CE exam prep
Hello all, I have CE scheduled on November 11th. I rescheduled it 2 times as I keep failing PjM. I passed PcM in 2024 and I have been trying to pass PjM since the beginning of the year, but I failed 3 times. I feel so disappointed and not confident to take the CE. I went over the AHPP, Ballast chapters for CE, Black spectacles quizzes and I have the ballast exam. I am also a member with YA academy. What other resources do you recommend, also any tips are greatly appreciated.
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AIA contracts and documents. A201 and G series for CE. PJM is more of the B, C, and A series of documents to study for. AHPP and Wiley Guide are also critical. These main resources should be known and read over and over, since the exams draw content from the standards set forth in those contracts and readings.
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AIA contracts are essential for both PJM and CE. Schiff hardin lectures are great resource to understand contracts. Elif practice questions are really good too for both of these exams.
Coming to CE specifically, covering some construction details related to waterproofing, foundations, roofs etc. are useful. You should also get familiar with codes (ADA mainly). Additionally, CSI practice guide videos on you tube are good to fill in the gaps.
There are a lot of materials listed out there for exam prep, which could be overwhelming. I usually look at ARE exam specific objectives, make a list of areas I need to work on and then pick resources accordingly. -
Sorry that PjM has been a struggle, and it’s weighing you down to keep moving forward. It’s an understandable fear, and may not be entirely unsubstantiated. I know sometimes people make it sound like failing is not a big issue and that you can keep retaking the exams until you pass, but to me, that comes from a very comfortable position of not empathizing with the candidates. The reality is that failing is hard and takes its toll on 99% of us. You can’t exclude human conditions from the process.
That said, there is nothing wrong with being well-prepared, so don’t feel bad that you had to reschedule a few times. It’s all part of the process.
In general, I would recommend going to the main sources highlighted by NCARB in the Guidelines (for any exam) and using third-party materials to supplement them, not to replace them. The fact that pass rates are consistently low shows that these exams are hard and require a diverse study approach for the majority of candidates.
For PjM and CE, I recommend studying AHPP directly. Take notes, repeat your notes, and quiz yourself. Some chapters, like 9, 10, and 17, are especially important for both CE and PjM. Take a deeper dive into the table of contents, and you’ll see the most relevant topics to the exams yourself. Since you’ve taken PjM a few times, you’ll know what I mean when you review the table of contents.
You can’t skip studying the AIA contracts directly for both of these exams. I also recommend listening to Schiff Hardin’s lectures. If you want extra help with CE, check out the Construction Contract Administration Practice Guide, Chapters 2, 5, 6, 8, and 10.
I hope this helps. Best of luck with your upcoming exam!
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Yousiamin93 I'm sorry I found your post so late, so I'm assuming that you've already taken (and passed!) CE. You are definitely not alone in feeling disappointed and nervous to take another exam, especially since you've been struggling with one for a while. I will say - each exam division (and exam in general) is a unique experience, so try not to let one negatively cloud another. Sure there will be overlap of content between divisions, but they all have their own key concepts and nuances. PjM is a tricky one, as it covers a lot of topics and situations that many unlicensed architects don't have real-life experience in. I'm confident that you'll be able to pass PjM next, especially after your (hopeful) CE pass :)
I'd love to hear how your exam went, and if there is anything else we can do to help support you along this journey!
Best,
Kiara | Black Spectacles | Community
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