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NCEES Structural II Exam

Exam Format
Subjects Covered
Design Codes
ASD or LRFD?
System of Units
Exam Dates
Grading
Passing Rates
Advice from Previous SE Examinees

What is the exam format?

The Structural II exam is an 8-hour exam divided into 2 sessions, morning and afternoon. The exam consists of 8 essay problems, of which examinees must work 4. There are 4 problems in the morning and in the afternoon sessions. In both the morning and afternoon sessions, 2 problems will involve buildings and 2 problems will involve bridges. Examinees must work 2 problems each in the morning and the afternoon sessions, and all 4 of these problems must be in one category--either buildings or bridges, in accordance with local instructions.


What are the subject areas covered on the exam?

Problems fall into two major subject areas:

Buildings

The buildings problems will test the following skills:

  • defining the scope of work
  • reading and interpreting drawings
  • determining the method of analysis and applicable code requirements
  • using professional judgment in making design assumptions
  • integrating design requirements and organizing calculations
  • integrating analysis and design
  • following through from design into drawings and details
  • sketching details
  • applying quality control procedures to calculations and construction documents
  • modifying structural elements as a result of coordinating with other design disciplines
The exam content will include loads, forces, vertical support systems, lateral resisting systems, connections, and foundations.

Each exam will emphasize one of each of the following problem types:

  1. Steel structure
  2. Concrete structure
  3. Wood and/or masonry structure
  4. General analysis (e.g., existing structure, secondary structures, nonbuilding structures, and/or computer verification)
Two of the 4 buildings problems will have seismic content.

Bridges

The bridges problems will test the following skills:

  • defining the scope of work, reading and interpreting drawings
  • determining the method of analysis and applicable code requirements
  • using professional judgment in making design assumptions
  • integrating design requirements and organizing calculations
  • integrating analysis and design
  • following through from design into drawings and details
  • sketching details
  • applying quality control procedures to calculations and construction documents
  • modifying structural elements as a result of coordinating with other design disciplines

The exam content will include loads, superstructure, and substructure.

Each examination will emphasize one of each of the following problem types:

  1. Steel bridge
  2. Concrete bridge
  3. Pier
  4. General analysis (e.g., existing structure, culverts, retaining walls and abutments, and/or computer verification)
Each examination may test pedestrian bridge and/or vehicular bridge knowledge.

Two of the 4 bridges problems will have seismic content.


Which design method does the exam require: ASD or LRFD?

Candidates may choose either the ASD or LRFD method to work exam problems.


What system of units does the exam use?

Per NCEES, only US customary (English) units are used on this exam.


How is the SE II exam graded?

The Structural II exam is graded pass/fail (no numeric grade is given).


Structural Engineering II Exam FAQs
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