The Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FEE), organized by the Professional Engineers Board (PEB), Singapore, is an important step for civil engineers aiming to become Professional Engineers (PEs). This exam tests your knowledge, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities to ensure you meet the high standards needed for professional practice.
Passing the FEE is more than just a requirement—it’s proof of your dedication, expertise, and readiness to take on bigger roles in your career.
To make your preparation easier, here’s a clear guide to the eligibility criteria, exam syllabus, and structure, tailored specifically for civil engineers.
Eligibility Criteria
To sit for the FEE, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Educational Qualifications:
- Must be in the final year or have completed a full-time 4-year undergraduate degree in engineering.
- The degree must be approved under the Professional Engineers (Approved Qualifications) Notification 2009 or other recognized qualifications by the board.
Practical Experience:
- Although practical experience is not required to attempt the FEE.
Application Requirements:
- Apply via the website before the deadline.
Exam Format and Structure
The FEE is a 6-hour open-book examination divided into two parts:
Part 1 (3 hours, 10 minutes)
Focus: Breadth across core civil engineering topics typically covered in the first two years of an undergraduate program.
Format: 40 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
Core Topics:
- CE 101 Mechanics of Materials
- CE 102 Structural Mechanics
- CE 103 Structural Analysis
- CE 104 Soil Mechanics
- CE 105 Fluid Mechanics
Part 2 (3 hours, 10 minutes)
Focus: Depth in specialized and core civil engineering subjects from the third and fourth years of an undergraduate program.
Format: 5 out of 9 descriptive questions.
Specialized Topics:
- CE 201 Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures (2 Qs)
- CE 202 Steel Structures (2 Qs)
- CE 203 Geotechnical Engineering (2 Qs)
- CE 204 Transportation (1 Q)
- CE 205 Hydraulics and Hydrology (1 Q)
- CE 206 Environmental Engineering (1 Q)
Also Read: FEE Sample MCQs with Answer and Explanation Part 1 (Civil)
Syllabus
CE 101 Mechanics of Materials
Mechanics of Materials: Strength, stiffness, and deformability; Stress-strain relations; ductility and brittle fracture; time-dependent properties; creep, creep rupture; relaxation; cyclic load behavior.
Concrete Technology: Concrete-making materials, properties of fresh and hardened concrete, mixing, placing, and curing, mix design, destructive and non-destructive tests, quality control, durability, and special concrete.
Steel: Basic metallurgy, mechanical properties, and applications, welding technology, and corrosion.
CE 102 Structural Mechanics
Structural Mechanics: Statics and kinetics of particles, equilibrium of rigid bodies, kinematics and plane motion of rigid bodies, analysis of simple trusses and beams, analysis of structural members subjected to tension, compression, torsion, and bending, including such fundamental concepts as stress, strain, and elastic behavior. Bar forces in compound and complex trusses. Bending moment,
shear and axial forces of beams and frames.
CE 103 Structural Analysis
Structural Analysis: Displacements of elastic determinate structures: principle of virtual work and energy theorems. Analysis of indeterminate structures. Deformation of indeterminate structures and
influence line method. Displacement techniques using slope deflection and moment distribution methods. Plastic theory and analysis. Theory and applications of modern structural analysis.
Concepts of equilibrium, compatibility, and force-displacement relationships. Direct stiffness method. Matrix formulation of trusses, beams, and frames. Stability concepts and elastic stability analysis of framed structures.
CE 104 Soil Mechanics
Basic geology, unified soil classification system, mechanical properties, effective stress principle, shear strength, compressibility, and seepage and consolidation; Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion (drained and undrained), settlement calculations, rate of consolidation using classical Terzaghi theory.
CE 105 Fluid Mechanics
Fluid Statics: Fluid properties; hydrostatic pressure and thrust; buoyancy; stability of floating bodies.
Fluid Motion: Continuity equations; Bernoulli’s equation; linear momentum equation.
Similitude: Dimensional analysis; design of hydraulic models.
CE 201 Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures
RC Design: Basic structural members and structural systems. Loads and load effects. Section analysis and design for bending. Design for shear, torsion, and bond. Corbels. Serviceability and durability requirements. Design of short and slender columns.Design of slab systems. Concentrated loads on slabs. Design of foundations. Retaining walls. Reinforced concrete detailing.
Prestressed Concrete Design: Basic concepts of prestressing. Materials and prestressing systems. Prestressed losses and time-dependent deformation. The behavior and design of members are subject to flexure, shear, and combined axial and bending action.
CE 202 Steel Structures
Steel Design: Limit state design. Material properties and structural responses. Local buckling and section classifications. Design of fully restrained beams. Shear buckling and design of plate girder.
Web bearing and buckling. Design of web stiffeners. Lateral torsional buckling and design of laterally unrestrained beams. Tension and compression members. Axially loaded members with end moments. Design of steel connections. Plastic design of portal frames. Continuous multi-storey frames.
CE 203 Geotechnical Engineering
Slope Stability and Earth Retaining Structures: Introduction to slope stability and earth retaining structures; slopes and embankments; earth pressure and retaining structures; deep excavations; calculation of active and passive earth pressures; design considerations about deep
excavations.
Foundation Engineering: Site investigation and interpretation of soil reports; shallow foundations and deep foundations; selection of appropriate foundation type; capacity and settlement requirements.
CE 204 Transportation
Transportation Engineering: Transportation systems, planning, and management; geometric
design of roads and intersections; design of flexible and rigid pavements.
Traffic Engineering: Traffic flow studies; traffic data analysis; traffic management; highway and intersection capacity; traffic signal control. Parking.
CE 205 Hydraulics and Hydrology
Hydraulics: Friction and minor losses in pipe flow; pipe and pump systems; pipe network analysis; open channel flow; uniform flow, Manning’s equation; critical flow; energy and momentum principles; hydraulic jumps; gradually varied flows, backwater computation.
Hydrology: Processes in the hydrologic cycle: basic meteorology, rainfall precipitation, evaporation and transpiration, infiltration, subsurface flow, surface runoff, streamflow measurement, and hydrograph analysis; unit hydrograph principles and applications; frequency analysis of rainfall or flood data; reservoir and channel flood routing; urban storm drainage design, flood peak estimation.
CE 206 Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering: Basic physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters; physical, chemical, and biological processes for water and wastewater treatment; water treatment principles and design; water distribution systems; wastewater collection and pumping systems; wastewater treatment design; pretreatment, primary, secondary, tertiary treatment, and anaerobic digestion.
Additional Information
- Code Standards: Answers must adhere to Eurocodes and relevant Singapore Annexes. For transportation-related questions, AASHTO standards are acceptable.
- Exam Fees: The application fee is $350.
