How to Use This Book - Get Ready for the FE Exam

Sep 19, 2026

Uploaded by Blaney

A guide explains how to use a practice problems book to prepare for the FE exam, emphasizing one clear purpose: solving problems efficiently and thoroughly. It instructs readers to obtain and use the NCEES FE Reference Handbook as the only exam reference, master its section order, included data, figure/table locations, and terminology, and leverage the PDF search by matching content exactly. It also details discipline for working every problem, studying all knowledge areas, using SI units, and learning through active, error-driven practice rather than shortcutting solutions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Get the NCEES FE Reference Handbook

Use it while solving problems

Use print index vs PDF search

Work Through Every Problem

Study all knowledge areas

Use SI units

Be Thorough

Learn by doing, not guessing

How to Use This Book | This book is written for one purpose, and one purpose only: to get you ready for the FE exam. Because it is a practice problems book, there are a few, but not many, ways to use it. Here’s how this book was designed to be used.
GET THE NCEES FE REFERENCE
HANDBOOK
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Get a copy of the NCEES FE Reference Handbook (NCEES Handbook) . Use it as you solve the problems in this book. The NCEES Handbook is the only reference you can use during the exam, so you will want to know the sequence of its sections, what data are included, and the approximate locations of important figures and tables in the NCEES Handbook. You should also know the terminology (words and phrases) used in the NCEES Handbook to describe equations or subjects, because those are the terms you will have to look up during the exam.
The NCEES Handbook is available both in printed and PDF format. The index of the print version may help you locate an equation or other information you are looking for, but few terms are indexed thoroughly. The PDF version includes search functionality that is similar to what you’ll have available when taking the computerbased exam. In order to find something using the PDF search function, your search term will have to match the content exactly (including punctuation) .
There are a few important differences between the ways the NCEES Handbook and this book present content. These differences are intentional for the purpose of maintaining clarity and following PPI’s publication policies.
• pressure: The NCEES Handbook primarily uses P for pressure, an atypical engineering convention. This book always uses p so as to differentiate it from P, which is reserved for power, momentum, and axial loading in related chapters.
• velocity: The NCEES Handbook uses v and occasionally Greek nu, ν, for velocity. This book always uses v to differentiate it from Greek upsilon, υ , which represents specific volume in some topics (e.g. , thermodynamics), and Greek nu, ν, which represents absolute viscosity and Poisson’s ratio.
• specific volume: The NCEES Handbook uses v for specific volume. This book always uses Greek | upsilon, υ , a convention that most engineers will be familiar with.
• units: The NCEES Handbook and the FE exam generally do not emphasize the difference between pounds-mass and pounds-force. “Pounds” (“lb”) can mean either force or mass. This book always distinguishes between pounds-force (lbf) and pounds-mass (lbm) .
WORK THROUGH EVERY PROBLEM
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NCEES has greatly reduced the number of subjects about which you are expected to be knowledgeable and has made nothing optional. Skipping your weakest subjects is no longer a viable preparation strategy. You should study all examination knowledge areas, not just your specialty areas. That means you solve every problem in this book and skip nothing. Do not limit the number of problems you solve in hopes of finding enough problems in your areas of expertise to pass the exam.
The FE exam primarily uses SI units. Therefore, the need to work problems in both the customary U.S. and SI systems is greatly diminished. You will need to learn the SI system if you are not already familiar with it.
BE THOROUGH
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Being thorough means really doing the work. Some people think they can read a problem statement, think about it for 10 seconds, read the solution, and then say,“Yes, that’s what I was thinking of, and that’s what I would have done.” Sadly, these people find out too late that the human brain doesn’t learn very efficiently that way. Under pressure, they find they know and remember

FAQs

Why is the NCEES FE Reference Handbook essential while using this book?

It is the only reference available during the exam, so the guide emphasizes knowing its section sequence, what data are included, where key figures and tables appear, and the terminology used to describe equations and topics.

How should you use the handbook differently in print versus PDF form?

The print index can help locate information, but few terms are thoroughly indexed. The PDF version offers search functionality, but search terms must match the handbook content exactly, including punctuation.

What preparation strategy does the book recommend for solving problems?

Solve every problem and do not skip weak subjects or rely on finding enough problems in your specialties. The guide also warns against shortcutting by reading solutions early and stresses learning through careful work and making mistakes once so they are not repeated.

Sep 19, 2026

Uploaded by Blaney