PA, PPD, PDD

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Ryan Weatherly
Looking for some solid advice to finish up my AREs. I'm currently 1.5 years into my exams. I've passed pjm,pcm,ce (not without my fair share of failures). I'm striking out every time I attempt these last 3 (pa,ppd,pdd). I feel confident I understand the material but still coming up short. I've used black spectacles, amberbook, ballast book and many other resources but still feel like I'm lacking the right insight on the exam. All these courses have been very educational but I don't feel like they help you understand the black and white nature of how NCARB wants you to think. These test failures can be really discouraging! I'm dedicated to finish these tests but I'm tired of spinning my wheels. I take my career serious and this has been the biggest road block in my life. Any positive advice would be greatly appreciated!
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    Kiara Galicinao

    Hi Ryan Weatherly,

    First off - congratulations on passing PcM, PjM, and CE! You've conquered half the battle and are that much closer to completing the ARE and becoming a licensed architect. You should be very proud of these accomplishments!

    I am sorry to hear about your difficulties with PA, PPD, and PDD. These technical exams are tricky and while it is frustrating, rest assured that you are not alone in this struggle. I did not pass PPD on my first attempt and it was tough to overcome the obstacle. 

    I'm glad to hear that you have been finding Black Spectacles study materials educational and it is important that you take advantage of our holistic learning ecosystem. Our lecture videos are intended to be used in conjunction with the rest of our study materials - lecture slides (to structure your note-taking), quiz breaks (to test your knowledge as you go), practice exams (to familiarize yourself with the exam format and determine weak points), and flashcards (to quickly test your knowledge). 

    Specifically to your point about understanding how to approach NCARB questions, we create our practice exams using the same process, standards, and rigor that NCARB uses. While tricky to tackle, they are intended to help you get in the mindset of how NCARB wants you to answer their questions. It is crucial that you are utilizing the practice exams to deepen your understanding of the content and determine a testing approach, not just to memorize right or wrong answers. Reviewing each answer explanation following a practice exam attempt, whether you got the answer right or wrong, will provide you with further context and increase your knowledge base. Often times, additional information is hidden in the wrong answers we would otherwise overlook. 

    Your NCARB Score Report(s) can also be used as a tool to help you understand your performance on a particular exam, and formulate a strategized study plan moving forward. I would love to meet with you to review your score report(s) and help you establish a game plan for your exam retake. Feel free to reach out to kiaragalicinao@blackspectacles.com if you are interested!

    Keep your head up and continue to persevere as you've been doing. You got this!

    Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
    Black Spectacles
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