The FE Environmental exam tests your knowledge across a broad spectrum of environmental engineering topics — from water and wastewater treatment to air quality, solid waste management, and environmental regulations. This practice exam book gives you 100 questions that mirror the real NCEES exam in format, difficulty, and topic coverage. Each question includes a detailed solution that walks you through the calculations and reasoning.
Whether you are a recent environmental engineering graduate or a working professional looking to earn your EIT credential, this book provides the exam-realistic practice you need to identify weak areas and build confidence before test day.
Book Highlights
- 100 Practice Questions aligned to the current NCEES FE Environmental exam specification
- Detailed Solutions with step-by-step calculations and regulatory references
- Full Topic Coverage across all major exam areas from water treatment to ecology
- Exam-Realistic Format matching NCEES question style and difficulty
- Weighted Distribution reflecting actual exam topic proportions
What Topics Does This Book Cover?
The question distribution mirrors the NCEES exam specification, with the highest-weight topics receiving the most questions:
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Water & Wastewater Treatment | 14 |
| Air Quality & Pollution Control | 9 |
| Solid & Hazardous Waste | 8 |
| Hydrology & Water Resources | 8 |
| Environmental Regulations | 7 |
| Groundwater & Remediation | 6 |
| Ecology & Biology | 6 |
| Sustainability & Environmental Impact | 5 |
| Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics | 6 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 9 |
| Chemistry & Microbiology | 6 |
| Engineering Economics | 5 |
| Noise Pollution & Measurement | 4 |
| Ethics & Professional Practice | 4 |
| Health & Safety | 3 |
| Total | 100 |
Sample Question
Question: A wastewater treatment plant receives a flow of 10 MGD with a BOD5 of 200 mg/L. If the aeration basin achieves 90% BOD removal, what is the effluent BOD5 concentration?
(A) 10 mg/L
(B) 20 mg/L
(C) 30 mg/L
(D) 40 mg/L
View Solution
With 90% BOD removal, the remaining BOD in the effluent is:
Effluent BOD = Influent BOD × (1 − Removal Efficiency)
Effluent BOD = 200 × (1 − 0.90) = 200 × 0.10 = 20 mg/L
Note: The flow rate (10 MGD) is not needed for this calculation, but it would be used to determine the mass loading rate. Recognizing which information is needed — and which is not — is an important exam skill.
Answer: (B)
How to Use This Book Effectively
Environmental engineering spans science, engineering, and regulatory knowledge. Here is how to structure your practice:
- Identify your gaps early. Work through 20–25 questions from different topic areas and score yourself. The results tell you where to invest your study time.
- Focus on water and wastewater first. Water and wastewater treatment is the single largest topic area on the FE Environmental exam. Make sure you are comfortable with treatment process design, removal calculations, and regulatory standards.
- Learn the regulations. Environmental engineering is heavily regulated. Know the key provisions of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA, and CERCLA. These come up as both standalone questions and context for calculation problems.
- Practice with your handbook. Use the NCEES FE Reference Handbook while solving problems. Build the habit of quickly finding the right formula or table.
- Simulate exam conditions. Once you have reviewed the material, work through the remaining questions at exam pace — about 2.9 minutes per question under timed conditions.
Get Your Copy
100 exam-realistic practice questions with detailed step-by-step solutions.
View on AmazonAlso available: Online practice with full exam simulation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the FE Environmental exam harder than FE Civil?
The two exams test different knowledge areas. FE Environmental focuses heavily on water and wastewater treatment, air quality, solid waste management, and environmental regulations, while FE Civil emphasizes structural analysis, geotechnical, and transportation. Difficulty is subjective and depends on your coursework and experience. Choose the discipline that best matches your background.
How many practice problems should I solve for the FE Environmental exam?
Aim for at least 300 to 500 practice problems across all topic areas. This book provides 100 exam-realistic questions as a core component of your preparation. Supplement with review manual problems, online practice, and the official NCEES practice exam to build a well-rounded study plan.
What calculator should I use for the FE Environmental exam?
Only NCEES-approved calculators are permitted. The TI-36X Pro is the most popular choice among FE examinees due to its unit conversion features, statistics functions, and ease of use. Practice solving problems from this book with your approved calculator to build familiarity before exam day.
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