Myths About FE Mechanical Exam Passing Scores

NCEES FE exam makes it easier for engineering graduates to get work options after graduation because it proves to employers that you care about your career and that you have taken the time to prove it to yourself. While you can focus on the minimum score you need to pass the Mechanical FE exam, the main thing you need to focus on is learning and understanding the main concepts and skills tested on the Mechanical FE Exam.

A lot of time is spent on other online forums wondering about the passing score and the scoring process. NCEES says that each exam has a slight variance in difficulty. To account for these changes the exam is scaled based on what experts have determined is the minimum amount of correct answers needed for that particular exam to prove competency.

What is the Acknowledged Passing Score?

The scores that have been posted online are generally acknowledged as 50-55% correct, which translates to 55 to 60 correct answers out of 110. Again, understand that this is just a guess. Some other sources may vary, but these scores have only been determined based on the known examinee fail rates. By taking the highest fail rate, examinees have concluded what the pass rate should be. This can be flawed since the questions for each test are not the same. Realize also that there are questions added into the exam that are used added for assessment of its quality for future tests.

What are diagnostic results?

Diagnostic results are only given to test takers that have failed the exam. It is used to compare your exam results with that of an average pass rate for each of the topics listed in the exam specifications. This is intended to assist you in studying for your future exams and to help you determine which areas you should focus on. An example of this report is shown below.

What should I focus on?

The percentage correct is a fine way to assess your progress while studying, but ultimately the practice exams will not necessarily be the same as the actual exam you receive. Instead you should focus on the skills needed for each topic, this means your ability to perform calculations, find variables, solve equations, and apply knowns and unknowns in a topic. You should also focus on the concepts, which include understanding why an equation is used in this situation, knowing what the difference between stress and strain is, understanding forces at equilibrium, and conservation of energy. There will be equations that are purely qualitative to test your understanding of a concept. With these tools behind your back, you should be able to tackle a majority of the questions that come your way. These are the basic tools that you will need in your career. A lot of these skills and concepts will have come from your college courses.

How Will I Know When I’m ready?

It is true that you do not need to have 100% correct to pass the FE exam, and probably not even 70%. If you can look through the handbook and know that you understand a majority of the equations and their concepts that are related to the topics listed in the Mechanical FE Exam specifications, and you are able to answer about 70% correct in your practice exams, you are most likely in good shape. Good luck on the exam!

NCEES Mechanical FE exam preparation gets easier if you are aware about the nuances of it. Engproguides provides you the best FE Mechanical preparation study materials.