PE Mechanical Thermal and Fluid Systems Practice Exam
Work original PE Thermal and Fluid Systems problems on heat transfer, thermodynamics, pumps, power cycles, heat exchangers and cooling towers, read the full worked solution, then sit an 80-question timed mock in the CBT format: two sections of 40 and an 8-hour clock.
80 questions in two sections of 40, 8 hours of exam time, with a score by knowledge area and a worked solution for every problem.
Or start with a free 10-question drill- 134 original PE Thermal and Fluid Systems problems with worked solutions
- 6 free drills: every knowledge area plus a mixed set
- 70% of first-time examinees passed in January–June 2026
A spark-ignition engine for a standby generator has a compression ratio of 9.5. Using the air-standard Otto cycle with k = 1.4, what is the ideal thermal efficiency?
PE Thermal and Fluid Systems exam format
- Questions
- 80 questions in two sections. After about 40 you review and submit the first section; you cannot return to it
- Time
- 9-hour appointment: 8 hours of exam time, a 50-minute scheduled break, an 8-minute tutorial and a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement
- Question types
- Mostly multiple choice with one correct answer, plus multiple correct, point and click, drag and drop and fill in the blank. No partial credit
- Units
- Both SI and U.S. Customary units
- References
- Closed book. NCEES supplies its electronic reference handbook on screen; no design standards are supplied for PE Mechanical. One NCEES-approved calculator
- Pass rate
- 70% first time (578 examinees) and 46% on a repeat attempt, January–June 2026
- Fee
- $400 per attempt to NCEES, year-round at Pearson VUE test centers
- Results and retakes
- Pass or fail in about 7 to 10 days, with a diagnostic report if you fail. One attempt per quarterly testing window, at most three in 12 months
What’s on the PE Thermal and Fluid Systems exam
The 5 knowledge areas of the NCEES specification effective October 2025, with the number of questions each carries. Our full mock draws its 80 questions in proportion to the middle of each range. Every knowledge area has a ten-question drill with a worked solution after every answer; each drill’s first attempt is free.
| Knowledge area | Topics in the specification | Questions | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Thermal/Fluid Principles | 1A Heat Transfer Principles · 1B Thermodynamic Principles · 1C Fluid Principles | 19–2922 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 2. Fluid Equipment and Distribution Systems | 2A Piping Components and Connections · 2B Fluid Distribution Systems · 2C Pumps and Fans · 2D Compressors, Nozzles, and Diffusers | 17–2619 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 3. Power Systems and Components | 3A Turbines · 3B Boilers, Steam Generators, and Waste Heat Recovery · 3C Condensers · 3D Power Cycles | 17–2619 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 4. Cooling/Heating Systems and Components | 4A Heat Exchangers · 4B Cooling Towers · 4C Refrigeration Cycles and Heat Pumps | 12–1814 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 5. Supportive Knowledge (Thermal and Fluid Systems) | 5A Economic Analysis · 5B Project Planning and Scheduling · 5C Electrical Concepts · 5D Material and Stress Analysis · 5E Interpretation and Application of Codes and Standards | 5–86 in our mock | 10-question drill |
What the Thermal and Fluid Systems exam tests
- Thermal/Fluid Principles carries the most questions (19 to 29): conduction, convection and radiation, the First and Second Laws with steam tables and Mollier diagrams, psychrometrics, fluid statics, Bernoulli, Mach number and shocks.
- Fluid equipment and power systems each carry 17 to 26 questions: pipe and duct flow, pumps and fans with NPSH, compressors and nozzles, turbines, boilers and heat recovery, condensers and Rankine, Brayton and combined cycles.
- Questions use both SI and U.S. Customary units. Supportive Knowledge (5 to 8 questions) adds economics, scheduling, electrical concepts, stress analysis and codes.
Common questions
How many questions are on the PE Mechanical Thermal and Fluid Systems exam?
80 questions. The appointment is 9 hours: a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 8 hours of exam time and a 50-minute scheduled break. The exam is split into two sections; after about half the questions you review and submit the first section, and you cannot return to it. This exam uses both SI and U.S. Customary units.
What is the passing score for the PE Mechanical Thermal and Fluid Systems exam?
NCEES does not publish a passing score. Results are reported as pass or fail, typically 7 to 10 days after the exam. If you fail, NCEES sends a diagnostic report that shows your performance in each knowledge area against the average of passing examinees.
Is the PE Mechanical Thermal and Fluid Systems exam open book?
No. It is closed book with an electronic reference: NCEES supplies its PE Mechanical reference handbook on screen as a searchable PDF, and you can study the same handbook free from your MyNCEES account. You bring one NCEES-approved calculator. No design standards are supplied for PE Mechanical.
How often can I retake the PE exam?
NCEES allows one attempt per testing window (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December) and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period. Some licensing boards have stricter rules. Each attempt costs the $400 exam fee.
Are these official NCEES questions?
No. NCEES does not release its exam questions. These are original practice problems written to the October 2025 exam specifications, with every number recomputed by an independent reviewer and a worked solution for every answer.
What is the PE Mechanical Thermal and Fluid Systems pass rate?
70% of first-time examinees passed in January–June 2026 (578 first-time takers), and 46% of repeat examinees (109), according to NCEES.
Ready for exam day?
80 questions in two sections of 40, 8 hours of exam time, with a score by knowledge area and a worked solution for every problem.
Or start with a free 10-question drillMore PE Mechanical practice
One PE Mechanical pass covers every full practice exam below.
Exam format, fees, specifications and pass rates checked November 2026: NCEES PE Mechanical: Thermal and Fluid Systems CBT exam specifications (October 2025) · NCEES: PE Mechanical exam and pass rates · NCEES Examinee Guide (November 2026) · NCEES: PE exam.
Original independent practice problems written to the published NCEES exam specifications. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).