FE Mechanical splits its heaviest weight three ways — Thermodynamics, Mechanical Design, and Dynamics are all tied at up to 15 questions each, and Thermodynamics and Mechanical Design also carry the highest difficulty rating in the spec. Between them and the supporting topics — fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials, and measurements — the exam leans noticeably toward analysis and design over pure theory.
Ranked by question count weighted against the spec's own difficulty rating — not question count alone, since a smaller topic rated harder can be worth more study time than a bigger, easier one.
1Thermodynamics10–15q
Properties of ideal gases and pure substances · Energy transfers · Laws of thermodynamics · Processes
2Mechanical Design10–15q
Stress analysis of machine elements · Failure theories and analysis · Deformation and stiffness · Springs
3Dynamics10–15q
Kinematics of particles · Kinetic friction · Newton's second law for particles · Work-energy of particles
Full Mechanical topic breakdown.
Every topic in the official NCEES spec, with its question range and share of the exam. Study Scheduler allocates your study hours in this same proportion automatically.
What are the highest-weighted topics on FE Mechanical?
Thermodynamics, Mechanical Design, and Dynamics are tied for the most questions, up to 15 each, with Thermodynamics and Mechanical Design also rated the most difficult topics on the exam.
How many questions are on FE Mechanical?
110 scored questions total, drawn from 14 topics ranging from a handful of ethics questions to as many as 15 on the heaviest topics.
For how many hours to budget, week-by-week study plans, and how Study Scheduler weights your plan — see the full FE study guide.
Example plan · FE
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Your schedule combines topic study, review, mock practice, and time away. Actual blocks depend on your exam, study budget, and days off.