The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is a rigorous eight-hour test divided into morning and afternoon segments. The morning segment consists of 120 multiple-choice questions covering general engineering principles, while the afternoon segment is discipline-specific. The afternoon segment includes 60 problems worth two points each and is divided into several sections weighted with a standard test percentage.
Aspiring professional engineers often need to take the Fundamentals of Engineering, or FE, exam to obtain an engineering license. This rigorous test lasts eight hours, divided into two main segments known as morning and afternoon. There are many different types of FE exam questions that can appear on both test segments. In the morning segment, the FE exam questions are focused on general engineering principles, while the afternoon questions are discipline-specific.
The morning portion of the test is focused on 120 multiple-choice questions. Students have four hours to complete this portion of the test, and certain exam-approved calculators are allowed during this portion. The FE exam morning questions cover the same topics for all test takers and cover several core areas of knowledge. Math-based FE exam questions can cover geometry, calculus, matrices, and vector analysis, among other topics. Other areas of inquiry may include: chemistry, material properties such as chemical and electrical composition, engineering mechanics, and fluid mechanics. There are also sections dedicated to computers and business and ethical practices.
In all, there are twelve sections of the FE exam questions in the morning of the test. While the questions may be different for each participant, each section will be approximately the same length for each individual test. For example, recent versions of the test devoted 15% of morning session FE exam questions to math problems and 7% to engineering economics. These percentages may change with each new version of the test; therefore, it is a good idea to consult each year for specific breakdowns.
In the afternoon, the FE exam questions will differ depending on the test taker’s major or area of expertise. There are seven different types of afternoon exam, including chemical, civil and industrial engineering questions. While the afternoon test only includes 60 problems, each problem is worth two points, while the FE exam morning questions are worth one point each. Four hours are allotted to complete the afternoon section, regardless of the type of test taken. Like the morning segment, the afternoon questions are all multiple-choice problems.
Each afternoon exam contains questions geared toward a specific branch of engineering. A chemical engineer will be tested on different topics than an environmental engineer, although there may be some overlap between disciplines. As with the morning test, the afternoon exam is divided into several sections weighted with a standard test percentage; in the environmental engineering version, for example, questions about water and sewage represent 30% of the test. Afternoon questions are generally more complicated than morning questions and may involve more advanced calculations and specific knowledge.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
