PDD done - Whiteboard, Scratch Paper, Resources
I just passed my final exam yesterday (PDD) after slowly taking them over the past 3-4 years and wanted to share my thoughts and frustrations over the format as it's evolved.
The whiteboard is still inexplicably terrible. Input is extremely laggy - often doesn't register full paths and will glitch together a couple points instead of drawing out a curve. The tabs freeze up. The window often gets stuck and won't close or move without progressing to the next question. This feature has been out for 3 years now and it's inexcusable how bad it is still.
Resources for the Case studies have improved slightly. Drawings are still slow to render. It wouldn't be as much of a problem if the window they were displayed in was larger. I'm disappointed that they limit the IBC sections to whatever they feel is relevant yet the practice exam they provide online provides a more comprehensive set - memorization is still key for a few areas.
The lack of scrap paper is still mind boggling. How can a professional examination for architects omit one of the key tools of the profession? It's MUCH slower and less precise dealing with the whiteboard. What is NCARB's latest defense for this policy? Is it to create uniformity between the online and in-person exam? A security/cheating concern for the online version to have paper in the room and out of view? This slowed me down the most taking the test.
It feels wonderful to finally be done with these exams and I'm happy with how much I learned along the way. PDD was extremely difficult - less so my second time taking it - and I still feel the range of topics and details is too wide.
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I have taken 3 tests and I agree, the most frustrating part of the exams is not being able to use scratch paper. I went the webinar where NCARB announced the policy change from allowing scratch paper to just providing the Whiteboard feature and they were so excited to release it. The whiteboard does not interface well and it is super frustrating to use. If there is concern with test takers that take the AREs remote, why not mail them their official scratch paper where they open up the envelope on camera?
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Congrats! I just passed my last division last Friday and agree with what you've said here. The lack of scratch paper and the fact that you have to click in a very specific spot on the calculator to switch to it from the whiteboard were endlessly frustrating. If these exams were offered with a touchscreen / stylus, I could support the use of the whiteboard, but I don't see that happening anytime soon, if ever.
Anybody who is on this thread who is still working their way through any exams, I fully recommend Amber Book. I switched over after failing PDD three times, and it was the only set of study materials that gave me a solid understanding of the most intimidating concepts.
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