Done with ARE Exams
Just wanted to briefly mention what study materials I used.
Let me know if you want me to talk about my experience in taking these exams.
-CE: Main sources were Ballast, Brightwood, AIA Contracts, Hanahan lectures (very helpful). Brief overview of the CSI Project Resource Manual
-PcM, PjM, PA, & PDD: Main source was Amber Book program. Secondary resources were Black Spectacles mock exam videos, and WeARE practice exams. (I took & passed these exams at once as the Amber Book suggest and only failed PPD).
-PPD: Main sources were Amber Book program, Ballast, Sun Wind & Light (very helpful), and Architect's Studio Companion (just read once). Secondary resources were Black Spectacles mock exam videos, WeARE practice exams, Building Construction Illustrated, and Architectural Graphic Standards.
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WeARE was helpful as a supporting tool to my main study sources.
In my own experience, they were worth paying because they ask questions & provide information that I did not see in other study sources.
WeARE practice exams made me go research things I wouldn't have done so if I had used the books only. Some of that information was useful during the actual exams.
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I briefly overviewed the AHPP book when preparing for those exams but did not do any intensive reading.
And because I had already read Ballast & Brightwood from previous exam attemps, my main focus was the Amber Book and review my notes from these two books.
Pd. I really reccommend Hanahan lectures.
Hope this helps.
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How long would you say, in hours, does it take to get through all of the Amber Book material, per section of exam? I am trying to figure out how many months of a subscription I would need to pay for if I were to devote 100% of my time to these exams. Amber Book ain't cheap.
It's also interesting to read that Amber Book suggests taking PcM, PjM, PA, and PDD all at once.
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Time needed to go through Amber Book:
PcM only: 15 hours
PjM only: 20 hours
PA only: 45 hours
PPD only: 120 hours
PDD only: 120 hours
CE only: 140 hours
ALL SIX EXAMS RETHOUGHT AS A SINGLE EXAMINATION TO BE STUDIED ALL AT ONCE: 160 hours. . . that's why I suggest taking the whole AB course and then sitting for all your remaining exams. Not only will you spend half the total hours studying and get licensed in 1/4 the number of months. . . but you'll also get 10% more questions right on EACH division because last month someone wrote on this forum that they needed to know weld types for PjM!
And if you have to learn weld types ANYWAY for CE and PDD, why not get that question right on PjM by studying weld types before sitting for that division. Getting 10% more test items correct on a division will give you a 20% higher likelihood of passing that division. Remember that your goal isn't to pass the exam division you are currently studying for. . . your goal is to get licensed.
I recognize that this all-at-once mode is not a comfortable path for everyone, so the Amber Book course can be split into separate divisions, too. Though it's from 2020, just yesterday I came across this AIA article, one of 100+ supporting the "all exams at once" approach.
Obviously, all the numbers above are non-scientific and I can't prove any of them. . . but we've helped more than 15,000 study for these exams and I talk to a dozen enrollees a week, plus email with dozens more, and I stand by every one of the claims above based on those conversations.
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Michael, if one were to use Amber Book, but elect not to take every exam at once, how would you suggest they use AB? Should they go through one section at a time, then move on to the next section following each test; should they go through multiple sections at a time (like PcM & PjM) before taking either test; should they go through every section of AB as an overview, before honing in and studying for each section in further detail individually? Is there so much overlap between sections that, for instance, the Amber Book PDD review would benefit a test taker on the PjM exam?
Curious to hear your input. Thanks.
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When you sign up, we send you a “study priority matrix” laying out which videos, flash cards, and practice exams to engage for each division. You can take any exam divisions you want and take them in any order. I recommend taking as many exam divisions at once as you are comfortable taking..
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