When studying for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, it is wise to employ smart strategies to improve the efficiency of pre-exam preparations. Although each test-taker’s experience will be somewhat unique, there are certain general tips that have been useful for test-takers in the past.

Since eight subjects have the most exam questions, it is prudent to focus attention when studying on these subjects. Ensure that the major concepts of these subjects are mastered before exam day. These subjects include chemistry, dynamics, electricity, fluids, math, solids, statics, and thermodynamics.

Four subjects that appear least frequently on the exam include computers, economics, ethics, and materials science. Do not spend too much time reviewing these subjects because so few points are dedicated to these subjects on the actual exam.

When studying for the exam, use the Reference Handbook, and highlight the most common equations that appear on the exam. It is wise to become very familiar with the locations of these equations, so time is not wasted on test day trying to find the location of these formulas.

Keep in mind that a recent graduate will need about eight weeks of concentrated study to prepare for the exam. However, for engineers that have been out of school for more than ten years, studying may take six months or more. Start by reviewing the major exam topics first and take plenty of practice exams.

Since there is no penalty for guessing on a question, it is a good idea to always guess the answer rather than leaving a question blank. Try using process of elimination or try to backsolve the problem (which means picking answer choices and substituting them in the problem to see which of them fits the problem best). When in doubt, make an educated guess.

You may bring a silent, pre-programmed calculator to the exam. A calculator is essential to solving the majority of exam problems. Always make sure that the calculator and its functions/operation is familiar prior to test day. Keep in mind that some problems may be solved using either English or SI units in the morning session. However, only SI units will be used in the afternoon session.