Please guide on next steps
I have recently failed P&A and not sure what to do next. I got a score of 525. I have previously passed PCM, PJM and C&E. I plan on studying for PDD next since it has a higher pass rate but got a suggestion that PPD would be better to write since it has overlap with P&A. Does it have a lot of overlap because passing another one will give me a boost. Please share your thoughts.
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Hi,
Congratulations on passing the first three exams, and sorry about the PA. However, I must say that you were very close to passing with 525. Unfortunately, failing is part of the ARE journey, and PA is one of the hardest exams. So don't be too hard on yourself, you will pass it and all the rest of your exams.
I would recommend retaking PA before moving on to the others. There is an overlap between PA and PPD, but in my experience, I think there are two versions of the PPD exam. One is more technical/ PDD-like, and the other is more PA-like. So you might get lucky and pass if you get a set of questions that overlap more with PA, or you might not. Failure impacts people's testing process way more than many can imagine/predict. So I am always cautious to tell people to "go for it". To me, that type of suggestion ignores basic human conditions like stress and emotional pain. Taking a test with a premature study process leads many people to take long pauses from testing since they can't overcome the failure.
Not sure what you have studied for PA the first time, but if you read some of the primary references listed by NCARB in the Guidelines, I would say for the second round, solve as many practice questions as you can, and you can include PPD questions too. Repeat your study notes for the first 2 weeks and move on to intense practicing by solving a minimum of 50 to 100 questions daily. Review the feedback for each question, if there is any. If you fail certain areas, do targeted readings from the primary references to close that gap. I hope that you will pass it the second time.
I hope this helps. If you provide a detailed list of what you studied the first time, I can be more specific about the books I recommend. Always feel free to reach out!
Good luck!
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Thanks for sharing. When you look at the pass rates across all six exams and how long it typically takes candidates to get through them, I really believe the most effective way to study is by starting with the resources NCARB recommends as primary sources, and then using third-party materials as supplements when needed.
I’m a big fan of practice questions too—obviously—but they’re just one piece of the puzzle. They can’t carry the whole load on their own. I know it's unusual to hear this from someone who creates third-party content, but I’m not here to sugarcoat things just to sell more products. I was once in your shoes, and it took me almost two years to get through my exams. I know how frustrating it can be to be sold false hope.
Sure, there are a few people who manage to pass with minimal reading, but the overwhelmong majority of us (especially ESL speakers or those who studied outside the U.S.) need to go deeper and really engage with the content—usually by diving into a few key books for each exam.
For PA specifically, I’d recommend reviewing at least the Site Planning & Design Handbook and Sun, Wind & Light. Planning and Urban Design Standards (Student Edition) is another solid one to explore. Now that you’ve seen the exam once, those readings will feel more purposeful and guided—you can decide where to focus more based on what stood out during your first attempt.
And of course, I’d definitely add as many practice questions as you can get your hands on—whatever fits your budget.
Hope this helps. Best of luck with the second round of PA and the rest of your exams!
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Hi bdandona,
First off - Congratulations on passing 3 exams so far!!! You are halfway through this intensive ARE process, and this is just an obstacle along the way. With a scaled score of 525, you were just a couple questions away from passing and likely just unlucky with a difficult set of questions. I know you will pass the next attempt!
While PPD does have quite a bit of overlap with PA (more than PDD would), I agree with the advice of giving PA another shot. Because you were so close to passing, you don't need to restudy (or study anything new). You just need to enhance the knowledge you already have! Review your notes and find ways to regurgitate the information you've learned - develop visual diagrams, create your own flashcards, repeat the content to someone else in your own words, draw connections to your work experience.
Your suite of Black Spectacles study materials is designed to help you not just learn the content, but also retain it and apply it to the ARE format. We take the NCARB-recommended resources and pair it down to key concepts so that you don't have to navigate thousands of pages on your own. As a Black Spectacles member, we are happy to set you up for a consultation with one of our licensed architects on the team to review your score report and help you develop a game plan for your PA retake. Please reach out to me at kiaragalicinao@blackspectacles.com to get the process started!
Keep your head up - you got this!
Best,
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
HI
currently I am studying for PA exam if you are interested to join to study group please send me you email address.
also, I found the below video channel so helpful for my other exam and currently I am watching the PA playlist.
http://www.youtube.com/@PassurARE5.0
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Congratulations bdandonaI am so happy for you! Good luck with the rest of your exams!
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Congratulations bdandona!!! I'm so proud of you for staying strong and overcoming this obstacle! That's totally it - sometimes you're unlucky and get a really difficult set of questions, other times you get the perfect combo that results in a PASS :)
Best of luck on the rest of your ARE journey - let us know if we can help in any way!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community
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