PE Civil: Geotechnical exam — 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.

• Site Characterization — Official range: 8–12 questions (Practice allocation: 11.36%)

  • Identification, validation, and interpretation of site and proposed development data
  • Subsurface exploration planning
  • Exploration techniques
  • Sampling techniques
  • In situ testing
  • Description and classification of soils
  • Rock classification and characterization
  • Groundwater exploration, sampling, and characterization
• Soil Mechanics, Laboratory Testing, and Analysis — Official range: 8–12 questions (Practice allocation: 11.36%)

  • Soil phase relationship and index property
  • Chemical, electrical, and thermal properties
  • Stress in soil mass
  • Stress/strain and strength
  • Permeability
• Construction Observation, Monitoring, and Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Safety — Official range: 6–9 questions (Practice allocation: 8.52%)

  • Earthwork
  • Trench and construction safety
  • Geotechnical instrumentation
  • Temporary and permanent soil erosion and scour protection measures
• Earthquake Engineering and Dynamic Loads — Official range: 5–8 questions (Practice allocation: 7.39%)

  • Seismic site characterization
  • Seismic analyses and design
• Earth Structures, Ground Improvement, and Pavement — Official range: 9–14 questions (Practice allocation: 13.07%)

  • Ground improvement
  • Geosynthetic applications
  • Slope stability evaluation and slope stabilization
  • Embankments, earth dams, and levees
  • Landfills and caps
  • Pavement and slab-on-grade design
  • Utility design and construction
• Groundwater and Seepage — Official range: 4–6 questions (Practice allocation: 5.68%)

  • Dewatering, seepage analysis, groundwater flow, and impact on nearby structures
  • Drainage design/infiltration and seepage control
• Problematic Soil and Rock Conditions — Official range: 4–6 questions (Practice allocation: 5.68%)

  • Karst, collapsible, expansive, peat, organic, and sensitive soils
  • Reactive/corrosive soils
  • Frost susceptibility
  • Rock slopes and rockfalls
• Retaining Structures (ASD or LRFD) — Official range: 10–15 questions (Practice allocation: 14.2%)

  • Lateral earth pressure and load distribution
  • Rigid retaining wall analysis
  • Cantilevered, anchored, and braced retaining wall analysis
  • Cofferdams
  • Underpinning methods and effects on adjacent infrastructure
  • Ground anchors, tie-backs, soil nails, and rock anchors
• Shallow Foundations (ASD or LRFD) — Official range: 6–9 questions (Practice allocation: 8.52%)

  • Bearing capacity
  • Settlement, including induced stress distribution
• Deep Foundations (ASD or LRFD) — Official range: 10–15 questions (Practice allocation: 14.2%)

  • Geotechnical and structural capacity and settlement of deep foundations
  • Lateral capacity and deformation of deep foundations
  • Installation methods
  • Static and dynamic load testing
  • Integrity testing methods