by
Dr. Harmer A. Weeden, PE, PLS (Deceased)
Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
1985

Preparation for the registration examination starts early, perhaps twenty-four weeks prior to the exam date. You may be able to discipline your life and review by yourself, or you may choose to enroll in a review course. In either case, you should obtain from your state university (or licensing board) an appropriate syllabus and a list of suggested references. Your review should be structured around this syllabus with regularly scheduled study hours and the preparation of a well indexed set of notes. These notes must include the solution of numerous typical problems. Money invested in a review course is a prudent choice. If registration is important to your future, you should plan a well structured program and be willing to spend money to ensure its success.

This presentation is written in the format of an operation plan with the examination date as "D"-day and the start of the examination as "H"-hour. Some of the suggestions offered are perhaps overly detailed; the intent is to leave no stone unturned, Sometimes hints can spell the difference between pass and fail.

0-day minus 24 weeks

Write to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), P.O. Box 1686, Clemson, South Carolina 29633-1686, and obtain a copy of the appropriate candidate handbook for your discipline.

This publication also contains a description of the examinations and sample questions. For surveyors, the last hour of the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying Exam is conducted by the individual states. In this case contact with the State Registration Board should lead to the procurement of a syllabus and reference list. At the same time contact the state society for Professional Surveyors and the state university for information on "Review" courses. It is assumed that you have already applied for the privilege of sitting for the next examination and know the exam date or 0-day. (In Pennsylvania the process of applying to take the appropriate examination starts by contacting the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, P.O. Box 2649 ' Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649. The deadline for filing for the Fall exam is the preceding July 1; for the Spring exam, the preceding December 1.) Applications must be in the hands of the board by deadline date (not just postmarked).

Make your decision regarding enrollment in a review course. You may have to spend up to $400 for a good review course, but it is worth the investment. It will recommend particular texts, organize problem reviews, and guide the preparation of a good notebook. Since part of the exam is "open-book," organization of reference material is essential for time conservation. Start to assemble the desired textbooks and other reference sources.

D-day minus 21 weeks

Review program starts. Keep a regular schedule for study. Study in advance for each review session. Sharpen your ignorance so that you can ask pointed questions of the instructor. Make each review session count. Get specific answers to your questions. Be sure you understand the problem solutions presented. Realize that the instructor will not know the exact questions on the exam, or even the specific emphasis--any more than the examinee.

0-day minus 2 weeks

Investigate the town or city where the exam is to be given. Plan to arrive the day before the examination. Make a hotel or motel reservation.

Plan to travel with a friend--misery loves company--because you can save on gasoline and room charges. PIan to arrive on location the afternoon before D-day so that you can "case the joint." Plan the way you will transport your reference library. Be selective in your choice--remember space may be limited. A box is better than a suitcase. A briefcase is usually too small.

D-day minus "one"

Charge the batteries in your calculator. Take your charger and a spare set of batteries if you have any doubts about your present batteries.

One examination site that was investigated had NO outlets available in the examination room to plug in calculators. Charged batteries and spare batteries are a necessity. Assemble your other tools: scale, triangles, protractor, pencils, pen, eraser, and sundries (which may include and extension cord) in a convenient container to fit in with your reference library. Use a No. 2 pencil when answering questions, not pen. Put your exam admission credentials in your notebook. Find a thermos for coffee or tea. Buy a couple packs of fruit-flavored lifesavers. During the exam readily absorbed fruit-sugars provide a good "pick-me-up" when your brain starts to get dull.

Leave home early enough to arrive at X-town and check-in at your lodgings by 3:00 p.m. Then walk or drive to the place of the exam. If you have far to go from your room, plan to drive..... remember the box of reference materials. Check out the parking. If you can't find any "officials" at the examination building, find a janitor. They know about such things as when the building opens, where the check-in place is located, where the lines form, and the short route from parked car to the report-station. If the examination starts at 8:00 a.m., it pays to get there early. Usually you are assigned to a room, but there may be a choice of seats. You may want one near an electrical wall outlet or one near a window. Fresh air may be important.

Next check out the location of the rest rooms, the water fountain, and whether there are vending machines for food and beverages. On examination day there is a one-hour break for lunch. Where will you go?

Remember there are lots of others to be fed. You may want to pack a lunch. Try to locate a cafeteria nearby which opens early and will also provide carry-out food and beverage. Now figure out your route from motel or hotel to cafeteria parking, and exam location. Plan to beat the rush. Plan to arrive at the exam location with your reference library, calculator, admission slip, lunch, and thermos of tea or coffee at least one-half hour before H-hour. Better check the speed of service at your chosen cafeteria or restaurant. Now think about the evening meal and some way to relax.

Don't overeat. Stay away from spicy or heavy fried food. Go to a movie or watch T.V. If you prefer go jogging or walking--whatever relaxes you best. Turn in at about 10:30 or 11:00 'p.m. Place a wake-up call for 6:00 a.m. Hopefully you will sleep well.

D-day; H-hour minus two

The phone is ringing. Rise and shine! Shower and dress comfortably. Look sharp, it will build your self-esteem. Break out your checklist. See that your "kit" is all in order. (Should you check out at the hotel?) Now start the route that you planned yesterday afternoon. Better to start early than late!

H-hour minus one

A light breakfast will do. Avoid foods such as eggs and bacon or sausage. Dried cereal with skim milk, dry toast, and jelly or jam is recommended with sweetened tea or coffee. You need the quick energy and freedom from indigestion. Order your lunch--jelly sandwiches and fill your thermos. As soon as you finish breakfast, pick up your lunch and head for the next stop (parking lot or exam room). Get out your admission card, take your reference library box (or suitcase) and get in the proper line for your exam. Get in your room at first opportunity and pick the seat that best fits your needs. Unload your gear and get set up. Give your reference notebook prime space. Arrange your other books in a convenient order.

H-hour

The proctor has distributed the necessary forms to be filled out. Now you have your examination. Read all the instructions. Read all the questions! Yes, all of them! Note whether they all carry the same weight (or points).' Select the order in which you intend to answer them. First, do the ones you know best. Next, do the ones with the greatest points. You might find it helpful to identify each question with a topic in the syllabus. Of course, this presumes that you have the syllabus in the front of your notebook. Now you can pull the corresponding reference resource and answer the questions. Keep track of time. Pace yourself. As you tend to tire, pop a fruit drop a lifesaver in your mouth, or take time for a tea or coffee break.

If you feel yourself clutching-up or going blank, get to a place where there is plenty of fresh air and take at least 10 or 20 deep breaths. Really expand your chest. Then return to your work space and settle down to work again.

Organize your solution. Check all your mathematical calculations. Be careful with units. Beware of significant figures.

The examinations are in a multiple-choice format, and are machine scored. For proper scoring, the answer spaces must be blackened completely. You should use only No. 2 pencils or mechanical pencils with HB lead. You are to select the best answer from the five choices. When you finish, make sure that your ID number and name are on the answer sheet. Check out with the proctor. Hope you did well!