Study Schedule for quick burn
Hi - I've got about three weeks or so between my last job and when my new jobs starts, and I wanted to see if I can go hard and fast for those three weeks and take my last two tests, PDD and PPD at the end of it. I have two small kids and have been (and will be again) working full time, so this time off with them in school is really my only chance to study consistently without doing something stupid like waking up at 3 am to study before a full day of work and parenting. I will be using Amber book and some other resources. Extra info is that I've been practicing for about 9 years since grad school and have failed PDD more times than I care to mention. Has anyone done anything similar where they've done the quick burn and crammed for a few weeks to get the tests done? Any tips, study schedules, advice, etc I can gain from your experiences?
Thanks so much!
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Hi Talia,
Did you already take this exam? Sounds like you would have had to more than double up the study hours to do this. My outline for PDD is 6 weeks, but then I think you need do to practice exams too. I knew one woman who only studied about 1 month per exam and she passed all but PPD on the 1st attempt. But that's the fastest I've seen.
Curious about how you did...
Rebekka O'Melia, R.A., NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, NOMA, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses
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Hi Rebekka, I had three weeks off between my jobs, so what I ended up doing was cramming about 6-7 daytime hours per day using amber book videos, plus the occasional hour or two after I put my kids to bed. I watched them at about 1.5 speed for the most part and paused to take notes. I got through all topics minus the pro practice unit (since I was only doing ppd and pdd). That brought me through Tuesday of my last week at home and then I used Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to do practice tests and questions. I took PPD on Sunday and passed it! Now I've got PDD coming up and since Amber has you study for all topics at once I'll be using the next few days or so to review and do practice tests before I take my next test in the coming week or so. Three weeks is psychotic but it could work if one has the luxury of full daytime hours. Now that I'm back at work, even reviewing my notes is challenging after a full day of work and a full evening of parenting.
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You can do it, Talia!
I was in a similar situation earlier this year with a baby at home and a limited window with no work commitments. I think what you’re attempting is smart and not at all unreasonable… but it is ambitious. Why not try?
If you’re looking for stuff to skip, I’d not do any practice exams (either Amber Book’s or NCARB’s). They’re a huge time suck and you already have practice with the exams. I would definitely do practice *questions*, just not the whole, graded practice exams. I found Amber Book’s flash cards to be great (they’re basically practice questions), but leave lots of time for them (they take at least as long as the videos).
My second piece of advice is to stop learning new material the day before and focus only on review. I wish I’d spent more time with my own notes that I’d taken while going through Amber Book and the “panic notes” they provide. There were at least a few exam questions on material I knew I’d studied, but I just couldn’t remember. So frustrating!
For what it’s worth, I also used Amber Book and I did the majority of my studying over three weeks as well. I subscribed for MUCH longer (lol) but the intense studying was over the three weeks that I had childcare.
Good luck! I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you:)
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Thank you! Your post gives me hope! I've known people who have pulled off all sorts of whacky non-traditional study schedules (including things like people studying M-F and knocking out the test on Saturday for 6 weeks in a row) so I'm hopeful I can just be one of those stories?
I also paid for Amber book for far longer than I should have but I reached out to them and told them I needed to pause because I hadn't logged in in three months and they were super gracious and understanding and gave me credit for those months. Between that and all my failed tests and babysitters to grant me study time, etc, I can't even think about what I've spent on getting this done...
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Great job Talia,
Just one more exam then!! Remember that there are 16,000 ARE candidates. Just because ONE PERSON did a crazy study schedule, or didn't study much and passed, doesn't mean its normal (we don't usually know their background/experience, but it's typically far beyond average). I think the PDD requires about 120 hours of study. And yes, if you have a break from work and the discipline, studying 6-7 hours per day could work. I found studying every day was helpful. And taking notes helps you retain what you are learning. And I think practice exams are necessary. You need to be pretty fast.
Videos are ok, but not a replacement for reading. I usually stop to take notes so often during a video, that it'd be quicker for me to read a book with images.
Oh, I didn't realize this is another commercial for Amber Books. If you are affiliated with AB Christine, you cannot recommend their products without mentioning your relationship. I believe I already mentioned this to you as well.
Best wishes Talia! You will be licensed soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hang it there! Moms are getting it done! ✅
Rebekka O'Melia, R.A., NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, NOMA, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses
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I hear you, Talia. By far the most expensive (and stressful) part of the process for me was childcare. Not just for studying but for when I was physically taking the tests as well. And I had it relatively easy with just one child. My goodness, this process really does a number on family life. Anyway, good luck on this last one. It’s a real bear, but the only way you’re certain not to succeed is to give up.
And for anyone following along: I’m not affiliated with Amber Book. I just used it to study. I subscribed for like seven months!!! But like I told Talia, I did the bulk of my studying over about three weeks. I have more than fifteen years of professional experience, most of that in the field. I was not working when I was studying so I was able to spend six hours during the days plus another hour or two after my son went to bed. I followed this general schedule every day, no weekends off. It was awful… but also kind of weirdly fun. I’m so glad I did it and wished I’d started much earlier. In addition to Amber Book, I studied the AIA contracts themselves and I used Desk Crits for review. Had I known about Hyperfine and Elif, I think I could have really benefited from them as well. I subscribed to Black Spectacles for a month just to see and found the videos breathtakingly boring, with the exception of the CE videos, which were excellent. They’ve since updated some more sections so maybe my comment doesn’t hold anymore. I wasn’t interested in any group classes - probably because my schedule was atypical, but maybe I was wrong about that. I’ve caught at least a few stories on the forum like mine and Talia’s and some others from people who have had time between jobs. I don’t “recommend” my approach and in a lot of ways I regret it. I wish I hadn’t been so intimidated by the process and I really wish I’d started earlier. But life is complicated and we don’t always choose the easiest paths for ourselves.
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Thank you for your encouragement! I feel like the collective trauma of all the people here who are trying to get this done/have gotten it done with young kids at home is really a bonding experience. It's an inspiration to me and has been keeping me hopeful and chugging along.
In reference to Rebekka's comments, I just think that different strokes are going to work for all the 16,000 different folks out there. I tried doing it the slow steady way, the quick way, every way in between, and what I've learned about myself is that sitting and reading a book of details isn't the way I learn best. I do better in a lecture setting when things are being told to me and I'm writing them down, it just sticks to my brain better. At this point I'm looking to get through this painful process so whatever works is what I'm going to stick with! I appreciate all the kind words and encouragement, I know there's an amazing community of parents here who are all cheering each other on, and I can feel it! Hope to report back soon with good news. And if not... not :)
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Congrats Talia!
You did a great job! 🙌 Getting licensed is a huge deal, and you will remember the moment that you passed that last exam forever! You should be very proud of yourself. And you didn't 'waste' a month, you accomplished something major!! And you got it done with young children in tow. It's not easy...
Congrats again, and I hope that you reward yourself for this major accomplishment. Go on that trip, buy the jewelry, or drink the $$$ champagne 🥂! Enjoy the moment! You deserve it!
Rebekka O'Melia, R.A., NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, NOMA, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses
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