199+ Free PE Civil Practice Questions

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Question 1

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A construction project requires excavating 5,000 cubic yards of soil. The soil has a bank volume of 1.2 cy/cy and a loose volume of 1.4 cy/cy. How many cubic yards of loose soil must be hauled away?

4,286 cy

5,000 cy

6,000 cy

7,000 cy

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PE Civil Exam

Exam Questions

NCEES

8 hrs

Test Time

NCEES

55%

Avg Pass Rate

NCEES 2024

$400

Exam Fee

NCEES

Specialties

NCEES

9 hrs

Total Appointment

NCEES

The PE Civil exam has pass rates ranging from 49-65% depending on specialty. The 80-question computer-based exam allows 9 hours total (including tutorial and break). The exam uses the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook and applicable design standards. New specifications effective April 2024 removed the standalone breadth portion and integrated relevant breadth topics into each specialty exam. Pass rates: Transportation 65%, Water Resources 64%, Structural 54%, Construction 49%, Geotechnical 49%.

Sample PE Civil Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PE Civil exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 199+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A construction project requires excavating 5,000 cubic yards of soil. The soil has a bank volume of 1.2 cy/cy and a loose volume of 1.4 cy/cy. How many cubic yards of loose soil must be hauled away?

A.4,286 cy

B.5,000 cy

C.6,000 cy

D.7,000 cy

Explanation: The bank volume is 5,000 cy. The loose volume equals bank volume multiplied by the loose factor: 5,000 × 1.2 = 6,000 cubic yards of loose soil. This accounts for the expansion of soil when excavated from its natural (bank) state.

2According to OSHA 1926 Subpart C, what is the maximum allowable excavation depth before a protective system (sloping, shoring, or shielding) is required for Type C soil?

A.4 feet

B.5 feet

C.6 feet

D.8 feet

Explanation: OSHA requires a protective system for excavations 5 feet or deeper in all soil types. For Type C soil (cohesive soil with unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf or less, or granular soils), the maximum allowable slope is 1½:1 (34°).

3In a critical path method (CPM) schedule, Activity A has a duration of 5 days, Activity B has a duration of 8 days, and Activity C has a duration of 4 days. Activity C can only start after both A and B are complete. What is the early start (ES) for Activity C?

A.5 days

B.8 days

C.9 days

D.13 days

Explanation: Activity C requires both A and B to be complete. Activity A finishes at day 5, Activity B finishes at day 8. Activity C can start when the longer predecessor (B) finishes, so ES = 8 days. This is determined by the maximum of all predecessor early finish times.

4A concrete mix design requires 350 lbs of cement per cubic yard. For a 100 cubic yard pour with 8% waste factor, how many 94-lb sacks of cement are required?

A.371 sacks

B.372 sacks

C.402 sacks

D.408 sacks

Explanation: Total concrete needed = 100 × 1.08 = 108 cy. Total cement = 350 × 108 = 37,800 lbs. Number of sacks = 37,800 ÷ 94 = 402.13 sacks. Round up to 408 sacks (nearest full sack). Always round up cement quantities for construction ordering.

5What is the primary purpose of a slump test for fresh concrete?

A.To determine compressive strength

B.To measure workability and consistency

C.To test for air content

D.To verify cement content

Explanation: The slump test (ASTM C143) measures the workability and consistency of fresh concrete. A cone is filled with concrete, lifted, and the settlement (slump) is measured. Typical specifications require 2-4 inches for most structural work. Compressive strength is tested with cylinders cured for 28 days.

6A temporary excavation support system uses soldier piles with timber lagging. The lagging spans 8 feet horizontally between soldier piles. If the lateral earth pressure is 600 psf and the lagging is 3-inch thick Douglas Fir-Larch (Fb = 1,500 psi), is the lagging adequate?

A.Yes, stress is 768 psi

B.Yes, stress is 1,200 psi

C.No, stress is 1,920 psi

D.No, stress is 2,400 psi

Explanation: For a uniformly loaded simple span, M = wL²/8 = (600 psf × 1 ft) × (8 ft)² / 8 = 4,800 ft-lb/ft = 57,600 in-lb/ft. For 3" lagging (S = bd²/6 = 12 × 3² / 6 = 18 in³/ft), f = M/S = 57,600/18 = 1,920 psi. This exceeds 1,500 psi allowable, so it is not adequate.

7Which of the following is NOT typically included in a construction daily report?

A.Weather conditions

B.Workforce count by trade

C.Material test results

D.Equipment on site

Explanation: Daily reports document site activities, weather, workforce, equipment, and work completed. Material test results are typically documented separately in test reports or quality control logs. Daily reports are for contemporaneous documentation of construction progress and conditions.

8A horizontal curve on a construction site has a radius of 500 feet and a central angle of 30°. What is the length of the curve?

A.131 ft

B.262 ft

C.524 ft

D.785 ft

Explanation: Curve length L = R × Δ × (π/180) = 500 × 30 × (π/180) = 500 × 0.5236 = 261.8 ft ≈ 262 ft. This is the arc length along the curve centerline.

9The modulus of elasticity for normal weight concrete is most accurately estimated by which formula?

A.Ec = 33wc^1.5√f'c

B.Ec = 57,000√f'c

C.Ec = 1,800,000 psi

D.Ec = 0.5f'c

Explanation: Per ACI 318, Ec = 33wc^1.5√f'c where wc is unit weight (pcf) and f'c is compressive strength (psi). For normal weight concrete (wc ≈ 145 pcf), this simplifies to approximately 57,000√f'c. The general formula accounts for variations in concrete density.

10A project has an original contract amount of $2,000,000. To date, $1,200,000 of work has been completed and $1,000,000 has been paid. The scheduled value of work completed is $1,500,000. What is the cost performance index (CPI)?

A.0.67

B.0.80

C.1.00

D.1.20

Explanation: CPI = Earned Value / Actual Cost = $1,200,000 / $1,000,000 = 1.20. A CPI > 1 indicates the project is under budget. The scheduled value is used to calculate SPI (Schedule Performance Index), not CPI.

About the PE Civil Exam

The NCEES PE Civil exam is an 80-question computer-based test designed for engineers with a minimum of four years of post-college work experience. The exam covers five specialty areas: Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, and Water Resources & Environmental. Examinees must choose one specialty area for the depth portion of the exam. All exams include breadth content relevant to the specialty plus in-depth questions in the chosen area.

Questions

80 scored questions

Time Limit

8 hours

Passing Score

Approximately 70% (scaled)

Exam Fee

$400 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))

PE Civil Exam Content Outline

20%

Construction

Earthwork, scheduling, estimating, QA/QC, temporary structures, safety, materials

20%

Geotechnical

Soil classification, properties, earth pressure, slope stability, settlement, foundations, retaining structures

20%

Structural

Loads, analysis, concrete, steel, timber, masonry design, connections, seismic design

20%

Transportation

Geometric design, traffic analysis, pavement design, signals, safety, planning

20%

Water Resources

Fluid mechanics, hydraulics, hydrology, open channel flow, stormwater, water/wastewater treatment

How to Pass the PE Civil Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Approximately 70% (scaled)
Exam length: 80 questions
Time limit: 8 hours
Exam fee: $400

Keys to Passing

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

PE Civil Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on your chosen specialty (40+ questions) while maintaining proficiency in other civil areas

2Master the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook - know where formulas and tables are located

3Practice time management - 6 minutes per question on average

4Review current design standards applicable to your specialty (ASCE 7, ACI 318, AASHTO, etc.)

5Work through practice problems using only the NCEES handbook to simulate exam conditions

6Study construction, scheduling, and engineering economics - these appear across all specialties

7Understand when to use LRFD vs ASD, and know typical factors of safety

8Practice unit conversions - the exam uses both US Customary and SI units

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PE Civil exam pass rate?

Pass rates vary by specialty: Transportation 65%, Water Resources and Environmental 64%, Structural 54%, Construction 49%, and Geotechnical 49% (NCEES 2024 data). The overall pass rate for first-time takers is approximately 55-60%. Pass rates for repeat takers are typically lower.

How hard is the PE Civil exam?

The PE Civil exam is considered challenging, requiring both breadth of knowledge across civil engineering disciplines and depth in your chosen specialty. Most successful candidates study 200-300 hours over 3-6 months. The exam tests application of engineering principles, not just memorization. Many engineers take review courses and practice hundreds of problems.

What are the PE Civil exam requirements?

To take the PE Civil exam, you need: (1) a bachelor's degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, (2) passing the FE exam, (3) typically 4 years of progressive engineering experience (varies by state), and (4) state board approval. Some states have additional requirements like references or specific coursework.

What changed in the April 2024 PE Civil exam?

The April 2024 exam specifications eliminated the separate breadth portion that was common to all specialties. Instead, each specialty exam now includes relevant breadth topics integrated throughout. This means more questions specific to your chosen specialty, but fewer general civil engineering questions from unrelated areas. The total remains 80 questions and 8 hours.

What references are provided during the exam?

NCEES provides the PE Civil Reference Handbook (Version 2.0) as a searchable PDF during the exam. For Structural and Geotechnical exams, relevant design standards (AASHTO, ASCE 7, ACI 318, etc.) are also provided electronically. You cannot bring personal reference materials. It's critical to familiarize yourself with the electronic handbook format before exam day.

Which PE Civil specialty should I choose?

Choose the specialty that matches your professional experience and expertise. Transportation and Water Resources typically have the highest pass rates, but this reflects the candidate pool as much as exam difficulty. Selecting a specialty you work in daily provides the best preparation. If you're in general civil practice, review the specifications for each specialty to find the best match.