Harry here – Just wanted to take a moment and update everyone as to why we have been so quiet and what we have been doing behind the scenes.
I expect to start actively blogging tips and shortcuts again.
In the meantime, keep study and your efforts will certainly pay off!
by 
Harry here – We have added a short 10 question quiz to help you determine if you need to bring a dictionary into the exam. While not a full 40 questions like the AM portion of the exam, this should give you an idea of the qualitative questions you can expect.
Personally, if I got a single answer wrong I would make sure to have a dictionary on hand during the PE exam. Think you got the stuff and knowledge, then click here.
Oh yeah, sorry for my delay in posting lately. We have been busy working on our new publications. More on that shortly …
by Harry here – I was just reviewing the comments I received after teaching in Newark, NJ last weekend (thank you for taking the time to write everyone!) and realized we forgot to update the Testimonials page to include all your feedback from 2014.
I personally just updated the Testimonials page to include both Spring and Fall NCEES Civil PE Exam feedback: click here.
If you have taken a review course where I instructed or used A Dictionary of Civil, Water Resources & Environmental Engineering on your exam, please send us an email (info @ goldenratiopublishing.com) and let us know your comments.
Constructive criticism is welcome. If we are not helping you … we need to know and we will change. And if you like things as is, let us know that too so we don’t change things unnecessarily. Thanks in advance!
by Harry here – I just wanted to post an update that I am now in preparations to teach Spring 15′ review classes. NCEES has made significant changes to the exam specifications and you should be studying accordingly. You can find the exam changes here: here and here.
Our next book regarding the morning portion of the exam was delayed due to the exam specification changes cited above. While we certainly could have ignored the spec changes, we here strive to provide the very best and most up-to-date material. That said, we decided to do a major re-write and revision to the publication. I personally apologize to everyone that was awaiting this publication. We appreciate the support and promise it will be worth the wait!
by Harry here – With the New Year upon us I thought now be a good time to start breaking down the new Spring (April) 2015 NCEES exam.
Regarding Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, the AM portion of the exam focuses entirely on Water Resources (i.e., no Environmental in the morning – at least according to the NCEES breakdown.) I know this change will make a lot of you happy. Below are the topics to be covered during the Breadth (AM) portion of the April 2015 exam:
Water Resources and Environmental (17.5% – 7 out of 40 questions)
A. Open-channel flow
B. Storm water collection and drainage (e.g., culvert, storm water inlets, gutter flow, street flow, storm sewer pipes)
C. Storm characteristics (e.g., storm frequency, rainfall measurement and distribution)
D. Runoff analysis (e.g., Rational and SCS/NRCS methods, hydrographic application, runoff time of concentration)
E. Detention/retention ponds
F. Pressure conduit (e.g., single pipe, force mains, Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach, major and minor losses)
G. Energy and/or continuity equation (e.g., Bernoulli)
VIII. Site Development (2.5% – 1 out of 40 questions)
C. Temporary and permanent soil erosion and sediment control (e.g., construction erosion control and permits, sediment transport, channel/outlet protection)
This brings the total Water Resources problems up to 20% for the Breath (AM) exam for – similar to years before. But you should notice all environmental problems have been removed (see below.)
Regarding other topic areas, general observations are there is significant emphasis on Construction and Transportation has been reduced by 50% for the Breath (AM) exam.
For those that care (DO NOT STUDY – NO LONGER RELEVANT,) below are the previous Water Resources and Environmental Engineering topics covered from April 2008 through October 2014 for the Breadth (AM) portion of the exam:
Water Resources and Environmental 20%
A. Hydraulics – Closed Conduit
1. Energy and/or continuity equation (e.g., Bernoulli)
2. Pressure conduit (e.g., single pipe, force mains)
3. Closed pipe flow equations including Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach Equation
4. Friction and/or minor losses
5. Pipe network analysis (e.g., pipeline design, branch networks, loop networks)
6. Pump application and analysis
B. Hydraulics – Open Channel
1. Open-channel flow (e.g., Manning’s equation)
2. Culvert design
3. Spillway capacity
4. Energy dissipation (e.g., hydraulic jump, velocity control)
5. Stormwater collection (e.g., stormwater inlets, gutter flow, street flow, storm sewer pipes)
6. Flood plains/floodways
7. Flow measurement – open channel
C. Hydrology
1. Storm characterization (e.g., rainfall measurement and distribution)
2. Storm frequency
3. Hydrographs application
4. Rainfall intensity, duration, and frequency (IDF) curves
5. Time of concentration
6. Runoff analysis including Rational and SCS methods
7. Erosion
8. Detention/retention ponds
D. Wastewater Treatment
1. Collection systems (e.g., lift stations, sewer networks, infiltration, inflow)
E. Water Treatment
1. Hydraulic loading
2. Distribution systems
by Harry here – just wanted to say thank you to everyone that has written me after passing their PE Civil exams. If you haven’t yet, please do.
I saw this kind note online regarding my teaching for School of PE yesterday: message
We have some exciting plans for 2015 that I will disclose in another post soon.
Happy Holidays!
by Harry here – Just wanted to drop a quick note for everyone studying for the Spring 2015 Civil PE exam that NCEES has changed the specifications. While I plan to do an detailed analysis soon, here are both the new and old exam specifications
NEW for 2015
Prior specifications no longer in use
For other focus areas, check here: NCEES PE exam specifications
Finally, this will cause us to preform a major revision on the book we were about to release regarding the AM portion of the Civil PE exam. We were literally finishing the final chapter before final edits, formatting, etc. were conducted. So … while we are disappointed this will force a major revision, we are grateful the change happened before our book was published. This will inevitably push back the publication release date. More on this later …
by Harry here – this is a special note to all my Fall 2014 students.
Last exam my students asked me to write a pep talk for their exam. I went viral (many printed it and read it while waiting for the exam to start) and now I find myself writing another one, but even more inspiring. So let’s get to it! Here are some of the reasons why you will succeed tomorrow:
Stay relaxed during the exam. You studied very hard, now approach tomorrows exam as a willing challenge. Remove all negative thoughts from your mind now! Promise yourself to think about nothing but … passing … until the proctor says “pencils down” Friday afternoon.
You should be very excited for tomorrow and not in any way timid. Come on, get fired up! Be confident in yourself, you deserve to be. I believe in you, so should you! I’d wish you good luck but you are so prepared you don’t even need it. Are your ready? Good, now go earn the P.E.!
Please, please, please remember to send me a note at harry at goldenratiopublishing.com after the exam – especially after you passed!
by Harry here – I was purging some old files and came across this receipt from 2005 when I was studying for the PE Civil exam. Check out the cost of the 10th edition of the CERM – $134.95.
Now check out the cost for the latest edition: Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam
Good luck to everyone studying for the Fall 14′ PE exam! Personally, I am busy teaching weekend review courses and writing my second book.
by Harry here – Most review classes have already started or will be starting next week. This is a perfect time to prepare for your class to help make the most of it!
If you are taking the Civil PE exam and attending School of PE (or similar review course) expect to cover one (1) subject each week/weekend. I recommend quickly reviewing the review course notes and applicable Civil Engineering Review Manual (CERM) chapters BEFORE you attend the subject class.
Please do not misunderstand me, I am not asking you to work practice problems beforehand. Rather, I want you to slowly: flip through at the notes, check out the CERM chapters, find the appropriate appendices and inspect the tables and figures. This way, when your instructor covers this material it will not be brand new to you.
The instructor will teach you how to use the equations, tables, etc., but you need to be able to find Appendix A-15 quickly. This will help save you time during the class, yielding extra time to learn other things that in the end you will probably find more important – such as how to solve for the critical depth. Make sense?
Apologies for being so quiet on the blog, I have been busy trying to finish the second book aimed at the 8 Water Resources & Environmental Engineering questions everyone will see during the morning (AM) portion of the exam.
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