NCEES · FE
FE Civil Exam practice exams
The NCEES FE Civil exam — practice all 14 knowledge areas with worked solutions, from statics to geotechnical and transportation engineering.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
About the FE exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil exam is usually the first step toward a PE license. It tests the fundamentals from a civil engineering degree: mathematics, mechanics, fluids, surveying, water resources, structures, geotechnical, transportation and construction engineering.
Our practice bank follows the NCEES knowledge areas and their question ranges. Every calculation question supplies its own data and shows the worked result, using the same standard relationships you'll find in the FE Reference Handbook.
The real exam
Public information published by NCEES. A ExamWize practice exam matches this format — it is not a copy of the exam's contents.
- Format
- 110 multiple-choice and alternative-item questions, taken by computer at a Pearson VUE center. The appointment is 6 hours, including a tutorial and a scheduled break; exam time is 5 hours 20 minutes.
- Cost
- NCEES lists the FE exam fee as $225 (NCEES Exam Guide, July 2025). Check NCEES for current pricing.
- Scoring
- Pass/fail. NCEES does not publish a cut score, so practice scores here use a 70% line as an estimate, not a prediction.
- Validity
- Passing the FE is typically required to become an Engineer Intern (EI or EIT). Licensing requirements are set by each state board.
Practice by exam topic
ExamWize practice exams draw questions in these same proportions, from a bank of 598 FE questions. Open a topic for what it covers and free questions with answers.
- Mathematics and Statistics· 47 questions8%
- Ethics and Professional Practice· 24 questions4%
- Engineering Economics· 30 questions5%
- Statics· 48 questions8%
- Dynamics· 24 questions4%
- Mechanics of Materials· 42 questions7%
- Materials· 31 questions5%
- Fluid Mechanics· 35 questions6%
- Surveying· 36 questions6%
- Water Resources and Environmental Engineering· 61 questions10%
- Structural Engineering· 59 questions10%
- Geotechnical Engineering· 60 questions10%
- Transportation Engineering· 54 questions9%
- Construction Engineering· 47 questions8%
Who it's for
- Civil engineering seniors and recent graduates
- Engineers in training preparing for the EIT designation
- Working engineers returning to take the FE
How to prepare
- Learn to find formulas fast in the searchable FE Reference Handbook — it's the only reference allowed.
- Water resources, structural and geotechnical engineering are each 10 to 15 questions; build depth there.
- Drill statics and mechanics of materials until free-body diagrams are automatic.
- Practice with an NCEES-approved calculator and watch units on every problem.
See the free FE cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free FE practice resources
- 15 free FE practice questionsSpread across the exam's topics, each with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand, with no account needed.
- FE cheat sheetThe topics and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- FE study guideHow to plan your preparation.
FE exam FAQ
- What is the format of the FE exam?
- 110 multiple-choice and alternative-item questions, taken by computer at a Pearson VUE center. The appointment is 6 hours, including a tutorial and a scheduled break; exam time is 5 hours 20 minutes.
- How much does the FE exam cost?
- NCEES lists the FE exam fee as $225 (NCEES Exam Guide, July 2025). Check NCEES for current pricing.
- How is the FE exam scored?
- Pass/fail. NCEES does not publish a cut score, so practice scores here use a 70% line as an estimate, not a prediction.
- How long is the credential valid?
- Passing the FE is typically required to become an Engineer Intern (EI or EIT). Licensing requirements are set by each state board.
- How many FE practice questions does ExamWize have?
- 598 original practice questions, drawn into full practice exams in the same format and domain proportions as the real FE. Every option has its own explanation.
- Are these real FE exam questions?
- No. Every question is original, written from NCEES's public content outline — never copied from the real exam or from exam dumps. They match the real exam's format, not its contents.
- Can I try ExamWize for free?
- Yes. The free diagnostic has 10 FE practice questions with a full explanation for every answer, and no account is needed.