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125+ Free SE Exam Practice Questions

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Explore More SE Structural Engineering

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

SE Bridges Depth (Structural Engineering)

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SE Buildings Depth (Structural Engineering)

Practice Questions

SE Lateral Forces (Structural Engineering)

Practice Questions

SE Vertical Forces (Structural Engineering)

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SE Exam Exam

230

Total Questions

NCEES

4

Exam Sections

NCEES

$1,400

Total Exam Cost

NCEES

37-63%

1st-Time Pass Rate

NCEES July 2026

25 hrs / 23 hrs

Appointment Time / Actual Exam Time

NCEES

6.5 hrs

Depth Section Time (2026)

NCEES

The current SE exam has four sections and 230 administered questions across 25 total appointment hours. Breadth sections are 55-question, 6-hour appointments offered year-round; depth sections are 60-question, 6.5-hour appointments offered in April and October through 2026. Each section costs $350, the same Buildings or Bridges depth track must be used for both components, and all four sections must be passed. NCEES July 2026 first-time pass rates range from 37% to 63%. Beginning April 2027, NCEES has announced 48-question mixed-format depth sections.

Sample SE Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SE Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 125+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1For a floor beam carrying both dead load D and floor live load L, which listed ASCE 7 strength load combination applies the largest factor to L?
A.1.4D
B.1.2D + 1.0W + L + 0.5Lr
C.0.9D + 1.0W
D.1.2D + 1.6L + 0.5Lr
Explanation: Among the listed strength combinations, 1.2D + 1.6L + 0.5Lr applies the largest coefficient to floor live load L. A complete design still checks every applicable load combination because 1.4D can govern when dead load is dominant and wind or seismic combinations can govern other effects.
2A simply supported steel beam spans 30 ft and carries a uniform dead load of 0.8 kip/ft and a uniform live load of 1.2 kip/ft. What is the maximum factored moment using LRFD?
A.270 kip-ft
B.378 kip-ft
C.432 kip-ft
D.324 kip-ft
Explanation: The governing listed gravity combination is wu = 1.2D + 1.6L = 1.2(0.8) + 1.6(1.2) = 2.88 kip/ft. For a simply supported beam under uniform load, Mu = wuL²/8 = 2.88(30²)/8 = 324 kip-ft.
3Per AISC 360, what is the nominal flexural strength (Mn) of a compact W-shape steel beam bent about its strong axis when the unbraced length Lb is less than or equal to Lp?
A.Mn = 0.9FyZx
B.Mn = FySx
C.Mn = FyZx
D.Mn = CbFyZx
Explanation: Per AISC 360 Chapter F, Section F2.1, when Lb ≤ Lp for a compact section, the limit state is yielding and Mn = Mp = FyZx, where Fy is the yield stress and Zx is the plastic section modulus. The 0.9 factor is the resistance factor (φb) applied separately, not part of Mn. Sx is the elastic section modulus used for non-compact sections.
4A W14×68 steel column (A992, Fy = 50 ksi) has an unbraced length of 20 ft with pinned ends (K = 1.0). The weak-axis radius of gyration ry = 2.46 in. What is the slenderness ratio KL/r for weak-axis buckling?
A.65.0
B.81.3
C.97.6
D.113.8
Explanation: The slenderness ratio is KL/r = (1.0)(20 ft × 12 in/ft) / 2.46 in = 240/2.46 = 97.6. This value would then be compared to 4.71√(E/Fy) = 4.71√(29000/50) = 113.4 to determine whether the column is in the inelastic or elastic buckling range per AISC 360 Section E3.
5Per ACI 318, what is the minimum concrete cover for a No. 8 bar in a beam not exposed to weather or in contact with ground?
A.0.75 in.
B.1.0 in.
C.1.5 in.
D.2.0 in.
Explanation: ACI 318 Table 20.6.1.3.1 requires 1.5 in. of cover for primary reinforcement in beams and columns not exposed to weather or in contact with the ground. The smaller slab-and-wall cover does not apply to beams. Concrete cast against and permanently in contact with the ground requires 3 in. of cover.
6What is the modular ratio (n) for normal-weight concrete with f'c = 4,000 psi? (Use Ec = 57,000√f'c and Es = 29,000,000 psi.)
A.6
B.8
C.10
D.12
Explanation: Ec = 57,000√4,000 = 57,000 × 63.25 = 3,605,000 psi. The modular ratio n = Es/Ec = 29,000,000/3,605,000 ≈ 8.04 ≈ 8. The modular ratio is used in transformed section analysis for serviceability checks of reinforced concrete members.
7Per ASCE 7, what is the basic design wind speed (V) for Risk Category II buildings in most of the eastern United States (non-hurricane regions)?
A.90 mph
B.105 mph
C.115 mph
D.130 mph
Explanation: Per ASCE 7 Figure 26.5-1B, the basic design wind speed for Risk Category II structures in most non-hurricane regions of the eastern U.S. is 115 mph (3-second gust). This is the strength-level wind speed used directly in LRFD; no load factor greater than 1.0 is applied to wind in the load combinations. Hurricane-prone coastal areas have higher mapped speeds.
8Which ASCE 7 parameter represents the soil site classification that affects seismic design spectral accelerations?
A.Seismic Design Category (SDC)
B.Site Class
C.Risk Category
D.Importance Factor (Ie)
Explanation: ASCE 7 Section 20.3 defines Site Class (A through F) based on soil properties in the upper 100 ft. Site Class modifies the mapped spectral acceleration parameters (SS and S1) through site coefficients Fa and Fv to produce the design spectral accelerations SDS and SD1. Seismic Design Category is determined after the site-adjusted accelerations are known.
9For the NDS, what is the reference design value modifier for wet service conditions on the allowable bending stress of sawn lumber?
A.CM (wet service factor)
B.CD (load duration factor)
C.Ct (temperature factor)
D.CL (beam stability factor)
Explanation: CM is the NDS wet service factor. It adjusts applicable reference design values when the moisture conditions meet the wet-service definition. Its numerical value is selected from the NDS tables and can depend on the design value and member conditions, so CM should not be assumed to be a universal 0.85.
10What is the primary purpose of a diaphragm in a building's lateral force-resisting system?
A.To resist gravity loads from the floor or roof
B.To transfer lateral forces from the floor or roof to the vertical lateral force-resisting elements
C.To provide fire resistance between floors
D.To support mechanical equipment
Explanation: A diaphragm (typically a floor or roof system) collects lateral forces (wind or seismic) and distributes them to the vertical elements of the lateral force-resisting system (shear walls, braced frames, or moment frames). While diaphragms also carry gravity loads, their primary lateral role is force transfer and distribution.

About the SE Exam Exam

The NCEES PE Structural Engineering exam is a four-section computer-based licensure exam covering Vertical Forces and Lateral Forces, each with a breadth and depth section. Each current breadth section has 55 multiple-choice questions (45 scored and 10 pretest) in a 6-hour appointment and covers both buildings and bridges. Each current depth section has 60 alternative-item-type questions (40 scored and 20 pretest) in five 12-item scenarios during a 6.5-hour appointment; candidates choose Buildings or Bridges and must use the same track for both depth sections. This 230-question format remains current through October 2026. NCEES has separately announced 48-question mixed-format depth sections beginning April 2027.

Questions

230 scored questions

Time Limit

25 total appointment hours across 4 sections (23 hours of actual exam time)

Passing Score

Pass/fail (scaled; NCEES does not publish the cutoff)

Exam Fee

$350 per section ($1,400 total) (NCEES (Pearson VUE))

SE Exam Exam Content Outline

55 questions (6 hrs)

Vertical Forces Breadth

Gravity load generation, load combinations, structural analysis, steel/concrete/wood/masonry member design, foundations, and retaining structures for buildings and bridges.

55 questions (6 hrs)

Lateral Forces Breadth

Wind and seismic load generation, lateral force distribution, diaphragm analysis, lateral force-resisting systems, and lateral design for buildings and bridges.

60 questions (6.5-hour appointment; through October 2026)

Vertical Forces Depth

Current format: five 12-item AIT scenarios on gravity design for steel, concrete, wood, and masonry buildings or bridge superstructures and substructures. The announced April 2027 depth format is 48 mixed-format items.

60 questions (6.5-hour appointment; through October 2026)

Lateral Forces Depth

Current format: five 12-item AIT scenarios on wind/seismic systems and foundations for buildings or seismic analysis of bridge piers, abutments, and foundations. The announced April 2027 depth format is 48 mixed-format items.

How to Pass the SE Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Pass/fail (scaled; NCEES does not publish the cutoff)
  • Exam length: 230 questions
  • Time limit: 25 total appointment hours across 4 sections (23 hours of actual exam time)
  • Exam fee: $350 per section ($1,400 total)

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 125 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SE Exam Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study all four sections in parallel rather than sequentially — vertical and lateral topics reinforce each other across breadth and depth.
2Master ASCE 7 load combinations, seismic design categories, and wind speed maps first since they underpin questions across all sections.
3Practice navigating the NCEES PE Structural Engineering Reference Handbook and electronic design standards quickly — speed with references is critical.
4For a 2026 depth section, practice five 12-item scenario sets under timed conditions; for April 2027 or later, use the revised NCEES specification and include mixed-format practice.
5Prioritize steel (AISC 360) and concrete (ACI 318) design since these materials appear in the most exam scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SE exam and how is it different from the PE Civil Structural exam?

The SE exam (officially the NCEES PE Structural Engineering exam) is a separate, more advanced four-section structural engineering licensure exam. The PE Civil: Structural is one 80-question discipline exam within the PE Civil track. The SE exam has 230 total questions across four sections (vertical breadth, lateral breadth, vertical depth, lateral depth) and is specifically designed for engineers practicing in areas of high seismicity and high wind. Many jurisdictions require the SE exam for structural engineering licensure beyond the general PE Civil license.

How much does the SE exam cost?

Each of the four SE exam sections costs $350, totaling $1,400 for all sections. State board application fees may apply separately. Each section must be registered and paid for individually through NCEES. If you need to retake a section, the retake also costs $350.

What are the SE exam pass rates?

NCEES July 2026 first-time/repeat rates are: Lateral Breadth 45%/26%; Vertical Breadth 44%/45%; Lateral Depth Bridges 63%/57%; Lateral Depth Buildings 63%/73%; Vertical Depth Bridges 37%/56%; and Vertical Depth Buildings 54%/68%. Rates vary substantially by section, track, and candidate population.

Do I have to choose buildings or bridges?

Yes. The depth sections are offered in two tracks: buildings and bridges. You must choose the same track for both the vertical depth and lateral depth sections. Your choice should align with your professional practice. The breadth sections cover both buildings and bridges content regardless of your depth track choice.

What changed for the SE exam in 2026?

For 2026 depth administrations, each Vertical Depth and Lateral Depth appointment is 6.5 hours with 6 hours of exam time. Each section contains 60 AIT questions: five 12-item scenarios, with 40 scored and 20 pretest items. The two breadth sections remain 55-question, 6-hour appointments offered year-round.

What changes has NCEES announced for the SE depth sections in April 2027?

Beginning with the April 2027 administration, each depth section is scheduled to have 48 questions: 40 scored and 8 pretest. The 6.5-hour appointment remains, and the revised depth sections will use both multiple-choice and alternative item types. These are future changes and should not be mixed into descriptions of the current 60-question, all-AIT depth format used through October 2026.