Estimate: How long for a Novice to prepare fro the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam?

Question

If you were a person of above average intelligence, let's say well above average, with strong math skills, but relatively no science background, how long would it take you to prepare for and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam? 100 hours? 200 hours?

Answer 1

It tests for basic engineering knowledge and skills. I estimate it takes about 4 or 5 engineering courses to get comfortable "plugging in" numbers to equations.

Average engineering grad probably spends 100 hours or so reviewing, after 4 years of engineering school. Average first time pass rate is about 65%. Many degreed engineers never pass it.



You have to learn a lot of the basic physics to know which formula to use, as well as learning to rapidly and accurately "plug and chug". You will be lucky to learn these in 1000 hours or so. Get the Lindeberg FE book and the FE reference handbook (this is the 40+ page "cheat sheet" with formulas they give you for reference during the test),  and probably a book of example problems and solutions, and a book of example tests. See presentation below:

http://mason.gmu.edu/~mvenigal/ENGR400/I...

Take the example tests every few weeks to gauge how close to ready you are. It may also help to attend some type of review class, or study with others. Make sure to work lots of problems. It can be done, but will be difficult. Being good at taking tests is definitely helpful. Good luck!