Be prepared for Manipulative/Unclear questions/answers...
Recently, I took the CE exam, and narrowly Passed... but I failed. However, the most glaring aspect was how manipulative/unclear the questions/answers were provided. For Example, we study industry standard language, but then ncarb substitutes words that mean the same thing but not the industry/study standard; and/or omits words within the answers making it even more bizarre. Also, within my Case Study sections, I spent 30 min on 3 questions looking through the resources and was not found. How in the hell... was it omitted or what? I used the search function and knew where to look, but the info was simply not provided. I have a Pass at PCM and PJM, but this test was the most difficult, as I had to read questions 2 or 4 times to understand the misdirection of ncarb's rhetoric. Best of luck to those and be prepared. I would like to understand the reasoning from ncarb, and what is the protocol/suggestion for these type of questions?
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Hi Todd,
If you couldn't find the info in the case studies using the search tool, my guess would be that the info was in a drawing or chart. I've even seen info at the bottom corner of a drawing where you had to use zoom out, and pan around, and zoom in, in order to find it (the document was many times bigger than the screen).
Watch the clock during the case studies. Don't spend more than an hour on them now. Be methodical and move on. Don't ever spend 30 min on one question! I even suggest skipping lengthy math equations. If it's more than a 3-step math problem and you aren't 100% sure you're doing it correctly, just skip it! In the 5 min it would take to do that one problem, you can correctly answer 3 other simpler questions correctly.
And don't get flustered if you cannot find the answer to something - accept it and move on quickly!
Hope this helps!
Rebekka O'Melia, B.Arch, M. Ed, Registered Architect, NCARB, Step Up ARE Coaching
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Todd,
You are spot on about the CE test. PcM and PjM tests aligned with my resources and study materials. The CE was waaaay off track. Also, with the case study, the refresh rate for the images was really slow, so zooming in or out took more time than it should have. Some questions took 5 to 10 minutes, at least, to answer.
Not knowing what I missed or why leaves me wondering about the very convoluted "what would the contractor/architect do if . . . ." questions. I know what the team I work with would do, but the questions make it painful to parse out the contractual requirements, etc.
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