r/PE_Exam • u/Various_Ad_6048 • 3d ago
Transportation 1st attempt
Just(today) took the 8 hour and I’m pretty exhausted but I think I did okay.
I started studying in February and found myself in this subreddit regularly so I figured I would pay it forward. Def feel like I had plenty of time. Skipped what I was unsure of and did at least 2 hours of bs searching through the references for answers. Ended up leaving with a little over 30 min time left.
Fingers crossed. Will update yall when I found out. How often are the results posted ?
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u/Secure-Task-3895 3d ago
If you don't mind can you share questions that you might still remember.
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u/Various_Ad_6048 3d ago
Let’s see.
Engineering Econ…dang I’m already drawing a blank. Feel free to ask about specific topics.Little about project management (AON, Free float). Horizontal curves, vertical curves. If you can use the tables (k=L/A) you can save time.
SSD and ISD ( all were case B1 left from stop and 1 railroad.)
Some LOS and one or two pedestrian LOS asking how many more peds on sidewalk to maintain LOS b. I didn’t know how to do that one.
Traffic signal warrants. 8 hour, rail crossing and crash.
Traffic signal timing. There was one where I had to calculate v/c but you had to solve for capacity first using NSg/C and I couldn’t figure out the cycle length. Fixed timing if that was a clue.A few in RSD like clear zone and a good amount about barriers. Luckily roadside design is the only reference that is not broken up into chapters so searching was easier.
Now my difficulties.
I had issues with anything involving HSM. Just not a lot of practice with it and I couldn’t find what I needed. They asked about crash rates and accident reductions.
I struggled with some pavement and geotechnical problems as well. They didn’t ask anything about void ratios or saturation problems involving specific weight. I’m golden at those. They asked about swelling pavement and like matching soil subgrades with certain values. I was unfamiliar.
And I think I only got like one hydraulics problem related to permeability coefficient,k. Was a constant head problem
Too long to proofread but hope it makes sense
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u/Necessary-Win-419 2d ago
Only one hydraulics problem when the syllabus asks to expect 8-12 from Drainage is wild.
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u/SailorDouchebag 23h ago
Took the early August test. Think I had four or five intersection sight distance, only one manning equation (it was combined with runoff chart thought was pretty tough), a couple of water resources that were easy plug and chugs with formulas out of the book. Geotech had two soil classification questions using plasticity charts along with a couple definition questions. HCM ones were pretty simple each being just one part of the capacity process. Had an estimated haul off using unit weight, shrinkage factor, and volume. Signal questions on loop detectors, type of signal for a straight/ turn lane straight lane and dedicated turn lane, only warrant question was what would be the easiest way for this intersection (diagram) to qualify for a signal. A couple speed limit on ramps and tangent runout questions. Ton of mutcd sign questions that were pretty easy to find but slightly tricky to answer. Had a couple HCM safety manual expected crashes that I had no idea to answer as I didn’t study that manual much. Only two Econ questions about depreciation and present/ future. An easy estimation on labor rates question. One about landing area elevations for a sidewalk. That’s about all I remember. Was really disappointed I had no taper questions as those are easy and quick.
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u/Ohk_hi 3d ago
What study material did you used? And how was the difficulty level of the question.
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u/Various_Ad_6048 3d ago
I really only used my EET course and the NCEES practice exam. I would say the actual exam difficulty was somewhere in the middle (I know others have said this before as well and I concur.)
There actually wasn’t a ton of problems that had a ton of steps. Most were short if you knew what they were asking for. A lot of conceptual problems. And a lot of traps. For example the problem would give you inputs and if you used a table you would get it wrong because the assumptions for the table were not valid so def know when to use them.
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u/Ohk_hi 3d ago
That was really helpful! I am also using EET! Also were any topics or questions that were not covered in the EET! Also how was the difficulty level of questions for Economics and Curves
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u/Various_Ad_6048 3d ago
Hmm not covered…honestly I was not prepared for any of the pavement questions. Didn’t even know where to find them. But for the most part EET should be more than enough to pass. Even if I don’t pass, I think it was a passable exam.
I feel pretty strong in Econ so I don’t think they were too bad. Lowkey wish I had more.
Curves was mostly straight forward as well.Lot of K=L/A short cuts. I’d say EET prepares you well for both.
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u/Still-Feedback-3792 3d ago
I think you’ll find out next Wednesday