Reddit reviews Environmental Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam

Did you use Kaplan's book to study for the Env exam?
https://www.brightwoodengineering.com/fe-exam/environmental
I found very helpful explaining water treatment and chemistry related concepts. I myself studied chemistry and hydrology and considered taking env FE but then after searching for study materials I found that there isn't much out there.
I also bought this one (https://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Discipline-Specific-Review-EIT-Exam/dp/1591260183) and returned it when I decided to study for the OTHER discipline instead.

I sent this to someone over DM, but I figure this would be a good place as any to post it. Sorry ahead of time for the wall of text!!

"Just a few questions. What have you done so far to prepare? Do you have any books or study materials?

I actually took the exam twice, passed the second time around. I took the first one after studying for about 2 months or so, and I was woefully unprepared. I used several books, the first of which was a Kaplan book:

https://www.kaplanengineering.com/fe-exam/environmental


I have an older version. While I found the book comprehensive, it lacked depth and was often too broad. It didn't give good strategies for taking the exam, and the way it would show you example problems were usually the "long and hard" way. It gave me an intro to ENV engineering, and also had some topics I couldn't find anywhere else.


Second book I used: FE Review Manual: Rapid Preparation for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam


This was a great resource. It was practical, helped me develop methods for taking the exam, and was easy to understand. It has all the topics, so I didn't use about half the book. Rent this or buy this or borrow, but get it.


Lastly,

http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Discipline-Specific-Review-EIT-Exam/dp/1591260183/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450802552&sr=1-1&keywords=fe+environmental


This book is very expensive relative to size, but it is seriously the only book that has problems similar to the exam. There is no instruction in the book, just practice problems and a brief explanation of the formulas.


Next thing you really need to spend time on is MEMORIZING ALL THE FORMULAS!


Just kidding! They give you all the formulas.

http://ncees.org/exams/study-materials/download-fe-supplied-reference-handbook/

If you don't already have this, download it (it's free) and print out the environmental section. Print out several copies if you want, and mark them up as much as you can, explaining the formulas, when to use them, when to not. Knowing the reference manual will easily make the difference between you passing and not passing.


You have, give or take, 3 minutes per question on the exam (110 of them, 10 of which do not count, but they don't tell you which). If you know the manual inside and out, you will know right where to go, plug in the formula and move on. You should also be familiar with sections of the civil engineering section (especially the parts about drawdown, the charts using Reynolds number, fluid dynamics etc.) There is also a section on fluid dynamics if I'm not mistaken. Fluid dynamics was central to a lot of the problems. The most difficult parts for me were about well drawdown, aquifers, some parts about activated sludge and mass, and a hard problem with thermodynamics. The math section was not difficult (I haven't even taken calc 3 or diff eq yet)


If you haven't already done so,

http://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FE-Env-CBT-specs.pdf

become very familiar with this list. Love it like it was your own child. Depending on your background, some parts may be more difficult than others. I struggled with groundwater, water and wastewater, and some thermo and the fluid mechanics. I have a background in biology and chemistry, so the science/bio parts were a breeze.


Once you feel comfortable with the formulas, know where to find them, and feel like you are good with the material, start slamming out practice exams.

http://www.tamuk.edu/engineering/PDF/FE%20F14.pdf

The last page of that pdf has some good resources.
The book I sent you the link to earlier (the one that is very small but not cheap) has two sets of practice exams. Try and take them without anything other than your reference manual. That should also give you a clue as to where your strengths and weaknesses are.

Some other practice exams are:

http://ppi2pass.com/fe-environmental-quiz-bank-feenqb.html


(not amazing, but will give some good questions, not cheap either)

Last, but not least, the NCEES has a practice exam, which is 50 questions, and cost 50$. I almost didn't do it, but I am so glad I did. The questions on this exam were VERY similar to the actual exam.


https://account.ncees.org/exam-prep/store/category/FE/product/fe-environmental-online-practice-exam-1

That being said, do not memorize them or spend ALL your time trying to focus on them. The actual exam has a bank of questions and both times I took the exam was different.

I would save the NCEES practice exam for last, and try to solve it without using ANYTHING other than reference manual. If you can solve them easily and pass around 80%, I would feel pretty good.

They even give you a freebie (its an errata report, but still) https://cdn.ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2013_FE_Env_practice_errata.v1.pdf

--Now on to the actual exam. Sign up for it as early as you possibly can, the dates will fill up quickly, especially after graduation times (May and January). Make sure you get there early or you can forfeit your spot. Also become familiar with what items you can have and not have. Here is a list of calculators you can have:


http://ncees.org/exams/calculator-policy/

I used the TI 36x pro because I use a ti-83 normally and it was comfortable. Use the same calculator the whole time you prepare, it will save you time and heartache. Bring a backup calculator or batteries if you want also.


http://ncees.org/exams/cbt/examinee-guide/

For the exam, you can mark problems you are having a problem with. I suggest doing this almost immediately if you don't know how to solve the problem or are spending more than a minute or two on it. The first time I took it, I ran out of time and didn't even answer the last 15 problems! Guessing doesn't hurt you, but not marking an answer is an automatic wrong. Like I said before, you have about 3 minutes per problem, so use your time wisely.


Skip problems that are too hard, mark them, and come back at the end when you have finished the easier problems. This does two things, first, it allows you to keep your mind fresh by not agonizing over one problem that you can't quite get. And second, it gives your brain the chance to reset and you might find the second time you look at it that you knew the right formula or where to find it all along. The test is in two sections, so you get a chance to try your flagged questions at the end of each. During the break, don't stray far, use the bathroom, drink some liquid (not too much! I had to leave because I drank too much and had to pee, and it hurt my time) and try and relax.

Good luck!!

I used the civil Lindbergh book for the fluid, hydraulic, environmental, ect. The naimpelly book (https://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Discipline-Specific-Review-EIT-Exam/dp/1591260183) and a NCEES practice exam.

Additionally, I worked extra problem out that people from this subreddit shared from their reviews.