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12.08

Sample Exam Books Available for Restructured PE Exam

By Aaron Collins, Ph.D., P.E.

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam for electrical and computer engineers is assuming a new structure in the spring of 2009. Instead of consisting of a 40-question “breadth” exam in electrical and computer engineering in the morning part of the eight-hour exam, followed by one of three 40-question “depth” exams, examinees will select one of three 80-question exams. The exam choices are:

• Power

• Computer Engineering

• Electrical and Electronics

The “breadth” exam is no more. Instead, engineers will take one of three new exams, each of which have incorporated any relevant content from the old version into their respective 80-question formats. For example, the topics from the previous breadth exam that were most relevant to the practice of engineering in the electric power area are included in the new 80-question power exam. A brief look at the specifications for the power exam reveals that the major topic headings are:

• General Power Engineering

• Circuit Analysis

• Rotating Machines and Electromagnetic Devices

• Transmission and Distribution

Similarly, former breadth topics that were most relevant to the practice of engineering in the computer engineering area are now included in the computer engineering exam. The major topic headings for the computer engineering exam are:

• Computer Systems

• Hardware

• Software

• Networks

The electrical and electronics exam is focused on electrical engineers who practice engineering in areas other than electric power. There is a wider range of topics in the electrical and electronics exam than in the power or computer engineering exams. The major headings for the electrical and electronic exam are:

• General Electrical Engineering Knowledge

• Digital Systems

• Electric and Magnetic Field Theory and Applications

• Electronics

• Control System Fundamentals

• Communications

The new exams are intended to be more relevant to the practice of engineering by electrical engineers because examinees may now choose an exam for one of three major areas of practice, without having to study for a breadth exam that covers a wide range of electrical engineering areas. That is to say, a power engineer will not encounter questions intended for communication engineers or electronic engineers. Likewise, a computer engineer can expect mostly computer-related questions on his or her exam.

To prepare electrical and computer engineers for the new exams, the organization that prepares the exam, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), has developed a sample book for each new exam. Each book contains the exam specifications and 80 practice questions and solutions. For some questions, alternative solutions are also given. The books are intended to provide an example of a test that meets the test specifications. NCEES states that no representation is made or intended as to future exam questions, content or subject, but NCEES staff reports that the new sample exam books are proving to be popular. The sample exam books are available for purchase from the NCEES Web site [http://www.ncees.org/exams/study_materials/#electrical], which also contains specifications for the new exams.

Aaron Collins, Ph.D., P.E. currently serves as a member of the IEEE-USA Licensure & Registration Committee. He is Interim Associate Dean of Engineering at Mercer University, and has worked as a volunteer with the NCEES Electrical & Computer PE Exam Committee for more than 15 years.

Comments may be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org.