PcM / PjM Pass - Advice for CE? (Amberbook User)
I'm moving onto CE and have mixed reviews on its relevance to PjM / PcM, or if it is more geared toward the technical side. I have primarily been using Amberbook, which recommends a strong focus on professional practice and code, a light emphasis on site and systems, followed by no emphasis on construction.
This scares me a bit as I've scene a lot of people on this forum claim there is a lot of detailing involved which has not been my primary focus.
Just looking for some further explanation so I can use my time wisely as I begin to study. I would hate to spend a bulk of my time studying for site when I should've been focusing on construction. This feels like a wildcard test.
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Hi Luke Janik,
First off - congratulations on your PcM and PjM passes! You should be very proud of these accomplishments, as you are that much closer to completing the ARE and becoming a licensed architect!
While site is definitely relevant to all ARE divisions to some extent, I wouldn't say it is a primary focus of this exam. Where it comes into play in CE is with the construction job site and site observations.
There is quite a bit of overlap to PcM and PjM, as these three exams are heavy on AIA contracts. Think of responsibilities of each party during this phase, as outlined in the contracts. Within CE, you are essentially managing the project (similar to PjM content), but from the construction administrative perspective.
Construction is definitely a primary focus (as CE's name indicates) so you should understand technical aspects of a building too. For example, in PPD you applied building codes to the design, in PDD you determined adherence to building codes at detail level, and in CE you will evaluate construction conformance to those codes.
I recommend reading through the CE section (starting on page 108) of the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, as it outlines the specific objectives NCARB uses to develop the exam. All questions you encounter will relate to one of these sections/subsections. This is a great way to target your studying and ensure you are focusing on the right material.
Additionally, refer to the Reference Guide on page 117, where you can see how the CE reference materials directly overlap with PcM and PjM (and no other divisions).
I hope this helps. Keep the momentum going and good luck on your CE exam!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
That's a good catch, Luke. Based on your comment, we're revising the Amber Book Study Priority Matrix to include the Construction section (Enclosure chapters only) and we're removing Site and Systems.
That said, know that because it's called "Construction & Evaluation," people who know nothing about these exams assume that it is a technical division. People who know a little about these divisions believe CE to be a pro-practice division. Those who have taken CE know it to be two-thirds pro-practice and one-third technical (including some content on systems and some on site and a lot of content on wall sections). I don't know if it's worth studying all the technical content before taking an exam that is only 1/3 technical, but since you will need to study the technical content anyway for the other exams. . . Be aggressive. Take CE for sure (why not?) . . . if things don't work out with that exam division, don't sweat it. If you re-take it after PA/PPD/PDD, your likelihood of passing will be quite high (as long as you don't wait so long that you forget the PcM/PjM content). Good luck. (And know that lots of people still pass CE before they've studied for PA/PPD/PDD, so this wasn't intended to discourage you).
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I took the CE exam this morning and got a provisional pass. Mike (above) is right that there's a percentage of technical questions to do with wall sections/systems/materials/insulation/flashing. You'll need to know the basics of the accessibility codes for clearances & ramps and these common things.
But more heavily in the exam is that you'll need to be able to make decisions based on construction schedules given as exhibits, and also you need to know the main AIA contracts for who's at fault (or has to pay) when something goes wrong-- owner, architect, or contractor.
You'll need to know when, why, and who will use an RFI, a change order, a construction change directive, and an addendum during the construction phase of a job. So make sure you understand these different mechanisms and their purposes. You may also see questions which require you to understand Substantial Completion, Final Completion, Partial Occupancy, and related issues to these closing phases of construction.
You'll also need to be able to read pay applications and know about retainage and related issues for contractor's work completed and materials stored.
And finally, the case studies will involve reading and interpreting some architectural drawings and how they relate to the specifications, construction schedule, or other materials that make up the scenario.
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Michael and David,
Such great dialogue. Thank you both for reassuring me in the content needed to pass and also in my own abilities. This type of support system is what keeps me going.
David - Congrats on the provisional pass! I will see you on the other side.
Michael - Thank you for your continued effort in moving the students of architecture in the right direction. Amberbook has been such a blessing.
Cheers!
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Luke - I'm happy to hear that Black Spectacles has been helpful to you. We are honored to be a part of your ARE journey!
If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Happy studying!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community
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