Source material

Based on the syllabus by BEM, candidate should attempt to compile all related source
material. The material can be classified as several categories, namely:

1. Acts and regulations (federal and state)

2. Contract forms
3. BEM circulars and guidelines
4. CCC related documents
5. Miscellaneous but important

Acts and regulations (federal and state)

 The acts and regulations of Malaysia (ENG & BM) are easily downloaded from the
AGC's website
(http://www.agc.gov.my/agcportal/index.php?r=portal2/lom&menu_id=b21XYmExV
UhFOE4wempZdE1vNUVKdz09). Just enter the act's number or keyword to search
in the website.
 Another place to get PCE-relevant acts is from BEM website itself
(http://bem.org.my/web/guest/registration-of-engineers-act-1967-revised-2015-)
 Get the Street Drainage Building Act 1974 (BM version) here from Kementerian
Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan
(https://www.kpkt.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/88)
 A hidden portal "JABATAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN" under the Kementerian
Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan lists all state amendments to the UBBL 1984 for
download (https://jkt.kpkt.gov.my/index.php/ms/node/238). It is important to read
these together with the original UBBL as there are several updates to the schedules.
State amendments are generally similar, but it is advisable to choose the state that the
candidate is practicing in.
 Google is also another easy way to find the exact name of the act, or download the act
itself.
 It is not recommended to buy legal books (usually the books with solid colour covers)
from the bookshops for reasons later stated below.

Contract forms

 BEM contract forms are readily available at their website

(http://bem.org.my/web/guest/bemform-1999)
 A simple Google search can yield PAM and JKR form of contracts for download
(links not shared here)
 Unfortunately other contract forms (FIDIC) are not so easily available, although the
entrepreneurial candidate can find ways of getting them illegally. However, past exam
questions have so far avoided the topic of international contract forms. On the other
hand, candidate can attempt to recognize key points and differences between contract
types instead.

BEM circulars, FAQ and guidelines

 If all roads lead to Rome, surely one must find it at their website
(http://bem.org.my/web/guest/bem1)
  FAQs (http://bem.org.my/web/guest/accredited-checkers)

CCC related documents

 Everything you need to know about CCC is also found at their website
(http://bem.org.my/web/guest/certificate-of-completion-compliance-ccc-)

Miscellaneous but important

 Based on past year questions trends, topics can range from Personal Indemnity
Insurance coverage, Malaysian legal courts definition to general accounting terms.
Candidates are advised to assess the recorded questions independently and compile
related material.
 Another good source of legal information is through IEM-organised courses on PCE
such as "BEM Professional Competency Examination Part A – Common Paper" or
"2-Day Course on ‘Design and Build Contracts – Obligations and Responsibilities",
both by Ir. Lai Sze Ching. The seminar notes are a good summary and textbook on
legal matters. (this is not an endorsement of the speaker or the seminar, please attend
at your own risk)

Compiling

Many candidates would jump on the notion that since the exam is 'open-book' format, they
would bring everything they can possibly carry. Since candidates are allowed to bring printed
material but not electronic devices (except non-programmable calculators), some resort to
lugging travel suitcases of reference books. Others fill the exam chair and tables with more
books. Below is a guide on how to actually compile materials for PCE:

1) Start light

How can you pack light if you opt for printed books and reference books that are thicker than
dictionaries? Start light by printing out word-heavy legal documents, 2 pages per face, front
and back. This will save you 1 page printed for every 2 pages (50% less) of the document.
For the eagle-eyed candidate, try printing 4 pages per face (a whopping saving of 75%).
Imagine a 200 page Act printed on just 25 sheets of paper, compared to 100 sheets if printed
full sized. Less sheets, less weight!

2) Index like Google

PCE is more like a game of treasure hunt with limited time (for most questions about facts).
Start by cataloguing your materials in any way that makes most sense to you. Acts and
regulations should be clearly labeled with Post-Its by the sides etc. You can even create your
own table of contents or keyword index. Time is of the essence, as candidates have only
about 2 minutes per question for Paper 1. Train yourself to lookup any law, regulations or
documents within as little time as possible. Be aware that some questions have multiple acts
to refer to, which will stress-test your newly acquired skill of manual Googling.

3) Always bind loose sheets

extracted from candidate Examination Regulations

B5. Candidates may bring into the exam room any printed textbooks or reference books
- material in paper form (binding) which they may wish to use during the exam.
Handwritten and loose notes ARE NOT ALLOWED.

If you have followed step 1 and step 2, now is the time for binding. Binding printed material
can be in any form such as ring, paper fastener, stapled, comb-binding etc. However the
current accepted practice is 'non-removable' binding, which means candidates might be
forced to tape on bindings like paper fasteners and rings as a temporary measure to satisfy the
staff checking at the registration counter. Comb-binding on the other hand is by far the best
method, whereby the bound book can be opened flat and materials can be added to later on
(you would need access to a binding machine). Comb-binding is also allowed in the
examination hall without any taping.

If you have any written notes, now is the best time to digitize and print them out before
binding together. Any loose paper stuck between book pages will be removed, so check
thoroughly during this step. Any handwritten scribbles in books etc. usually pass the checkers
with no problems whatsoever.

Study tips

Recalling the last exam you had and how you prepared for it can be a stretch since you last
left the university decades ago. However, open-book exams are rare and maybe a new format
for some. Here is a list of tips tailored specifically for PCE:

1) Speed-reading

If indexing is one part of the time-saving equation, speed-reading is the other half of the
equation. Speed-reading can help candidates search important key points in a jiffy. Best
paired with the highlighting/ underlining, candidates can ideally find the answer faster than
Usain Bolt. There are many guides to learn speed-reading on the Internet, but candidates can
start here https://www.wikihow.com/Learn-Speed-Reading

2) Study cover to cover, highlight key points

There is no shortcut around the syllabus except for reading every document cover to cover.
Law is a boring subject, but it pays to identify key points in the act/regulations that could be
asked in PCE Paper 1. Highlight or underline clauses that states important facts such as:

 Amount of penalty
 Limitation of the law coverage
 Minimum/maximum height, volume or other measurable dimensions such as in the
UBBL
 Examples provided in the law such as Contracts Act and so on

By reading cover to cover and identifying key points, candidates would be learning
proactively, and perhaps commit some information to memory. As such, one would not be
caught unaware of some obscure reference in the act.

3) Understand not memorize

PCE is a test of fundamental understanding of the Malaysian Law and practical application in
the industry. There is no need for candidates to memorize, since the format is open-book.
Always think about the reasoning behind the enactment of the act/ regulation, its effects and
practical application. Discuss with seniors and peers about different situational problems and
solutions. PCE-Common typically asks about funny situations regarding professional
conduct, contractual problems, CCC issuance and so on.

Another way to approach the question is by asking Five Whys, and thinking like a lawyer.
Use case examples as a guide to understand the logic behind the law's interpretation and that
not every decision is clear cut.

4) Scour BEM's website

Candidates often overlook the wealth of information provided by BEM on their website. One
should treat all of the BEM circulars as a holy book to scoring in PCE. Even the lowly FAQs
and Guidelines provide interesting questions and answers that commonly feature in the exam.