PPD- Recommended Resource Confirmation
Hi, everyone! I'm starting the study process for PPD and was hoping to take the exam in about 3.5 months, but I am so overwhelmed with resources that doesn't seem possible. Unless I want to read 200+ pages a week (although I would like to enjoy my summer), but I am also not stuck to my deadline and am willing to do closer to 6 months.
I've consulted a bunch of sites/resources to determine basically "need to read" versus "read if you have time".
Need to Read/Know:
- Ballast- Chapters 12-30
- Building Construction Illustrated - whole book
- IBC - Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 2902
- Architect's Studio Companion - whole book
- FEMA 454 Design for Earthquakes - Chapter 4 and 5
- Heating, Cooling, Lighting - Chapters 2-16 (but not every section of every chapter)
- Simplified Engineering for Architect's and Builders - Chapters 1-4, 19.2
- ADA - Chapters 3-5
- How to calculate U- and R- values of walls
- I also read the ARE Study Guide Podcast and am looking into AREQuestions.com
If you have time:
- MEEB- appears to be supplemental if have HCL and ASC?
- Rest of ADA
- FEMA - Chapters 8-9
- Plumbing, Electricity, Acoustics - I've heard very mixed reviews. Is it worth it?
- Building Codes Illustrated- supplemental to IBC
Does anyone have any advice for what is good to read vs not a necessity? Any help is appreciated! Also any study tips would be great! I've passed my other 4 exams first try, but I'm not so sure my study methods will work for PPD or PDD for that matter.
Thank you in advance! :)
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Hi. Your need to read list looks great. These are the recourses I used and highly recommend: Entire PPD Ballast chapter, Architect Studio Companion, Building Construction Illustrated, FEMA Chapters 4&5. However, reading was only half of my study program. The other half consisted of watching videos and practice questions. I found this balance to be key. I can’t recommend Amberbook enough. Especially for PPD & PDD. If you’re currently working at a firm talk to them about buying the firm wide license. If not, you can join a group for a discount. Along with Amberbook I used WeARE, Elif ARE Questions, the Ballast practice exam and the NCARB practice exam.
You’re more than halfway there! Keep going and good luck!Cody
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Hi, all the resources you listed are helpful. I would especially recommend BCI, ASC and heating cooling, and lighting. Many people might easily ignore the importance of sustainability. You can make a booking on ARE Booster. I will share all critical points with you in 90 minutes. Below is the link for some demo videos that you can have some reference. ( https://www.arebooster.com/demo )
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I used amber book and the only supplemental reading I used from your list was FEMA 454. Personally I get too stressed out worrying about what to study, so having a program to just follow along was good for me.
I also paid for the ppd & pdd bundle from arequestions.com and found it was worth the $100. I think I took around 20 of the 24 quizzes and neither of the exams. Having sampled all the available quiz material out there, it's the closest to the vibe of ncarb questions.
I studied ppd and pdd together for one month and then took them one week apart. They are really similar.
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Congratulations themearch!!! You should be very proud of this accomplishment! I'm glad to hear that Black Spectacles was helpful to you along this journey.
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community
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