- What This Cheat Sheet Covers (and What It Doesn't)
- Format at a Glance: Four Sections, Four Sittings
- The Numbers Table
- Breadth Map: The 24 Breadth Headings
- Depth Map: Buildings vs. Bridges
- Question Types and Scoring Rules
- What You Can Bring: Closed Book Rules
- Fees, Dates, and Version Boundaries
- Published Pass-Rate Table
- Sequencing Your Sections
- Quick-Answer FAQ
- The exam is four separate computer-based sections: Vertical breadth, Vertical depth, Lateral breadth, and Lateral depth.
- Each breadth section has 55 questions (45 scored); each 2026 depth section has 60 (40 scored).
- Choose Buildings or Bridges for depth once, and use the same option in both components.
- NCEES charges USD 350 per section, so one attempt at all four totals USD 1,400 before board fees.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers (and What It Doesn't)
This page is a one-page-style review of the Principles and Practice of Engineering - Structural examination, issued by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). NCEES labels it "PE Structural," and most candidates search for it as the SE exam. "PE-S" is simply the abbreviation used on this site. It is the full structural exam, not the PE Civil: Structural module and not a buildings-only test.
If you need background on the name itself, see What Is PE-S? or What Does PE-S Stand For?. This article is the compressed reference you keep open beside your study plan. For the full narrative plan, pair it with the PE-S Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Format at a Glance: Four Sections, Four Sittings
The most common misreading of this exam is treating it as one marathon. It is not a single 23-hour test. It is four separately scheduled computer-based sections administered through Pearson VUE:
- Vertical breadth (gravity and other vertical forces, plus incidental lateral)
- Vertical depth
- Lateral breadth (wind and earthquake)
- Lateral depth
Both the Vertical and Lateral components must reach an acceptable result. An acceptable completed-component result does not expire, which means you can pace the components across sittings rather than cramming everything into a single window. Each appointment also includes a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, and a 20-minute scheduled break, so plan your stamina around the appointment length, not just the testing clock.
The Numbers Table
| Item | Breadth (each section) | Depth (each section, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 55 | 60 |
| Scored questions | 45 | 40 |
| Pretest questions | 10 | 20 |
| Actual testing time | 5 hours 30 minutes | 6 hours |
| Appointment length | 6 hours | 6 hours 30 minutes |
| Question format | Multiple-choice, single response | Five 12-item alternative-item-type scenarios |
| Availability | Year-round | Twice yearly (April and October) |
Totaled for one attempt at all four sections: 230 questions (170 scored, 60 pretest), 23 hours of actual testing, and 25 hours of total appointment time across four sittings. Pretest questions are unscored but indistinguishable from scored ones, so treat every question as if it counts.
Breadth Map: The 24 Breadth Headings
Each breadth component repeats the same twelve headings, once for Vertical (Domains 1-12) and once for Lateral (Domains 13-24). The names are:
- Analysis of Structures
- Generation of Loads
- Load Distribution and Analysis Methods
- Design and Details of Structures
- General Structural Considerations
- Structural Systems Integration
- Structural Steel
- Cold-Formed Steel
- Concrete
- Wood
- Masonry
- Foundations and Retaining Structures
The published question ranges are the most useful planning data NCEES gives you. In the Vertical breadth outline, Analysis of Structures runs 15-23 questions and Design and Details of Structures runs 30-48. In the Lateral breadth outline, Analysis runs 17-26 and Design and Details runs 28-46. Design and Details has the larger range in both. NCEES does not publish fixed percentage weights, so do not invent them; treat the ranges as a signal that design and detailing deserves the biggest share of your hours without neglecting analysis.
Vertical Breadth: What Tends to Matter
Gravity loads, load paths, and member design across all the primary materials.
- Load generation and combinations for gravity and other vertical effects
- Distribution of loads through framing to supports and foundations
- Material design in steel, cold-formed steel, concrete, wood, and masonry
- Foundations and retaining structures
Lateral Breadth: What Tends to Matter
Wind and earthquake, from force generation to system behavior.
- Generating wind and seismic loads and understanding which standard applies
- Distribution of lateral force through diaphragms and vertical lateral-force-resisting elements
- Detailing for lateral performance in each structural material
- Structural systems integration, where gravity and lateral systems interact
Breadth subordinate examples in the specifications are illustrative, not exclusive or exhaustive, so a topic missing from an example list can still appear. The full heading-by-heading view is in the PE-S Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 54 Content Areas.
Depth Map: Buildings vs. Bridges
Depth sections are where you specialize. Each is built from scenario topics (the structure types you analyze) and knowledge areas (the engineering tasks that may be tested). NCEES introduces knowledge areas as topics that may be included, not as guaranteed independent allocations.
| Track | Vertical depth scenario topics | Lateral depth scenario topics |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings | Steel structure; Concrete structure; Wood structure; Masonry structure | Steel structure; Concrete structure; Wood and/or masonry structure; General analysis (existing structures, secondary structures, nonbuilding structures, and/or computer verification) |
| Bridges | Concrete superstructure; Steel superstructure; Other elements of bridges (culverts, abutments, retaining walls) | Piers or abutments; Foundations; General analysis of seismic forces |
Buildings Knowledge Areas
Both Vertical and Lateral Buildings depth list the same five knowledge areas:
- Conceptual design and project planning
- Structural loading and analysis
- Design and details of elements
- Design and details of joints and connections
- Preparation of documents and construction administration
Bridges Knowledge Areas
Both Vertical and Lateral Bridges depth list three knowledge areas:
- Conceptual design and project planning
- Structural loading and analysis
- Design and preparation of details
Notice how the Buildings track explicitly includes joints and connections and construction administration, while Bridges folds detailing into one area. The Lateral Buildings scenario list is the only one with a catch-all "General analysis" scenario, so existing-structure evaluation, nonbuilding structures, and computer-verification judgment are fair game there.
Question Types and Scoring Rules
Breadth: Multiple-Choice, Single Response
Breadth questions cover both Buildings and Bridges, regardless of your depth choice. If you plan to take the Buildings depth track, do not skip bridge-related breadth topics; they can appear in your breadth sections.
Depth: Scenario-Based Alternative Item Types
Each 2026 depth section has five scenarios of 12 items each. Four contain 10 scored and 2 pretest items; one contains 12 pretest items. That gives 40 scored and 20 pretest. Alternative item types receive no partial credit, so a multi-part response that is nearly right still earns nothing. Practice recognizing when an item demands an exact selection or entry.
What You Can Bring: Closed Book Rules
The exam is closed book. You work from the supplied electronic NCEES PE Structural Engineering Reference Handbook and the specified electronic design standards. Personal references are not permitted. Key points:
- The applicable 2026 code editions are listed in the exam specifications; confirm them before you buy or download study materials.
- Searchable standards are presented by chapter, so practice navigating by chapter rather than relying on a printed index you will not have.
- Questions use USCS units.
- Only approved calculators are allowed.
The practical consequence: your efficiency with the electronic reference is a skill in itself. Drill under the same navigation constraints on the PE-S practice test site so lookup speed becomes automatic.
Fees, Dates, and Version Boundaries
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee per section | USD 350 |
| One attempt at all four sections | USD 1,400 (calculated; excludes board charges, preparation costs, and retakes) |
| Breadth availability | Year-round |
| Depth availability | Twice yearly (April and October) |
| Next Lateral depth administration | October 27, 2026 |
| Next Vertical depth administration | October 28, 2026 |
For a full budget view that includes retakes and prep spending, read the PE-S Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for scheduling logistics use PE-S Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The April 2027 Format Change
Beginning April 2027, each depth section changes to 48 questions (40 scored, 8 pretest), still with 6 hours of actual testing, and includes multiple-choice plus alternative item types. NCEES posts separate 2027 specifications and standards. Keep the two versions cleanly apart: the 2026 numbers in this article apply to the 2026 administrations only. One source quirk worth knowing: the NCEES Examinee Guide summary table lists 60 depth questions alongside 2027 dates, but the dedicated Structural page specifies 48 starting April 2027, and that version-specific notice governs.
Key Takeaway
If your depth attempt could land on either side of the April 2027 boundary, download the specification and standards list for the exact administration you register for, and study from that version only.
Published Pass-Rate Table
NCEES publishes pass rates per section and per depth option, with first-time and repeat cohorts reported separately. The table updated July 2026 reports:
| Section / Option | First-time | Repeat | Examinees (first-time / repeat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lateral breadth | 45% | 26% | 167 / 54 |
| Lateral depth - Bridges | 63% | 57% | 32 / 14 |
| Lateral depth - Buildings | 63% | 73% | 131 / 161 |
| Vertical breadth | 44% | 45% | 209 / 64 |
| Vertical depth - Bridges | 37% | 56% | 46 / 16 |
| Vertical depth - Buildings | 54% | 68% | 188 / 152 |
These are separate section and option populations, not a single overall pass rate, and they are not October 2026 results. Small cohorts (for example, 14 or 16 repeat Bridges examinees) swing widely, so avoid reading too much into any single cell. A fair takeaway is that breadth sections have the lowest first-time rates in this table, which argues for taking breadth seriously rather than treating it as a warm-up. For deeper interpretation, see PE-S Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the PE-S Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Sequencing Your Sections
Because completed-component results do not expire and breadth is offered year-round, sequencing is a real strategic lever. One sensible approach, tied to the exam's structure:
Breadth Foundations
- Work Design and Details of Structures first, since it carries the larger published question range in both breadth outlines.
- Cycle through steel, concrete, wood, masonry, and cold-formed steel, then foundations and retaining structures.
Loads and Analysis
- Drill load generation and combinations, then load distribution methods.
- Shift to lateral: wind and seismic force generation, diaphragm and shear-force distribution.
Depth Targeting
- Pick Buildings or Bridges and rehearse the five-scenario format with no-partial-credit discipline.
- Time yourself against 6 hours of actual testing and the 20-minute scheduled break.
This is a framework, not a prescription. Build the full calendar with the PE-S Study Guide and lean on PE-S training resources for structured practice.
Eligibility Is a Board Matter
Passing the four sections is only one component of licensure. Licensing-board eligibility, acceptance of this examination, license issuance, and continuing-education renewal are all handled separately by your jurisdiction's board. NCEES provides context on board-specific continuing professional competency tracking, but your board makes the call. Start with PE-S Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, and if you are weighing the investment, see Is the PE-S Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
Quick-Answer FAQ
No. It is four separately scheduled sections taken in four sittings. The 23 hours is the combined actual testing time for one attempt at all four, with 25 hours of total appointment time.
No. You choose one option for depth and must use the same option in both the Vertical and Lateral components. Breadth questions, however, cover both Buildings and Bridges.
NCEES charges USD 350 per section, so one attempt at all four is USD 1,400. That excludes licensing-board charges, preparation costs, and any retakes.
An acceptable completed-component result does not expire. You still need acceptable results in both Vertical and Lateral components, and your board's own rules govern licensure.
Each depth section changes to 48 questions (40 scored, 8 pretest) with 6 hours of testing, using multiple-choice plus alternative item types. Use the separate 2027 specifications and standards for those administrations, not the 2026 ones.
Keep this sheet open as a reference, confirm every detail against the current NCEES specifications for your administration, and test your recall on the PE-S Exam Prep practice questions before you sit any section.