analytic geometry, differential equations, and regression – all things you will have learned at college.

You will be allowed to bring a calculator into the FE Civil exam, although not all models are permitted – it’s best to check with the test center.

If you purchase a new calculator for the exam, remember to spend some time getting to grips with how it works.

 

Explore FE Civil Practice Exam Questions

It’s important to familiarize yourself with how questions might be presented, and the best way to do this is by taking practice tests.

However, there are very few good-quality free FE civil practice exam programs available.

You should expect to pay around the $30 mark for a set of 100 randomized practice questions.

 

Use All Available Resources

If you’re a student, make sure you tap into every resource you can, from borrowing test-practice books from the on-campus library to speaking to postgraduates who’ve passed the test.

 

Draw From Trusted Training Materials

Do your research. Explore different books and online self-paced FE civil practice exam programs. You’ll quickly find that there are quite a lot of books reporting to be the perfect prep tool.

However, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed. The best piece of advice is to choose one publisher, such as PPI and a paid online learning platform, if you’ve been out of education for a while:

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1. School of PE FE Civil Exam Review Courses

Price: Starting at $1,090

This FE civil practice exam course is designed for those who have been away from education for some time.

It includes 80+ hours of lecture videos, personalized study plans, flashcards and much more.

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2. PPI2PASS OnDemand Course Bundle

Price: Starting at $895

This on-demand FE civil practice exam is self-paced, meaning you can access online training on the go, although the entry-level price is for a three-month access.

Therefore, you need to make sure you can apportion the prep time required.

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3. The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course

Price: Starting at $897 for the year or $297 for a month’s access

As one of the most comprehensive FE civil practice exam courses on the market, participants have access to 14 core course modules, over 300 practice problem videos and two 110-question practice exams.

If funds are tight, however, you can explore the free FE exam civil engineering practice courses on Coursera.

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Read the NCEES Handbook Cover-to-Cover

If you’re a graduate or undergraduate, you’ll be all too familiar with FE Civil exam questions. However, you may not be quite so acquainted with the NCEES format. Therefore, you’ll need to consult your NCEES handbook for the topics covered.

Also, remember you can bring your NCEES FE civil practice exam handbook to the test center as it’s a permitted resource.

 

Practice Time Management With a Study Partner

If you’re a student, it’s likely you’ll have a friend also taking the FE civil practice exam.

Given how fast-paced the exam can be and how many questions there are, consider timing each other in sets of, say, 20 questions at a time.

You could look to replicate 55 questions each time you meet up and go over your scores to see where your strengths and weaknesses are and help each other.

 

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Try Not to Fret About Getting a Perfect FE Exam Passing Score

The NCEES is not looking for a 100% pass rate. In fact, the pass rate tends to be anywhere between 50–60% in any given year. So, if you’re consistently scoring in the region of 60–70%, you’ll have a good chance of success.

 

Final Thoughts

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As far as aptitude tests go, the FE civil practice exam represents an essential milestone on the road to a career as a fully-fledged engineer. Hence, passing it is an absolute must for aspiring licensed professional engineers.

The important thing to remember is that you will know most of the answers – it’s just a matter of teasing these out with practice.

Keep in mind that everyone learns differently. You may prefer the comfort of a hand-held book to flick through between lectures or the ease of an app. Either way, if you’re consistent in your approach and putting in the work, you’ll ace the Civil FE exam.

 

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