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Saudi Council of Engineers PE Exam: Common Part: free practice test

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Practice test questions with answers and explanations

Try the questions in the test above first, then open each one here to see the correct answer and why every other option is wrong.

01Your contract says you must "follow all instructions of the employer." The employer instructs you to certify unfinished work as complete so that the contractor can be paid before year-end. The best course of action is to:

Practice question Unit: Ethics

  1. Acertify it, since the contract obliges you to follow orders

    A contract clause cannot oblige an engineer to make a false certification.

  2. Bcertify only the completed part and explain the rest ✓ Correct answer

    Certifying only what is actually complete is truthful and upholds the engineer's right to act ethically.

  3. Ccertify it, but attach a note that some work is pending

    Certifying the work as complete is false even if a note is attached.

  4. Drefuse to certify any part until all the work is finished

    Work that is genuinely complete should be certified; refusing it all denies the contractor payment it has earned.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T1-4, p. 8

02As head of engineering, you are asked to set up a mechanism for staff to report ethical concerns. Which design is most appropriate?

Practice question Unit: Ethics

  1. AReports go only to each employee's direct manager

    The direct manager may be involved in the concern, which discourages reporting.

  2. BReports are posted on a shared board for transparency

    Public posting exposes reporters and the people named before facts are checked.

  3. CReports are accepted only if signed with full names

    Requiring names deters reporting by people who fear retaliation.

  4. DA confidential channel independent of line managers ✓ Correct answer

    An independent, confidential channel protects reporters and allows issues to be raised before harm occurs.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T1-18, p. 9

03Which of the following situations constitutes deceptive conduct by an engineer?

Practice question Unit: Ethics

  1. AA submittal reporting passed tests and omitting a known failed test ✓ Correct answer

    Knowingly omitting an adverse result creates a false impression, which is deceptive conduct.

  2. BA preliminary opinion clearly labelled as subject to further tests

    Clearly stating the limits of an opinion is honest communication.

  3. CA copying error in a report that was corrected when discovered

    An unintentional error that is promptly corrected is not deceptive.

  4. DAn estimate proved wrong because of unforeseeable ground conditions

    An honest estimate that proves wrong for unforeseeable reasons is not deception.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T1-9, p. 8

04You discover that a footing you designed is undersized because you used the wrong soil bearing value. The footing is already cast, and the contractor has not noticed. Your manager suggests waiting to see whether problems appear. The best course of action is to:

Practice question Unit: Professionalism

  1. Ainform the client promptly and propose a remedy ✓ Correct answer

    Taking responsibility means disclosing the error early and proposing a fix before it escalates.

  2. Bdesign a remedy and have it built, then tell the client

    The client must be told before a remedy on its structure is decided and paid for; telling it afterwards conceals the error when it matters.

  3. Cwait as suggested, since the decision rests with the manager

    Waiting lets a known structural deficiency develop into a failure.

  4. Dcorrect the calculation file so it matches the built footing

    Altering records to match the error is falsification.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T2-4, p. 9

05Halfway through a project, a new regulation takes effect that adds requirements to your design. Meeting it will delay completion beyond the contract date, and the client tells you to "ignore it and finish on time." The best course of action is to:

Practice question Unit: Professionalism

  1. Aignore the regulation, since the contract was signed first

    A regulation in force applies regardless of when the contract was signed, unless it provides otherwise.

  2. Bcomply quietly and absorb the delay without notice

    Failing to notify may lose the client and contractor their contractual remedies.

  3. Ccomply and notify the client under the contract's change terms ✓ Correct answer

    Legal obligations come first, and contractual procedures are used to manage the time and cost effects.

  4. Dstop all work until the client changes his instruction

    A full stoppage is disproportionate when compliance can proceed.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T2-6, p. 9

06A traditional mud-brick house in a historic district is cracking, and its owner wants to demolish it and build a modern villa. The house is listed as urban heritage. As his engineer, you should:

Practice question Unit: Laws for Professional Practice, Professional Laws and Regulation

  1. Aprepare the demolition plan, since the owner makes the final decision

    Ownership does not allow demolishing a listed heritage building without the competent authority's approval.

  2. Badvise that approval is needed and propose conservation ✓ Correct answer

    Work on listed heritage requires the authority's approval, and the engineer should offer strengthening and conservation solutions.

  3. Crefuse to give any advice about a heritage building

    Refusing all advice leaves the owner and the building without help.

  4. Dget a structural report, then demolish as unsafe

    A structural report does not replace the heritage authority's approval; any danger can be handled by temporary shoring.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T3-1, p. 11

07Your ISO 14001-certified plant learns that a new regulation will tighten the limit on a pollutant in its wastewater. Current discharges are close to the new limit. Under the EMS, the best response is to:

Practice question Unit: Environment and Natural Resources

  1. Arely on the certificate, which shows the plant complies

    Certification does not guarantee compliance with a new legal limit.

  2. Bwait until the first sample exceeds the new limit

    Waiting for an exceedance is reactive and leads to a breach.

  3. Cupdate the register once the new limit takes effect

    Updating only when the limit applies leaves no time to adjust controls, so the plant may breach it.

  4. Dupdate obligations, evaluate and adjust controls ✓ Correct answer

    An EMS must track changes in compliance obligations, evaluate compliance and plan actions before the new limit applies.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T4-2, p. 12; ISO 14001:2015, Environmental management systems

08Engineer X produces the most drawings in your team but has had three safety-related design errors this year. Engineer Y produces fewer drawings with no errors. The agreed criteria cover output, quality and safety. A fair evaluation would:

Practice question Unit: Engineering Management

  1. Arate X higher, since output is easiest to measure

    Rating on output alone ignores the agreed quality and safety criteria.

  2. Brate both the same to avoid conflict

    Equal ratings regardless of performance are not fair.

  3. Cweigh all agreed criteria and address X's errors ✓ Correct answer

    Objective evaluation applies every agreed criterion and gives guidance where performance falls short.

  4. Drate Y higher and ignore X's output

    Ignoring X's real output is also unfair.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T5-3, p. 13

09A firm borrows SAR 1,000,000 to buy a crane. The loan is repaid in 5 equal end-of-year payments at 10% interest per year. Each payment is closest to:

Practice question Unit: Engineering Economics

  1. ASAR 200,000

    SAR 200,000 repays the principal only and ignores interest.

  2. BSAR 322,102

    SAR 322,102 divides the compounded amount 1{,}000{,}000 \times 1.1^5 by 5, ignoring that payments reduce the balance.

  3. CSAR 300,000

    SAR 300,000 adds 10% simple interest per year to the principal and divides by 5.

  4. DSAR 263,797 ✓ Correct answer

    A = P\,\frac{i(1+i)^n}{(1+i)^n-1} = 1{,}000{,}000 \times 0.26380 \approx 263{,}797.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T6-4, p. 15

10Your company is building a plant in Saudi Arabia for an international client. The contract requires the client's corporate safety standard, which is stricter than the national minimum on fall protection. The site manager wants to apply only the national minimum. The correct position is that:

Practice question Unit: Health, Safety and Security (HSS)

  1. Aonly the national minimum applies, since the plant is inside Saudi Arabia

    National law sets a floor; it does not forbid stricter agreed standards.

  2. Bthe law is the minimum and the stricter contract standard also applies ✓ Correct answer

    Legal requirements must always be met, and stricter contractual standards are binding on top of them.

  3. Cthe site manager may choose whichever is cheaper

    Safety standards are not chosen on cost alone.

  4. Dthe client's standard replaces national law entirely

    A contract cannot override national law; it can only add to it.

Reference: SCE-NCA Professional Engineer Exam Instruction Manual – Common Part (2019), indicator CMP-T7-2, p. 15

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