STUDY MATERIALS?
I'm about to start studying for the ARE 5.0 exams. The advice on what study materials to use is daunting and the amount of materials listed is potentially expensive. Has anyone broken down what study materials or sources are best to use? I've seen many lists, but they include a variety of sources and I really don't want to overstudy or end up paying hundreds of dollars that I didn't need to spend. Thanks!
Cynthia
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Everyone is different. I think anyone will tell you the AHPP is pretty much a necessary expense. The ARE 5.0 Handbook is free and gives you some great example questions that very much mimic the exam. There is also a "test simulator" on NCARB that is not meant to be a study guide but gives you a lot of question types that I saw on the exam. It's also IMPERATIVE that you use the simulator to get a feel for the testing tools and format - it's not intuitive. I never looked at Ballast, but my firm got an Amber Book account that really helped me.
Designerhacks has practice tests I used but their typos make me crazy, I don't think it's worth the money.
The biggest thing that has helped me pass was work experience honestly. If you work for a firm ask them for some support, see if they will reimburse you for some books or if there's enough demand maybe they'll buy a study subscription. Also try to find someone in the profession to ask questions to, maybe a boss or supervisor. The test is not passable by just memorizing things, you have to INTERPRET so much.
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Cynthia,
I also work in (mostly) residential right now on a consulting basis. My “firm” work was decades ago and I stupidly never recorded the hours. That’s a whole other story ...
Am currently studying for my last exam (PDD) and can tell you, based on what I'm looking at in my office right now, what I have used extensively and what I wish I had not purchased (books in italics). Warning: This is very subjective and based on my own personal experience, so take that for what it’s worth. People who are working in medium/large firms with varied type/size projects will probably not need all the sources I used. Also, keep in mind that there is overlap between the "contract" exams and "technical" exams, so it's best to study broadly.
For the “contract” exams (PcM/PjM/CE):
AHPP is a necessity (even though I don’t think it’s very well written). I highly recommend the Kindle version for the simple reason that every time you want to look something up, you can just search and you can also have it on your phone. It’s huge and the ability to search was and still is (for me) essential. Although, keep in mind that you have to sell your soul to Amazon. You can keep the downloads, but if you want to close your Amazon account, you will not be able to transfer the books to another device or manage them. I used both the Kevin Griendling (Pluralsight) and the Narmour Wright (Wiley) free checklists for figuring out which chapters/sections of AHPP to concentrate on. Found the Narmour Wright one to be particularly helpful. Griendling’s lists are available online somewhere and NW’s are here:
https://sganwdesign.com/2017/10/31/wiley-publishing/
The CONTRACTS themselves. You must listen to attorney Michael Hanahan’s lectures and take extensive notes. I listened to three years’ worth of his lectures but one will certainly suffice. He used to be with the Schiff Hardin firm, but just recently moved to Perkins Coie. His new site is not set up yet to download the MP3s, but it should be very soon. Maybe someone else has better info on this. I wish I had NOT purchased the AIA Guide to the 2007 Contract Documents (soon after that it changed to the 2017 docs) because I got everything I needed from Hanahan and the documents themselves. I barely touched that book.
Also purchased (in Kindle format) The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice. This book doesn’t get enough credit. I read quite a bit of it in an attempt to get clarification on many of the points in AHPP. It doesn’t cover as much as AHPP, though, and most people seem to do well without it – seems to be a personal preference. It can be a resource book for practice, going forward – or not.
Professional Practice: A Guide to Turning Designs into Buildings. This little book reads like a novel. I couldn’t put it down and read it in a couple of days. Do you need it? Probably not, but it’s relatively cheap (on Kindle) and delightful. I did go back to it to study billing.
For the “technical” exams (PA/PPD/PDD):
Site Planning and Design Handbook. Hardback. Thought it was dry at first, but really got into it. Important info! Read it cover to cover.
Fundamentals of Building Construction. One of the best. Complementary website. I bought this in hardback, read it almost cover to cover, and think I will use it forever.
Architectural Graphic Standards. Everyone needs this. Hardback.
The Architect’s Studio Companion. This one gets lots of raves from everyone, so it seems fairly safe to say essential (or nearly so). I have this in hardback and read most of it.
MEEB (Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings). There seems to be a debate over whether you should buy this one or Heating, Cooling, Lighting. I have MEEB in Kindle version. Chose that for the same reason as AHPP – it is huge and I thought I would do a lot of searching. I have done a ton of searching, so I don’t regret that choice – you can’t (or shouldn’t) really read this cover to cover. Nice to have on the phone too.
Olin’s Construction. I bought this in hardcover and it’s a good book to have. Probably not essential for everyone, but it does have slightly different info than Fundamentals has and it is arranged according to Masterformat sections, which gives it a certain unique usefulness. Am using it right now for PDD.
Building Structures. Wish I hadn’t bought this one. I’ve looked at it once and that wasn’t even necessary. [NCARB, you really should whittle down the ridiculously long resources list.]
Sun, Wind, and Light. Another one I wish I hadn’t bought. I detest the format and can’t find anything I’m looking for in it. Many people swear by it, though! (Go figure.) Several years ago I completed an Autodesk Certificate course in Building Performance Analysis in Revit and learned a lot of this stuff there. I imagine that people who have graduated recently have learned most of this material too. Some of the prep courses (and specifically Amber and Hyperfine) give you pretty much all you need to know about environmental concepts with maybe a little extra googling. Also, someone else may suggest a better book for this subject.
Problem Seeking. Seems to be necessary for programming, but a total bore. I read about half of it, I think.
Building Construction Illustrated. Most people think this is essential. (I’ll let you know after I take PDD.) This is an iconic book but the current version has a tiny light type font that drives me crazy. [BTW, I own the original 1975 edition of this book that is 11” x 14” with dark font that you can actually read without a magnifying glass.]
Daylighting Handbook I. I don’t think I opened it and would like my money back.
Building Codes Illustrated. Bought the hardback but wish I hadn’t. What I am using for code research is the Commentary version of the IBC itself. This is absolutely fantastic and you can use it for work as well. Must purchase the “with Commentary” version (not the regular version), which contains explanations, examples, problems, diagrams, and everything you need to understand the Code. I own the IBC in PDF (easy to search and highlight) and also have it on my phone.
Ballast. Bought it and almost wish I hadn’t. I went through some of the chapters early on (mostly for PA), but have now pretty much abandoned it. Have used the Ballast Practice Exams Book, though.
Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. This was merely a sentimental purchase because I took an acoustics course with the (now) late Cyril Harris back in the day. Believe it or not, I have used it – but probably nobody else needs to buy it.
In the category of “what was I thinking?” ....
Purchased these Kindle books but have had almost no use for them:
Planning and Urban Design Standards
The Green Studio Handbook
Law for Architects
Last but definitely not least – in the category of third party prep ...
I have based about 80% of my study on the Amber course (highly recommended!). Another 5-10% on Hyperfine and about 5% on Elif Bayram’s AREQuestions. The rest is composed of various practice problem sources. (This is not counting my reading – only the “structured” study materials.)
Regarding Amber, the videos go fast and have many facts compressed into every sentence. If you want to get the most out of it and cement the concepts in your mind, take extensive notes that you can go back to later to re-study. I made tabbed folders of Word Doc notes for each category and have added material to each that I find through my own research/reading. He has added tons of material since I had my subscription, so it's really like a true academic course and not a study guide. Many people pass their exams with mainly this and not all the books I have listed, but since I've been out of school for so long, I felt I really needed the extra study.
Good luck!
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Cynthia,
I did not use Amberbook or YA Forum. I passed the exams by using primary resources and a few key study guides / workbooks.
I highly recommend the Ballast ARE 5.0 Manual.
I also have a guidebook that shows you the resources and how much each one costs and how valuable it is to the studies.
Best of luck,
Mark, Archizam
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