100+ Free PE Computer Engineering Practice Questions

Pass your PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

62% Pass Rate

100+ Questions

100% Free

1 / 100

Question 1

Score: 0/0

Per the NSPE Code of Ethics, which obligation is listed FIRST in the Fundamental Canons that engineers must follow in the performance of their professional duties?

Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner

Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public

Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees

Perform services only in areas of their competence

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PE Computer Engineering Exam

Exam Questions

NCEES

9 hrs

Total Appointment

NCEES

62%

First-Time Pass Rate

NCEES

$400

Exam Fee

NCEES

Knowledge Areas

NCEES

Year-round

Testing Window

Pearson VUE

The PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam has a first-time pass rate of approximately 62% (NCEES). The 80-question CBT runs 9 hours total (8 hours testing plus tutorial and break), costs $400, and is offered year-round at Pearson VUE. NCEES uses scaled scoring (no fixed percent threshold). The exam draws from nine knowledge areas with computer systems, software engineering, networks, cybersecurity, and hardware as the largest sections. Strong preparation requires fluency with the NCEES PE Electrical and Computer Reference Handbook, current NIST and IEEE standards (NIST SP 800-57, FIPS 197/202, IEEE 754, IEEE 1012), and applied problem solving across architecture, OS, networks, and security topics.

Sample PE Computer Engineering Practice Questions

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

1Per the NSPE Code of Ethics, which obligation is listed FIRST in the Fundamental Canons that engineers must follow in the performance of their professional duties?

A.Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner

B.Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public

C.Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees

D.Perform services only in areas of their competence

Explanation: The NSPE Code of Ethics lists six Fundamental Canons; the FIRST canon requires engineers to 'hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.' This canon takes precedence over loyalty to employer or client and is reinforced in Rules of Practice section 1.

2An engineering project requires an investment of $50,000 today and produces uniform annual benefits of $12,000 for 6 years. Using a discount rate of 8%, what is the approximate net present value (NPV)?

A.$5,500

B.$8,500

C.$12,000

D.-$2,000

Explanation: NPV = -50,000 + 12,000 × P/A(8%, 6). The uniform-series present-worth factor P/A(8%, 6) = (1 - 1.08^-6)/0.08 ≈ 4.6229. NPV ≈ -50,000 + 12,000(4.6229) = -50,000 + 55,475 ≈ +$5,475, closest to $5,500.

3Which IEEE standard defines the framework for system, software, and service life cycle processes (commonly cited on PE exams for software-quality questions)?

A.ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207

B.IEEE 802.3

C.IEEE 1149.1

D.IEEE 754

Explanation: ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 (current edition 2017) defines software life cycle processes (agreement, organizational, technical-management, technical). It is the umbrella standard most often cited for software-engineering process questions on the PE.

4OSHA classifies an electrical-protective rubber glove as Class 2. What is the AC voltage rating of a Class 2 glove?

A.7,500 V

B.17,000 V

C.26,500 V

D.36,000 V

Explanation: Per ASTM D120 (referenced by OSHA 1910.137), Class 0 = 1,000 V, Class 1 = 7,500 V, Class 2 = 17,000 V, Class 3 = 26,500 V, Class 4 = 36,000 V (max use, AC). Class 2 rubber gloves are rated for 17 kV maximum AC use.

5A company evaluating a server-room upgrade computes payback period and benefit-cost ratio. Which statement BEST describes a key limitation of using simple payback period as the sole investment criterion?

A.It cannot be applied to projects with non-uniform cash flows

B.It ignores the time value of money and cash flows beyond payback

C.It always disagrees with NPV decisions

D.It requires knowing the internal rate of return first

Explanation: Simple payback ignores discounting and ignores any cash flow occurring after the payback point. Two projects with the same payback can have very different NPVs. Discounted payback partially fixes the time-value issue but still ignores post-payback flows.

6A manufacturer ships embedded products to the European Union. Which mark and directive PRIMARILY indicate compliance with EU electromagnetic compatibility requirements?

A.UL listing under UL 60950

B.FCC Part 15 Class B

C.CE marking under the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU

D.ANSI C63.4 verification

Explanation: EU products must carry the CE mark; for EMC, the controlling instrument is Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC Directive). Manufacturers typically demonstrate conformity via harmonized standards such as EN 55032 (emissions) and EN 55035 (immunity).

7A discrete random variable X takes values 0, 1, 2, 3 with probabilities 0.1, 0.3, 0.4, 0.2. What is E[X]?

A.1.5

B.1.7

C.2.0

D.2.5

Explanation: E[X] = Σ x·P(x) = 0(0.1) + 1(0.3) + 2(0.4) + 3(0.2) = 0 + 0.3 + 0.8 + 0.6 = 1.7.

8How many edges does a simple, undirected complete graph K₆ have?

A.12

B.15

C.20

D.30

Explanation: Edges of Kn = n(n-1)/2. For n = 6: 6·5/2 = 15. Each pair of vertices contributes exactly one edge in a simple graph.

9Two fair six-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability that the sum is exactly 7?

A.1/12

B.1/6

C.5/36

D.7/36

Explanation: There are 6 outcomes producing a sum of 7: (1,6),(2,5),(3,4),(4,3),(5,2),(6,1). With 36 equally likely outcomes, P = 6/36 = 1/6.

10Consider the proposition (P ∧ Q) ∨ (¬P ∧ R). Which expression is logically equivalent if you ALSO know that R = ¬Q?

A.P ∧ Q

B.P ∨ ¬Q

C.P ⇔ Q

D.P ⊕ Q (XOR P and Q)

Explanation: Substitute R = ¬Q: (P∧Q) ∨ (¬P∧¬Q) is the standard form for biconditional P ⇔ Q (true when P and Q match). The XOR is its negation.

About the PE Computer Engineering Exam

The NCEES PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam is an 80-question computer-based test for engineers seeking professional licensure in computer engineering. The exam covers nine knowledge areas: codes/standards/safety/engineering economics, engineering mathematics, computer systems, software engineering, software quality, hardware, networks, cybersecurity, and engineering sciences. Topics span cache hierarchies, pipeline hazards, virtual memory, OS scheduling, deadlock detection, concurrency primitives, network protocols (TCP/UDP, OSI, OSPF), AES and RSA cryptography, FPGA/ASIC tradeoffs, Verilog combinational vs sequential design, and OWASP secure-design principles. The exam is delivered year-round at Pearson VUE test centers using the NCEES PE Electrical and Computer Reference Handbook.

Questions

80 scored questions

Time Limit

8 hours (9-hour appointment)

Passing Score

Approximately 70% (scaled cut score)

Exam Fee

$400 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))

PE Computer Engineering Exam Content Outline

10%

Codes, Standards, Safety, and Engineering Economics

NSPE Code of Ethics, OSHA electrical safety, IEEE/ISO standards, present worth, NPV, payback, and benefit-cost analysis for engineering decisions

10%

Engineering Mathematics

Discrete mathematics, propositional logic, combinatorics, graph theory, probability distributions (Poisson, binomial, normal), expected value, and basic statistics

17%

Computer Systems

ISA fundamentals (MIPS, ARM, x86), pipelining and hazards, branch prediction, cache hierarchies, virtual memory and TLBs, IEEE 754 floating point, Amdahl's law, performance analysis

13%

Software Engineering

Algorithms and Big-O analysis, sorting, searching, B-trees, hash tables, OS scheduling (RR, MLFQ), deadlock (Banker's algorithm, RAG cycles), concurrency (semaphores, mutex, monitors), UML

Software Quality

Verification and validation per IEEE 1012, code reviews, structural and black-box test design, boundary value analysis, cyclomatic complexity, V-model, TDD

10%

Hardware

Combinational and sequential digital design, Verilog blocking vs non-blocking, FPGA vs ASIC tradeoffs, finite-state machines (Moore/Mealy), PCB signal integrity, setup/hold timing

13%

Networks

OSI/TCP-IP layering, TCP three-way handshake, UDP, IPv4/IPv6 addressing, subnetting, routing (OSPF, BGP), switching, ARP, DNS, NAT, queueing models (M/M/1)

10%

Cybersecurity

AES-GCM and RSA per FIPS 197 and NIST SP 800-57, SHA-2 and SHA-3 (FIPS 202), TLS 1.3 handshake (RFC 8446), OWASP Top 10, secure design and defense-in-depth

10%

Engineering Sciences

Continuous and discrete signals, Nyquist sampling, LTI systems, RC filters, Maxwell's equations basics, semiconductor fundamentals, Shannon channel capacity

How to Pass the PE Computer Engineering Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Approximately 70% (scaled cut score)
Exam length: 80 questions
Time limit: 8 hours (9-hour appointment)
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 Computer Engineering Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the NCEES PE Electrical and Computer Reference Handbook - know where each formula and table lives before exam day

2Drill cache and pipeline calculations - AMAT, hit/miss rates, load-use hazards, branch misprediction CPI overhead

3Memorize current NIST recommendations: AES-256-GCM, RSA-2048/3072, SHA-2/SHA-3, TLS 1.3 (RFC 8446)

4Practice subnetting both IPv4 (CIDR /24-/30) and IPv6 (128-bit, prefix notation) under timed conditions

5Work through M/M/1 and M/M/c queueing problems - utilization, average queue length, response time

6Review OS scheduling: SJF optimality proof, MLFQ aging, Round-Robin waiting-time calculations

7Solidify deadlock content: Coffman conditions, Banker's algorithm safe-state checks, RAG cycle interpretation

8Practice Verilog at the synthesis-intent level - always_comb vs always_ff, blocking vs non-blocking semantics

9Memorize OWASP Top 10 (2021) categories and primary defenses (parameterized queries, output encoding, access control)

10Take at least two full-length 80-question, 8-hour timed simulations before exam day

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass rate for the PE Computer Engineering exam?

NCEES publishes a first-time pass rate of approximately 62% for the PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam. Repeat-taker pass rates are noticeably lower (typically 30-40%). NCEES uses a scaled cut score determined by psychometric analysis rather than a fixed percent correct, so candidates should focus on demonstrated competency across all nine knowledge areas rather than aim for a numeric percentage.

Which NCEES PE exam should I take if I work in software or computer engineering?

If you have a computer engineering or computer-systems background, the PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam is the most direct match. Software-only engineers historically had the PE Software Engineering exam (retired April 2019); for active licensure today, computer engineers typically take this exam, while systems-oriented software professionals consider PE Industrial and Systems Engineering. Confirm acceptance with your state board before scheduling.

How is the PE Computer Engineering exam scored?

NCEES uses a scaled cut score determined by panel-based psychometric analysis (Modified Angoff method); there is no fixed passing percentage. Most analysts estimate the underlying threshold corresponds to approximately 60-70% correct, but NCEES does not publish raw scores. Results are reported as pass/fail typically 7-10 days after the exam window closes.

What references are provided during the exam?

NCEES provides the PE Electrical and Computer Reference Handbook as a searchable PDF during the exam. No personal references, books, or notes are allowed. The handbook contains formulas and reference data for all nine knowledge areas. Familiarize yourself with the handbook layout before exam day - searching efficiently saves precious time during the 8-hour session. The handbook is freely downloadable from the NCEES website.

How much time should I budget for preparation?

Most successful candidates report 200-300 study hours over 3-6 months. The exam emphasizes applied problem solving across nine knowledge areas, so depth in computer systems and networks alone is not enough. Combine textbook study with full-length practice (80 questions in 8 hours) and timed handbook navigation drills. Plan an additional 15-25 hours specifically on cybersecurity and current NIST/IEEE standards, which change frequently.

Where and when can I take the exam?

The PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam is offered year-round at Pearson VUE test centers via NCEES-administered CBT. Schedule through your NCEES MyNCEES account once your state board has approved your application. The exam fee is $400 (paid to NCEES); state boards may charge separate application fees. The 9-hour appointment includes a non-disclosure agreement, tutorial, scheduled break, and 8 hours of testing time.