Repost: Some thoughts on the registered chemical engineer examination

Thread Content

Some thoughts on the registration for the Chemical Engineering Engineer exam: I decided to take the exam in 2007, passed the basic exams that year, and passed the specialized exams in 2008； The scores for each subject were 84+98, 67+70, and 34+40 respectively. The score is just okay. Getting it right on the first try is quite lucky; one doesn’t have to go through the hassle of having to redo it. Reflecting on the efforts and achievements of these two years, I feel quite emotional. I would like to share my personal feelings with the brothers who will also be taking the exam. 1. Take exams while you’re young. After all, as people get older, they start to build families and careers. There will be more responsibilities related to family, society, etc., leaving even less time for studying ； Memory, reaction speed, and other such abilities will decline. Although experience is increasing, after all, the content of the exams remains basic, with a lot of material from textbooks. Overall, if you are determined to enter this field and to take the exams, it’s best to do so while you’re young. 2. Visit forums more often to learn from various perspectives. There are many experts on this forum; learning from the experiences and lessons of those who came before is beneficial for us. I feel like I’ve wasted time on forums and lost many learning opportunities. 3. Lay a solid foundation. When preparing for exams, it is essential to lay a solid foundation and memorize the key concepts. Taking an exam with unclear understanding is not much different from taking it without studying at all – in both cases one can only guess by looking at the answers. The basic exam is somewhat predictable ； I think the answers to the professional exams all seem correct; the examiners deliberately make the wrong answers look valid, so if you’re not careful you’ll choose them as correct. Moreover, there’s a wrong alternative answer waiting to lure you into a \"trap\". For case-based questions, the main reasoning and steps for solving them must also be outlined, as these are used for manual grading ； It’s very difficult to pass when the knowledge is ambiguous. So the basic knowledge must be clear. 4. Highlight key points while ensuring comprehensiveness. The basic exam covers 16 courses, while the professional exam addresses every aspect of work. Time is limited, so it’s impossible to read all the books carefully. Therefore, on the basis of comprehensive restoration, it is highly necessary to focus on key areas for restoration. This issue is particularly prominent during professional exams. I think the most important one is \"Principles of Chemical Engineering,\" as it is the core skill in our field. It accounts for 48 points out of 240 in the basic examination, making it the subject with the highest score; it also has the largest number of questions in the professional examination, so it’s no exaggeration to say one should master it thoroughly. There are also many courses in other fields such as advanced mathematics and thermodynamics; it depends on each individual to choose which areas to focus on based on their own strengths. 5. Be familiar with the key reference materials. No books are allowed for the basic exam, but for the specialized exam, reference books, manuals, and other materials published by reputable publishers are permitted. Therefore, in every exam, those who take the basic exams come without anything, while those who take the specialized exams bring lots of materials, fearing they might miss any necessary book. How much to carry is a matter of personal strength, while whether one can manage to lift it is a matter of skill level. Before the exam, I focused on studying several of the most commonly used books such as \"Principles of Chemical Engineering,\" \"Process Manual,\" and HG20519, so that I could quickly find the relevant information by referring to their tables of contents. 6. Emphasize speed; the basic exam usually poses no major issues. The issue of the theoretical exam for professional examinations arises. It’s not difficult to complete all the multiple-choice questions, but it’s not easy to find the evidence for those answers you’re unsure about in the book. The speed of searching through books is measured in seconds. The issue with professional case questions becomes even more prominent. Because I have to write out the process, it takes longer to do it. 180 minutes in the morning and 180 minutes in the afternoon, 25 questions each, for a total of 50 questions. To pass, at least 30 questions must be answered correctly. In reality, there are hardly any exam rooms where one can finish everything; if that’s possible, it’s truly amazing. Completing more than 20 questions in half a session can be considered fast; on average, it takes 9 minutes per question. Who wouldn’t dare guarantee that points will be given for every question answered? If there are 30 questions left, it’s better to give up right away. Looking back, I did 21 questions in the morning and got 17 right ； In the afternoon, I did 24 questions and got 20 right. I’m pretty satisfied with myself. Those questions, given under normal circumstances, anyone could solve ； It won’t happen; it’s better to change your behavior sooner. But it becomes difficult to complete the process of checking the basis, performing calculations, and obtaining results within a few minutes. At first, my mind was clear, but working non-stop for 3 hours was simply agonizing ； It’s even more difficult in the afternoon. In both exams, once the test paper was handed out, one kept reading, writing, and flipping through it until the invigilator came to collect it. It can be said that it’s been a long time since the college entrance exams that I’ve felt the need to fight until the very last moment. My heart was beating faster when I handed in the paper than it was during the college entrance exam I remember. Therefore, I advise everyone to pay close attention to speed when practicing * on a regular basis. Practice on the spot* – be sure to practice according to the clock.