PE Civil Structural Practice Exams

Take two full-length PE Structural practice exams — 160 questions in the five PEwise-supported question formats, with detailed solutions and results by topic. Work in exam mode or study mode, on standard exam time or on the extra time NCEES has approved for you.

For PE Civil: Structural candidates — not the separate NCEES Structural Engineering (SE) exam. See the difference

  • 2 full-length practice exams
  • 160 questions
  • Flexible timing
  • Detailed solutions
  • Results by topic

$149, one payment · both exams come with the full Structural video course · 90 days of access

Want to see the simulator first? Take the free 10-question Structural sample — same interface, no credit card.

Why Practice With PEwise?

You practice in a CBT-style environment built around the current NCEES PE Civil: Structural exam specification. Each exam gives you a built-in practice calculator, Structural reference documents open alongside the questions (plus a panel for the standards you upload yourself), a timed session you can set to suit the sitting, and a detailed step-by-step solution for every question.

Sit Practice Exam 1 first to get comfortable with the interface and find your weak areas, then take Practice Exam 2 — an all-new question set, rated more difficult than Exam 1 by an independent reviewer — closer to test day. After each one you get your results broken down by NCEES topic, so you know exactly what to study next.

TI-36X Pro practice calculator
4 Reference PDFs
Timed Sessions
Break System
Question Flagging
Detailed Solutions
Results by NCEES topic

The Question Formats You'll Face

The PEwise simulator supports five question formats, and both 80-question simulations use all five, so nothing on exam day is the first time you meet a format.

Multiple choice

One correct option, as on most of the exam.

Select all that apply

All-or-nothing scoring, with no partial credit.

Fill in the blank

Type a numerical answer, no options to work backwards from.

Drag and drop

Match, sort, rank or label items.

Point and click

Click the right part of a figure.

NCEES describes its alternative item types with examples rather than a fixed list, so these are the formats PEwise supports — not a claim to cover every format NCEES may use.

Exam Mode or Study Mode

Every practice exam opens either way, and you choose each time you start.

Exam mode

Timed, with the scheduled break and question flagging, exactly as the exam runs. Solutions stay locked until you submit, so the score you get is the score you earned.

Study mode

Untimed. Check each answer as you go and read the full worked solution before moving on — the better way through a topic you are still learning.

Choosing your exam time

In exam mode you sit each 80-question simulation on standard time — 8 hours, with the optional scheduled break. If NCEES has approved additional time for you, set the same allowance here so you practice under the conditions you will actually have on exam day. PEwise does not grant or verify accommodations; NCEES and Pearson VUE handle those requests.

See Your Results by Structural Topic

When you submit, you get your score and a breakdown of how you did in every NCEES Structural knowledge area — so you know what to review next instead of guessing.

  • Your score out of the full question count
  • How many you answered correctly in each of the 5 NCEES knowledge areas
  • Every question reopened with its full worked solution and reference citation
  • Saved to your exam history, so you can see how your scores trend across attempts

It shows you where the points went, not whether you will pass — no practice score can tell you that.

Try the free 10-question sample to see the whole interface, report included, before you enroll.

Exam Complete!

Your Score:

55 / 80 (69%)

Performance by NCEES Exam Topic

1. Analysis of Structures — Loads and Load Applications11/15 (73%)
2. Analysis of Structures — Forces and Load Effects14/20 (70%)
3. Temporary Structures and Other Topics5/7 (71%)
4. Design and Details of Structures — Materials and Material Properties8/12 (67%)
5. Design and Details of Structures — Component Design and Detailing17/26 (65%)
Review Your Answers

Example report

Compare the Two Structural Practice Exams

Practice Exam 1: Full Simulation

A full-length 80-question exam in a CBT-style environment covering the complete PE Civil Structural blueprint — loads and load applications, forces and load effects, temporary structures, materials, and steel, concrete, wood, and foundation component design — with a realistic mix of difficulty levels. Each question includes a detailed step-by-step solution with the governing reference.

All five PEwise-supported question formats:

Multiple ChoiceSelect All That ApplyFill in the BlankDrag and DropPoint and Click
Full-length · all five question formats
Topic Coverage (click to expand)
  • • Analysis of Structures — Loads and Load Applications — 15 questions
  • • Analysis of Structures — Forces and Load Effects — 20 questions
  • • Temporary Structures and Other Topics — 7 questions
  • • Design and Details of Structures — Materials and Material Properties — 12 questions
  • • Design and Details of Structures — Component Design and Detailing — 26 questions
Questions

80

5 question formats

Duration

8 Hours

Timed exam

Practice Exam 2: Full Simulation — All-New Problems

HARDER

Rated more difficult than Exam 1 by an independent reviewer.

A second full-length 80-question exam with an entirely new question set, covering all five NCEES Structural knowledge areas and all five PEwise-supported question formats. Each question includes a detailed step-by-step solution with the governing reference.

All five PEwise-supported question formats:

Multiple ChoiceSelect All That ApplyFill in the BlankDrag and DropPoint and Click
Full-length · all-new question set
Topic Coverage (click to expand)
  • • Analysis of Structures — Loads and Load Applications — 15 questions
  • • Analysis of Structures — Forces and Load Effects — 20 questions
  • • Temporary Structures and Other Topics — 6 questions
  • • Design and Details of Structures — Materials and Material Properties — 12 questions
  • • Design and Details of Structures — Component Design and Detailing — 27 questions
Questions

80

5 question formats

Duration

8 Hours

Timed exam

Structural Topics Covered

Questions span all 5 knowledge areas of the NCEES PE Civil: Structural exam specification, named here exactly as NCEES names them, with the number of questions NCEES allots each area on the real exam:

  1. Analysis of Structures — Loads and Load Applications · 12–18 questions
  2. Analysis of Structures — Forces and Load Effects · 17–26 questions
  3. Temporary Structures and Other Topics · 5–8 questions
  4. Design and Details of Structures — Materials and Material Properties · 10–15 questions
  5. Design and Details of Structures — Component Design and Detailing · 26–39 questions

Specification and References

These practice exams are written to the current NCEES PE Civil: Structural exam specification, across all five of its knowledge areas. NCEES updates the list of supplied design standards from time to time without changing those knowledge areas, so check the specification that applies to your own exam date.

These 4 Structural reference documents are built into the exam interface and open beside every question:

  • AISC 360-22 — Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
  • AISC 303-22 — Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges
  • 29 CFR 1903 — Inspections, Citations, and Penalties
  • 29 CFR 1926 — Safety and Health Regulations for Construction

Licensing restrictions prevent us from distributing these directly, so you upload your own PDFs:

  • NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook — upload your own PDF; free from MyNCEES.
  • ACI 318 — 2014. Upload your own PDF, or available from ACI.
  • ASCE/SEI 7-16 — 2016. Upload your own PDF, or available from ASCE.
  • International Building Code — 2018. Upload your own PDF, or available from ICC.
  • NDS, National Design Specification for Wood Construction — 2018. Upload your own PDF, or available from AWC.
  • AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications — 8th edition, 2017. Upload your own PDF, or available from AASHTO.
  • AISC Steel Construction Manual — 15th edition, 2017. Upload your own PDF, or available from AISC.

Uploaded files open in the same reference panel as the built-in documents, so you sit the exam with everything in one place. Your files stay in your browser and are never sent to PEwise.

Calculator Policy

For calculations, you have two options:

  • Use your own approved calculator — The NCEES-approved calculators for 2026 include:
    • Casio: All fx-115 and fx-991 models
    • Hewlett Packard: HP 33s and HP 35s models only
    • Texas Instruments: All TI-30X and TI-36X models
  • Use the built-in TI-36X Pro practice calculator available in the exam interface, so you can practice without a physical calculator to hand.

Note that NCEES identifies the TI-30XS MultiView as the on-screen calculator in its own testing software. The PEwise practice calculator is a TI-36X Pro — a different model, and not a replica of the official on-screen tool.

PE Structural Practice Exam FAQ

Two, totaling 160 questions. Both are full-length 80-question simulations with 8-hour timers. Practice Exam 2 is an entirely new question set rather than a re-mix of Exam 1, and an independent reviewer rated it more difficult than Exam 1.
Each 80-question simulation runs on an 8-hour timer with an optional scheduled break, matching the length and pacing of the computer-based PE Civil: Structural exam. They are timed on purpose, so you build the stamina an eight-hour sitting demands, not just the knowledge.
Yes. Before you start an exam you can choose standard time or add 25%, 50% or 100% more, and there is a separate untimed Study mode where you check each answer as you go and read the full solution before moving on. These are practice settings available to every student; PEwise does not grant or verify testing accommodations — official requests go through NCEES registration and Pearson VUE.
Your score, and a breakdown of how many questions you answered correctly in each of the five NCEES Structural knowledge areas, so you can see which areas to review before the next attempt. Every question then opens for review with the correct answer and a full worked solution, and the attempt is saved to your exam history. The report shows where the points went, not whether you will pass — no practice score can tell you that.
Yes — every question has a step-by-step worked solution with the reference citation it comes from, available in the post-exam review. Solutions unlock when you finish a timed exam; in Study mode you see each one as you go.
Four documents are built into the exam interface and open beside the questions: AISC 360-22, AISC 303-22, and OSHA 29 CFR Parts 1903 and 1926. The remaining design standards on the NCEES Structural list — the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook, ACI 318, ASCE/SEI 7, the International Building Code, the NDS, the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and the AISC Steel Construction Manual — cannot be redistributed, so you upload your own copies and they open in the same panel. The handbook is free once you register or log in at MyNCEES (account.ncees.org); your files stay in your browser and are never sent to PEwise.
The current NCEES PE Civil: Structural exam specification. Questions are written across all five of its knowledge areas, and the simulator mirrors how questions are presented, timed and navigated at Pearson VUE testing centers. NCEES updates the list of supplied design standards from time to time without changing those knowledge areas, so check the specification for your own exam date.
Yes. Your answers and progress are saved automatically in your browser as you work, so you can close the tab and pick the exam back up later on the same device. The simulator also includes the same scheduled break system as the real CBT exam, which locks the questions you've already viewed once you step away — exactly as it works at the testing center.
Yes — you can retake either exam as many times as you like while your enrollment is active. Every attempt is saved to your exam history, so you can watch how your scores trend as you study.
Single-answer multiple-choice questions are scored the standard way: select the one correct option. 'Select all that apply' questions are scored all-or-nothing — you must select every correct option and no incorrect ones to earn credit, with no partial credit, the same approach the real exam uses. After you submit, every question shows the correct answer alongside a detailed step-by-step solution, so you can see exactly where points were won or lost.
Five formats are supported in the PEwise simulator: multiple choice, select all that apply, fill in the blank, drag and drop, and point and click on a figure. Both 80-question simulations use all five. NCEES describes its alternative item types with non-exhaustive examples, so these are the formats PEwise supports — not a claim to cover every format NCEES may use.
The simulator has a built-in TI-36X Pro practice calculator you can open inside the exam interface, so you do not need a physical calculator to practice. You can also use your own NCEES-approved model — the approved list covers the Casio fx-115 and fx-991 series, the HP 33s and 35s, and the TI-30X and TI-36X series. Note that NCEES identifies the TI-30XS MultiView as the official on-screen calculator in its own testing software; the PEwise practice calculator is a different model and is not a replica of it.
They are included with the PE Civil Structural course — there is no separate practice-exam purchase. Enrolling gives you both exams together with the video lessons, worked examples, module quizzes and weekly live Q&A for the length of your access period.
PE Civil: Structural. They prepare candidates for the NCEES PE Civil exam with the Structural depth, not the separate NCEES Structural Engineering (SE) exam, which has its own specification and format. Our PE Civil Structural vs SE guide on the blog explains the differences.
Yes. Create a free PEwise account and take a 10-question Structural sample in the same simulator, drawn from these practice exams and covering all five supported question formats. No credit card required — you can start it from the Civil PE practice exams page.
No. They run only in the online simulator, because the point is to rehearse the computer-based-test experience — the on-screen reference panel, the calculator, flagging, the scheduled break and the timer. There is no printable or downloadable version of the exams.
No. Every PEwise question is written independently by our own engineers to match the format and topic coverage of the NCEES specification. PEwise is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by NCEES, and none of our questions are taken from an official NCEES exam or practice publication.

Studying a different discipline, or want to try the simulator first? See all Civil PE practice exams — including a free 10-question PE practice exam sample.

Start Practicing

Both practice exams — 160 questions with detailed solutions, flexible timing and results by topic — come with the PE Civil Structural course, alongside 730 lesson topics, worked examples, module quizzes, weekly live Q&A and the pass guarantee. One payment of $149.

See the full PE Civil Structural curriculum