FAQs on How the PE Exams Are Scored
Who scores the PE exams?
What is the passing score for
the PE exams?
What type of score will I receive
from my state board?
When will I receive my score?
How is the Structural II exam
scored?
NOTE: All PE exams except Structural II are now in multiple-choice format.
The exams are scored by NCEES.
NCEES reports your score to your state board, who in turn reports it to you.
Beginning with the October 2005 administration, candidates will receive results of "Pass" or "Fail" only. Failing candidates will no longer receive a numerical score.
Does this mean I have to solve
70% of the questions correctly to pass the exam?
NO. Do not confuse the CONVERTED
passing score of 70 with having to score 70% in order to pass. It's not possible
to say what the exact percentage needed to pass is, because the raw passing
score fluctuates with each administration of the exam. To add to the mystery,
NCEES does not make the raw passing scores public.
So the CONVERTED passing score
is always 70, even though the number of problems that I must solve to pass can
go up and down?
YES.
For the "breadth-and-depth"
exams (Civil and Mechanical), do I have to achieve a certain minimum
score on both the breadth (morning) and the depth (afternoon) sessions in order
to pass?
NO. Your total score is the
simple combination of your breadth and depth scores. It is not necessary to
achieve a certain number of points on either the morning or the afternoon session
individually in order to pass. If you perform very well on one session and not
very well on the other, you can still pass.
Do the passing scores vary
from state to state?
NO. All states accept the
passing scores recommended by NCEES. (This makes comity possible.)
Are the breadth-and-depth
exams graded on a curve?
NO, not according to NCEES.
The Structural II exam, which
is in essay (free-response) format, is graded as Pass or Fail.
Beginning with the October 2005 administration, candidates will receive results of "Pass" or "Fail" only. Failing candidates will no longer receive a numerical score.
Contact
your state board.
This varies by state. On average,
you can expect to receive your score about 12 weeks after the exam date. Some
states report sooner than this, and some later. Contact your state
board for information on when you can expect your score.
How the PE Exams Are Graded
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