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PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination)
Exam Instructions

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NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR EXAMINATION.

EXAM POLICIES AND SECURITY PROCEDURES

The NCEES Examination Policy (EAP 1) has been amended to require Member Boards to provide an information packet to each candidate applying to take NCEES Examinations. NCEES has prepared a document that contains pertinent information concerning the examination, security procedures, and other important policies. You can view the document at http://www.ncees.org/candidate_info.pdf.

EXAMINATION TIME

Arrive at your test location by 7:10 a.m. You must bring your admission ticket along with a photo I.D. to your testing location. Candidates without BOTH an admission ticket and photo I.D. will not be allowed into the examination room. It is recommended that candidates bring sack lunches, as the time allowed for lunch may be limited to less than a full hour. FOOD AND DRINK ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE EXAMINATION ROOM. PERSONAL POSSESSIONS (BACKPACKS, STUDY MATERIALS, ETC.) OTHER THAN THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE EXAMINATION ROOM. THE EXAMINATION CENTER WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PERSONAL POSSESSIONS.

ENTERING AND LEAVING THE TESTING ROOM

Follow the seating instructions given by the proctor. No candidate will be permitted to enter the examination room after the scheduled time for beginning the examination. Visitors will not be allowed to enter the room after the test has started. Only one candidate at a time will be permitted to leave the room temporarily while the test is in progress. When you leave, you will not be allowed to take any examination materials with you. If you complete either portion of the examination early, you will be allowed to leave the room quietly; however, no candidate will be permitted to leave the examination room during the last 30 minutes of either session. Before you turn in your examination, make sure you have printed your name on the test booklet and filled in your name and all requested information on your answer sheet.

EXAMINATION AND REFERENCE MATERIALS

The Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination is an open book examination. ONLY the following items may be brought into the examination room:

a. NCEES will provide pencils for exams. Candidates will not be allowed to bring in their own pencils.

b. Rulers and slide rules.

c. Calculators: NCEES has a list of calculators that are permitted in the exam room. No other calculators will be permitted. See NCEES Calculator Policy for more information and an updated list of calculators.

d. Reference Materials -

• This may include handbooks, textbooks, and other bound reference material. Bound materials are considered to be materials which are permanently bound (stitched or glued) and materials fastened securely in a cover by fasteners which penetrate all papers (multi-ring binders, spiral notebooks, snap binders, brads, screw posts, etc.). Materials must remain bound throughout the examination.
• P.E. Sample Exams, Study Guides, and Solution Manuals are permitted.
• Books may have handwritten highlights or notes in them as long as they are in ink (no pencil).
• No writing is allowed in any reference materials during the examination.
• Candidates are not permitted to share or exchange reference materials.
• Page markers, including self adhesive tabs or sticky notes, are permitted.
• Scratch pads/paper are not permitted.
• All work must be done in the solution pamphlets/examination booklets.

The Board has the right to prohibit any device or material that might compromise the security of the examination or examination process.

ANSWER SHEETS

1. NCEES will provide pencils for exams. Candidates will not be allowed to bring in their own pencils.
2. Grid appropriate circles completely and erase completely any incorrect marks.
3. All information boxes, (i.e., name, date of birth, etc.) of your answer sheet must be completely filled in and accurately marked.
4. There are 12 boxes for selecting multiple-choice answers, each containing sets of ten question numbers. Each number is followed by circles containing the letters A through D. These letters correspond to the alternatives available to you in the multiple-choice questions. Be sure to grid corresponding circles completely.
5. Calculations for multiple-choice questions should be worked in your examination booklet. No calculations for multiple-choice questions will be scored. Remember to mark your responses on the answer sheet.
6. In order to score multiple-choice questions you must grid in the circle at the top of each box and grid the correct circles beneath.
7. Only answers marked on the answer sheet will be scored.ÿ
8. You will not receive credit for any question which is left blank, answered incorrectly or marked with more than one answer.
9. Your score on the multiple-choice questions will be determined by the number of questions answered correctly. Each multiple-choice question has equal weight and no points are subtracted for incorrect responses.

SOLUTION PAMPHLETS (Structural II only)

1. At the bottom of the front cover you will see several boxes with the words "problem number" in the top row of boxes, and "score assigned" in the lower row of boxes. Be sure you enter the problem numbers that you want scored in these boxes. Only the problems that you mark in these boxes will be scored.
2. Solutions must be entered on the RIGHT hand pages. Left-hand pages are for "scratch work" only. If you need additional pages in order to complete your essay solutions ask your proctor for another solution pamphlet.
3. On each page of the solution pamphlet that you want scored be sure to fill in your board code number, your identification number, and problem number.
   NOTE: The solution pamphlet is torn apart by individual problems and sent out for scoring. It is imperative that you complete each page of the solution pamphlet with your board code, identification number, and the problem number.
4. For each problem that you want scored, you will need to enter the problem number at the top of the page. You also need to number each page of your solution (1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4, etc.).
5. Your score on the essay problems will range from 0 to 10 (only even numbered scores are given) and is determined by the degree to which you have demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter required by the problem. (Structural II candidates receive a pass/fail score. No numerical score is given.)
6. Essay problems will receive partial credit in accordance with the scoring plan developed for the problem. You should not assume that each requirement of an essay problem carries equal weight. State and justify all assumptions used in solving essay problems. Show appropriate calculations or reasoning to justify your answer.

QUESTIONS ABOUT EXAMINATION ITEMS

If you suspect a problem and want to question an examination item, write to the following address immediately after taking the examination:

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF EXAMINERS FOR ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING (NCEES)
280 SENECA CREEK ROAD
P. O. BOX 1686
CLEMSON, SC 29633-1686
(864) 654-6824 / FAX (864) 654-6033
http://www.ncees.org

CHEATING AND/OR COMPROMISING

Board Rule 133.75 covers examination irregularities and declares that cheating on examinations will not be tolerated. Furthermore, examination proctors who conclusively observe that an candidate is giving or receiving assistance, compromising the integrity of the examination, or participating in any other form of cheating during an examination will require the candidate to surrender all examination materials. The candidate will be required to leave the room and will not be permitted to return.

Evidence of cheating, as described above, found after the examination will also be a cause for action. The Executive Director will be informed of such instances of suspected cheating at the earliest possible opportunity and will determine appropriate action.

When the Executive Director has determined that cheating has occurred, the examination results of the candidate will be disallowed, the candidate will be barred from taking any examination in Texas for a period of two years, and any application for licensure pending an approval for examination will be automatically proposed for rejection and will be evaluated or re-evaluated on that basis.

TEST SCORES

The examinations are graded by a national testing service and scores are usually received and mailed within three months of the examination. However, delays in the grading and reviewing of examinations by the testing service may extend the receipt and reporting of your test scores beyond three months. After 90 days the status of the scores (whether the scores have been received, expected arrival date, mailing date, etc.) will be posted on our website at http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us. Please do not write or telephone the Board office to inquire about your test score. Your score will be mailed to the address listed on your admission ticket. NO SCORES WILL BE GIVEN OVER THE TELEPHONE.

No score will be reported unless both portions of the test are taken and no credit will be given for an answer not recorded in the appropriate space on the answer sheet.

NAME/ADDRESS CHANGES

If you have a change of address after you take the examination, you MUST notify the Board office in writing using the "Applicant Address Change Form" posted on our website. Please provide your signature on the address notification.

If you change your name, you MUST notify the Board office in writing and include applicable documents relative to a legal name change.

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