The Review Course Decision
One of the first decisions you face when preparing for the FE exam is whether to invest in a review course. With prices ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, this is a significant financial commitment. This analysis helps you evaluate whether a review course is the right investment for your situation.
What Review Courses Offer
A typical FE exam review course includes:
- Structured curriculum covering all exam content areas
- Video lectures or live instruction from experienced engineers
- Practice problems organized by topic
- Full-length practice exams
- Study schedules and progress tracking
- Access to instructors for questions (varies by course)
- Supplementary materials (formula sheets, quick reference guides)
Arguments for Taking a Review Course
Structure and Accountability
A review course provides a ready-made study plan, eliminating the need to create your own. This structure is valuable if you struggle with self-directed study or tend to procrastinate. Having a curriculum to follow and deadlines to meet keeps your preparation on track.
Expert Instruction
Good review courses are taught by engineers who understand the exam content deeply and know which topics are most heavily tested. They can explain difficult concepts clearly and share insights about common exam question patterns that self-study materials may not provide.
Comprehensive Coverage
A well-designed review course ensures you cover every content area on the exam. Self-studying candidates sometimes skip topics they find boring or difficult, creating dangerous blind spots on exam day.
Practice Materials
Review courses typically include large banks of practice problems, which is one of the most valuable components. Creating or sourcing your own practice problems from multiple free resources takes significant time and may not produce questions at the right difficulty level.
Arguments Against a Review Course
Cost
Review courses range from $200 to $1500 or more. For some candidates, this cost is prohibitive, especially those who are between jobs or early in their careers. The FE exam fee itself is already a significant expense.
One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Review courses move at a set pace and cover topics in a predetermined order. If you are already strong in certain areas, you may spend time on topics you do not need to review. Conversely, the course may not spend enough time on your particular weak areas.
Self-Discipline Required Anyway
Even with a review course, you must do the work. A course is not a magic solution. If you do not complete the assignments, watch the lectures, and solve the practice problems, the course will not help you. Candidates who are sufficiently self-disciplined to complete a course are often self-disciplined enough to study independently.
Who Benefits Most from a Review Course?
A review course is most valuable for candidates who:
- Graduated more than 3 to 5 years ago and need significant content review
- Struggle with self-directed study and need external structure
- Have the financial resources and see the course as an investment in their career
- Failed a previous attempt and need a different preparation approach
- Have limited time and want a comprehensive, ready-made study plan
Who Can Succeed Without One?
Self-study may be sufficient for candidates who:
- Graduated recently with a strong GPA in an engineering program
- Are disciplined self-studiers who can create and follow their own plan
- Have strong foundational knowledge and mainly need practice and review
- Are budget-conscious and willing to invest time in finding free or low-cost resources
Cost-Effective Alternatives
If a full review course is not in your budget, consider these alternatives:
- NCEES Practice Exam ($35-50): The single most valuable purchase you can make. Provides authentic exam questions in the actual software format.
- FE Review Books ($30-80): Condensed review of all topics with practice problems. Much less expensive than a full course.
- Online Practice Platforms (free to $50/month): Access large question banks with detailed solutions and performance tracking.
- Free Resources: YouTube lectures, university course notes, and the free FE Reference Handbook provide substantial study material at no cost.
- Study Groups (free): Organize a study group for peer instruction and accountability.
Making Your Decision
Consider the cost of not passing. The exam fee is nonrefundable, and failing means paying again plus investing additional study time. If a review course significantly increases your probability of passing on the first attempt, the investment may be worthwhile even at a higher price point. Calculate the total cost of your preferred approach (course plus exam fee) versus the cost of failing and retaking (additional exam fee plus more study time plus delayed career advancement).