100+ Free FE Civil Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

Evaluate the limit lim(x→0) (sin 3x)/x.

Undefined

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: FE Civil Exam

110

Exam Questions

NCEES FE Civil specs

5h 20m

Exam Time

NCEES (6-hr appointment)

$175

Exam Fee

NCEES

~67%

First-Time Pass Rate

NCEES

Content Areas

NCEES FE Civil specs

Open-book

Reference Handbook

On-screen

FE Civil has 110 questions in a 5-hour-20-minute computer-based session (Pearson VUE), uses the on-screen NCEES FE Reference Handbook, and costs $175. NCEES reports first-time pass rates near 67%. The 17 content areas weight Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, and Hydraulics/Hydrologic Systems most heavily. Results are pass/fail; no fixed numeric cut score is published.

Sample FE Civil Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your FE Civil exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Evaluate the limit lim(x→0) (sin 3x)/x.

A.0

B.1

C.3

D.Undefined

Explanation: Using L'Hôpital's rule or the standard limit lim(u→0) (sin u)/u = 1, write (sin 3x)/x = 3 · (sin 3x)/(3x). As x→0 the bracket approaches 1, so the limit equals 3.

2A normally distributed concrete-strength data set has mean 4,200 psi and standard deviation 350 psi. What strength is exceeded by approximately 84% of cylinders (one standard deviation below the mean)?

A.3,500 psi

B.3,850 psi

C.4,200 psi

D.4,550 psi

Explanation: For a normal distribution, about 84% of values lie above μ − σ. Therefore 4,200 − 350 = 3,850 psi is the strength exceeded by ~84% of the cylinders.

3Solve the differential equation dy/dx = ky for y(0) = y₀.

A.y = y₀ + kx

B.y = y₀ e^(kx)

C.y = y₀ x^k

D.y = y₀ cos(kx)

Explanation: This first-order separable ODE separates as dy/y = k dx. Integrating gives ln y = kx + C, so y = y₀ e^(kx) using the initial condition y(0) = y₀. The exponential form characterizes growth/decay processes.

4A vector A = 3i + 4j and B = 2i − k. What is A · B?

A.6

B.8

C.10

D.−4

Explanation: The dot product is A·B = (3)(2) + (4)(0) + (0)(−1) = 6. Components without a counterpart in the other vector contribute zero. The dot product is a scalar projection measure.

5What is the integral of f(x) = 2x from x = 1 to x = 4?

A.6

B.9

C.15

D.20

Explanation: ∫(2x)dx = x². Evaluated from 1 to 4: 4² − 1² = 16 − 1 = 15. This represents the net signed area under the line y = 2x between those limits.

6The probability that a single soil boring encounters bedrock is 0.30. If three independent borings are drilled, what is the probability that at least one encounters bedrock?

A.0.30

B.0.49

C.0.66

D.0.90

Explanation: P(at least one) = 1 − P(none). P(none) = 0.70³ = 0.343, so P(at least one) = 1 − 0.343 ≈ 0.657, which rounds to 0.66.

7A 2×2 matrix A = [[3, 1],[2, 4]] has determinant equal to:

A.6

B.10

C.12

D.14

Explanation: For a 2×2 matrix, det(A) = ad − bc = (3)(4) − (1)(2) = 12 − 2 = 10. The determinant is nonzero, so A is invertible.

8Use the trapezoidal rule with two equal subintervals to estimate ∫₀² (x² + 1) dx.

A.3.0

B.4.0

C.4.67

D.5.0

Explanation: With h = 1 and nodes x = 0, 1, 2 the function values are f(0)=1, f(1)=2, f(2)=5. Trapezoidal rule: (h/2)[f₀ + 2f₁ + f₂] = (1/2)[1 + 4 + 5] = 5.0. The exact integral is 4.67, so the trapezoidal estimate slightly overpredicts due to the convex curve.

9Saturated water at 20°C has approximately what kinematic viscosity?

A.1.0 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s

B.1.0 × 10⁻⁴ m²/s

C.1.0 × 10⁻³ m²/s

D.1.0 × 10⁻¹ m²/s

Explanation: Water at 20°C has dynamic viscosity μ ≈ 1.00 × 10⁻³ Pa·s and density ρ ≈ 998 kg/m³, giving ν = μ/ρ ≈ 1.00 × 10⁻⁶ m²/s. This value appears throughout the NCEES FE Reference Handbook fluid mechanics section.

10Which property describes a material's resistance to thermal energy transfer through conduction?

A.Specific heat

B.Thermal conductivity

C.Coefficient of thermal expansion

D.Thermal diffusivity

Explanation: Thermal conductivity (k, W/m·K) appears in Fourier's law q = −k(dT/dx) and quantifies steady-state heat conduction. Higher k means faster heat transfer — copper k ≈ 400, concrete k ≈ 1.4 W/m·K.

About the FE Civil Exam

The NCEES FE Civil exam is a 110-question computer-based test that covers 17 content areas across civil engineering practice — from mathematics, statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials to structural, geotechnical, transportation, environmental, and construction engineering. It is the first national exam on the path to Professional Engineer (PE) licensure and is open to graduates and seniors of EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs.

Questions

110 scored questions

Time Limit

5 hours 20 minutes

Passing Score

Pass/Fail (NCEES does not publish a fixed cut score)

Exam Fee

$175 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))

FE Civil Exam Content Outline

8-12 questions

Mathematics & Statistics

Calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, probability, statistics, and numerical methods used in civil analysis.

4-6 questions

Engineering Sciences

Basic thermodynamics, heat transfer, electricity, and fluid properties applied across engineering disciplines.

3-5 questions

Computational Tools

Spreadsheet analysis, basic algorithm/flow-chart logic, and effective navigation of the NCEES FE Reference Handbook.

4-6 questions

Ethics & Professional Practice

NCEES Model Rules, public health and safety, responsible charge, conflict of interest, and licensure obligations.

4-6 questions

Engineering Economics

Time value of money, present/future worth, annual cost, rate of return, depreciation, and benefit-cost analysis.

8-12 questions

Statics

Free-body diagrams, equilibrium, trusses (method of joints/sections), centroids, friction, and beam reactions.

4-6 questions

Dynamics

Kinematics, Newton's laws, work and energy, projectile motion, and rotational dynamics.

6-9 questions

Mechanics of Materials

Axial/torsional/bending stresses, shear and moment diagrams, deflection, Mohr's circle, and column buckling.

4-6 questions

Materials

Concrete (ACI 318), structural steel (ASTM A36/A992), asphalt, aggregates, and material testing properties.

5-8 questions

Fluid Mechanics

Hydrostatics, Bernoulli's equation, continuity, Reynolds number, friction losses, and pump power calculations.

4-6 questions

Surveying

Differential leveling, traverses and closure, horizontal/vertical curves, stadia, coordinate geometry.

8-12 questions

Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems

Manning's open-channel flow, Rational Method runoff, SCS curve number, Darcy's law, hydraulic radius, critical depth.

9-14 questions

Structural Engineering

Reinforced concrete (ACI 318), structural steel (AISC 360 LRFD/ASD), loads (ASCE 7), beam deflection, indeterminate analysis.

9-14 questions

Geotechnical Engineering

USCS/AASHTO soil classification, Terzaghi bearing capacity, Rankine earth pressure, consolidation, Bishop slope stability, piles.

8-12 questions

Transportation Engineering

AASHTO geometric design, sight distance, superelevation, ESAL pavement design, signalized capacity, vertical curves.

4-6 questions

Construction Engineering

CPM scheduling and float, OSHA excavation safety, earthwork, estimating, and project delivery basics.

5-8 questions

Environmental Engineering

Water and wastewater treatment, BOD/COD, disinfection, air quality (NAAQS), and stormwater fundamentals.

How to Pass the FE Civil Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Pass/Fail (NCEES does not publish a fixed cut score)
Exam length: 110 questions
Time limit: 5 hours 20 minutes
Exam fee: $175

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

FE Civil Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study from the NCEES FE Reference Handbook itself — every formula on the exam will appear there, so handbook navigation speed matters more than memorization.

2Distribute time across all 17 content areas; weakness in any single area can swing your overall result on a 110-question exam.

3Practice with NCEES-approved calculators only (Casio FX-115, TI-30X/36X, HP 33s/35s) so the keystrokes feel automatic on test day.

4Spend the largest study blocks on Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, the two heaviest content areas.

5Drill engineering economics: present worth, annual cost, rate of return, and depreciation appear with predictable formulas.

6Review ACI 318 fundamentals (f'c minimums, cover, reinforcement ratios) and AISC 360 LRFD vs ASD load combinations.

7Memorize unit-conversion shortcuts (1 yd³ = 27 ft³; gal/min ↔ cfs; lb/ft³ ↔ kN/m³) that recur in fluid and construction problems.

8Run at least one full timed 110-question simulation under the actual 3-minutes-per-question pace before exam day.

9Use the NCEES official practice exam — its problem style and difficulty match the real test more closely than third-party prep books.

10Review ethics scenarios in the NCEES Model Rules — public welfare always outranks employer or client interests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FE Civil exam pass rate?

NCEES publishes first-time-taker pass rates around 67% for FE Civil over recent reporting windows. Pass rates for repeat takers are typically lower. NCEES does not release a fixed numeric cut score because results are reported pass/fail.

How long is the FE Civil exam?

The FE Civil exam is delivered as a 6-hour Pearson VUE appointment that includes a tutorial and one scheduled break. Actual testing time is 5 hours and 20 minutes for 110 questions, averaging just under 3 minutes per question.

How much does the FE Civil exam cost?

The NCEES exam fee for FE Civil is $175. State licensing boards may charge separate application or eligibility fees that vary by jurisdiction, and approved test-prep materials are sold separately.

What references can I use during the FE Civil exam?

Only the NCEES FE Reference Handbook is provided as a searchable PDF on-screen during the exam. Personal references and notes are not allowed. Only NCEES-approved calculators (Casio FX-115, TI-30X, TI-36X series, HP 33s/35s) may be used.

Who is eligible to take FE Civil?

Eligibility is set by each state licensing board, but most jurisdictions allow seniors and graduates of EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs to sit. Some states allow non-ABET graduates with additional review. Passing FE Civil grants the Engineer Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) designation.

Did the FE Civil specifications change in 2026?

NCEES last updated the FE Civil specification effective July 2020 and continues to publish that 17-section blueprint as current. Aside from minor administrative updates (e.g., state board approval rules), the content outline and question count remain unchanged for 2026.