Episodes

  • FE Exam Prep 6, NCEES Model Rules — Hold Paramount Public Safety

    FE Exam Prep 6, NCEES Model Rules — Hold Paramount Public Safety
    May 3 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The engineer's first and foremost responsibility is to safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare. - This paramount duty overrides all other obligations, including loyalty to an employer, client demands, or project budgets. - FE exam questions test this concept through situational scenarios involving conflicts of interest, pressure to compromise standards, and confidentiality dilemmas. - A common exam trap involves choosing an answer that delegates or ignores your personal ethical responsibility; the correct action is to refuse to comply with unsafe directives and report them through proper channels. - Use the mnemonic "Public over Paycheck" to quickly identify the correct course of action in complex ethics questions. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • FE Exam Prep 5, Scoring, Cut Score, and Retake Strategy

    FE Exam Prep 5, Scoring, Cut Score, and Retake Strategy
    May 2 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The FE exam is strictly pass/fail; you will not receive a numerical score. - The passing standard is set by subject matter experts using the Modified Angoff method, not a fixed percentage. - A failing result includes a diagnostic report showing your performance by subject area compared to passing candidates. - NCEES policy allows one attempt per testing window and a maximum of three attempts in a 12-month period. - The most effective retake strategy involves using your diagnostic report to focus study efforts on your weakest areas. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • FE Exam Prep 4, Navigating the Reference Handbook v10.0.1

    FE Exam Prep 4, Navigating the Reference Handbook v10.0.1
    May 1 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why the NCEES FE Reference Handbook is a navigation test, not a memory test. - How to use the Ctrl+F search function as your primary problem-solving strategy. - To identify and avoid common exam traps related to unit conversions and formula selection. - The importance of downloading and practicing exclusively with the official, current PDF version. - A mental shortcut, "Search, Don't Scroll," to maximize your speed and efficiency during the exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • FE Exam Prep 3, NCEES-Approved Calculators — HP 35s, TI-36X Pro, Casio fx-115/991

    FE Exam Prep 3, NCEES-Approved Calculators — HP 35s, TI-36X Pro, Casio fx-115/991
    Apr 30 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The exact NCEES-approved calculator models for the FE exam (TI-36X Pro, Casio fx-115/991, HP 35s) and why graphing calculators are banned. - How to use advanced functions like matrix solvers and complex number operations to save critical time on exam problems. - The most common and costly calculator mistake involving Degrees and Radians mode that can invalidate your calculations. - The consequences of bringing a non-approved calculator to the test center and the importance of checking the official NCEES list. - A memorable mnemonic (M.O.D.E.) to ensure your calculator is always set up correctly to avoid unforced errors. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • FE Exam Prep 2, CBT Mechanics — Pearson VUE Check-in, On-Screen Calculator, Breaks

    FE Exam Prep 2, CBT Mechanics — Pearson VUE Check-in, On-Screen Calculator, Breaks
    Apr 29 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Arrive 30 minutes early with a valid, government-issued photo ID that exactly matches your NCEES registration name. - The 6-hour appointment includes a tutorial and a 25-minute scheduled break, with 5 hours and 20 minutes of actual testing time. - Rely on your own NCEES-approved physical calculator, as the provided on-screen version is inefficient for exam conditions. - The exam clock does not stop for unscheduled breaks, so any time away from your seat is time lost on the exam. - Use the 'flag for review' feature to manage your time, ensuring you answer all questions you know before returning to more difficult ones. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
  • FE Exam Prep 1, What the FE Exam Is and Who Should Take It

    FE Exam Prep 1, What the FE Exam Is and Who Should Take It
    Apr 25 2026

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The FE exam is a 110-question, 5-hour and 20-minute computer-based test, representing the first step toward PE licensure. - While eligibility varies by state, the strategic time to take the exam is during your senior year of an ABET-accredited engineering program. - Passing the exam grants you the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI) designation, a key credential for your early career. - A common exam trap is underestimating the NCEES Reference Handbook; success hinges on your speed and efficiency in using this searchable PDF. - The exam is comprehensive, covering the broad range of subjects from a typical undergraduate engineering curriculum. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
    Show More Show Less
    3 mins