FE Industrial and Systems practice problems and timed practice exams

What the exam covers

FE Industrial and Systems knowledge areas

NCEES divides the FE Industrial and Systems exam into 13 knowledge areas and publishes a range for each: how many of the exam’s 110 questions can come from that area. PassFEPE sorts every FE Industrial and Systems problem into the same areas, so you can work on one at a time or mix them all.

1. 1

   Mathematics

   Analytic geometry (e.g., areas, volumes) · Calculus (e.g., derivatives, integrals, progressions, series) · Linear algebra (e.g., matrix operations, vector analysis)

   6–9 exam questions5–8% of the exam80+ practice problems

2. 2

   Engineering Sciences

   Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics · Statics, dynamics, and materials · Electricity and electrical circuits

   4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam40+ practice problems

3. 3

   Ethics and Professional Practice

   Codes of ethics and licensure · Agreements and contracts · Professional, ethical, and legal responsibility · Public protection and regulatory issues

   4–6 exam questions4–5% of the exam50+ practice problems

4. 4

   Engineering Economics

   Discounted cash flows (e.g., nonannual compounding, time value of money) · Evaluation of alternatives (e.g., PW, EAC, FW, IRR, benefit-cost) · Cost analyses (e.g., fixed/variable, break-even, estimating, overhead, inflation, incremental, sunk, replacement) · Depreciation and taxes (e.g., MACRS, straight line, after-tax cash flow, recapture)

   9–14 exam questions8–13% of the exam60+ practice problems

5. 5

   Probability and Statistics

   Probabilities (e.g., permutations and combinations, sets, laws of probability) · Probability distributions and functions (e.g., types, statistics, central limit theorem, expected value, linear combinations) · Estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing (e.g., normal, t, chi-square, types of error, sample size) · Linear regression (e.g., parameter estimation, residual analysis, correlation) · Design of experiments (e.g., ANOVA, factorial designs)

   10–15 exam questions9–14% of the exam60+ practice problems

6. 6

   Modeling and Quantitative Analysis

   Data, logic development, and analytics (e.g., databases, flowcharts, algorithms, data science techniques) · Linear programming and optimization (e.g., formulation, solution, interpretation) · Stochastic models and simulation (e.g., queuing, Markov processes, inverse probability functions)

   9–14 exam questions8–13% of the exam20+ practice problems

7. 7

   Engineering Management

   Principles and tools (e.g., planning, organizing, motivational theory, organizational structure) · Project management (e.g., WBS, scheduling, PERT, CPM, earned value, agile) · Performance measurement (e.g., KPIs, productivity, wage scales, balance scorecard, customer satisfaction) · Decision making and risk (e.g., uncertainty, utility, decision trees, financial risk)

   8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam10+ practice problems

8. 8

   Manufacturing, Service, and Other Production Systems

   Manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, casting, welding, forming, dimensioning, new technologies) · Manufacturing and service systems (e.g., throughput, measurement, automation, line balancing, energy management) · Forecasting (e.g., moving average, exponential smoothing, tracking signals) · Planning and scheduling (e.g., inventory, aggregate planning, MRP, theory of constraints, sequencing) · Process improvements (e.g., lean systems, sustainability, value engineering)

   9–14 exam questions8–13% of the exam20+ practice problems

9. 9

   Facilities and Supply Chain

   Flow, layout, and location analysis (e.g., from/to charts, layout types, distance metrics) · Capacity analysis (e.g., number of machines and people, trade-offs, material handling) · Supply chain management and design (e.g., pooling, transportation, network design, single-level/multilevel distribution models)

   9–14 exam questions8–13% of the exam20+ practice problems

10. 10

    Human Factors, Ergonomics, and Safety

    Human factors (e.g., displays, controls, usability, cognitive engineering) · Safety and industrial hygiene (e.g., workplace hazards, safety programs, regulations, environmental hazards) · Ergonomics (e.g., biomechanics, cumulative trauma disorders, anthropometry, workplace design, macroergonomics)

    8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam20+ practice problems

11. 11

    Work Design

    Methods analysis (e.g., charting, workstation design, motion economy) · Work measurement (e.g., time study, predetermined time systems, work sampling, standards) · Learning curves

    7–11 exam questions6–10% of the exam20+ practice problems

12. 12

    Quality

    Quality management, planning, assurance, and systems (e.g., Six Sigma, QFD, TQM, house of quality, fishbone, Taguchi loss function) · Quality control (e.g., control charts, process capability, sampling plans, OC curves, DOE)

    9–14 exam questions8–13% of the exam20+ practice problems

13. 13

    Systems Engineering, Analysis, and Design

    Requirements analysis and system design · Functional analysis and configuration management · Risk management (e.g., FMEA, fault trees, uncertainty) · Life-cycle engineering · Reliability engineering (e.g., MTTF, MTBR, availability, parallel and series failure)

    8–12 exam questions7–11% of the exam20+ practice problems

How PassFEPE helps

Practice that fits around work and classes.

• Practice problems

  480+ FE Industrial and Systems problems, sorted by knowledge area. Choose the areas and how many to do in a set.

• Timed practice exams

  5 full-length FE Industrial and Systems practice exams on the exam clock, with the scheduled break and a review screen before you submit.

• Step-by-step solutions

  Every problem has a worked solution, so you see how the answer is reached and where a wrong one goes astray.

• Tailored study plan

  Your results decide what comes next. PassFEPE ranks the FE Industrial and Systems knowledge areas that need the most work and sizes a set for each.

• Your handbook, searchable

  Add your own NCEES FE Reference Handbook PDF. Search it, jump between sections and keep it open beside every question. It stays on your device.

• Progress by topic

  Accuracy in each of the 13 knowledge areas, and your pace against the exam clock, so every session goes where it counts.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

How many questions are on the FE Industrial and Systems exam?

110 questions in 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time, in two sections with an optional 25-minute scheduled break after about half the questions (PassFEPE’s simulator breaks after question 55). NCEES publishes the question count, the times and the break; PassFEPE’s simulator follows them.

Which knowledge area carries the most questions on the FE Industrial and Systems exam?

Probability and Statistics: NCEES publishes a range of 10–15 of the 110 questions for it, 9–14% of the exam. PassFEPE has 60+ practice problems in it.

Are these real FE Industrial and Systems exam questions?

No. They are practice problems written for PassFEPE in the style of the computer-based exam, sorted by the NCEES knowledge areas for FE Industrial and Systems.

Do I need the NCEES FE Reference Handbook?

It is the reference NCEES supplies on screen during the exam, so it is worth practicing with. PassFEPE doesn’t include it, because it is copyrighted: add your own legally obtained PDF and it opens beside your questions, searchable. The file stays on your device.

Is PassFEPE affiliated with NCEES?

No. PassFEPE is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCEES.