RE: BLOG: Studying for the PE Begins
One positive I got from PE studying was re-learning to use a pencil and hand held calculator again. I was so used to using a computer at work for calculations, my first practice test was a big flop. Of course it was good to brush up on the material as well since there was a portion I had not even considered since school. I did find the extra information interesting as well, it can be easy to get tripped up by something you do not even need to solve the problem. I found that for some problems where it involved multiple computations, it was actually easier to plug in the answers and work backwards (LMTD heat exchanger problems for those Chemical Engineers out there). I think I overstudied, but I am like you in that I would rather be prepared.
As far as learning as an adult, I had so much more practical experience I found it easier to figure out "real world" type problems. On the flip side, the theoretical "which of these answers is least similar to..." sort of problems really threw me for a loop.
They let us bring in paper as long as it was in a binder. I made some equation cheat sheets (dimensionless numbers were big for ChemE) and also conversion cheat sheets. I also made an index of the practice problems I worked and the reference manual so I could find them fast.
Sounds like you are doing it the right way. It seems like a lot of work now but it will pay off and you will not regret all the effort. Make sure to relax during the exam. Best of luck!
@ai125, thats a huge item! for most calculations, i refer to the use of computers now, and going back to hand calculations for some items, trips up how i organize the calculation on paper since spreadsheets and software take care of all of that for you. I rather over study by 25%, then fail by 1%. I dont want to study like this anymore. Im just so tired of going through the academic motions of learning topics to proove that you know them, but never actually use them for anything.
They actually tell you EXACTLY what the defintiion of "most closely" means. For example, im going through the construction module right now, and they had a great example of moving excavated dirt. When you run your numbers, you get 52.3 of trucks to remove the excavated soil. The question was, what is most nearly the number of trucks to remove the soil
Your 2 closest answers were 52 and 55. If you pick 52, you are wrong, because you still have 0.3 trucks. you need 55!!
I'm going to do exactly as you suggest, make quick sheets for everything and print out an INDEX of practice problems for quick reference.
RELAXXXXX is the key. Keep the adrenaline low, so you can keep the focus high!
Thanks for the tips!