PE Civil Transportation Exam Prep
Free PE Civil Transportation exam prep: 20 original practice problems with worked answers, two from each of the ten NCEES topic areas, then a study plan built around the code editions for your test date.
Practice problems
Original, unofficial practice. These are not NCEES questions.
Problem 1 · Traffic Engineering
Choose one. Four consecutive 15-minute counts on an approach during the peak hour are 300, 360, 420, and 360 vehicles. Find the peak hour factor (PHF) and the peak 15-minute flow rate expressed as an hourly rate.
Show explanation
Answer: C. PHF 0.86; 1,680 veh/h
The hourly volume is 300 + 360 + 420 + 360 = 1,440 veh. PHF = V / (4 × V15) = 1,440 / (4 × 420) = 0.857, so 0.86. The peak flow rate is the peak quarter-hour expanded to an hour: 4 × 420 = 1,680 veh/h, which is also 1,440 divided by the unrounded PHF.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Right PHF, but 1,440 veh/h is just the hourly count. This question asks for the peak 15-minute rate, which is higher than the hourly average here.
- B: 0.29 is 420 / 1,440, the peak quarter's share of the hour. That is not PHF.
- D: 1.17 flips the ratio. PHF can never exceed 1.0, which is a fast sanity check.
Source: FHWA Traffic Data Computation Method Pocket Guide (FHWA-PL-18-027), Peak Hour Factor, pp. 62–63
Problem 2 · Traffic Engineering
Choose one. A 2.5-mile rural segment with an AADT of 12,000 vehicles/day had 18 reported crashes over 3 years. Using R = C × 100,000,000 / (V × 365 × N × L), what is the crash rate per 100 million vehicle-miles?
Show explanation
Answer: B. 54.8
Exposure = 12,000 × 365 × 3 × 2.5 = 32,850,000 vehicle-miles. R = 18 × 100,000,000 / 32,850,000 = 54.8 crashes per 100 million vehicle-miles.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Uses 1,000,000 in the numerator. That is a per-million rate, so the scale is off by 100.
- C: Leaves out the 3 years. Every year of crashes needs a year of traffic in the denominator.
- D: Leaves out the 2.5-mile length.
Source: FHWA Road Safety Fundamentals, Unit 4, Chapter 11, Step 1: Crash rate
Problem 3 · Project Management
Choose one. A pavement rehabilitation is expected to cost $400,000 in constant base-year dollars in year 12. Using a 4% real discount rate, what is its present value?
Show explanation
Answer: D. $249,800
Present value = F × 1/(1 + i)^n = 400,000 / 1.04^12 = $249,838.82, so about $249,800.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Uses 9 years instead of 12.
- B: Discounts for only one year (400,000 / 1.04).
- C: Compounds forward (400,000 × 1.04^12) instead of discounting back. A future cost is always worth less today when the rate is positive.
Source: FHWA Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Primer (2002), Inflation and Discounting and Step Four, pp. 16–17
Problem 4 · Project Management
Enter a number. Two consecutive cut cross-sections are 100 ft apart. Their end areas are 180 ft² and 240 ft². Using the average-end-area method, what is the excavation volume in cubic yards? Round to the nearest whole cubic yard.
Your answer: ______ yd³
Show explanation
Answer: 778 yd³
V = L × (A1 + A2) / 2 = 100 × (180 + 240) / 2 = 21,000 ft³. Divide by 27 ft³ per yd³: 21,000 / 27 = 777.8, so 778 yd³.
Common wrong answers:
- 21,000: That is cubic feet. The question asks for cubic yards.
- 1,556: Adds the end areas without averaging them (100 × 420 / 27).
Source: FHWA Federal Lands PDDM, Earthwork Design, Section 9.5.1, Eq. 9.5.1A(1)
Problem 5 · Roadside and Cross-Section Design
Choose one. A smooth embankment foreslope of 1V:3.5H has no fixed objects on it. How is this slope classified for roadside design?
Show explanation
Answer: B. Traversable but non-recoverable
FHWA guidance treats smooth, obstacle-free slopes steeper than 1V:4H but no steeper than 1V:3H as traversable but non-recoverable. A driver can usually ride down them but can't reliably stop or steer back. 1V:3.5H sits in that band.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: The recoverable band includes 1V:4H and flatter slopes; 1V:3.5H is steeper.
- C: Slopes steeper than 1V:3H are treated as not traversable; 1V:3.5H is flatter.
- D: Whether a barrier is warranted is a separate evaluation. The slope class alone doesn't decide it.
Source: FHWA, Clear Zone and Horizontal Clearance; FHWA Low-Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety (2016), Chapter 6: Slope Flattening
Problem 6 · Roadside and Cross-Section Design
Choose one. On a high-speed rural road, a designer counts the full width of a 1V:2.5H embankment slope as part of the available clear zone. Is that appropriate?
Show explanation
Answer: C. No. Slopes steeper than 1V:3H are not considered traversable or part of the clear zone
FHWA states that slopes steeper than 1V:3H are not considered traversable and are not part of the clear zone. 1V:2.5H is steeper than 1V:3H, so it can't be counted, however smooth or clean it is.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Smoothness matters for the 1V:3H to 1V:4H band, not for slopes steeper than 1V:3H.
- B: Removing obstacles doesn't make a too-steep slope traversable.
- D: Curve location doesn't change the slope classification.
Problem 7 · Horizontal Design
Choose one. A simple circular curve has R = 1,200 ft and Δ = 32°00′. The PI is at Sta 45+20.00. What is the station of the PT?
Show explanation
Answer: A. 48+46.11
T = R tan(Δ/2) = 1,200 × tan 16° = 344.09 ft, so PC = 45+20.00 − 3+44.09 = 41+75.91. L = πRΔ/180 = π × 1,200 × 32 / 180 = 670.21 ft. Using unrounded intermediate values, PT = PC + L = 48+46.11.
Why the other choices miss:
- B: PI + T. Stationing runs along the curve, so the PT is the PC plus the arc length, not the PI plus the tangent.
- C: PI + L. Adds the arc to the wrong point.
- D: That's the PC station, not the PT.
Source: ADOT Construction Manual, Ch. 13, Section 1303, Curve Computation by Arc Definition, p. 1303-49
Problem 8 · Horizontal Design
Choose one. A curve has design speed 55 mph, radius 1,000 ft, and superelevation e = 0.06. Using e + f = V²/(15R), what side friction factor f does the curve demand?
Show explanation
Answer: D. 0.14
V²/(15R) = 55² / (15 × 1,000) = 3,025 / 15,000 = 0.202. Subtract e: f = 0.202 − 0.06 = 0.142, so 0.14. Superelevation is a decimal here (0.06, not 6).
Why the other choices miss:
- A: That's e + f combined. You still need to subtract e.
- B: Adds e instead of subtracting it.
- C: Subtracts e twice.
Source: FHWA Speed Concepts: Informational Guide (FHWA-SA-10-001), Ch. 4, Eq. 2, p. 14
Problem 9 · Vertical Design
Choose one. Find the calculated stopping sight distance on a level road for a design speed of 50 mph. Use a 2.5-second brake reaction time and a deceleration rate of 11.2 ft/s², with SSD = 1.47Vt + 1.075V²/a. Round to the nearest foot.
Show explanation
Answer: C. 424 ft
Reaction distance = 1.47 × 50 × 2.5 = 183.75 ft. Braking distance = 1.075 × 50² / 11.2 = 239.955… ft. SSD = 183.75 + 239.955… = 423.705… ft, so 424 ft. This is the result of the supplied formula; the cited TxDOT design table lists 425 ft at 50 mph.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Reaction distance only.
- B: Braking distance only.
- D: Uses a 1.0-second reaction time instead of 2.5 seconds.
Source: TxDOT Roadway Design Manual, Section 4.11.1, Stopping Sight Distance, equation and Table 4-23
Problem 10 · Vertical Design
Choose one. A crest vertical curve connects a +2.0% grade to a −2.0% grade. The required sight distance is 425 ft. Use a 3.5-ft eye height and a 2.0-ft object height. What is the minimum curve length for this sight-distance criterion? Round up to the next whole foot.
Show explanation
Answer: B. 311 ft
A = |−2.0 − 2.0| = 4. Try the S < L formula first: L = AS²/2,158 = 4 × 425² / 2,158 = 335 ft. But S = 425 ft is longer than 335 ft, so that assumption fails. Switch to the S > L formula: L = 2S − 2,158/A = 850 − 539.5 = 310.5 ft, so 311 ft.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: The S < L result. It looks fine until you check it: the sight distance is longer than the curve, so the formula doesn't apply.
- C: Just the sight distance, with no curve calculation.
- D: 2S without subtracting 2,158/A.
Source: WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, Ch. 1260, Exhibit 1260-5
Problem 11 · Intersection Geometry
Choose one. A passenger car will turn left from a stop-controlled minor road onto a two-lane major road with no median. The major-road design speed is 45 mph and the minor-road approach is level. Using ISD = 1.47 × V(major) × t(g) with a 7.5-second time gap, what intersection sight distance is needed along the major road?
Show explanation
Answer: A. 496 ft
ISD = 1.47 × 45 × 7.5 = 496 ft. The 7.5-second gap is the passenger-car value for a left turn from stop.
Why the other choices miss:
- B: Uses 6.5 s, the passenger-car gap for a right turn.
- C: Uses 9.5 s, the single-unit truck gap for a left turn.
- D: Uses a 5.0-second gap, which isn't a design value for this case.
Source: TxDOT Roadway Design Manual, Section 13.5.2, Intersection Sight Distance (Tables 13-2, 13-3)
Problem 12 · Intersection Geometry
Choose one. A passenger car turns right from a stop-controlled minor road onto a two-lane major road with no median and a design speed of 50 mph. The minor-road approach is level. What intersection sight distance is needed along the major road?
Show explanation
Answer: D. 478 ft
Right turn from stop, passenger car: t(g) = 6.5 s. ISD = 1.47 × 50 × 6.5 = 477.8 ft, so 478 ft.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Uses 7.5 s, the left-turn gap.
- B: Right gap, wrong speed (45 mph instead of 50).
- C: Uses 8.5 s, the single-unit truck right-turn gap.
Source: TxDOT Roadway Design Manual, Section 13.5.2, Intersection Sight Distance (Tables 13-2, 13-3)
Problem 13 · Traffic Signals
Choose one. A crosswalk measures 52 ft from the curb to the far side of the traveled way. For this exercise, use the MUTCD's usual 3.5 ft/s pedestrian-clearance criterion without a site-specific speed adjustment. What clearance time is needed, rounded up to a whole second?
Show explanation
Answer: B. 15 s
Using 3.5 ft/s, 52 / 3.5 = 14.9 s, so 15 s. The same 3.5 ft/s guideline appears in both MUTCD editions on the exam lists (2009 Section 4E.06; 11th edition Section 4I.06). This calculates pedestrian clearance time, not the WALK interval or the flashing change interval alone. Where slower pedestrians or wheelchair users routinely cross, the MUTCD calls for considering a speed below 3.5 ft/s.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Uses 4 ft/s. Up to 4 ft/s is an option where an extended pushbutton press lets slower pedestrians request more time; passive detection may also adjust clearance to actual walking speed or crosswalk clearance. Those adjustments are not part of this exercise.
- C: Uses 3.0 ft/s: 52 / 3 = 17.3 s, rounded up to 18 s. That speed applies to a different check: whether WALK plus clearance together is long enough, measured from the pedestrian detector or, if absent, 6 ft behind the curb or pavement edge.
- D: 7 s is the usual recommended minimum WALK interval, a different interval. A WALK interval as short as 4 s is permitted when pedestrian volumes and characteristics do not require 7 s.
Source: MUTCD 2009 (Rev. 1 and 2), Section 4E.06, paragraphs 4 and 7–14; MUTCD 11th Edition (2023), Section 4I.06, paragraphs 4 and 7–14, pp. 723–725
Problem 14 · Traffic Signals
Select all that apply. An intersection is being evaluated for a permanent traffic signal and has one lane on each approach. The 85th-percentile speed on the major street is 45 mph. For each of the same 8 hours on an average day, the major street carries 380 veh/h (both approaches) and the higher-volume minor-street approach carries 110 veh/h. Select ALL statements that are correct.
Show explanation
Answer: A. Warrant 1, Condition A is met using the 70% volume column and D. An engineering study should still decide whether a signal is justified
Because the major-street 85th-percentile speed is over 40 mph, the 70% column may be used. For one lane on each approach, that column needs 350 veh/h on the major street and 105 veh/h on the higher minor approach. 380 and 110 meet it. The MUTCD also says that satisfying a warrant does not by itself require a signal, so the engineering judgment still matters. The Table 4C-1 thresholds used here and this warrant principle are the same in the 2009 and 11th editions.
Why the other choices miss:
- B: The 100% column needs 500 and 150 veh/h. 380 and 110 fall short.
- C: Meeting a warrant never requires installation by itself.
Scoring: All-or-nothing: select exactly A and D.
Source: MUTCD 2009 (Rev. 1 and 2), Sections 4C.01 and 4C.02, Table 4C-1; MUTCD 11th Edition (2023), Part 4
Problem 15 · Traffic Control Design
Choose one. On a multilane road, a temporary closure of one 12-ft lane requires traffic to merge into the adjacent lane. For this exercise, use the posted speed of 35 mph as S in the MUTCD taper formula. What is the recommended minimum merging taper length?
Show explanation
Answer: C. 245 ft
For speeds of 40 mph or less, L = WS²/60 = 12 × 35² / 60 = 245 ft. The MUTCD table recommends at least L for a merging taper. The formulas are the same in the 2009 MUTCD (Table 6C-4) and the 11th edition (Table 6B-4).
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Uses L = WS. That formula is for 45 mph and above.
- B: About 0.5L, the minimum for a shifting taper, not a merging taper.
- D: About 0.33L, the minimum for a shoulder taper.
Source: MUTCD 2009 (Rev. 1 and 2), Section 6C.08, Tables 6C-3 and 6C-4; MUTCD 11th Edition (2023), Section 6B.08, Tables 6B-3 and 6B-4
Problem 16 · Traffic Control Design
Match. Match each part of a temporary traffic control (TTC) zone to its function. Use each letter once.
| # | Function | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tells approaching road users what's ahead | ___ |
| 2 | Redirects road users out of their normal path | ___ |
| 3 | Where the work takes place | ___ |
| 4 | Returns road users to their normal path | ___ |
Areas: A. Activity area · B. Advance warning area · C. Termination area · D. Transition area
Show explanation
Answer: 1-B (advance warning), 2-D (transition), 3-A (activity), 4-C (termination)
Advance warning informs, transition redirects, activity holds the work, termination returns traffic to normal. Most TTC zones use these four areas, but not every operation needs all four. The definitions are in 2009 MUTCD Sections 6C.03 to 6C.07 and in 11th edition Sections 6B.03 to 6B.07.
Scoring: All-or-nothing: all four matches must be correct.
Source: MUTCD 2009 (Rev. 1 and 2), Sections 6C.03–6C.07; MUTCD 11th Edition (2023), Sections 6B.03–6B.07
Problem 17 · Geotechnical and Pavement
Choose one. A field test on compacted fill gives a moist unit weight of 125 lb/ft³ at a water content of 12%. The laboratory maximum dry unit weight is 118 lb/ft³. What is the relative compaction?
Show explanation
Answer: A. 94.6%
Dry unit weight γd = γ / (1 + w) = 125 / 1.12 = 111.6 lb/ft³. Relative compaction = 111.6 / 118 × 100 = 94.6%.
Why the other choices miss:
- B: Compares the moist unit weight (125) with a dry lab value. Always convert to dry first.
- C: That's the dry unit weight itself, not a percentage of the lab maximum.
- D: Divides the dry unit weight by the moist unit weight (111.6 / 125).
Source: FHWA NHI-05-037, Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements, Ch. 5, Eq. 5.1 and 5.4
Problem 18 · Geotechnical and Pavement
Choose one. A flexible pavement has 4 in. of asphalt concrete (a1 = 0.44), 8 in. of granular base (a2 = 0.14, m2 = 1.0), and 10 in. of subbase (a3 = 0.11, m3 = 0.90). Using SN = a1D1 + a2D2m2 + a3D3m3, what is the structural number?
Show explanation
Answer: D. 3.87
SN = 0.44(4) + 0.14(8)(1.0) + 0.11(10)(0.90) = 1.76 + 1.12 + 0.99 = 3.87. The coefficients are given for this problem only. They aren't design recommendations.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Ignores the 0.90 drainage coefficient on the subbase.
- B: Leaves out the subbase layer.
- C: Applies 0.90 to the base layer as well.
Source: FHWA NHI-05-037, Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements, Section 5.5.1, Eq. 5.40
Problem 19 · Drainage
Choose one. A 12-acre drainage area has a runoff coefficient C = 0.60. The design rainfall intensity for a duration equal to the time of concentration is 4.2 in/hr. Using the customary U.S. Rational method approximation Q ≈ CiA, what is the peak runoff?
Show explanation
Answer: B. 30.2 cfs
Q ≈ CiA = 0.60 × 4.2 × 12 = 30.24, or 30.2 cfs. With i in in/hr and A in acres, this approximation gives Q in cubic feet per second. It's a peak rate, not a runoff volume.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Leaves out C.
- C: Leaves out i.
- D: A decimal slip, off by a factor of 10.
Source: FHWA HDS-4, Design of Roadside Drainage Channels, Eq. 1 and customary-unit approximation, p. 7
Problem 20 · Drainage
Choose one. A rectangular concrete channel has a 6-ft bottom width and carries uniform flow 2 ft deep. Manning's n = 0.015 and the slope is 0.002 ft/ft. What is the discharge?
Show explanation
Answer: C. 60 cfs
Area A = 6 × 2 = 12 ft². Wetted perimeter P = 6 + 2 + 2 = 10 ft. Hydraulic radius R = 12 / 10 = 1.2 ft. Q = (1.49/n) A R^(2/3) S^(1/2) = (1.49/0.015)(12)(1.2^(2/3))(0.002^(1/2)) = 60.2 cfs.
Why the other choices miss:
- A: Counts only one wall in the wetted perimeter (P = 8 ft, R = 1.5 ft).
- B: Drops the R^(2/3) term.
- D: Leaves out the square root of the slope.
Source: FHWA HDS-4, Design of Roadside Drainage Channels, Eq. 5, p. 12
After the set
All 20 problems work under both the pre-April 2027 and April 2027 reference lists. Your score here is feedback on these problems only, not a prediction of your exam result.
Count one point for each fully correct answer, with no partial credit. Record your total as ___ of 20 on this practice set. This is a starter set, not a full-length exam or complete coverage of every subtopic.
Count your misses by area, but don't read much into them yet. Two problems per area is enough to spot a method you've forgotten, not enough to measure a topic. Log each miss in the error log below and pick it up in the study plan.
What changes in April 2027
Check your test date first. If you test before April 2027, the exam uses the Highway Capacity Manual 6th edition (2016) and the 2009 MUTCD with Revisions 1 and 2 (May 2012). If you test in April 2027 or later, it uses the HCM 7th edition (2022) and the MUTCD 11th edition (2023). The ten topic areas and the other seven design standards don't change.
NCEES publishes two Transportation documents. They share the same ten topic areas and question ranges, which have been in effect since April 2024. The only differences are two of the nine design standards (NCEES Civil exam page, "Exam specifications and design standards").
| Design standard | Exams before April 2027 | Exams beginning April 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), Volumes 1–4 | 6th edition, 2016 | 7th edition, 2022 |
| Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) | 2009 edition with Revisions 1 and 2 (May 2012) | 11th edition, 2023 |
| AASHTO A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (Green Book) | 7th edition, 2018, with October 2019 errata | Same |
| AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures | 4th edition, 1993, with 1998 supplement | Same |
| AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities | 2nd edition, 2021 | Same |
| AASHTO Highway Safety Manual | 1st edition, 2010, with 2014 supplement and September 2010, February 2012, and March 2016 errata | Same |
| AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide | 3rd edition, 2020 | Same |
| AASHTO Roadside Design Guide | 4th edition, 2011, with February 2012 and July 2015 errata | Same |
| FHWA Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts (HDS-5) | 3rd edition, April 2012 | Same |
Sources: Transportation specifications for exams before April 2027 (PDF) and Transportation specifications beginning April 2027 (PDF), design standards pages.
Edition matters for scoring. NCEES says answers to standards-based questions are scored against the listed edition and revision year, and solutions based on other standards won't receive credit. So study from the edition on the list for your test date, not the newest one or the one your office uses.
One wrinkle: FHWA issued Revision 1 to the MUTCD 11th edition in December 2025 (FHWA MUTCD). The NCEES list names the 11th edition, 2023. Follow the NCEES list.
MUTCD: what moves and what stays
The 11th edition reorganizes several chapters. These are the items we checked against FHWA's published versions of both editions:
| Topic | MUTCD 2009 | MUTCD 11th edition | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic signal warrant names and Table 4C-1 thresholds | Chapter 4C | Chapter 4C | Same nine warrant names and Warrant 1 thresholds; other warrant criteria changed |
| Yellow change and red clearance intervals | Section 4D.26 | Section 4F.17 | Moved |
| Pedestrian timing defaults: 3.5 ft/s clearance calculation and 7-second WALK guidance | Section 4E.06 | Section 4I.06 | Same default guidance, moved; slower-user and shorter-WALK provisions still apply |
| Pedestrian buffer interval before conflicting vehicular movement | At least 3 seconds, Section 4E.06, paragraph 04 | At least 2 seconds, Section 4I.06, paragraph 04 | Changed |
| Temporary traffic control zone areas | Sections 6C.03–6C.07 | Sections 6B.03–6B.07 | Moved |
| Taper lengths: L = WS²/60 (40 mph or less), L = WS (45 mph or more) | Section 6C.08, Tables 6C-3 and 6C-4 | Section 6B.08, Tables 6B-3 and 6B-4 | Same formulas, moved |
| Recommended downstream taper, if used | Approximately 100 ft per lane | 50 ft minimum, 100 ft maximum | Changed |
Sources: MUTCD 2009 Part 4 Chapter 4C, Chapter 4E, Part 6 Chapter 6C; MUTCD 11th edition table of contents, Part 4, Part 6.
The 11th edition also adds chapters, including bicycle signals and rectangular rapid flashing beacons, and replaces the old Part 5 (low-volume roads) with guidance on automated vehicles. If you're switching editions, budget time to relearn where to search, not just what the rules say.
The NCEES topic list is identical in the two specification documents. We haven't compared the 6th and 7th editions method by method, so this page doesn't list HCM changes. If you test in April 2027 or later, work your capacity problems in the 7th edition from the start.
Should you test before April?
It depends on what you already have and how ready you'll be.
- If you already study from HCM 6 and the 2009 MUTCD and can be ready for an appointment before April 2027, testing then saves you relearning two documents. Have a backup plan, though. A retake after the change is scored to the new editions.
- If your appointment will realistically land in April 2027 or later, study the HCM 7th and MUTCD 11th editions now. Don't split your effort between two editions you can't both use.
- If you haven't decided, keep both columns of the table open and make the call when you register. NCEES gives you 12 months to test after you're approved (NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026, p. 4).
What's on the exam
The exam has 80 questions across ten knowledge areas. These are NCEES's official question ranges (specifications, p. 1–2). The last column is our guide to which listed standards usually fit each area. It isn't an NCEES mapping, and many questions rely on the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook instead.
| # | Knowledge area | Questions | Main subtopics | Listed standards that fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project Management | 6–9 | Quantity and cost estimates, schedules and activity sequencing, economic analysis | Reference handbook |
| 2 | Traffic Engineering (Capacity Analysis, Transportation Planning, and Safety Analysis) | 10–15 | Uninterrupted and interrupted flow, intersection capacity, volume and speed studies, trip generation, crash rates, crash modification factors, pedestrian and bicycle analysis, forecasts | HCM, Highway Safety Manual, Pedestrian Guide |
| 3 | Roadside and Cross-Section Design | 7–11 | Clear zones and slopes, barriers and end treatments, lane and shoulder widths, sidewalks, shared-use paths, ADA, traffic calming | Roadside Design Guide, Green Book, Pedestrian Guide |
| 4 | Horizontal Design | 8–12 | Circular curve elements and stationing, sight distance, superelevation, compound and reverse curves, curve widening | Green Book |
| 5 | Vertical Design | 8–12 | Vertical alignment and clearance, stopping and passing sight distance on crest and sag curves | Green Book |
| 6 | Intersection Geometry | 7–11 | Intersection sight distance, interchanges and ramps, at-grade layouts including roundabouts | Green Book |
| 7 | Traffic Signals | 5–8 | Timing, clearance intervals, phasing, pedestrian timing, railroad preemption, warrants, signal design | MUTCD, HCM |
| 8 | Traffic Control Design | 5–8 | Permanent signs and pavement markings, temporary traffic control | MUTCD |
| 9 | Geotechnical and Pavement | 6–9 | Soil classification and testing, phase relationships, compaction and earthwork, flexible and rigid pavement design and rehabilitation | AASHTO pavement guide (1993), MEPDG |
| 10 | Drainage | 8–12 | Hydrology and runoff, water quality measures, culverts, inlets, pipe flow, detention, open-channel flow | HDS-5 (culverts) |
Horizontal, vertical, and intersection geometry each carry substantial question ranges, which is why the study plan below starts there. The ranges tell you how many questions each area can carry. They don't tell you which areas will be hardest for you. Your own practice results do that.
How the exam works
- Length: 80 questions. The appointment is 9 hours: a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 8 hours of exam time, and a 50-minute scheduled break (NCEES Civil exam page). That averages 6 minutes per question (480 ÷ 80). Use that for pacing practice, not as a per-question limit.
- Two sections, one clock: You get all your exam time at the start. After about half the questions, you review and submit them, and then you can't go back to them (Examinee Guide, p. 11). Time spent on unscheduled breaks comes out of your exam time (Examinee Guide, p. 12).
- Closed book, onscreen references: NCEES supplies the PE Civil Reference Handbook and every listed design standard as searchable PDFs. Standards appear chapter by chapter, and only one chapter can be open and searched at a time. You can't bring your own copies (2027 specifications, design standards page). Ctrl+F doesn't work, so use the reference's own search box (Examinee Guide, p. 10).
- Units: Questions use both U.S. customary and SI units (Transportation specifications, p. 1).
- Question types: Multiple choice plus alternative item types: multiple correct, point and click, drag and drop, and fill in the blank. Scored questions are marked right or wrong, with no partial credit (NCEES computer-based testing).
- Scoring: Your result is based on the number of correct answers to scored questions. Unidentified pretest items do not count toward your result (Examinee Guide, p. 11). Wrong answers aren't deducted, so answer everything. NCEES reports pass or fail. It doesn't publish the passing score, and it gives a diagnostic report by topic only if you fail (Examinee Guide, p. 14). Results usually arrive 7–10 days after the exam.
- Calculators: Bring an approved model: Casio fx-115 or fx-991 models, the HP 33s or HP 35s, or TI-30X or TI-36X models (NCEES 2026 approved list, p. 1). This list is verified for 2026; for a later appointment, recheck the current NCEES calculator policy. An onscreen TI-30XS is also available. Pearson supplies two reusable booklets and three markers for scratch work (Examinee Guide, pp. 8–9).
- Fee and pass rates: The exam fee is $400, paid to NCEES. Your licensing board may charge its own application fee. NCEES's latest Transportation figures (last updated July 2026) show a 61% first-time pass rate (reported volume 1,929) and a 43% repeat pass rate (reported volume 1,097). These figures cover January–June 2026 for examinees testing under NCEES member-board jurisdiction (NCEES Civil exam page, PE pass rates table). They describe those groups, not your personal chance of passing.
There's no separate breadth section anymore. Since April 2024, all 80 questions follow the Transportation-specific topic list, and older advice about "breadth plus a Transportation depth module" describes the previous format (NCEES specification update; Transportation specifications).
Your 12-week study plan
This plan assumes about 8 hours a week: two 90-minute weeknight sessions and one 5-hour weekend block. That's 96 hours in total. It's an editorial starting point, not an NCEES requirement or a guarantee. Use the listed order as a default, and adjust it when your error log or retake diagnostic identifies a different priority.
Each topic week follows the same rhythm. Read the method in the handbook or listed standard. Work problems untimed until you can set them up without notes. Then redo your misses two days later from a blank page.
| Week | Study | Practice and review | You finish with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Download the handbook from MyNCEES. Get the correct-edition standards for your test date. Read the Transportation specifications. | Work all 20 problems above untimed and log every miss. | Your edition list, a starting error log, and a list of reference documents you still need |
| 2 | Horizontal design: curve elements, stationing, superelevation, horizontal sight distance (Green Book) | Start with Problems 7–8. Curve and stationing problems. Sketch every curve before calculating. | A one-page formula and locator sheet for horizontal curves |
| 3 | Vertical design: grades, crest and sag curves, stopping and passing sight distance, clearance | Start with Problems 9–10. Crest and sag curve problems. Check S vs. L every time. | Corrected curve problems plus a list of your setup errors |
| 4 | Intersection geometry: intersection sight distance cases, roundabouts, interchanges and ramps | Start with Problems 11–12. Sight triangle and ramp problems | A case-selection note: which sight distance case fits which movement |
| 5 | Traffic engineering I: HCM uninterrupted flow, peak hour factor, intersection capacity (your HCM edition) | Start with Problem 1. Capacity and level-of-service problems | Your HCM chapter map with the inputs each method needs |
| 6 | Traffic engineering II: crash rates, Highway Safety Manual crash modification factors, pedestrian and bicycle analysis, trip generation | Start with Problem 2. Safety and planning problems | A safety-method sheet with exposure units written beside each formula |
| 7 | Traffic signals and traffic control: timing, pedestrian intervals, warrants, signs and markings, temporary traffic control (your MUTCD edition) | Start with Problems 13–16. Warrant, timing, and taper problems | Your MUTCD locator list for your edition |
| 8 | Roadside and cross-section: clear zones, slopes, barriers, end treatments, pedestrian facilities | Start with Problems 5–6. Clear zone and barrier problems | Corrected examples and the Roadside Design Guide chapters you used |
| 9 | Drainage: runoff and the Rational method, inlets, culverts (HDS-5), open channels | Start with Problems 19–20. Runoff, Manning, and culvert problems | A units check sheet: rate vs. volume, inches vs. feet |
| 10 | Geotechnical, pavement, and project management: phase relations, compaction, AASHTO 1993 and MEPDG, estimating, scheduling, present worth | Start with Problems 3–4 and 17–18. Mixed problems from these areas | Corrected examples across all three topics |
| 11 | Do a 2-hour methods rehearsal with Problems 1–20, answers covered. Commit your answers to Problems 1–10 before moving to 11–20. | Spend 3 hours reviewing every miss and every lucky guess back to its source, then 3 hours on weak methods and reference searches. | A ranked list of weak methods and slow reference searches |
| 12 | Rework your ranked list, then a short timed mixed set. Do the reference drill below. Confirm your appointment details and calculator. | Light work in the last two days | A final review sheet and your exam-day checklist done |
The linked problems are starting examples for each topic week; they do not cover every listed subtopic or supply a full 96-hour question bank. Use the cited teaching sources and your correct-edition references to extend the review, and use fresh problems to check whether you can transfer a method.
Week 11 is a short methods rehearsal, not a full-length exam simulation. Because you have already seen these problems, a higher score can reflect memory; judge the setup, units, and reference search, then confirm progress on unfamiliar work. The 2-hour allowance is 20 × the exam's 6-minute average, not a readiness standard.
Fitting the plan to your time
| Your situation | Adjust like this |
|---|---|
| About 12 hours a week | Treat each table week as an 8-hour work block and carry it across calendar weeks. In calendar Week 1, complete block 1 and the first 4 hours of block 2; in Week 2, finish block 2 and complete block 3. Continue in order: 96 hours ÷ 12 hours/week = 8 weeks. |
| About 6 hours a week | Use the same 8-hour work blocks across calendar weeks. Spend the first calendar week on 6 hours of block 1; the next week finishes its remaining 2 hours and starts 4 hours of block 2. Continue in order: 96 hours ÷ 6 hours/week = 16 weeks. |
| Fewer than 8 weeks left | Do Week 1, then work on the methods you missed or guessed, using your wider error log and fresh practice to set priorities. Schedule the on-page timed practice block early enough to review mistakes before your test. Less time means less review, so be realistic about whether to keep the date. |
| Returning after a failed attempt | Start from your NCEES diagnostic report and your own error log. The diagnostic shows general performance by topic. NCEES says it isn't meant for any other purpose, so don't treat it as a count of questions you missed (Examinee Guide, pp. 20–21). The NCEES exam retake policy explains when you can test again. If your retake falls in April 2027 or later, switch to the new HCM and MUTCD editions. |
Turn each miss into a next task
A wrong answer is only useful if you know which step failed. Log every miss, and every correct guess, in a table like this one. A notebook or spreadsheet works fine.
| Problem | Area | Your answer | Reference and edition | First wrong step | Corrected setup | Next task and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem 10 (example) | Vertical Design | 335 ft | WSDOT Design Manual M 22-01.23, September 2024, Exhibit 1260-5 | Used the S < L formula without checking S vs. L | L = 2S − 2,158/A = 310.5 ft → 311 ft | Three fresh crest curve problems on Thursday; check S vs. L on each |
Then pick the next task by the kind of error:
- Couldn't choose a method: reread the method in the handbook or standard, then work one untimed example before any timed practice.
- Right method, wrong inputs or units: redo the setup line by line, writing units beside every number.
- Ran out of time finding the answer: practice locating that section (see the drill below).
- Arithmetic slip: recheck with your calculator's history, and keep moving. That one rarely needs a whole session.
Don't count a fix until you've solved a different problem with the same method. Remembering the answer to a repeated problem isn't the same evidence.
Practice finding answers in the references
On exam day, finding the right page fast is half the work. Run this drill with the standards for your test date. Use two minutes per search as a practice target by your final review.
- Signal Warrant 1 volume table: MUTCD Table 4C-1 (both editions)
- Taper length formulas: MUTCD Table 6C-4 (2009) or Table 6B-4 (11th edition)
- Pedestrian walking speed, usual minimum WALK, and its exceptions: MUTCD Section 4E.06 (2009) or Section 4I.06 (11th edition)
- The four temporary traffic control zone areas: MUTCD Sections 6C.03–6C.07 (2009) or 6B.03–6B.07 (11th edition)
- Stopping sight distance table for design speed: search the Green Book for "stopping sight distance"
- Clear zone distances: search the Roadside Design Guide for "clear zone"
- Culvert inlet control: search HDS-5 for "inlet control"
- Crash modification factors for a specific treatment: search the Highway Safety Manual for the treatment name
For each search, write down the document, edition, section, the search term that worked, and how long it took. A slow search on exam day costs you twice: once to find it, and again to get your focus back.
Common questions
Is the PE Civil Transportation exam still breadth and depth? No. The Transportation-specific topic list effective April 2024 applies to all 80 questions. There's no shared breadth portion anymore (NCEES Transportation specifications).
Do I need to buy the design standards? NCEES supplies the listed standards and the handbook during the exam, but it doesn't sell the standards for study. They're available from their publishers. The handbook is free through your MyNCEES account (NCEES handbook instructions). The FHWA documents are free on FHWA's website: MUTCD 2009 with Revisions 1 and 2, MUTCD 11th edition (2023), and HDS-5, third edition.
Does passing the exam make me a PE? No. Your state or territorial licensing board decides who can take the exam and who gets licensed. Check its requirements before you register (NCEES PE exam page, requirements by state; Examinee Guide, p. 2; NCEES: P.E. license).
How do I register? Through MyNCEES, after any board approval your state requires. See NCEES exam registration for the steps and NCEES exam accommodations if you need testing accommodations. If you haven't picked a discipline yet, PE exam prep compares them.
When do results come out? Usually 7–10 days after your exam (Examinee Guide, p. 14). NCEES exam results explains what the report shows.
Sources
Official NCEES sources:
- NCEES PE Civil exam page: format, appointment time, fee, references, pass rates
- PE Civil: Transportation specifications, exams before April 2027 (PDF)
- PE Civil: Transportation specifications, exams beginning April 2027 (PDF)
- NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (PDF): sections, breaks, references, scoring, calculators, eligibility
- NCEES computer-based testing: alternative item types and scoring
- NCEES 2026 calculator list (PDF), p. 1; NCEES exams page: current calculator policy
Standards and teaching sources (used for the practice problems; except the MUTCD, these are not the documents supplied on the exam):
- FHWA MUTCD: 2009 edition and 11th edition
- FHWA Traffic Data Computation Method Pocket Guide
- FHWA Road Safety Fundamentals, Unit 4, Chapter 11: Crash rate
- FHWA Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Primer
- FHWA Federal Lands PDDM, Earthwork Design
- FHWA Clear Zone and Horizontal Clearance; Low-Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety (2016), Chapter 6
- ADOT Construction Manual, Chapter 13
- FHWA Speed Concepts: Informational Guide
- TxDOT Roadway Design Manual, Stopping Sight Distance and Intersection Sight Distance
- WSDOT Design Manual, Chapter 1260
- FHWA Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements, Chapter 5: phase relationships and compaction and pavement structural number
- FHWA HDS-4, Design of Roadside Drainage Channels
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team
Last verified: October 7, 2026. We checked the NCEES exam format, fee, pass rates, Transportation topic ranges, both design-standard lists, the Examinee Guide policies cited here, and the MUTCD sections in the change table. We also checked the cited teaching principles and recalculated every numerical answer in the practice set.
AI tools assisted with drafting, source checks, and calculation checks under our editorial standards. These checks are not a licensed professional engineer's review.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by NCEES, Pearson, or a licensing board. Exam, credential, and standard names are used to identify their subjects, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. The practice problems on this page are original and are not official NCEES exam questions. This page doesn't guarantee passing or licensure.