- The Exam Snapshot: Numbers to Memorize
- Blueprint Allocations at a Glance
- Domain 2 Must-Knows: Mechanics of Materials
- Domain 5 Must-Knows: Mechanical Components and Assemblies
- Domains 1, 3, 4 and 6: The Supporting Cast
- Item Types and How Scoring Works
- Registration, Fees and Test-Day Logistics
- Sequencing Your Review by Domain
- Career Context: Where This Exam Leads
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The exam has 80 questions across 8 hours of testing time, in a 9-hour Pearson VUE appointment.
- Mechanics of Materials (17-26 questions) and Mechanical Components and Assemblies (16-24) together dominate the blueprint.
- NCEES publishes no numerical passing score; results are pass/fail against a minimum-competence standard.
- You get a searchable electronic reference handbook only; personal reference materials are prohibited.
The Exam Snapshot: Numbers to Memorize
The PE Mechanical: Machine Design and Materials exam is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and delivered by Pearson VUE at approved test centers. This page condenses what you actually need to carry into your final review. If you are still orienting yourself, start with What Is PE-M:MD&M? and then return here for the fast-reference version.
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Administrator | NCEES |
| Exam label | PE Mechanical: Machine Design and Materials |
| Questions | 80 total, including unidentified unscored pretest items |
| Testing time | 8 hours |
| Appointment length | 9 hours (2-minute NDA, 8-minute tutorial, 50-minute scheduled break) |
| Delivery | Year-round computer-based testing, linear-on-the-fly exam assembly (LOFT) |
| Fee | US$400 per NCEES exam attempt; separate board application fees can apply |
| Units | SI and USCS |
| Calculator | One NCEES-approved calculator |
| Reference | Supplied searchable electronic handbook; closed book otherwise |
| Wrong-answer penalty | None; no deduction for wrong answers |
Blueprint Allocations at a Glance
The current NCEES specification (effective beginning with the October 2025 examinations) publishes question-count ranges per domain rather than fixed percentage weights. Use the October 2025 CBT32 specification, not older eight-topic prep summaries or the superseded 2020 outline. Those older summaries can steer you toward topics that have been reorganized.
| Domain | Name | Official Question Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic Engineering Practice | 11-17 |
| 2 | Mechanics of Materials | 17-26 |
| 3 | Mechanical Attachments | 9-14 |
| 4 | Power Transmission | 9-14 |
| 5 | Mechanical Components and Assemblies | 16-24 |
| 6 | Supportive Knowledge (Machine Design and Materials) | 8-12 |
Two things stand out. First, Mechanics of Materials has the largest range, with Mechanical Components and Assemblies close behind. Second, because these are ranges and your exam is assembled on the fly, your personal mix will differ from a friend's. Do not treat any single domain as skippable. For a deeper walk through each area, see the complete guide to all 6 content areas.
Domain 2 Must-Knows: Mechanics of Materials
With the widest question range on the blueprint, this domain rewards fluency over memorization. The reference handbook gives you formulas; it cannot give you judgment about which one applies.
Domain 2: Mechanics of Materials (17-26 questions)
Expect problems that move from loading to stress state to failure prediction, often within a single question.
- Stress and strain states: normal and shear stress, principal stresses, maximum shear stress, and Mohr's circle interpretation.
- Deformation: axial, torsional and bending deflection, including superposition for combined loading.
- Failure theories: know when maximum shear stress (Tresca) and distortion energy (von Mises) apply to ductile materials, and when maximum normal stress approaches apply to brittle ones.
- Fatigue: S-N behavior, endurance limit modifiers, mean and alternating stress, and safety factor against fatigue failure.
- Fracture and stress concentration: stress concentration factors, fracture toughness concepts, and crack-related reasoning.
- Buckling and stability: column behavior and the effect of end conditions.
A reliable habit: before reaching for a formula, write down the loading type, the material behavior (ductile versus brittle, static versus cyclic) and the failure mode you are checking. Many wrong answers on this domain come from applying a static failure criterion to a cyclic problem.
Domain 5 Must-Knows: Mechanical Components and Assemblies
This is the second-largest domain (16-24 questions) and the one most tied to day-to-day design practice. It is where component selection, life prediction and assembly-level thinking show up.
Domain 5: Mechanical Components and Assemblies (16-24 questions)
Think of this as applied machine design: take loads and requirements and size or select the hardware.
- Bearings: rolling-element bearing selection, life ratings and reliability adjustments, as well as an understanding of lubrication regimes for sliding bearings.
- Springs: helical compression and extension springs, spring rate, stress, and fatigue considerations.
- Shafts: combined bending and torsion, keyways and stress concentrations, deflection and critical speed concerns.
- Seals, brakes and clutches: function, selection logic and energy or torque capacity reasoning.
- Assembly-level reasoning: tolerances, fits and how component choices interact in a system.
Shafts are a classic integrator: a single problem can combine Domain 2 stress concepts, Domain 4 power transmission loads and Domain 5 bearing selection. If you want to see how hard candidates find this integration, How Hard Is the PE-M:MD&M Exam? covers where preparation typically gets tested.
Domains 1, 3, 4 and 6: The Supporting Cast
These four domains hold smaller question ranges but still add up to a meaningful share of your 80 questions. Ignoring them to over-invest in the two big domains is a common planning error.
Domain 1: Basic Engineering Practice (11-17 questions)
This domain covers the professional and foundational side of engineering work. Expect questions that test engineering judgment, units and calculation discipline, and general practice-oriented reasoning. These can be quick points if your fundamentals are sharp, which makes them valuable for time management across an 8-hour session.
Domain 3: Mechanical Attachments (9-14 questions)
- Threaded fasteners: preload, joint stiffness, bolt loading under external force, and joint separation.
- Welded and bonded joints: treating welds as lines, throat area logic and fatigue sensitivity of welded details.
- Other attachment methods: pins, rivets and press or interference fits, with attention to load paths.
Bolted joint analysis rewards understanding the relationship between preload and external load rather than memorizing outcomes.
Domain 4: Power Transmission (9-14 questions)
- Gears: spur and helical geometry, tooth loads, speed and torque relationships, and gear trains.
- Belts, chains and couplings: selection logic and basic tension or capacity reasoning.
- Power, torque and speed relationships: the unit-sensitive core of every transmission problem.
Domain 6: Supportive Knowledge (Machine Design and Materials) (8-12 questions)
This is the materials-and-supporting-theory slice. Think material properties and selection, heat treatment and processing effects, and the supporting science that informs design decisions. Because the name signals breadth, use the official specification to confirm exactly which subtopics are listed rather than assuming. The subtopics are illustrative, not exhaustive.
Key Takeaway
The six numbered headings are official exam objectives, not a study curriculum. Build your own review plan around them, but verify every subtopic against the October 2025 CBT32 specification before you decide what is "out of scope."
Item Types and How Scoring Works
The exam is not purely traditional multiple choice. NCEES uses multiple-choice plus alternative item types: multiple-correct, point-and-click, drag-and-drop and numerical fill-in.
- No partial credit. Scored items receive correct or incorrect credit only. On a multiple-correct item, getting most selections right still earns nothing.
- No guessing penalty. There is no deduction for wrong answers, so never leave an item blank.
- Numerical fill-in items require you to produce the value yourself, so watch units and rounding instructions closely.
- Drag-and-drop and point-and-click items test relationships and recognition, such as identifying a critical location on a diagram.
The result is reported as pass or fail against the NCEES minimum-competence standard, and NCEES does not publish a numerical passing score. For a full explanation, see what the passing score means, and for the data behind results, what the pass rate data shows. The latest NCEES table (updated July 2026, covering January-June 2026) lists a 61% first-time pass rate (401 examinees) and a 39% repeat pass rate (140 examinees). Those are snapshots of a specific testing population, not predictions for your attempt.
Section Mechanics
The two sections share the testing clock, and submitted sections cannot be reopened. That means a section you submit is final. Use your first pass to answer and flag, and do not submit a section until you have used your review time on it. Remember also that the 50-minute scheduled break is part of the 9-hour appointment and not part of the 8 hours of testing time.
Registration, Fees and Test-Day Logistics
Eligibility is controlled by the licensing board you select, not by NCEES alone. A common pathway is an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's degree, the FE exam, four years of acceptable engineering experience, and then the PE exam. That is a common route and not a universal requirement, so check your own board. Details are in PE-M:MD&M Requirements: Eligibility, Prerequisites and How to Qualify.
Because testing is year-round and computer-based, scheduling is flexible compared with older fixed-date paper formats. Appointment availability still depends on your board's approval and Pearson VUE capacity, so confirm windows early using the exam dates and scheduling guide.
Test-Day Rules in Brief
- In-person testing at an approved Pearson VUE center.
- Closed book, with only the supplied searchable electronic reference handbook.
- Personal reference materials are prohibited.
- One NCEES-approved calculator; verify your model against the current NCEES calculator policy before test day.
Because the handbook is searchable, practice with the official-format reference rather than your own paper notes. Search speed is a real skill: knowing the handbook's terminology helps you find a table in seconds instead of minutes.
Sequencing Your Review by Domain
One short, domain-tied plan beats a vague schedule. The logic below front-loads the heaviest and most foundational material, since Mechanics of Materials concepts reappear inside shaft, joint and fatigue problems.
Domain 2: Mechanics of Materials
- Stress states, Mohr's circle, failure theories
- Fatigue and stress concentration
Domain 5: Mechanical Components and Assemblies
- Shafts, bearings, springs
- Integrated problems that combine Domain 2 methods
Domains 3 and 4
- Bolted and welded joints
- Gears, belts, chains and torque-speed-power work
Domains 1 and 6, then full practice
- Basic engineering practice and materials/supportive knowledge
- Timed practice using the official 80-question format
Adjust the duration to your own background. If your daily work already involves gearboxes or fasteners, shift time toward your weakest domain. For a fuller methodology, see the complete study guide, and when you are ready to test yourself under realistic conditions, use the PE-M:MD&M practice tests.
Key Takeaway
NCEES sells an official e-book practice exam ($59.95) with 80 questions and solutions, including 24 new questions with alternative item types, aligned to the October 2025 specifications. Check the NCEES errata posted April 1, 2026 for the practice exam before you rely on any worked solution.
Career Context: Where This Exam Leads
Machine design and materials expertise shows up in employers that design, test and manufacture mechanical systems: industrial equipment makers, aerospace and defense suppliers, automotive and heavy-vehicle organizations, energy and power equipment firms, and engineering consultancies that review failures or certify designs. Roles often involve component sizing, failure analysis, materials selection, and design review where a licensed engineer's sign-off carries weight. Explore more on PE-M:MD&M jobs.
On compensation, be careful with the numbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $104,110 median annual wage for mechanical engineers (May 2025), but that is occupation-wide. It is not specific to this exam track and does not measure a PE licensure premium. The salary guide and the ROI analysis unpack how to think about the value of licensure without overstating it.
One more point: this is a licensure examination, not a separately renewable NCEES certification. Your state or territorial board sets PE license renewal periods and continuing-professional-competency requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 80 questions, including unidentified unscored pretest items. You have 8 hours of testing time within a 9-hour appointment that also covers the NDA, tutorial and a 50-minute scheduled break.
Mechanics of Materials (Domain 2) has the largest official range at 17-26 questions, followed by Mechanical Components and Assemblies (Domain 5) at 16-24. NCEES publishes question-count ranges rather than fixed percentage weights.
NCEES does not publish a numerical passing score. Results are pass/fail based on a scaled score meeting the minimum-competence standard, with no deduction for wrong answers.
No. The exam is closed book with a supplied searchable electronic reference handbook, and personal reference materials are prohibited. You may use one NCEES-approved calculator.
No. Scored items receive correct or incorrect credit only, with no partial credit, so on multiple-correct items every required selection must be right.
Use this sheet as a final-week checklist, but always confirm details against the current NCEES exam page and the October 2025 CBT32 specification, since policies and practice resources can be updated. For more on this credential, see the dedicated PE-M:MD&M certification overview.