The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the first big gate on the road to a Professional Engineer license, and for electrical and computer candidates, the study material you choose matters. PPI (Professional Publications, Inc.) has been publishing exam prep since 1975, and its FE Electrical and Computer Review Manual is widely treated as the industry-standard comprehensive review book for the discipline.
In this review we look at what is inside — complete coverage of the FE Electrical and Computer knowledge areas, NCEES FE Reference Handbook equations in blue boxes, 15 mini-exams, and exam-like example problems with step-by-step solutions — plus the honest complaints: the density, the price, and the discipline-specific catch. As always: the book’s contents and the publisher’s claims, examined — not hands-on testing dressed up as something else.
Product at a Glance
| Detail | Spec |
|---|---|
| Photo |  |
| Product | PPI FE Electrical and Computer Review Manual — Comprehensive FE Review Book |
| Key Specs |
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| Best For | FE Electrical and Computer exam candidates who want the industry-standard comprehensive review book aligned to the current exam |
| Check Price on Amazon | |
What’s Inside the Manual
The manual is built around complete coverage of the FE Electrical and Computer knowledge areas — the full breadth of the exam, not just the easy topics. A few structural features set it apart from generic study guides:
- NCEES FE Reference Handbook elements in blue. Equations, figures, and tables from the NCEES FE Reference Handbook are printed in blue boxes. This is a bigger deal than it sounds: on exam day you get the electronic Reference Handbook, and studying from the same material in the same visual format reduces exam-day friction. You learn where things live before it counts.
- 15 mini-exams. Short diagnostic exams mapped to knowledge areas, so you can find your weak spots early instead of discovering them in the final month.
- Exam-like example problems with step-by-step solutions. The core of any FE prep book. The solutions teach the method, not just the answer — which is what you need when the exam asks the same concept in unfamiliar clothing.
- Paperback format. Dense and heavy. This is a reference you live with for months, not a pamphlet (see the complaints section).
The Money-Back Guarantee, Explained
The publisher’s headline brand claim: pass the exam or get your money back. That is a strong confidence signal — publishers do not offer guarantees on products they expect to fail. But guarantees like this always have terms: typically proof of exam attempt, purchase from authorized sellers, and a time window. Read the current terms on the publisher’s site before counting on it. Treat it as a confidence signal, not a contract you should assume covers every scenario.
What We Like
Industry-standard FE prep since 1975. Decades of editions, errata corrections, and alignment work with evolving exam specs. There is a reason this book is the default recommendation in engineering forums.
The blue-box NCEES reference integration. Studying from the same handbook format you will see on exam day is a genuine pedagogical advantage — familiarity with the reference is half the battle on a timed exam.
15 mini-exams plus exam-like problems with full solutions. Diagnostics to find weaknesses and worked problems to fix them — the complete loop.
Honest Complaints
It is dense and heavy. This is not a quick skim and not a cram guide. The manual demands serious study time — if you want a weekend refresher, this is the wrong product.
Premium price for a study book. Comprehensive textbooks cost real money, and this one is priced like the flagship it is.
Discipline-specific editions. PPI publishes separate manuals per FE discipline. You must buy the right one for your exam — Electrical and Computer here — and buying the wrong discipline’s book is an expensive mistake.
Some candidates find the practice problems harder than the real exam. That can be demoralizing mid-prep. The counterpoint: over-preparation beats under-preparation, and a hard problem set makes exam day feel easier.
Red Flags: Counterfeits and Edition Traps
Two warnings matter more than the usual review gripes:
Counterfeit PPI books are reported on third-party marketplaces. Poor print quality, missing pages, even wrong answers in solutions — a counterfeit study guide can actively sabotage your prep. Buy from the official seller or reputable retailers, and be suspicious of prices that look too good.
Confirm the edition matches your discipline and the current exam specifications. NCEES updates exam specs over time; an older edition aligned to older specs will waste your study hours on the wrong emphasis. Check the NCEES exam specs for your discipline before buying any prep book.
How to Use It
A book this dense needs a plan, not just good intentions. The approach that works: start with a mini-exam to diagnose weak areas, then work the chapters for those areas first. Do example problems with the solutions covered, then check your method against the step-by-step solutions. Use the blue-box reference elements deliberately — learn to navigate the handbook format now, while mistakes are free. And as the exam approaches, shift to timed practice so the clock feels familiar.
Who Should Buy It — and Who Should Skip
Buy it if: you are an FE Electrical and Computer candidate who wants the comprehensive, industry-standard review book aligned to the current exam — and you are ready to put in real study time.
Skip it if: you want a quick cram guide (this is the opposite of that), you are in a different FE discipline (buy your discipline’s edition instead), or you learn better from video courses than from textbooks.
The Verdict
The PPI FE Electrical and Computer Review Manual earns its reputation: complete knowledge-area coverage, the blue-box NCEES reference integration that mirrors exam day, 15 mini-exams, and exam-like problems with full step-by-step solutions. The trade-offs are real — it is dense, heavy, and premium-priced, and you must buy the right discipline’s current edition.
If you are preparing for the FE Electrical and Computer exam and want one comprehensive book, this is the standard for a reason. Just buy it from the official seller, confirm the edition matches the current NCEES specs, and give yourself real study time.
Which FE discipline is this manual for?
This edition is for the FE Electrical and Computer exam. PPI publishes separate discipline-specific editions (Mechanical, Civil, and others) — confirm you’re buying the one that matches your exam before ordering, since the content is tailored to each discipline’s knowledge areas.
Is the money-back guarantee real?
It’s the publisher’s stated guarantee: pass the exam or get your money back. Guarantees like this have terms and conditions — typically proof of exam attempt, purchase from authorized sellers, and a time window — so read the current terms on the publisher’s site before relying on it.
How should I use it to study?
Start with a mini-exam to diagnose weak areas, then work those chapters first. Do example problems with the solutions covered, then check your method against the step-by-step solutions. Use the blue-box NCEES reference elements deliberately to learn the exam-day handbook format, and shift to timed practice as the exam approaches. It’s a comprehensive manual — plan serious study time, not a weekend skim.
PPI vs other prep books — which should I choose?
PPI’s differentiators are its longevity (exam prep since 1975), the blue-box NCEES Reference Handbook integration that mirrors exam day, and the 15 mini-exams. Other prep books and video courses suit different learning styles — textbooks reward self-directed studiers, while courses suit those who want guided instruction.
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