FAILED PDD 2nd time - what can I do better?
Hello everyone,
I just took my second time PDD yesterday and I failed. PDD is my fourth exam. I passed CE/PJM/PCM and failed PA and PPD.
For the second time studying for PDD, I watched Amberbook, read the fundamentals of material and construction front to back, and did all the practice exams on Blackspectacle.(I got 60% and 58% from the two practice exams). I did the PPI practice exams and questions and finished all Elif's Arequestions.
The exam was hard and more difficult than BS practice exam, honestly, now I don't know how I can study better and pass them...The way I studied is primarily by memorizing the questions --- I don't understand the structural idea fully and I was just memorizing them. same for other systems questions.
Would really appreciate your advice and help! I felt pretty bumped and discouraged after 2nd fail because I was studying very hard for the last three months and rejected a lot of going out chances and time to spend with my friends and partner. I hope I can pass next time!
Thank you.
Sabrina (Xueyan) Li
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You have it backwards:
You should ALWAYS understand the question and answer first, then then read the ones you got wrong a few more times, and you will remember the info.
It will not help you if you do not understand and just memorize the info. ARE exams are testing your ability to UNDERSTANDING of the concepts and use them.
Gang Chen, Author, AIA, LEED AP BD+C (GreenExamEducation.com)
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Hi Sabrina,
I am wondering what your work experience is like? And how many years?
I'd recommend doing some site observations on projects under construction, if you haven't lately.
Also the order in which you take these exams is important, and based on what you said, it seems like you've bounced around out of the order I'd recommend. You should have continued to study for the first exam you failed, rather than bouncing around to 2 others.
Have you read Ballast? What other material have you read? You need to switch up your study materials. Buy a new book, get new practice exams, take an ARE class and/or find a mentor. Just because someone sold you their collection of architectural topics, doesn't mean those will be on the exam.
And I agree with what Gang said. Read the question again if you don't understand it. You won't get the answer correct if you don't understand it. Ask someone for help.
And most of all, KEEP STUDYING!
Rebekka O'Melia, R.A., NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, NOMA, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses
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