How Difficult Is the FE Exam? Guide for Future Engineers

Only 68% of recent test takers passed the FE Civil exam. Based on that, I bet many of them stressed about taking the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and earning a shot at one day becoming a licensed professional engineer.

The FE exam is your first big hurdle after getting your ABET-accredited engineering degree, and it’s known for being a tough, comprehensive test that covers a broad range of engineering principles. If the question on repeat in your brain is just how hard is the FE exam, keep reading for the answer.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehensive Coverage: The FE exam covers everything from basic math to specific engineering disciplines.
• Exam Difficulty Varies: How hard you find the FE exam will depend a lot on your study habits, engineering discipline, and preparation strategy.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Taking practice exams and using the FE reference handbook can seriously boost your confidence.
• The Pass Rate Isn’t 100%: Pass rates are generally between 65 and 75% for first-time test takers.
• Preparation Is Key: A solid study plan with review courses and focused study sessions gives you the best shot at passing.

What Is the FE Exam and Why Does It Matter?

The Fundamentals of Engineering exam, often called the FE exam, is the first step to becoming a licensed professional engineer in the U.S. It’s like your entry ticket to the engineering profession. It will open the door to taking the PE exam later, which will move from being someone who studied engineering to someone who designs bridges. Or skyscrapers, water systems, whatever. Take your pick!

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) runs the FE exam, and you need at least a bachelor’s degree—or at least at the point of graduation—from an ABET-accredited engineering program to sign up.

Who Takes the FE Exam?

Most test takers are recent engineering graduates or seniors. And there are a lot of repeat exam takers who jump back in after failing the first time around, or after being out of school for a while. But the longer you wait, the harder it will be. If you haven’t seen an engineering equation since before smartphones were a thing, trust me, you’ll find the exam very hard!

Exam Format: What Does the FE Exam Cover?

The FE exam is computer-based and lasts about six hours. That includes a short break, a tutorial, and a survey. And you need to think of the experience as a marathon, not a sprint. Like binge-watching an entire season of something, just a lot less relaxing.

Here are a few things you should know about the exam format:

• Question Types: Expect mainly multiple choice, but there are also drag and drop, point and click, and multiple answer questions.
• Reference Handbook: You’ll only be able to use the official FE reference handbook, and that’s provided digitally during the real exam. It will be your life raft, so I recommend getting super familiar with it before test day.
• Exam Duration: 5 hours and 20 minutes of actual exam time plus 40 minutes for breaks and instructions.
• Testing Windows: t. As of recent years, the FE exam is offered year-round in approved test centers (Pearson VUE) under NCEES. There is no longer a limit of four windows.

The FE exam covers topics like mathematics, engineering sciences, ethics, and discipline-specific subjects. If you’re taking the FE civil exam, for example, you can expect questions about fluid mechanics, structural analysis, and environmental engineering. Obviously, the syllabus and subjects that are covered will vary depending on which discipline you choose.

How Hard Is the FE Exam Really?

So, how hard is the FE exam? I’m not going to lie. The short answer is that it’s pretty tough, especially if you don’t have a solid understanding of key engineering concepts.

The exam is designed to test your broad-based knowledge across a wide range of topics. It’s not just a pop quiz in a single class; you’ll need to have everything you learned in college accessible in the database in your head. Not a problem, though, right? You never slept through a class or skipped one, so you’ll be just fine!

Here’s what makes the FE exam challenging:

• Breadth of Material: The exam syllabus covers everything from math fundamentals to discipline-specific knowledge. Theoretically, you could get a question on anything you studied during your entire degree.
• Time Pressure: You’ll feel the clock ticking, since you only have around 2–3 minutes per question
• Application Over Memorization: It’s not about memorizing formulas—you’ll need to apply concepts, usually in ways that are a bit different from your practice problems.

A lot of people trip up because they’re relying too much on memorization. Don’t do that. What you need to do is develop a deep, practical understanding of the engineering principles that the exam consists of.

But even with that, the exam difficulty will vary depending on your educational background and work experience. If you’ve been out of school for a while, you may need some extra study time to clear the cobwebs off your science fundamentals.

Preparation Strategies: How to Tackle the FE Exam

Can you remember what it was like the last time your mom forced you to clean your bedroom? When you hadn’t done it in eons? You probably needed to give yourself enough time, make a plan, and tackle one section at a time. Make that your strategy.

• Create a Study Plan: Build a study schedule that includes a review of all the exam topics. Break it into focused study sessions, and don’t try to cram everything into a single weekend.
• Use Practice Exams: Taking practice exams is honestly one of the best ways to prepare. It’ll help you get familiar with the exam format and time pressure.
• Master the FE Reference Handbook: Don’t just download it—practice using it as you solve problems. On exam day, this will save you lots of time. And possibly your mind, but I make no promises.
• Mix Up Your Materials: Use different study materials like review courses, practice problems, official guides, and online resources from the national council.
• Simulate the Real Exam: Do a full-length, timed practice test so you know how it feels to sit for the actual exam.

Your preparation strategies should vary depending on your strengths and your engineering discipline, but the same core advice still holds true. Be consistent, be thorough, and don’t leave any topics to chance.

Passing Rate and What to Expect on Test Day

Lots of people wonder what the passing rate is. For the last several years, the rate has been between 65 and 75%. But as I mentioned in the intro, the rate for the January to June sessions this year came in at 68%. That’s the number for first-time test takers who recently graduated from an accredited engineering program. For repeat takers and those who graduated a while ago, the passing rate is lower.

On exam day, make sure you know the rules for reference materials—for example, you’ll only use the digital FE reference handbook—bring the required ID, and show up at your testing center on time. And if you’ve put in the prep, panic isn’t necessary. You’re ready!

Final Thoughts

So, you can put those thoughts of how hard the FE exam is aside. It definitely isn’t easy, but with enough preparation, the right mindset, and probably a little bit of humor, passing the FE exam is totally achievable. Getting through this exam is a huge step toward becoming a professional engineer, opening the door to career opportunities you can be proud of.

So build your study schedule, and practice like it’s the Super Bowl.

FAQs