I finally have my life back! (28+ fails)

This has been the longest journey of my life and its finally done. I started my ARE process back in 2015 with ARE 4.0. I cannot access the failed exams from then but there were A LOT. I was so close to passing PPP and only having PPD/PDD in 5.0 but when I called NCARB to clarify the number of fails I had in a year someone told me incorrect information. I took an exam not knowing in was my last before the transition and failed. I was DEVISTATED when I had to retake exams that took me years to finally pass.

ARE 5.0 sucks compared to 4.0 lol. With 4.0, you knew what to expect. Building systems was about building systems. Structures was a beast and in my opinion, they could have just made that exam more relevant to our field and kept the rest but I understand the reasoning for making the 5.0 exams more comprehensive. I personally loved the graphic vignette and I always passed that part because I'm a visual learner (I will take that back over these case studies). Years ago, to be an architect you could sit or just work in the field for 10 years. As I am entering my 10th year in the field, I agree, I don’t need these exams to validate me as an architect. I didn’t need to do it, but we're all here because we want the expertise, we want to call ourselves an architect. I love that now I don’t have to say, I studied architecture, I am an architectural designer, or feel guilty about my role being project architect. I own this - and so do all of you!

For those that take these exams in your early in your career and pass on the second or first try, or even the third try - Even if you feel like you aren't …you are a good test taker. These are my fails:

5.0 Exams

Practice management: 2 fails, 1 pass

Project management: 1 fail, 1 pass

Programming and Analysis: 9 fails, 1 pass

Project Planning and Design: 8 fails, 1 pass

Project Development and Design: 8 fails, 1 pass

Construction Evaluation: 4.0 transition

*I don't know the numbers from 4.0, but I failed them all, multiple times as well. At least 3 times for SPD, at least 6 fails for PPP, at least 3 fails for SD, and at least 4 fails for CDs.

I'm being transparent about this because I know others are in the same position as me. I have body stress requiring a physical therapist, I see an actual therapist, and the only thing that personally kept me persistent was my relationship with God. - If you don't have this, meditate, or do something because you cannot do it alone. These exams don't validate you. Its just something we pay for to call ourselves an expert. If I can do this, anyone can!

I could sit here and list all of the study materials I used, but honestly ALL OF THEM. Every single one they say to read, you need to know it. (Minus very few books, the ones people post about on here to read, use that as your guide). But if you've failed as much as I have, you should know by memory which book has what information, etc. If that’s the case, stop reading, you know the content. Just practice your comprehension and practice test. Here are my tips:

1. Take as many practice questions as you can, use this to study. (Elif is amazing! ,  Try ARE (difficult but good), Hyperfine, Designer Hacks (For quick hits), etc)
2. After each practice question, really use information you failed for your studies. I was averaging about 50-75% on practice exams but the average didn’t matter, it's all about understanding the content holes and how to answer the question
3. Don't ask your coworkers for advice that have been licensed for 30+ years. Their advice is real world experience, NOT what is on this exam. They can help you understanding code & ADA, and how building systems work but don't rely on them for contracts because most firms don't follow this.
4. Being an architect DOES NOT take away your ability to design, if anything it helps you think of more sustainable things to do, alternative systems to use on projects, etc.
5. For CE/PPD/PDD: If you don't understand construction or building systems ask your consultants after a design meeting to explain something to you. Go to a construction site and pull a contractor aside. (In my early 20's with 4.0 I had to do this because I just didn’t understand how things worked because I was only drafting).
6. For PPD/PDD: Go through drawing sets and redo the life safety/code sheets yourself to see where the holes are
7. For PCM/PJM: Go through staffing and see how thing run for your project and test how your project runs better/worse with the use of consultant weekly coordination vs monthly, etc. (for this, real world knowledge is helpful!)
8. Practice your reading comprehension - Know how to answer questions. Pick out what item doesn't belong
9. I struggled a lot with imposture syndrome. But we got this! - There are so many people that have their license and can't do a thing at work. If you are like me, you know the content, don't over think it. It took me a really long time to just read the question. The people who made these questions are like us, if no other context is given don't over think the question. (This one is WAYYYY easier said than done)
10. Use NCARB practice exams. At the end, focus on divisions you keep failing  ie if you keep failing the Project Specifications portion of the PDD exam, see what they classify as those questions and make up your own questions so that you can master it
11. Make flash cards and use them ….don't just make them
12. PA was very difficult for me because it’s a biased test. For topics around CPTED, etc. although it seem bogus just write down what they say the best practice are. Don't focus on your own knowledge or commons sense, use the study guides to understand what NCARB wants.
13. Make yourself practice questions and take screenshots of practice questions you keep getting wrong because that means you don't understand the topic
14. Stop thinking you need to get a 60% on this exam to pass. It's not the case. You need to do well in areas that are worth the more in the exam. Ie for PDD, Integration of building materials & systems and Construction Documentation are a HUGE chunk of the exam. Construction cost estimate is only 2-8% of the exam, and there's no real way to event study for that unless you do it at work. Make sure you master these areas and know how to identify them when you are testing, you want to get those rights on exam day
15. If you don't have a group to study with, join ARE Bootcamp, it was amazing to see how other people answer questions. And be in a community of other people that want their life back as well.
16. If you don't know all of the content and are a visual learner, join Amber Book. Although Michael Ermann said I have been failing miserable and need to give up I didn’t. If you are like me, you are not failing miserably, you are just over thinking and need to know how to answer test questions.
17. Don't tell anyone you are testing, I know people say this but you really have to. Don't tell them if you are taking it or when/if you fail. Only tell people that get it in the design field. Not even your parents or your bestie.
18. Look at 4.0 content, practice question books online are SO cheap. Find NCARB 3.0/4.0 questions and review. Even practice 4.0 vignettes - that information didn’t go away

For NCARB: Now that I'm finally an architect, I want to be a volunteer that helps create questions to find ways to make the process more equitable. This exam should not only be architects, if we have questions on thermal control, acoustics, systems, and structure we need to bring in the other professional to vet our questions/answers. We shouldn't include books that have overlapping views of content. Additionally, for each question in the exam room please clearly state what division the question is, i.e. Codes & Regulations, so that the test taker knows what content area they are being quizzed on.

I hope this helped an I'm so happy to finally be done! For those who are regaining exams with the removal of the clock, you got this and just because it's forever rolling does not mean you can keep this lingering. These are not student loans, get these things out of your life lol. My clock ends at the end of this month, but before testing the other day, I put in my head "this test is going down an out of my life" - I'm so happy I finally have my life back.