Ok, I totally tricked you- there is no Cheat sheet to download.... But this was the only way I could grab your attention. But I'm here to tell you something really important. There really is a cheat sheet. The cheat sheet that you MUST download immediately is the FE Handbook provided by NCEES. Located HERE.
(You must first create a username and password and log into the NCEES website. From there, you will see the FREE download. )
This is CRUCIAL if you really want to pass this exam on your first try. No joke. We've been selling our book for just about 10 years now, and what I am about to share with you is the SECRET to passing..
Not sure if you are aware yet, but the FE Exam is computer-based and you are allowed to use the handbook during the exam! It's opened book! It will be part an electronic resource already provided to you on the testing center's computer.
Basically, you'll be taking the exam while seeing a dual screen - the problems will be on the left and the handbook will be on the right of the screen. You will be able to use a search function to look up key words as opposed to just flipping around.
Believe it or not, from what people say, most FE Exam questions only require one or two steps in order to solve. Sure, there will be hard problems, but in general, you only need to pass this exam with a passing grade, not aim to get every problem correct.
This is part of the FastTrack Method I developed. This is an important mindset to remember. We aren't shooting for perfection here...just efficiency. Just enough time and energy in order to Pass!
The secret to passing on your first try is to learn how to leverage the FE Handbook. When you start preparing for the exam a few months out, or even weeks out for some, you must download the handbook and start learning it inside and out. This is paramount.
You MUST learn its layout and where all of the important equations and tables are located in each topic area. You also need to learn how to use the search function in order to save time.
We show you how HERE.
You'll be amazed that a lot of our test takers who come to us after their first or even second failed attempt didn't even leverage the FE Handbook. Sometimes they didn't even know it was available before the exam. They are putting themselves at a huge disadvantage.
As you work through the practice problems, we highly suggest that you use the handbook at the same time. You simply NEED TO. The problem sets in the book are designed to show you where all of the important equations are located. Our solutions reference page numbers directly from the handbook.
On days where you just don't have the energy to study or work problems, simply flipping through the handbook is a great alternative and time well spent. This is part of the Razor's Edge I wrote about in the book. Not all problems on the exam require calculations, sometimes there can be conceptual or definition type questions. This is when knowing the sections in the handbook can make a difference in passing or failing. Efficiency - not wasting precious time- is the key to pass.
The other key to passing is Problem Recognition which is discussed in many blogs here.
One last thing, don't tell me that I didn't warn you! Please do not flip through the handbook and think that you have to be able to know what every means.... there's enough information in there to discourage the brightest professors. Just don't. Trust me.
It doesn't represent everything you need to know, it just represents what's considered fair game and might show up on the exam. Your job is to just know where to find it! and of course we show you how.
So really, I didn't lie to you. You can download a FREE Cheat sheet - which is the FE Handbook....
Please check out our blog for additional tips and tricks and as well as our Product Page.
Are you ready to Pass the FE Exam? What are you waiting for?
Look forward to hearing from you!
