Just Passed PPD – DONE With All Exams!
I passed PPD the other day, and with that, I’m officially DONE with all the AREs!
I took my first exam in September and was able to pass all of them on the first try except for PPD, which I initially failed. After that, I made some changes to my study strategy and it made a huge difference.
For PCM, PJM, CE, and PA, I used Architecture Exam Prep and found their materials and practice exams really helpful. But after failing PPD, I switched to Amber Book—and I honestly can’t recommend it enough. The way Michael Ermann breaks down complex concepts really helped everything click for me. With Amber Book, I passed PDD on my first try and then passed my PPD retake.
If you’re still in the middle of your exams—keep going! I never thought I’d make it through them all, but here I am. You can absolutely do this.
One more tip: if you're tackling PPD or PDD, take some time to flip through MEEB (Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings). The diagrams especially were incredibly helpful in understanding the systems portions of the exams.
Happy studying and good luck to everyone still in the trenches!
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Congratulations!!!
I still have PDD and PPD to tackle. Took both after Amber and missed by just a couple of points. I recently picked up a copy of MEEB. It's a huge book which makes me feel better you say to just flip through it. Could you possibly recommend what chapters systems or certain diagrams helped out the most for you to understand?
Would you also say taking PDD before PPD was better/helpful? I did the inverse and found it more difficult. But am going back for PDD soon though. Thanks for any advice!
Congrats on getting licensed again!
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Thank you!
You're definitely close, missing by just a couple points means you’re right on the edge. You've got this!
Totally agree, MEEB is a monster, but you don’t need to read it cover to cover. I found the most helpful chapters to be on HVAC systems, electrical, and lighting. The diagrams showing mechanical layouts, passive design strategies, and basic electrical risers were especially helpful. I’d just spend some time flipping through those visuals, they really helped me solidify concepts for both exams.
I actually took PPD first and failed, then passed PDD before coming back to retake PPD. For me, doing PDD in between really helped because it forced me to dive deeper into the technical side of things, which then made PPD’s conceptual questions a lot more approachable. So I definitely think there’s value in seeing both perspectives.
Also, for PPD, I found there was a lot of overlap with PA so brushing up on topics like occupancy classifications, calculating egress widths, fire separation requirements, and basic code strategy was super helpful. PPD is more big-picture planning and systems integration, whereas PDD zooms in on the technical detailing things like flashing, weep holes, vapor barriers, insulation types, and how different systems come together at the detail level
Best of luck on PDD, you’re so close to the finish line!
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