PE Civil — Geotechnical practice problems and timed practice exams

What the exam covers

PE Civil — Geotechnical knowledge areas

NCEES divides the PE Civil — Geotechnical exam into 10 knowledge areas and publishes a range for each: how many of the exam’s 80 questions can come from that area. PassFEPE sorts every PE Civil — Geotechnical problem into the same areas, so you can work on one at a time or mix them all.

1. 1

   Site Characterization

   Identification, validation, and interpretation of site data and proposed site development data (e.g., aerial photography, geologic and topographic maps, GIS and geotechnical data, as-built plans, planning studies and reports) · Subsurface exploration planning · Exploration techniques (e.g., hollow stem auger, cased boring, mud rotary, air rotary, rock coring, sonic drilling, Cone Penetrometer Test, geophysics, and test pits) · Sampling techniques (e.g., split-barrel sampling, thin-walled tube sampling, handling and storage) · In situ testing (e.g., standard penetration testing, cone penetration testing, pressure meter testing, pore pressure dissipation testing, dilatometer testing, dynamic cone penetration, plate load testing, field vane shear) · Description and classification of soils (e.g., Burmeister, Unified Soil Classification System, AASHTO, USDA, and visual/manual) · Rock classification and characterization (e.g., recovery, rock quality designation, rock mass rating systems, weathering, discontinuity) · Groundwater exploration, sampling, and characterization

   8–12 exam questions10–15% of the exam40+ practice problems

2. 2

   Soil Mechanics, Laboratory Testing, and Analysis

   Soil phase relationship and index property · Chemical, electrical, and thermal properties (e.g., non-HAZMAT) · Stress in soil mass (e.g., total, effective) · Stress/strain, strength · Permeability (e.g., falling head test, constant head test, grain-size correlations)

   8–12 exam questions10–15% of the exam30+ practice problems

3. 3

   Construction Observation, Monitoring, and Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Safety

   Earthwork (e.g., excavation, subgrade preparation, lab and field compaction, borrow studies, fill placement) · Trench and construction safety · Geotechnical instrumentation (e.g., inclinometer, settlement plates, piezometer, vibration monitoring) · Temporary and permanent soil erosion and scour protection measures

   6–9 exam questions8–11% of the exam20+ practice problems

4. 4

   Earthquake Engineering and Dynamic Loads

   Seismic site characterization · Seismic analyses and design (e.g., liquefaction, pseudo static, earthquake loads)

   5–8 exam questions6–10% of the exam20+ practice problems

5. 5

   Earth Structures, Ground Improvement, and Pavement

   Ground improvement (e.g., grouting, soil mixing, preconsolidation/wick drains, lightweight materials, lime/cement stabilization, rigid inclusions, aggregate piers) · Geosynthetic applications (e.g., separation, strength, filtration, drainage, reinforced soil slopes, internal stability of MSE) · Slope stability evaluation and slope stabilization · Embankments, earth dams, and levees (e.g., stress, settlement) · Landfills and caps (e.g., interface stability, settlements, lining systems) · Pavement and slab-on-grade design (e.g., rigid, flexible, porous, unpaved) · Utility design and construction

   9–14 exam questions11–18% of the exam40+ practice problems

6. 6

   Groundwater and Seepage

   Dewatering, seepage analysis, groundwater flow, and impact on nearby structures · Drainage design/infiltration and seepage control

   4–6 exam questions5–8% of the exam20+ practice problems

7. 7

   Problematic Soil and Rock Conditions

   Karst, collapsible, expansive, peat, organic, and sensitive soils · Reactive/corrosive soils (e.g., identification, protective measures) · Frost susceptibility · Rock slopes and rockfalls

   4–6 exam questions5–8% of the exam20+ practice problems

8. 8

   Retaining Structures (ASD or LRFD)

   Lateral earth pressure and load distribution · Rigid retaining wall analysis (e.g., CIP, gravity, external stability of MSE, soil nail, crib, bin) · Cantilevered, anchored, and braced retaining wall analysis (e.g., soldier pile and lagging, sheet pile, secant pile, tangent pile, diaphragm walls, temporary support of excavation, and beams and column elements) · Cofferdams · Underpinning methods and effects on adjacent infrastructure · Ground anchors, tie-backs, soil nails, and rock anchors (e.g., design and quality control)

   10–15 exam questions13–19% of the exam50+ practice problems

9. 9

   Shallow Foundations (ASD or LRFD)

   Bearing capacity · Settlement, including induced stress distribution

   6–9 exam questions8–11% of the exam30+ practice problems

10. 10

    Deep Foundations (ASD or LRFD)

    Geotechnical and structural capacity and settlement of deep foundations (e.g., driven pile, drilled shaft, micropile, helical screw piles, auger cast piles, beam/column) · Lateral capacity and deformation of deep foundations · Installation methods · Static and dynamic load testing · Integrity testing methods

    10–15 exam questions13–19% of the exam40+ practice problems

How PassFEPE helps

Practice that fits around a full-time job.

• Practice problems

  360+ PE Civil — Geotechnical problems, sorted by knowledge area. Choose the areas and how many to do in a set.

• Timed practice exams

  5 full-length PE Civil — Geotechnical 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 PE Civil — Geotechnical knowledge areas that need the most work and sizes a set for each.

• Your handbook, searchable

  Add your own NCEES PE Civil 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 10 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 PE Civil — Geotechnical exam?

80 questions in 8 hours of exam time, in two sections with an optional 50-minute scheduled break after about half the questions (PassFEPE’s simulator breaks after question 40). NCEES publishes the question count, the times and the break; PassFEPE’s simulator follows them.

Which knowledge area carries the most questions on the PE Civil — Geotechnical exam?

Retaining Structures (ASD or LRFD) and Deep Foundations (ASD or LRFD), at 10–15 of the 80 questions each in the NCEES specification. PassFEPE has 90+ practice problems across them.

Are these real PE Civil — Geotechnical 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 PE Civil — Geotechnical.

Do I need the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook?

It is the main reference NCEES supplies on screen. For this exam NCEES also supplies the design standards listed in its exam specification. PassFEPE includes neither, because both are copyrighted. 50+ of these problems need a design standard. Add your own legally obtained PDFs to your reference library and choose the one that opens beside your questions. The files stay on your device.

Is PassFEPE affiliated with NCEES?

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