I passed the 8-hour PE Examination first try using the Civil Engineering Reference Manual (CERM).
Morning (breadth) exam – There were problems that came directly out of the CERM.
Afternoon (depth) exam – Many of the problems were supported strongly by the CERM. I also used the NCEES sample exams for Transportation.
The PE exam is a very simple endeavor if you put the time into it. I studied daily for about an hour, with a few hours extra on weekends. Don’t use too many reference manuals, just get the CERM and buckle down.