SE Exam study plan
SE Exam · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Vertical Forces
Compute tributary and influence areas for a column grid, a joist bay, and a two-way slab panel without reference notes
Assemble complete gravity load paths from roof to foundation for a three-story steel-framed building
Apply ASCE 7 dead, live, roof live, snow, and rain load provisions to build unfactored and factored combinations
Distinguish ASD versus LRFD combination sets and identify which one a given problem statement requires
Your checkpoint
One-page load-path sketch and a 25-problem gravity-loading set scored at 80% or better, with every miss corrected in writing
Vertical Forces
Analyze simply supported, cantilever, and continuous beams for shear, moment, and deflection under gravity loads
Size a steel or wood beam for flexure, shear, and deflection limit states and justify the controlling criterion
Evaluate column axial capacity including effective length and slenderness effects
Check a slab or deck system against code deflection and vibration criteria
Your checkpoint
Two fully worked beam and column designs (one steel, one wood) with all limit-state checks shown and a written one-paragraph controlling-limit summary
Lateral Forces
Derive wind pressure profiles on a rigid building envelope, including exposure, gust, and topographic factors
Compute seismic base shear using the equivalent lateral force procedure, including period and seismic weight
Compare wind and seismic demand for the same building and identify which governs each direction
Assemble lateral load combinations and verify overstrength and redundancy factors are applied where required
Your checkpoint
A wind-versus-seismic comparison sheet for one mid-rise building showing base shear, story shear, and a governing-load statement for both principal directions
Lateral Forces
Distribute lateral story forces through a diaphragm to vertical elements of the lateral force resisting system
Quantify accidental and inherent torsional eccentricity and compute resulting shear amplification
Calculate story drift and check against allowable drift limits
Classify a given structure as regular or irregular and explain the code consequence of each irregularity
Your checkpoint
A lateral force distribution table for a five-story building with torsional amplification, drift ratios, and an explicit pass or fail against the drift limit
Vertical Forces
Perform gravity member checks in at least three materials: reinforced concrete, structural steel, and timber
Design a simple shear connection and a bearing connection, showing all required limit states
Resolve foundation bearing and settlement demand from column reactions
Identify common detailing and constructability failures related to gravity framing
Your checkpoint
A multi-material gravity design packet with three member checks, two connection checks, and one footing sizing, all with clear code citations
Lateral Forces
Compare braced frame, moment frame, shear wall, and dual system behavior under lateral load
Compute the stiffness contribution of each lateral element and distribute story shear by relative stiffness
Check diaphragm shear, chord force, and collector force for a flexible or rigid diaphragm assumption
Trace lateral forces into the foundation and identify overturning and uplift demand
Your checkpoint
A lateral system selection memo plus a worked stiffness-based shear distribution and overturning check for a braced frame and a shear wall option
Vertical Forces & Lateral Forces
Solve combined gravity-plus-lateral problems where vertical loads interact with drift and P-delta effects
Apply P-delta amplification and determine when a second-order analysis is required
Evaluate a full load combination set to locate the governing case for a given member in a given direction
Complete mixed-topic problems under a strict per-problem time cap
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-problem mixed set (50 percent vertical, 50 percent lateral) completed at 70% or better with a categorized error log
Vertical Forces & Lateral Forces
Execute two full-length timed mock exams under exam-day conditions
Diagnose the top three recurring error patterns from the mock exams and re-drill them
Reduce reliance on notes by condensing weak topics into a single review sheet
Assemble and index a final reference binder organized by code section and problem type
Your checkpoint
Two completed mock exams with scored results, a ranked weakness list with remediation actions, and a finished indexed reference binder
Milestones
Week 2: Completed every vertical-forces load and member check without notes, and scored 80% or better on the week 1 and week 2 problem sets
Week 4: Produced a wind-versus-seismic base shear comparison and a lateral distribution with drift check for one building, and can explain which load governs in each direction
Week 6: Can select a lateral system, justify it in writing, and carry a story shear through stiffness distribution, diaphragm, and overturning checks unaided
Week 8: Scored 70% or better on both timed mock exams and hold a completed weakness ranking with a written remediation action for each of the top three gaps