The Nepal Engineering Council (NEC) registration exam for civil engineers follows a syllabus of ten chapters with six sub-sections each, 60 sub-sections in all. Chapters 1 to 4 cover fundamentals, chapters 5 to 9 cover the application of engineering principles in practice, and chapter 10 covers project planning, design and implementation, which is common to all branches.
Exam pattern
| Item | Detail |
|---|
| Questions | 100 multiple choice questions, 1 mark each (NEC model question set, November 2025) |
| Coverage | All 10 chapters and their 60 sub-sections |
| Total marks and time | 100 marks; recent exams allowed 2 hours |
| Pass mark | 50% in recent exams |
| Earlier pattern | Exams up to 2023 used 60 one-mark and 20 two-mark questions (80 questions) |
With 100 questions spread over 60 sub-sections, nearly every topic is tested, so skipping one costs marks for certain. Spread your study across all 60 sub-sections, then spend extra time on the calculation-heavy ones, which take longer to answer. Check the notice for your exam session for the time and pass mark, and see our NEC syllabus list for all 41 branches.
Chapters and sub-sections
Chapter 1: Basic Civil Engineering
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 1.1 | Engineering materials |
| 1.2 | Standards and material testing |
| 1.3 | Building technology |
| 1.4 | Geometric properties of sections |
| 1.5 | Surveying and levelling |
| 1.6 | Estimating, costing and valuation |
Practise chapter 1 MCQs →
Chapter 2: Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 2.1 | Soil properties and laboratory tests |
| 2.2 | Stresses in soil, seepage and compaction |
| 2.3 | Shear strength and slope stability |
| 2.4 | Soil exploration and earth pressure |
| 2.5 | Foundation fundamentals |
| 2.6 | Bearing capacity and settlement |
Practise chapter 2 MCQs →
Chapter 3: Fluid Mechanics, Hydraulics and Hydrology
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 3.1 | Fluid properties |
| 3.2 | Hydrostatics |
| 3.3 | Fluid kinematics and dynamics |
| 3.4 | Pipe flow |
| 3.5 | Open channel flow |
| 3.6 | Hydrology |
Practise chapter 3 MCQs →
Chapter 4: Structural Mechanics
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 4.1 | Shear force and bending moment |
| 4.2 | Stress and strain analysis |
| 4.3 | Theory of flexure and columns |
| 4.4 | Determinate structures I |
| 4.5 | Determinate structures II |
| 4.6 | Indeterminate structures |
Practise chapter 4 MCQs →
Chapter 5: Design of Structures
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 5.1 | Loads and load combinations |
| 5.2 | Concrete technology |
| 5.3 | RCC structures I (beams and slabs) |
| 5.4 | RCC structures II (columns, footings, prestressed) |
| 5.5 | Steel structures |
| 5.6 | Timber and masonry structures |
Practise chapter 5 MCQs →
Chapter 6: Water Supply, Sanitation and Environment
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 6.1 | Water sources, quality and demand |
| 6.2 | Intake and distribution systems |
| 6.3 | Water treatment |
| 6.4 | Sewer design and construction |
| 6.5 | Wastewater treatment and disposal |
| 6.6 | Environmental assessment and disasters |
Practise chapter 6 MCQs →
Chapter 7: Irrigation and Drainage
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 7.1 | Irrigation water demand |
| 7.2 | Canal design |
| 7.3 | Diversion headworks |
| 7.4 | River training works |
| 7.5 | Regulating and cross-drainage structures |
| 7.6 | Waterlogging and drainage |
Practise chapter 7 MCQs →
Chapter 8: Hydropower Engineering
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 8.1 | Hydropower planning and development in Nepal |
| 8.2 | Power and energy potential |
| 8.3 | Storage plant headworks |
| 8.4 | Run-of-river headworks |
| 8.5 | Water conveyance structures |
| 8.6 | Turbines and powerhouse |
Practise chapter 8 MCQs →
Chapter 9: Transportation Engineering
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 9.1 | Highway planning and survey |
| 9.2 | Geometric design |
| 9.3 | Highway materials |
| 9.4 | Traffic engineering and safety |
| 9.5 | Road pavement |
| 9.6 | Road construction and maintenance |
Practise chapter 9 MCQs →
Chapter 10: Project Planning, Design and Implementation
| Code | Sub-section |
|---|
| 10.1 | Engineering drawings |
| 10.2 | Engineering economics |
| 10.3 | Project planning and scheduling |
| 10.4 | Project management |
| 10.5 | Engineering professional practice |
| 10.6 | Engineering regulatory body (NEC) |
Practise chapter 10 MCQs →
Preparation tips
- Make a one-page formula sheet for each chapter and revise it every few days.
- Practise a chapter set daily, then take a full NEC mock test each week under exam timing.
- Keep a list of mistakes. The practice tool saves them for you in the My progress tab.
- Read the application and exam process on the NEC licence exam guide, and check the latest notice on the NEC website before you apply.
Syllabus headings summarised from the NEC registration exam syllabus for civil engineering (ACiE). Always check the current syllabus published by the Nepal Engineering Council.
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