PE Civil: Construction — Information & Free Practice

The authority publishes question-count ranges for each content area. The practice percentages below use the midpoint of each range, normalized to 100%; they are not exact percentages published by the authority. Practice question counts may differ slightly because of rounding.

• Soil Mechanics — Official range: 6–9 questions (Practice allocation: 8.43%)

  • Lateral earth pressure
  • Soil consolidation and settlement
  • Effective and total stresses
  • Bearing capacity
  • Slope stability
• Site Layout and Development — Official range: 5–8 questions (Practice allocation: 7.3%)

  • Layout and control
  • Basic horizontal and vertical curve elements
  • Site investigations
• Material Properties — Official range: 5–8 questions (Practice allocation: 7.3%)

  • Soil, rock and aggregates
  • Concrete
  • Steel
  • Wood
• Estimating Quantities and Costs — Official range: 6–9 questions (Practice allocation: 8.43%)

  • Quantity take-off methods
  • Cost estimating
  • Engineering economic analysis
  • Work measurement and productivity
• Project Planning and Scheduling — Official range: 7–11 questions (Practice allocation: 10.11%)

  • Construction sequencing
  • Activity time analysis
  • Project schedule analysis
  • Resource scheduling and leveling
  • Time–cost trade-off
• Material, Production, and Execution Quality Control — Official range: 7–11 questions (Practice allocation: 10.11%)

  • Material test methods and specification conformance
  • Weld and bolt installation
  • Quality control process
  • Concrete placement
  • Concrete maturity and early strength evaluation
  • Compaction
• Structural Mechanics — Official range: 7–11 questions (Practice allocation: 10.11%)

  • Loads
  • Statics and stresses
  • Structural members
  • Structural systems
• Hydraulics and Hydrology — Official range: 4–6 questions (Practice allocation: 5.62%)

  • Stormwater collection and drainage
  • Storm characteristics and runoff analysis
  • Detention/retention ponds
• Construction Operations and Methods — Official range: 9–14 questions (Practice allocation: 12.92%)

  • Lifting and rigging
  • Cranes
  • Dewatering and pumping
  • Equipment selection and operations
  • Deep foundation installation
  • Excavation and embankment
• Design for Support of Construction Loads — Official range: 10–15 questions (Practice allocation: 14.04%)

  • Formwork
  • Falsework and scaffolding
  • Shoring and reshoring
  • Bracing and anchorage
  • Support of excavation
  • Construction loads on permanent structures
• Health and Safety — Official range: 4–6 questions (Practice allocation: 5.62%)

  • OSHA construction and industry regulations and safety management
  • Work zone and public safety including maintenance of traffic