AACE CEP 30-Day Study Plan

Use this study plan for AACE CEP when you need a realistic first pass before deeper practice.

Four-week fast pass

Week 1: Scope and references

• Read the official AACE page and confirm eligibility, exam structure, allowed materials, and scheduling rules.
• Build a personal glossary from AACE terminology, TCM language, and the major study-guide headings.

Week 2: Technical methods

• Work through the highest-risk methods for estimating basis, estimate classification, cost development, project funding support, value engineering, and estimate communication.
• For every formula, chart, classification, or method, write when it applies and what decision it supports.

Week 3: Applied scenarios

• Practice choosing the method from the scenario facts rather than from keyword matching.
• Write short recommendation notes explaining assumptions, evidence, limitations, and action.

Week 4: Exam execution

• Drill mixed questions, review missed concepts, and rehearse written-response structure where your exam includes a memo or essays.
• Confirm calculator, open-book, identification, online proctoring, and test-center rules from AACE.

Weekly loop

1. Read one topic area.
2. Summarize the decision rule in one paragraph.
3. Work questions or self-drills.
4. Capture every miss as a concept, calculation, evidence, or communication error.
5. Rework the same topic after 48 hours.

The goal is not just more reading. It is reducing the gap between technical recognition and defensible project-control judgment.