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Exam Review

Key Facts: PE Geotechnical Exam

80

Exam Questions

NCEES

8 hrs

Exam Time

NCEES

63%

First-Time Pass

NCEES July 2026

$400

Exam Fee

NCEES

10

Content Areas

NCEES

9 hrs

Appointment

NCEES

The PE Civil Geotechnical exam uses the April 2024 CBT specification, includes 80 questions in an 8-hour exam session inside a 9-hour appointment, and had a 63% first-time pass rate in NCEES's July 2026 update. The heaviest areas are retaining structures and deep foundations, followed by site characterization, soil mechanics, and earth structures. In April 2026, NCEES posted an updated specification effective beginning with the April 2027 examination; its 10 content areas and question counts are unchanged, but the design-standards list moves from ASCE 7-16 to ASCE 7-22 and adds FHWA-NHI-07-092 (Geosynthetic Design and Construction Guidelines).

Sample PE Geotechnical Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PE Geotechnical exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which source most directly helps verify the location and elevation of undocumented fill placed during a prior site development phase?
A.As-built grading plans
B.Atterberg limit charts
C.Concrete cylinder break reports
D.Traffic signal timing sheets
Explanation: As-built grading plans show what was reportedly constructed rather than what was merely proposed. They are often the fastest way to confirm fill extents, grade changes, and buried site modifications before planning supplemental exploration.
2When reviewing a site for possible uncontrolled fills and former drainage features, which record is especially useful before any borings are drilled?
A.A reinforcing bar schedule
B.A laboratory compaction curve
C.A pile-driving analyzer trace
D.Historical aerial photographs
Explanation: Historical aerial photographs can reveal former ponds, channels, stockpiles, and past grading that no longer appear on the current surface. That early context helps target exploration where subsurface variability is most likely.
3A large site shows highly variable surficial deposits and several planned building pads. How should the boring layout generally change compared with a uniform site of the same size?
A.Rely only on one central boring per building
B.Replace borings entirely with a single test pit
C.Use closer boring spacing in the more variable areas
D.Keep a wide uniform spacing everywhere
Explanation: Higher geologic variability increases the risk of missing abrupt changes in soil type or groundwater conditions. Closer spacing in critical or variable zones reduces uncertainty and improves design reliability.
4Which exploration method is commonly used to advance borings in soil while allowing standard penetration testing and monitoring-well installation through the auger stem?
A.Seismic refraction
B.Hollow-stem auger drilling
C.Rock coring
D.Air rotary drilling
Explanation: Hollow-stem augers support the borehole in many soil conditions and allow sampling or well installation through the center stem. That makes them a standard choice for environmental and geotechnical soil borings.
5Which drilling method is generally better suited than hollow-stem augers for advancing through loose saturated granular soils at greater depth?
A.Mud rotary drilling
B.Hand augering
C.Field vane testing
D.Nuclear density testing
Explanation: Mud rotary drilling stabilizes the borehole with drilling fluid and is effective in deeper saturated granular soils. Hollow-stem augers can become inefficient or unstable when those conditions are severe.
6If a project requires detailed information on rock quality, discontinuities, and weathering, which exploration technique is most appropriate?
A.Dynamic cone penetration
B.Thin-walled tube sampling
C.Proof rolling
D.Rock coring
Explanation: Rock coring provides an actual core record that can be logged for recovery, RQD, weathering, and joint characteristics. Those details are essential when the design depends on rock mass behavior.
7Which in situ test provides nearly continuous resistance data and is especially valuable in soft clays and clean sands but is limited in gravelly soils?
A.Plate load testing
B.Sand cone testing
C.Cone penetration testing
D.Pocket penetrometer testing
Explanation: CPT produces continuous tip, sleeve, and often pore-pressure data, which is excellent for profiling many soil deposits. Gravel, cobbles, and very hard layers can obstruct the cone and reduce interpretation quality.
8What is a key advantage of test pits compared with small-diameter borings in near-surface investigations?
A.They measure shear-wave velocity directly
B.They allow direct visual inspection of soil structure and buried debris
C.They provide undisturbed samples from deep deposits
D.They eliminate the need for utility clearance
Explanation: Test pits let engineers see layering, fill contacts, debris, roots, and moisture conditions directly. That visual context is especially helpful for shallow fills and surficial variability.
9Which sampling method is preferred when an engineer wants a relatively undisturbed sample of soft clay for laboratory consolidation testing?
A.Thin-walled tube sampling
B.Split-spoon sampling
C.Grab sampling from spoils
D.Bulk aggregate sampling
Explanation: Thin-walled tube samples disturb soft cohesive soils less than driven split-spoon samples. Better sample quality is important when settlement and strength are sensitive to soil structure.
10What is the primary geotechnical purpose of a split-spoon sampler during a standard penetration test?
A.To recover intact rock core
B.To measure groundwater chemistry in place
C.To determine seismic velocity directly
D.To obtain a disturbed sample and an N-value
Explanation: The split-spoon sampler is driven during the SPT and provides both a representative disturbed sample and the blow count used for empirical correlations. It is not intended to preserve an undisturbed structure.

About the PE Geotechnical Exam

The NCEES PE Civil Geotechnical exam is a year-round computer-based licensure exam for civil engineers whose practice centers on subsurface characterization, soil and rock behavior, seepage, earth structures, retaining systems, and foundation design. The live April 2024 specification organizes the exam into 10 content areas ranging from site exploration and laboratory interpretation through shallow and deep foundations. Examinees work 80 questions using the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook plus the listed geotechnical design standards provided on screen during the appointment.

Exam sponsor: NCEES (Pearson VUE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Computer-based; multiple-choice and alternative item types

Time Limit

8 hours of exam time (within a 9-hour appointment)

Passing Score

NCEES does not publish a fixed passing score (scaled)

Exam / Certification Fees

$400

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: 63%. First-time takers 63%, repeat takers 44% (July 2026 NCEES pass-rate table) This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

8-12 questions (10-15%)

Site Characterization

Interpretation of site records, subsurface exploration planning, drilling and sampling methods, in situ testing, soil and rock classification, and groundwater characterization.

8-12 questions (10-15%)

Soil Mechanics, Laboratory Testing, and Analysis

Phase relationships, index properties, stress and strength, consolidation concepts, permeability, and interpretation of laboratory or empirical geotechnical data.

6-9 questions (8-11%)

Construction Observation, Monitoring, QA/QC, and Safety

Earthwork control, compaction verification, geotechnical instrumentation, trench and excavation safety, and erosion or scour protection during construction.

5-8 questions (6-10%)

Earthquake Engineering and Dynamic Loads

Seismic site characterization, liquefaction screening, pseudostatic evaluation, and geotechnical design decisions under earthquake loading.

9-14 questions (11-18%)

Earth Structures, Ground Improvement, and Pavement

Ground improvement methods, geosynthetics, slope stability, embankments, dams, levees, landfills, pavement support, and utility geotechnics.

4-6 questions (5-8%)

Groundwater and Seepage

Dewatering systems, flow nets, uplift and piping checks, drainage design, seepage control, and groundwater effects on excavations and structures.

4-6 questions (5-8%)

Problematic Soil and Rock Conditions

Collapsible, expansive, organic, sensitive, corrosive, and frost-susceptible soils as well as karst, rock slopes, and rockfall hazards.

10-15 questions (13-19%)

Retaining Structures (ASD or LRFD)

Earth pressure, rigid and flexible wall systems, temporary support of excavation, cofferdams, underpinning, and anchor or soil nail design concepts.

6-9 questions (8-11%)

Shallow Foundations (ASD or LRFD)

Bearing capacity, settlement, stress distribution, footing geometry effects, and spread or mat foundation decision-making.

10-15 questions (13-19%)

Deep Foundations (ASD or LRFD)

Axial and lateral pile behavior, drilled shafts, micropiles, installation effects, downdrag, group effects, and load or integrity testing.

Preparing for the PE Geotechnical Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: NCEES does not publish a fixed passing score (scaled)
  • Assessment: Computer-based; multiple-choice and alternative item types
  • Time limit: 8 hours of exam time (within a 9-hour appointment)
  • Exam / certification fees: $400 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 200 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PE Geotechnical: Suggested Study Strategy

1Prioritize retaining structures and deep foundations because they are the largest official content areas.
2Practice interpreting boring logs, CPT/SPT data, groundwater observations, and rock-quality records rather than memorizing isolated definitions.
3Use the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook and the listed geotechnical standards during practice so your search workflow is ready for CBT day.
4Drill effective stress, seepage, consolidation, and earth-pressure fundamentals until they feel automatic because they recur across multiple domains.
5Work mixed sets that force you to switch between site characterization, retaining systems, and foundations under time pressure.
6Review temporary support of excavation, cofferdams, trench safety, and instrumentation because construction-stage geotechnical judgment is tested directly.
7Do not ignore groundwater effects; dewatering, uplift, piping, and water pressure change answers across many retaining and foundation problems.
8Practice identifying when settlement governs even if shear capacity appears adequate, especially in clays, organic soils, and fill-supported structures.
9Be comfortable with both ASD and LRFD framing, especially for retaining and foundation questions that ask for the governing design check.
10Finish content review early enough to spend the final weeks on timed 80-question simulations with reference-only problem solving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PE Civil Geotechnical exam pass rate?

NCEES's July 2026 pass-rate table lists PE Civil Geotechnical at 63% for first-time takers and 44% for repeat takers. That puts geotechnical in the middle of the current PE Civil specialties — ahead of construction, transportation, and structural but behind water resources and environmental.

Does NCEES publish a fixed passing score for PE Geotechnical?

No. NCEES says exam results are based on the number of correct answers and then converted to a scaled score, and it explicitly states that it does not publish the passing score. Candidates should prepare for full-domain mastery rather than target a rumored percentage.

What topics are most heavily tested on the PE Civil Geotechnical exam?

Retaining structures and deep foundations are the largest official ranges at 10-15 questions each. Site characterization and soil mechanics are next at 8-12 questions each, and earth structures or ground improvement are also significant at 9-14 questions.

What changed for the PE Civil Geotechnical exam in 2026?

In April 2026, NCEES posted an updated PE Civil Geotechnical specification that takes effect with the April 2027 examination. Its 10 content areas and question ranges are unchanged from the April 2024 specification, but the design-standards list changes: ASCE 7-22 replaces ASCE 7-16, and FHWA-NHI-07-092 (Geosynthetic Design and Construction Guidelines) is added. Exams delivered before April 2027 continue to use the April 2024 specification and design standards.

What references are provided during the exam?

NCEES provides the PE Civil Reference Handbook plus the geotechnical design standards listed on the specification as searchable on-screen PDFs. You cannot bring personal copies, so preparation should include practicing with the handbook and electronic standards rather than only with printed notes.

What are the basic PE Geotechnical eligibility expectations?

Eligibility is set by the licensing board you apply through, but the common path is FE/EIT status, a qualifying engineering degree, and progressive engineering experience reviewed by the board. You should confirm the exact approval sequence with your state board before registering through MyNCEES.