PE Civil (NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering) Practice Test
Frequently asked questions
How many PE Civil (NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering) practice questions are here?+
A full bank of original PE Civil (NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering) practice questions across the official content areas, weighted like the real exam, with explanations. Free, no signup.
What is the PE Civil (NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering) exam like?+
About 80 questions, 540 minutes. Practice by topic here, then take the full timed mock exam to gauge readiness.
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No. Every question is 100% original, written from public primary sources with explanations. We never copy real exam questions or paid prep material.
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PrepPass practice is in English, 中文 and Español. The official exam is in English — switch the question language to English any time to rehearse the exact terminology you'll see on test day.
Sample practice questions
A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.
- 1. Structural Engineering
A simply supported beam of span 8 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 4 kN/m over its full length. What is the vertical reaction at each support?
- a.16 kN
- b.32 kN
- c.64 kN
- d.8 kN
Answer: a
Explanation: The total load is w·L = 4 x 8 = 32 kN. By symmetry each support carries half: 32/2 = 16 kN, which also equals w·L/2. Symmetric loading always splits equally between the two supports.
- 2. Structural Engineering
What is the section modulus of a rectangular cross-section 200 mm wide and 300 mm deep about its strong axis?
- a.9.0x10^6 mm^3
- b.3.0x10^6 mm^3
- c.6.0x10^6 mm^3
- d.1.5x10^6 mm^3
Answer: b
Explanation: Section modulus S = b·h^2/6 = 200 x 300^2 / 6 = 200 x 90,000 / 6 = 3.0x10^6 mm^3. Bending stress is M/S, so a larger section modulus lowers the stress for a given moment.
- 3. Structural Engineering
A simply supported beam of span 6 m carries a single concentrated load of 20 kN at midspan. What is the maximum bending moment?
- a.60 kN·m
- b.15 kN·m
- c.120 kN·m
- d.30 kN·m
Answer: d
Explanation: For a central point load on a simply supported beam, the maximum moment is P·L/4 = 20 x 6 / 4 = 30 kN·m. The moment diagram is triangular, peaking under the load.
- 4. Geotechnical Engineering
Using Rankine theory, what is the active earth pressure coefficient Ka for a cohesionless soil with friction angle 30 degrees?
- a.0.5
- b.0.33
- c.3.0
- d.1.0
Answer: b
Explanation: Ka = tan^2(45 - phi/2) = tan^2(45 - 15) = tan^2(30) = (0.577)^2 = 0.333. The active case (wall moving away from the soil) gives the minimum lateral pressure; the passive coefficient would be its reciprocal, 3.0.
- 5. Geotechnical Engineering
A soil sample has a total (moist) unit weight of 20 kN/m^3 at a water content of 25%. What is its dry unit weight?
- a.16 kN/m^3
- b.20 kN/m^3
- c.25 kN/m^3
- d.15 kN/m^3
Answer: a
Explanation: Dry unit weight gamma_d = gamma / (1 + w), where w is the decimal water content. gamma_d = 20 / (1 + 0.25) = 20 / 1.25 = 16 kN/m^3. The dry unit weight removes the weight of pore water and is used to assess compaction.
- 6. Water Resources and Environmental
By Manning's equation, if the channel slope is doubled (all else equal), the flow velocity increases by approximately what factor?
- a.4
- b.1.41
- c.1
- d.2
Answer: b
Explanation: Manning's velocity is V = (1/n)·R^(2/3)·S^(1/2), so velocity is proportional to the square root of slope. Doubling S multiplies velocity by sqrt(2) = 1.41. Slope has a weaker-than-linear effect on velocity.
- 7. Transportation Engineering
What is the degree of curve (arc definition) for a horizontal curve with radius 1,000 ft?
- a.5.73 degrees
- b.11.46 degrees
- c.1.0 degrees
- d.2.86 degrees
Answer: a
Explanation: By the arc definition, D = 5,729.58 / R = 5,729.58 / 1,000 = 5.73 degrees. The degree of curve is the central angle subtending a 100-ft arc; a larger radius gives a flatter (smaller-degree) curve.
- 8. Transportation Engineering
On a horizontal curve, superelevation (banking of the roadway) is provided primarily to counteract what?
- a.The vertical grade
- b.The lateral (centripetal) demand of vehicles rounding the curve
- c.The pavement thickness requirement
- d.The stopping sight distance
Answer: b
Explanation: Superelevation tilts the roadway inward so that a component of the vehicle's weight, together with side friction, supplies the centripetal force needed to turn. This reduces reliance on tire friction and improves safety and comfort on curves.
- 9. Construction Engineering and Management
In CPM scheduling, the total float of an activity is correctly computed as:
- a.Late finish minus late start
- b.Early finish minus early start
- c.The activity duration
- d.Late finish minus early finish
Answer: d
Explanation: Total float = Late Finish - Early Finish (equivalently Late Start - Early Start). It is the time an activity can slip without delaying project completion. Activities on the critical path have zero total float.
- 10. Engineering Materials
For a given set of materials, reducing the water-cement ratio of a concrete mix generally does what to compressive strength?
- a.Decreases it
- b.Has no effect on it
- c.Makes it unpredictable
- d.Increases it
Answer: d
Explanation: By Abrams' law, lower water-cement ratio yields higher compressive strength (down to the point where the mix becomes unworkable). Excess water creates capillary voids that weaken the hardened paste. Admixtures maintain workability at low water-cement ratios.