PA Fail- seeking feedback/advice

In the past I predominantly used:

PCM/PJM : "Architects Handbook of professional practice", read through A101, A201, B101

CE: Hand & Hammer & Building Construction Illustrated Ch 3&7, read G701/704

I used Black Spectacles and supplemented with the physical Amber book for PCM, PJM & CE practice tests.

I passed those 3 exams and have gotten stuck on "Programming and Analysis". I have bought the most practice materials/base materials for the PA test.

I used WeARE, Black Spectacles, hyperfine (sample), designerHacks, PPI ballast exam review and practice questions, Walking ARE (which I was intimidated by, but most replicated the actual exam- just frustrated that it is PDF form and not an online test form cause it makes it harder to go through the materials I feel like. I am going to print it in preparation for my next attempt.)

I made a list of what I found to be the focus of questions for the exam, but also made an equally large list of what did NOT show up on the exam but showed up in multiple practice exam materials.

I feel somewhat frustrated by what I felt like was misdirection in prompts, a few general examples being setbacks listed but not matching the diagrams presented or soil boring reports giving contradicting direction to avoid areas where rock is present, which I believe contradicts the "common soil knowledge" which is to avoid silt and clay, and favor well-graded crushed gravel & sand mix, while especially favoring rock because it is best to reduce settling for the building foundation, correct?

I am just trying to figure out the best way to navigate this retake, as I felt over-prepared with info that didn't even show up in the slightest and underprepared for the plethora of lengthy semi mini-case studies given that felt like you couldn't really prepare for, but just had to assess at the moment (programming adjacencies and site placement). That being said, I passed with flying colors on that particular section, but did poorly in the others.

My score breakdown was:

section 1: 1 (far below) for (environmental and contextual conditions), (which I am baffled by because that was what I thought was my strongest area and used the "site planning and design" as my base reading material)

section 2: 2 (not passing) for (codes and regulations) (used IBC/ANSI)

section 3 4 (exceeding) for (site analysis and programming)

section 4: 2 (not passing) for (building analysis and programming) (used problem seeking)

study focus/ what was on the exam:

soil borings
remaining acreage count, given existing acre unit count
construction cost overall (site/fixed equipment)
parking count (non-ADA)
ADA ramp analysis
easement/setbacks
arterial vs collector
efficiency importance in occupancy
flood zones
swale placement
bldg placement/adjacencies (a TON of this)
reducing Net occupancy spaces to reduce SF count

was not on the exam (but was in practice material):

historical info on city formations/urban planning/townships
soil remediation
street widths/radius
structural/HVAC /lighting/elec basics
psychometric chart
typical slopes
LL-PL
Psi (between stories/plumbing fixtures)
Mill levy calc
various bonds
flood % per yr
foundation prep tie backs/etc
FSI (fire rating)
earthquake zone categories

Any advice would be appreciated!

rebekkak March 07, 2021 16:16

Hi. I'd suggest doing some more readings. Read parts of:

Site Planning & Design Handbook

Space Planning Basics

Problem Seeking

Sun, Wind & Light

And this page: https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/four-treatments.htm

Fill in the gaps.

You also need to be able to read space planning diagrams and arrange spaces quickly. Practice it.

Hope this helps!

Rebekka O'Melia, B.Arch, M. Ed, Registered Architect, NCARB, Step Up ARE Prep

Meredith Neistadt March 12, 2021 18:48

Jennifer, thank you for sharing your experience above, I feel similar and was most surprised by how time-intensive the questions were that I encountered on the exam. I too recently failed PA--and likely over-studied as well--but if I'm being honest with myself I probably didn't practice enough questions as part of my study plan.

@Rebekka O'Melia, what sources do you recommend for practicing the space planning diagrams and space arrangements? I believe this is what tripped me up the most in taking PA as every question felt like a mini-case study which made it difficult for me to manage my time.

Any thoughts you can share would be great! Thank you!

Kawai Yam March 15, 2021 01:01

Jennifer, would you mind explaining more what do you mean by "reducing Net occupancy spaces to reduce SF count"? Thanks tons!

Jennifer Dreisbach March 29, 2021 17:06

Rebecca, thanks for your suggestions. I already read the "Site Planning and Design Handbook" as well as "Problem Seeking", but might check out the "Sun, Wind and Light" book. From what I read on the forums that book is more supplemental, but I guess I was lacking in that area according to the score report so it would be wise to supplement. I also read the NPS website but will reread my resources. The space planning diagrams I got "exceeds" in. I will be attending the ARE Bootcamp, so hopefully, that will help!

Meredith, I have mixed feelings about you feeling similarly- I'm sorry you felt similarly, but also glad to hear I'm not alone in feeling that way. I would highly recommend the WalkingARE practice test materials. They felt the most similar to the mini-case study form of the test. It was a bit annoying for the WalkingARE test to not be in a sort of digital format and having to scroll between the resources and questions, but definitely think I should have spent more time on that test prep material. I printed it out so I can more easily flip through the resources while going over the test again and studying the questions more thoroughly.

Kevin, I would suggest reviewing the "Problem Seeking" book/ the ARE handbook to reference the sort of problems relating to Net vs. Gross SF calculations. The ARE handbook sample item #7 is a good example for reference. Hope that helps!

PA Fail- seeking feedback/advice

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