7th Fail
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At this rate, it sounds like you already know the material, and instead of a private tutor, you would really benefit from a personal coach.
I was in a similar position in 2020, I kept failing my last two technical exams over and over, and the coaching I got from Michael Riscica really helped me push through. He’s worked with a lot of people in a similar position. Michael helped guide me, kept me on track, and helped me figure out what wasn’t working with my study routine and exam taking strategy. I learned all this in his ARE bootcamp.
The power of a study group can make a big difference too. It kept me accountable and gave me a space to actually talk through the material with others. This group was the change agent that finally got me over the finish line and it was a great group to be a part of.
Hope this helps!
-Emily Hobbs
ARE Bootcamp Coach
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PPD and PDD were the two hardest exams for me. I passed PDD on my 8th try three weeks ago, and just passed my final ARE division, PPD, on the 5th attempt last week. I'm now in the process of obtaining my Florida license. For both PDD and PPD, I used Black Spectacles and NCARB practice exams. So, hang in there—you've got this!
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Congratulations vxg2tn!!! PPD and PDD were the most difficult exams for me as well. You should be SO proud of yourself for pushing through and keeping your eyes on the end prize! Your resilience and determination does not go unnoticed, as your experience will show fellow ARE candidates that it IS possible. We're so honored to have been a part of your ARE journey and wish you all the best on your next chapter as a licensed ARCHITECT!!!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with PPD, vrmoreno3! I had a really difficult time with PPD as well, so I can definitely understand how frustrating it is.
Don't discredit your impressive amount of architectural work experience. It's super common for ARE candidates with more practical experience to have a harder time on these exams - as real life does not always align with the answers that NCARB is looking for. Scenarios, procedures, and standards vary from state to state, even city to county. NCARB tests the competency of ARE candidates across the entire country, so something you may have done for decades in your jurisdiction may not follow what the IBC outlines, for example. It's really tricky, so give yourself grace :)
The ARE journey can feel really isolating. Do you have any coworkers or peers in your area who are also studying for the ARE? Maybe your local AIA chapter has study groups or other opportunities for you to collaborate with fellow candidates. Hearing others' insights can be really helpful as you are dissecting complex topics and understanding how to apply your knowledge to the ARE format.
If you'd like further advice about how to develop a game plan for your retake, don't hesitate to reach out to me kiaragalicinao@blackspectacles.com. We want to support you through this final stretch towards your end goal!
Best,
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community -
I completely understand as I’m in the same situation 5th fail as if a week ago and this is my last one too. No matter how much I study, change strategy or content to try to fill the blanks in my comprehension of the material I keep failing since the last 2.5 years just hitting a hard wall with PPD. Keep scoring 490 to 525 . I am hopeless and tired and most importantly running out of ideas on what to do to pass this one. Can someone help
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Thanks Kiara. I have read and re-read your content as well. What isn’t helping is the content area score, because I have passed at least once in each, and also done horrible at other times. What we need is a better understanding of what we failed and not what content area the score is. Like others, I have passed this exam if you look at overall scores.
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I totally understand your frustration, vrmoreno3. The score report can be a very helpful tool to get a gauge of your performance; however, it can be a little deceiving so try not to get caught up in the numbers. You do not need to score a specific percentage in each content area in order to pass - the only passing threshold is the 550 minimum scaled score. This score is calculated by taking all correctly scored items across all content areas. Each exam form varies in terms of items, difficulty, and content area distribution. Each division also has a cut score range due to the varying exam forms, which is why you can't simply take your average percentage across all content areas to determine the final result. The actual passing percentage will vary from exam to exam. In other words, you could do poorly in one area and exceptional in another, and still get a passing overall score.
We recently wrote a blog about how NCARB develops ARE items and cut scores, which could help provide more context to this.
With that said, your score report can help you understand where you are scoring lower (and which topics need more attention) and which areas you're scoring well in (and could simply do passive studying moving forward). However, if your content area scores are fluctuating from attempt to attempt, this might indicate that your overall exam approach could use some refinement (rather than your actual content knowledge base). Knowing the material is just one part of the challenge - you also need to effectively apply that knowledge to the ARE format. Reading questions thoroughly, deciphering what a question is actually asking, providing answers that NCARB deems correct, not letting your personal experience/bias influence your answers, trying not to second guess yourself, etc. Taking practice exams to simulate your exam day experience will help you to overcome these struggles and get that PASS!
I hope this helps, but again - don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions :)
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles
ARE Community
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