INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The key to keeping your calm is to stay busy. Of course it'll be harder to deal with your in-laws if you have something else to do besides sit next to them and wait to get annoyed or offended. Maybe their lawn needs raking. Maybe you've been meaning to show your wife's grandfather how to work his new DVD player. Maybe you told your mother-in-law that you would help bake dessert this year. Finding an activity to do can help you bond with your in-laws, find common ground, and stay focused on something other than the tension in the air. If you're helping out around the house, not only will you be distracted, but your in-laws will have to like you at least a little more for helping. Plan something for the whole family to do that doesn't cause a stir or take hours to explain. Maybe you can all play a simple fun board game before your Christmas meal, or you can all go for a walk after Thanksgiving dinner. As long as your in-laws don't see the activity as a way of taking over their usual plans, they will be grateful that you found something fun and different to do. Just check in with your spouse and your in-laws in advance to make sure that you won't be stepping on any toes. If your in-laws are visiting you, then you can make sure to incorporate some of their traditions into your celebration, whether it's saying certain prayers, making certain foods, or listening to Christmas carols. Maybe your in-laws like watching football before the Thanksgiving meal; would it kill you to turn on the television? Including your in-laws' traditions in your own celebrations will make them feel more included and happier to be visiting you. If you're visiting your in-laws, then maybe you can share one of your family's traditions with them, as long as it doesn't get in their way. This can be something small, like bringing a potato dish that has been in your family for generations. This is another way to stay busy and active during your time with your in-laws. Your holiday will be a lot more fun if you're not spending the whole time sitting together in awkward silence. Ask polite, friendly questions to make your in-laws feel welcome. Ask them about their jobs, their pets, their plans for the weekend, or about any recent trips they took. Don't make them feel like they're getting interviewed, but make sure to ask questions about their lives and to show genuine interest in their answers. If the question thing is getting old, you can also share some of your own experiences. Consider the stories you'll tell in advance to make sure that they are appropriate. Maybe you know that after four hours with your father-in-law, your head will be pounding. It's okay to admit that before the big day -- better, in fact, than being in denial about the space you'll need. So, make sure you can plan for a quick activity: stepping out to call your folks, going to the store to pick up some extra food or drinks, or taking your kids to the playground. Tell people about it in advance so it won't look weird when you go off on your own for a little while later that day. Remind yourself that there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking some time away from your in-laws. This will be less insulting than sitting next to them, writhing with anger the whole time.

SUMMARY: Find something useful to do. Plan a fun activity. Share traditions. Keep them talking. Plan for some time off if you'll need it.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you're preparing for your licensing exams, you should take advantage of the prep materials offered by NCEES, the same company which administers the exams. NCEES offers practice exams that you can take to become familiar with the format of the exam. They also provide copies of their handbooks, which you will be able to reference during the exams. Depending on your field of study, the hardest part of the FE and PE exams is usually the general knowledge section, since this tests a broad range of subjects you might not be as familiar with. For example, an electrical engineer might not have as much knowledge about beams. Practice exams can help you identify the areas you might struggle with during the test. After you graduate, you should take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. This is the first step in becoming a licensed engineer, regardless of your field of study. The FE exam is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). It’s an open-book, multiple choice exam that is about 8 hours long and covers basic and advanced engineering principles. To prepare for the FE exam, sign up for a review course and take sample tests online. Since you will be able to use your book during the test, get a copy of the NCEES handbook and become familiar with its contents. This will help you easily access the information you need during the test. Once you’ve completed 4 years of field experience, you’ll need to take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Civil exam. This is an 8-hour open-book exam with 80 questions related to advanced civil engineering concepts.The PE Civil exam is offered twice a year.  The PE Civil exam includes 2 parts. The first part, administered in the morning, includes questions from the 5 main areas of practice in civil engineering. These include construction, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation, and water resources and environmental engineering. The second part of the test, given in the afternoon, focuses on a single one of these 5 areas of practice, selected by you when you register for the exam.  The PE exam is necessary to become a licensed professional engineer. The test is designed to be challenging, but not impossible to pass, so take preparation seriously.

SUMMARY:
Prepare for both the the FE and PE exams with NCEES prep materials. Take sample tests to help you study for the FE and PE exams. Take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.