PDD Second Fail
Hi All,
Reaching out seeking advice and encouragement after three consecutive fails...more fails in a row than I've experienced thus far. I started taking my exams a year ago, passing PM and PA first try, passing PjM and PPD on second attempts but failing PDD twice now and CE once. I haven't failed the same exam twice in a row until PDD and with the unexpected failure of CE on top of it- I'm feeling anxious and disappointed like I haven't before. With the momentum I built from passing my others, I was very optimistic about finishing the exams well before 2025 and now I'm not so sure with risking failing PDD again and having to wait another YEAR to attempt it. I've bought or rented all the primary recommended resource books per NCARB's study guide, religiously followed the practice exam and using them for study topics, utilized YouTube, lectures and any free study guides I can find. I was nervous about my first attempt of PDD in July and wasn't surprised I failed the first time (with scaled score of 514) because the moment I started the exam, it felt completely different than the topics I focused on studying so I strategized the areas I needed to focus on and scheduled my next attempt as soon as I could. In the meantime, I had scheduled CE and studied for a little over a month. I felt very ready for CE, thinking I would pass it before retaking PDD for the second time, and was shocked that I failed it (with a scaled score of 518 at the beginning of August). Next, I shifted gears back to PDD and studied consistently for my second attempt of PDD August 30th...which I failed again and to my dismay did even worse (scaled score 490) than the first time (514) despite feeling so much more prepared and much better during the exam.
So now, do I push off CE or try to retake it before my next PDD attempt? Do I even schedule another try at PDD or wait until I pass CE? PDD feels like a trivia exam that I'm at a loss for studying. My fear is having to wait so long to finish if I fail PDD a third time...a year is a long time to ruin momentum, especially after planning to be finished by now and feeling confident about the rest of the exams. Am I even close to passing PDD, or is it evident that I need much more studying time if I failed worse a second time? Is it really worth investing thousands of dollars into Black Spectacles and Amber book with only having two exams left to pass (which I've avoided thus far because the exams themselves feel like they're bleeding me dry)? Any tips/strategy at this point would be greatly appreciated.
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Sorry to hear that you failed for the second time. looks like you have studied well. it is pure bad luck most of the time, I guess. don't give up as I heard these tests are not a reflection of what you know.
Focus on the test taking strategies. I took CE last month I am not sure about PDD/PPD exams but CE for me was a lot of field experience and inspection. Lucky that I passed.
Just keep going look at it as just two more left and no the time you have to wait. I will say take CE again.
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Thanks, Radhika! I'm scheduled to take CE again and hopefully pass this time. Any suggestions for studying field experience/construction observation? I feel like the images of construction work are difficult for me to discern and it would be nice to find resources that help you study them.
Good luck with your journey!
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Danielle,
First off, congratulations on passing nearly 70% of your exams - that's a huge accomplishment! I'm sorry to hear that you are facing challenges with PDD and CE. I understand how frustrating it can be, especially when you are so close to the finish line.
From my own experience, PDD and CE are quite different in terms of content, so taking them back to back might not be as beneficial. When I was studying, I found it helpful to group my AREs: PcM, PjM and CE together and PA, PPD and PDD together. So you might want to focus on one and finishing the other later.
Like you, I really struggled with some exams at first, but I saw a drastic improvement after switching to active recall methods rather than passive reading. Since you have already put a lot of work and are familiar with the study materials, I would highly recommend focusing on practice tests, quizzes and flashcards. Active recall was a game changer for me when taking my AREs. This will help you reinforce the study material more effectively. Plus, by taking practice exams, you will be building the stamina needed for long boring exam sessions, and learn from any mistakes your make during your practice exams in a more focused way.
This approach really worked for me, and I hope it does for you too. You are so close to the finish line, so stay persistent! You got this Danielle!
All the best,
Rajan -
I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with the PDD and CE exams, Danielle Hrdina. I understand how frustrating it can be, but know that you are not alone. Many architects (including myself) have had misses along the way. You have overcome many obstacles throughout your journey so far, and you will conquer these too!
Don't be discouraged by your decrease in score from your first attempt of PDD to your second. This is very common when retaking an exam, due to many possible factors - you could have had a more difficult set of questions, you might have second-guessed your initial answers and changed them on the exam, maybe focus was put on weaker areas but not enough attention was given to keep stronger areas consistent, etc. You were close to the minimum scaled score required to pass both times, so all you need is some further refinement of your studying!
I agree with Rajan Karmacharya in that PDD and CE are quite different, despite having some overlap in content. Whether you choose to focus on PDD or CE as your next retake is totally up to you, and I recommend considering your knowledge base, amount of work experience, and comfort level with the content in that decision. You have two attempts of PDD under your belt and might be feeling burnt out; switching gears to CE could help to reset and refocus your studying. In that same regard, you've seen PDD twice and now have a better understanding of what types of questions to expect and how you might approach them; you could keep the momentum going with diving deeper into PDD content.
As for gaining a better understanding of field experience and construction observation, I recommend having a discussion with your supervisor at work to see if there are opportunities for you to become more involved in the construction administration of projects that are currently being built. It is one thing to learn about the topics, but it is another to see them be applied in real life. Personally, I had a difficult time grasping these topics by simply reading text or viewing images. It was through the hands-on experience I had been obtaining real time that helped me visualize different aspects of a building that I had not previously been familiar with, and understand how field reports, submittals, RFIs, and pay apps worked.
While a Black Spectacles subscription provides you with study materials for all 6 divisions, the materials are intended to be used for one specific division at a time. With that said, you could definitely benefit from focusing solely on the PDD and CE materials we offer to help you with your retakes. We align our content directly with NCARB objectives outlined in the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, so you can feel confident that you are studying the right things to pass the exams.
I'd love to chat with you and help you establish a game plan for your upcoming retakes. Feel free to reach out to me at kiaragalicinao@blackspectacles.com.
Keep your head up and keep persevering, as you have. You are SO close to the finish line, and I know you will get there soon!
Best of luck -
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
I just took PDD the second time and provisional results said I failed even though I felt fairly confident. I’m actually going to challenge and review it (for $300) because the first time I failed I also got 514 (which means we failed by only a couple questions). This is my last test left and it’s extremely frustrating not being able to pass it! I’ll let you know if the challenge accomplishes anything—at the very least I think you get to review the questions you missed (but they don’t give you the right answers)
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Farrah Elamir - I'm so sorry to hear about your recent PDD result. I understand how frustrating this process is, but rest assured that you did great and were very close to passing!
I recommend reviewing your NCARB Score Reports and identifying trends in your performance. For content areas that you scored well in, it is important to keep those areas consistent through passive studying (practice questions, flashcards, etc.). A more comprehensive approach might be best for content areas that you scored lower in - reviewing those related NCARB objectives, revisiting your study materials, and rounding out your notes to fill in gaps/topics that might be missing. If you have any questions about this, feel free to email me at kiaragalicinao@blackspectacles.com and we can chat further!
This is just one last obstacle on your journey to becoming a licensed architect, and I know you will overcome it!
Best of luck -
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
Farrah Elamir, what resources are you currently using for your PDD prep? Since you’ve faced multiple setbacks, it might be worth rethinking your study strategy. I went through something similar—initially, I was focused on consuming a lot of study materials and doing only a few practice tests before each exam. After failing, I realized I needed to rethink my approach and really learn how to learn.
We often learn best through practice, like in architecture school projects. So, I shifted my focus to active recall learning, relying heavily on the notes I took during my first failed attempt. Active learning strategies like flashcards, quizzes, and practice tests were extremely helpful for me in understanding my mistakes and improving.
Also, I found that creating my own flashcards and notes was much more effective than relying on others’. The process of making the flashcards and notes helps solidify the knowledge.
I hope this helps, and best of luck with your next attempt!
Thanks,
Rajan
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Thanks for the advice Rajan and Kiara!
I've used black spectacles, amberbook, PPI (Ballast), and written my own notes/flashcards etc. I've taken practice tests for each division, but perhaps that's what I should focus more on for PDD.
It's just so frustrating failing by a question or two!
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Farrah Elamir, I’d be bummed too if I failed by just a couple of questions! In addition to focusing more on practice tests, you might want to consider strategizing how you manage your time during the exam. For example,I aimed to complete 10 questions every 30 minutes, and leave a few minutes to review the ones you’ve already answered. This way, you won’t risk missing any points due to running out of time or you have to take a break.
I know this might feel a bit like micromanaging, but since you’re so close to passing, it could make a difference! Hang in there Farrah, you’ve got this!
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We are honored to have been a part of your studying journey so far, Farrah Elamir!
Rajan Karmacharya is spot on with the suggestions for active recall and finding ways to regurgitate information you are learning in a way that makes sense to you (i.e. creating your own flashcards, connecting it to daily work tasks, etc.). Try your best to avoid memorization and instead, focus on applying the concepts you are learning to real life scenarios.
Taking the Practice Exams regularly is a great way to test your knowledge, fill in the gaps of your studying, and understand how questions will be asked on the ARE. It is important to review the answer explanations fro both correct AND incorrect answers. Often times, hidden information on adjacent topics can be found in those incorrect answers (which we may have otherwise overlooked) and could ultimately deepen our understanding of the content. It is also an opportunity to become familiar and comfortable with the exam format. Having the ability to use the same tools you will see on the actual ARE (i.e. highlighter, strikethrough, calculator, whiteboard) is ideal to practice and find tactics that work best for you. For example, I frequently used the highlighter tool to identify key pieces of information in a question, and the strikethrough tool to eliminate irrelevant information or incorrect answers.
Taking advantage of a holistic learning approach is key! Utilizing the Practice Exams in conjunction with Lecture Videos (to target specific objectives that require further review), Quizzes (to test your knowledge at shorter intervals), Flashcards (to brush up on key terms and practice recall), and Virtual Workshops (to further explore the most difficult exam topics) could really help round out your knowledge.
I hope this helps. You got this! :)
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
UPDATE: I passed CE on my second attempt and now I'm studying to retake PDD for the third time (and hopefully last!) which is my last exam. Encouraging others to keep going- failing is a part of this process unfortunately- but I can say that taking notes right after I've failed an exam has been a helpful way to restart my studying process for the next attempt. I try to recall as many questions/topics as possible that I didn't confidently know or that came up multiple times on the exam right after I leave the testing center. And now that I've had time to reflect and pass CE in the meantime, I am coming back to those notes from failing PDD a second time and seeing patterns that I can focus my studying on. I can also attest to handmade flashcards being one of my top resources. My current strategy: use the NCARB practice exams to find general topics that come up, then I research those topics in NCARB's recommended primary resources (Architect's Graphic Standards for PDD), cross reference them in Building Construction Illustrated and Architect's Studio Companion, and with any YouTube videos I find. During this process, I try to synthesize key material from these topics into flashcards. This helps keep me engaged and mixes up how I'm digesting material. Fingers crossed for my next attempt at PDD...hopefully this helps others with their process. Also- I've been physically printing the practice exams so that I can highlight and take notes on the exam itself. I'm finding it to be a really helpful way of digesting the material and using it as reference.
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Congratulations Danielle Hrdina!!! I'm so happy to hear that you passed CE!!! Make sure you take the time to celebrate this big win, as it is a huge step towards your big goal.
I'm so glad that you've found study strategies that have helped you retain and recall information. These are all great tips and I know they will help you pass PDD. Third times a charm - you got this!
Good luck!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
Danielle Hrdina, you're absolutely right. Failing is definitely part of the process, but what truly matters is how we learn from them. Reflecting on what went wrong and using that insight to adjust your approach is invaluable. Treating practice tests as a learning tool rather than just a readiness check is a very smart strategy.
Creating your own flashcards and summarizing key information from the source materials into digestible notes is a great way to reinforce your understanding. Putting things into your own words not only helps with retention but also makes it easier to recall that knowledge during the actual exam. It's similar to sketching a building element - you notice details that might go unnoticed if you just looking at a photo.
I followed a similar approach during my exams, taking detailed notes and creating personalized flashcards (you can still find them at quizlet). It made revision quicker and helped me distill the core concepts. I believe your current strategy is setting you up for success, and I'm confident you'll pass the PDD on your next attempt! Keep going Danielle, you are almost done with your AREs!! -
@Kenneth I know how to challenge it, but I was going to review the test sooner to when I retake it.
It costs $300 and you only get to review the questions you missed. The right answer is NOT GIVEN to you and it costs $100 PER question to “challenge” it, but there’s no guarantee the challenge will lead to anything.
I’m considering the $300 review mostly just to review the questions I got wrong before I retake PDD. I personally don’t think it’s worth it to challenge the questions…if they do overturn a challenged question and you end up passing the test, your license is only valid in the state where the challenge occurred . Other states could still make you retake the test and have an official (“unchallenged”) PASS.
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I'm on the same boat with you Danielle Hrdina!
I started studying in May, 2023, and the first three went smooth. Passed PcM PjM PA PPD at first attempts (all around summer to winter of 2023).
But I failed CE by a big margin and failed my first PDD by a few questions (got 523 score) in March 2024.
I, however, got my second PDD exam at a score of 482 in September 2024, turning my optimism down and bringing a lot of anxiety due to third attempt and I'm so close to finish ARE exams.I've used Amberbook (for all divisions), Black Spectacle (for PA, PPD, and PDD), PPI (for PPD and PDD), and a few other practice exam materials I could find online. I've spent my recent weeks with watching YouTube playlist in preparation for my third PDD exam, re-watching and reviewing Amberbook videos/quizzes, Black Spectacle quizzes, and took the NCARB practice exam (and got 63% which was fail). I'm thinking to purchase PPI PDD mainly for practice exams. I don't know how I can study even more at this point. So many overstudying period, overwent many materials, but I am losing confidence when it comes to this third exam.
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Josh Lee, LEED GA I hear ya! Congrats on making it this far- it's a marathon. Unfortunately, I can relate on the anxiety of wanting to pass on a third attempt at the end of the journey now that I only have PDD left. My only advice is to keep chugging along because we can't quit in the final hour! CE was tougher than I read online (took me two attempts). For my third PDD attempt, I recently started using some of the Black Spectacle practice exams this week which has helped with practicing the long exam structure. However, my main study source for the last two months has been Elif Bayram's ARE Questions and videos. I think these have been super helpful in practicing tricky questions and focusing study material to the main sections. Not to mention that she made it the most affordable option (bless her) which has been immensely helpful as someone who works for a very small firm and is paying for all the exams and study material by myself with no monetary incentive for passing....!!!
General study tip: make your own handwritten flashcards. I typically base my flashcards off of the questions I missed on practice exams/quizzes and any key information from reading or suggestions from Elif's study guides. I review as many of them as I can daily (which helps mentally if I don't have time for a full quiz/exam or reading session...and you can easily take them anywhere).
Although I'm feeling more prepared for my next attempt (which is on Monday 12/16!), I'm still more nervous than all the other exams...mostly due to the year long waiting period after three attempts. I'm not sure if I'll ever feel "great" about this one before taking it though...
Best of Luck!!
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Josh Lee, LEED GA I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with CE and PDD. I understand how frustrating it can be to feel like you've exhausted all of your study materials and are losing motivation. Be sure you are taking appropriate breaks during your studying to rest your mind and allow the information you've learned to absorb. It can be easy to keep chugging along and try to cram as much as you can into a study session, but this often results in burnout and the inability to retain valuable information.
Just as I've offered to others, I'd love to chat with you about your score reports and help you develop a game plan for your retakes. Feel free to reach out to me at kiaragalicinao@blackspetacles.com if you are interested!
Danielle Hrdina Good luck on your exam!!! I have been following your journey through these community threads and from what I can tell, you have developed some great study strategies and are in awesome shape. I can't wait to hear when you've passed!
Hang in there, everyone. I promise that your hard work will pay off!!!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
UPDATE: I failed PDD for a third time. Pretty defeated and frustrated. Goal was to finish in 2024 (giving myself 1.5 years to finish from when I started) but now I have to wait until July 2025 to reattempt PDD as my last exam. My first attempt got a scaled score of 514, second was 490, and this recent attempt was a 518. Attaching my percentage scores here too in case any one has tips or insight in how this could direct my studying. I can see that I've improved in every category from my first attempt with the exceptions of Areas 2: Construction Documentation and Area 5: Construction Cost Estimates...where I've decreased drastically. According to Amberbook's calculator, I was about 2-3 questions from passing this attempt and had a 60%..which is extra frustrating when the overall passing score is apparently between 58-66%.
Just having a pity party right now. The time and money invested makes it difficult to stay motivated so I think a break is due before I tackle it again.
I plan to restudy everything I have thus far and try to emphasize what came up on this one. I've handmade about 300 flashcards based on NCARB's recommended reading materials, used ARE Questions by Elif Bayram, and started using Black Spectacles on the most recent attempt. I tried to focus my studying for 3 months prior to my latest attempt on structural concepts and equations, ADA, specifications, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, insulation and materials and felt fairly good going into the exam about my focus. I did this because I felt like my first two attempts were heavy in these sections and very detailed math/construction detailing questions. Unfortunately on this latest attempt, I'm pretty sure I never received a single 'math' structural equation question, barely any ADA questions if any, and so few HVAC/plumbing that I can't remember them. It felt conceptual and vague all the way through with the exception of very specific STC rating/acoustic questions and cost estimating. Feels like all they wanted me to know was about sound transmission and lighting fixtures.
So, anyway- good luck to anyone in the same boat as me, and I'll take any advice someone who has passed can give. Appreciate the conversations and feedback thus far.
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