The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is graded on a pass/fail basis, with feedback provided if the student fails. Passers can be confident that they have demonstrated competency to work in their chosen field, whereas failure indicates either poor test-taking skills or a lack of understanding of the materials. It’s a good idea to read the feedback that comes with the FE exam results to learn more about the test and how to proceed with retaking the test, tutoring, extra classes, and other options.
Before graduating, most engineering students in the United States take the FE exam to prepare for a career as a professional engineer. Without passing licensing exams, an engineer’s scope of work is limited, and he or she may not be able to advertise as a professional engineer. The FE exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions, with 120 covering basic topics and 60 focusing on a specific discipline or “module.”
Each examination has a different passing score. The test designers collaborate with statisticians and engineering experts to determine which score on each examination should equate to a passing grade, keeping in mind that a passing grade indicates that an engineering student is competent. Statistics must also take into account the need to compare scores so that FE exam results from engineers who took the test at different times can be fairly compared.
The results of the FE exam can take up to ten weeks to arrive. If a student passes the test, he or she has met the requirements. If the student fails the test, the feedback will detail the areas of the test where the student did not perform well. Students may find it beneficial to discuss their FE exam results with advisors and mentors in order to determine their next steps. It’s also a good idea to look at the exam’s publicly available pass/fail rates and pay attention to specific disciplines.
Some students may be familiar with the material but feel uneasy in a test setting. These students may require some tutoring to improve their test-taking skills so that they can retake the FE exam and improve their chances of passing. In other cases, the feedback from the FE exam results may reveal gaps in an engineer’s education, necessitating the completion of another class or series of courses prior to retaking the exam. Students may have taken the test too early in their academic careers, or they may have overlooked a core competency in their coursework.