Dissecting the Mechanical PE Exam...

In these series of posts, we will carefully look at all the problems in the NCEES “Sample Questions + Solutions” books.  Without disclosing the actual problem, we will analyze each one and propose an alternative problem similar in scope and difficulty either of our own design, or from the available literature. This analysis consistently reveals that the problems used in the afternoon portions of the Mechanical PE exam are no more difficult than anything you ever did as an engineering student. The feedback we receive from recent test takers is that the material and level of difficulty displayed in the NCEES "Sample Questions + Solutions" book is still a very good representation of what is in the actual test. Our aim is to shatter the myth of the tremendous difficulty that many people associate with the PE Exam. As you'll see, most of these problems are rather easy if you have prepared well.