When an aspiring Professional Engineer decides to pursue engineering licensure, motivation runs high. The excitement of preparing for the PE Exam fuels this drive. However, motivation follows a cycle. When the process becomes difficult or dull, procrastination can easily creep in. In some cases, this leads to abandoning or deferring the goal. Pushing yourself for the PE Exam can be challenging, and sometimes, the first attempt doesn’t succeed, and retaking the PE Exam becomes necessary.
Conscientious PE candidates understand this challenge. They recognize the need to push themselves to stay on track. However, the methods they choose may not always be effective, and some could even be counterproductive. In this article, I’ll share 5 strategies that successful candidates use to push through obstacles and pass the PE Exam—no matter their budget. I’ll explain each tactic, highlighting potential pitfalls and offering tips to maximize benefits with minimal risk.
Spend More Time
When I ask candidates how much they’re studying, they often think there’s a “right” answer—usually that I want them to study more. Yes, more study hours are generally beneficial, but not all study hours are equal. Some hours are productive, while others may be a waste of time.
Take college runners, for example. These athletes train 30 miles per week with solid results. To push to the next level, their coaches increase their weekly mileage to over 60 miles. Some runners improve and attribute their success to the extra miles. However, many others fall behind due to illness or injury. There’s a limit to how much physical training one can absorb in a given timeframe.
Similarly, most of us aren’t elite athletes—and that’s okay! Even for those with strong academic backgrounds, it’s been a while since we last engaged the “study muscle.” The good news is you can improve your efficiency without dramatically increasing your study time.
Takeaway #1: Increase study hours per week—not per session.
Rather than committing to long, 3+ hour study sessions, try shorter, more frequent study periods. For example, aim for daily 45-minute sessions if you can’t dedicate 60-90 minutes at once. You could also add a second session on days when possible, like before or after work, or during lunch. If you’re feeling productive and have extra time, extend a session by 20-30 minutes. Just don’t overdo it—once focus starts to wane, it’s better to stop and return later, refreshed.
Go Deeper
How can you push yourself for the PE exam when you have extra study time? Many candidates’ first instinct (mine included) is to solve more problems. While this is effective to an extent, the PE Exam focuses more on depth than breadth. Once you’ve covered a wide range of problems, your focus should shift to gaining a deep understanding of them.
Takeaway #2: Focus on depth before speed.
Imagine a beginner chess player who insists on playing 5-minute “blitz” games. She believes repetition will improve her game. But this strategy misses the mark. Without time to think deeply, she’ll rely on instinct rather than strategy, limiting improvement. In contrast, a player who engages in slower, thoughtful games builds deep analysis skills, which also improve their blitz game.
In your PE Exam preparation, adopt a similar approach. Focus on mastering 50 problems with deep understanding rather than solving hundreds without reflecting on the details. This in-depth approach will help you retain essential knowledge more effectively.
Get More Reps
What about repeating problems? Is this what working hard for the PE exam looks like? Many candidates get frustrated when they can’t solve problems in 6 minutes or less, the average time allotted per problem on the PE Exam. A common approach to overcome this is to repeat problems to increase speed, much like building muscle memory.
Takeaway #3: Repeat problems to build the solution roadmap.
However, solving engineering problems isn’t like shooting free throws. Each problem requires careful planning: identifying relevant data, choosing formulas, and mapping out the solution path. This process is nonlinear, and solving problems isn’t simply about memorizing steps.
Repetition helps build the mental roadmap for each problem. The goal isn’t to memorize the solution but to create a mental framework that helps you solve similar problems in the future. The best time to repeat problems is after you’ve forgotten the details, forcing you to think critically about the process again. Over time, this deepens your understanding and enhances problem-solving speed naturally.
Create More Time
After committing to study, busy engineers may still find that they don’t have enough time to make meaningful progress each week. Even with a reasonable study load, like 7-10 hours per week, there’s often a desire to speed up the process. Candidates are willing to make sacrifices to free up more time.
Takeaway #4: Protect activities that boost your study performance.
For example, reducing socializing and late nights can improve your study process. While less time with friends isn’t ideal, they will support your goals if they understand your ambition. Less late-night partying means better sleep, and cutting back on alcohol improves sleep quality and cognitive function.
However, don’t sacrifice sleep or exercise. While waking up early or staying up late seems like a way to gain more study time, it can lower the quality of your work. Similarly, regular physical activity benefits both your mental clarity and your overall health, improving your ability to study effectively.
Accelerate
Many candidates want to accelerate their study process to finish sooner. While it’s possible to speed up your schedule, it’s important to do so wisely to avoid compromising quality.
The default 4-6 month timeline I typically recommend starts with a passive phase (about 10% of total study time) for watching short, fundamental videos. You can safely speed up this phase by spending more time on it.
Takeaway #5: Don’t cut your contingency time.
The final phase, reserved for contingency (2-4 weeks), is essential. Avoid cutting into this buffer time, as it serves several purposes:
- You may not fully know what you don’t know, so having extra time helps address unexpected challenges.
- Life distractions (like illness or travel) may arise.
- Rushing the last phase increases stress and negatively impacts study quality.
Accelerating your timeline is possible, but always protect your contingency time for the best results.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article clarifies how to effectively push yourself while preparing for the PE Exam. If you’re motivated to speed up your prep and make it more productive, these strategies can help you avoid common pitfalls and achieve success, just like the hundreds of engineers who’ve successfully earned their professional licensure.
To summarize:
- Increase study hours per week, but avoid marathon sessions.
- Prioritize depth over speed in your studies.
- Repeat problems to focus on planning, not just the solution.
- Find creative ways to add quality study time.
- Accelerate your schedule without sacrificing your safety margin.
If you found this helpful, I’d be honored to support you on your journey to licensure. Contact me at [email protected] to learn more about the process and our programs.