PASS on all divisions!
The first take for ARE was in 3.0 - ages ago. The limitations of what are you ALLOW to achieve with no license will catchup with you quicker than you think. To all the folks out there who gave up once - decide to get licensed and keep the promise! It helps if you tell you doing it to the entire world:) - than you kind of have no choice... but finish it.
My journey "re-started" in 2020. I studied the way I was though in medieval ages - by myself. I passed PJM at first take. It helped to get confident - that is a must in taking any exams. I used The Architect Handbook of Professional Practice, ARE 5 Review Manual, listen to Schiff Hardin /Michael Hanahan Lectures with printed contracts along (!) reading and re-reading all contracts articles until I started to speak the contract language. ALL the B, A, C & G series for the different type of project delivery. You must know them for PCM, PJM and CE.
In this portion of my studies, I used Black Spectacles. This source is good to get you started if you have deep pockets. I found their exams extremely helpful mimicking NCARB exams - but... you have that format for free from NCARB now. For some reason there is no "tenacity to pass” between attendees - you can easily become a passive observer. The four "major areas" covered in weekly zoom meetings are not broad enough to gather what is required of you to study. There are too many people in zoom to truly interact. I failed PCM and CE twice. Black Spectacles updated their CE materials for better. I hear they keep updating all other divisions as they should if they want to stay afloat. I passed CE right after the update in February 2021. I moved on to PA and kept failing (twice)– this is in no way their fault! I was not able to get motivated as I got later. I knew I must change something to be able to pass PA, PPD, PDD. Amber Book was very helpful to see brought strokes what you must know. And lately Michael Ermann updated his flash cards! Excellent material to review the knowledge in all divisions!!! Go Amber!
At that time someone who just passed the exams - after being stuck for a while - suggested a Young Architect Bootcamp. The Young Architect Academy Boot Camp was a way to go FOR ME (not suggesting it is the only way:)). The difference with other group studies is that you are placed in a group of 12 to 14 people who have the same mind set - studying to fullest to pass all the exams. You can meet every day if you wish or twice a week or only on the weekend, there is meetup available on most of the days. It is not WHAT Young Academy provides. It is HOW they approach the studying process. They show you what to study with schedule assigned to it. Because you are in the group you do not want to slack or be less than someone else! You finally force yourself to study! The only way you have a chance to pass those exams is CONSISTENCY! That is how I got out of being passive listener, of being afraid to show how much I do not know! Someone said you do not learn as much from your success – one correct answer- but you learn a ton from your failures-wrong answers- because it makes you read and research why you were wrong! We were not only answering question, we took as much time to discuss the wrong answers, to learn how not to think… Slowly you are becoming your own "thinker" and you able to be more independent in selecting sources and materials you still need to learn – you becoming the future architect😊. I spent studying most of the days – for at least 4 to 6 hours daily- from June until October. To check my knowledge I used Amber Book, Walking ARE, Hyperfine (super good!). I still had a problem with "remembering" all mechanical systems – to address that I kept watching Amber Book and Architect Studio Companion book. I was still "scared" of structural...I used ARE Structures David Thaddeus course. Superb for those like me long time out of school or overambitious & having too much time. But I have structures down! Then I dove to FEMA – this is a MUST for the exam – seismic is a breeze after that.
What brought all together at the end was ARE Questions by Elif Byram. The videos are almost too simple at first. Surprisingly it is all you need (after reading all the books and having giant mess in your head😊). ARE Questions quizzes are brilliant! “Must Haves” before exams!
A very important take from her materials is the approach to how to pass the exams, how to read and analyze the question - watch the video! - I seriously believe I passed PPD (end of September), PA ( mid October), and PDD ( first part of November) because I have heard her instructions in my head HOW TO READ THE QUESTIONS during the exam… and some books as I mentioned before helped too.
I wish you all the best of luck – it feels gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood at the end – or rather beginning of your new life as an ARCHTECT!. (almost.. it takes a while to go through all paper work)
-
Hi Elif!! Thank you for reading my post!
I wanted so much to thank you!
Can’t stress enough how helpful your material is. Simple, short but with the list of sources / books to expand the knowledge if one needs it.
I hope all studying out there will get to check out the videos and quizzes… and finally get licensed!
Thank you!!!
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
6 comments