Updated for the new July 2020 FE Exam Topics
Let us help answer the most common questions about the NCEES FE exam.
There are 110 questions on the exam
Unfortunately, you will have to register with the NCEES and pay a $175 exam fee in order to see and select a date.
You can take exam up to three times a year. See the NCEES site for details.
No, you can revisit problems during the first half of the exam, but once you move onto the second half, you cannot go back to the first half.
You cannot CTRL-F like a typical PDF, but the user interface has its own search bar you will have to use. Search results include page numbers, so familiarizing yourself with the handbook ahead of the test is vital.
The most time-effective thing you can do is WORK PRACTICE PROBLEMS over and over. Those who have passed the FE exam, academia, and the best test prep providers all suggest this should be your primary focus.
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam costs $175.
FE exam results are typically available 7–10 days after you take the exam. You will receive an email notification from NCEES with instructions to view your results in your MyNCEES account. Results include information specific to your licensing board regarding how you should proceed based on your performance.
Results are based on total number of correct answers. There are NO deductions for wrong answers, so make sure to answer everything. Since exam questions may vary, scores are scaled for difficutly, accordingly. The NCEES does not publish a passing score and claims that no predetermined percentage of examinees pass or fail.
Exam results are reported pass/fail. If you did not pass the exam, you will receive a diagnostic report indicating subject areas of relative strength and weakness. The diagnostic report can assist you if you decide to retake the exam. Download a sample diagnostic report (PDF).
The FE has a 30% failure rate and a 70% pass rate for first time takers. Adequate prepping will ensure smooth passing.
Yes, starting July 2020 many FE exam topics are to be added or removed. We encourage you to use study prep material that is up to date. Many of the prep textbooks out there are now outdated and include topics that are no longer relevant for the FE exam. Click here to see a detailed list of the exam topic updates.
We believe it's around 10%.
The exam difficulty doesn't vary during the year, and the NCEES makes sure that qualified examinees pass without applying a "curve". The best advice is to schedule it such that you have the most amount of time to prepare thoroughly.
During the exam, you are provided a reference handbook that has all the equations you might need. However, the reference handbook DOES NOT show worked-out example problems. You are not allowed to bring anything into the exam aside from an approved calculator
You are given 6 hours total.
The specific exam topics vary depending on which FE exam you take. In general, the exam is comprehensive and covers the great majority of the classes taken in an engineering undergraduate program. You can find a detailed list of exam topics here
The FE exam is a prerequisite exam in order to take the PE exam later on. Passing the PE exam allows you to become a licensed engineer in the US.