PPD - What to study in addition to Amber Book videos?

Hello, I'm testing for PPD next week (and hoping for PDD shortly after if it's a pass) and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to what to study in addition to the Amber Book videos this last week or so.

I have covered a lot of materials so far, but took a long time to do so and really what is most recent in my mind is the Amber Book Video information...

Below is a synopsis of my studying thus far:

June

- Read Architect's Studio Companion cover to cover & took notes, made flashcards
- Did all of the Hyperfine assignments and watched relevant videos/ read relevant excepts from recommended texts (like Heating Cooling Lighting, Fundamentals of Building Construction, Building Construction Illustrated, IBC 2015, etc)
- Read FEMA 454
- Listened to all of AEP PPD several times (usually while at work)
Ncarb practice questions for PPD
Several PPD Black Spectacles Exams

July/August

Got the Amber Book workbook and did the questions WITHOUT videos, using mainly the recommended texts.
Read many relevant chapters of Fundamentals of Building Construction
Read most of Building Construction Illustrated, skimming the portions I was already pretty confident in
PDD Ballast Exam
PDD Black Spectacles exams
PDD Designer Hacks
Went over Karin's notes and Hyperfine a few times
Did all of the NCARB practice questions for PDD, PPD and relevant 4.0 exams

Late August/September

I went away on vacation and sort of lost my steam! Ended up doing hardly any studying during this time :(
Signed up for Amber Book Video subscription late September and started watching those videos Sept 23.

Sept 23- Now

Have watched all of the Amber Book videos (except the Pro Prac section) and answered the questions in the work book, taking notes within the book.
NCARB practice questions for PPD
Black Spectacles PPD practice exam

I plan to review my ASC notes, Amber Book notes & questions, retake the Ballast Practice exam, and rewatch any videos I still feel fuzzy on. Does anyone have suggestions on what resources to return to (or add) this last last week of studying to really hammer down the concepts?

Thanks!

David Kaplan October 16, 2019 20:14

Kamila,

Not seeing anything building code-related on your list above - do you feel prepared to handle these types of questions? If so, great! Wasn't sure so I thought I'd ask.

Kamila Buraczynski October 16, 2019 21:26 (Edited October 16, 2019 21:29)

Hi David,

Thanks for your response! I've gone through IBC for previous exams pretty extensively in the past and use the code at work. The Amber Book case studies were also entirely regarding code (calculating building frontage, occupancy types, construction types, Exit access travel distance/ common path of travel, changes to allowances based on presence of sprinklers, etc.) I usually review the typical clearances etc, the day before the exam and I definitely think I could review some ADA stuff this week too. If you have additional suggestions (or think the specific code topics I reference above are lacking), please let me know :)

I'm mostly feeling worried that some of the things I studied in the summer are going to escape me, since it's been so long, but I'm not sure that I will have enough time in a week to review EVERYTHING I've studied so far. Codes hopefully will remain fresh in my mind, since I leave them for last and have reviewed them exam after exam :)

David Kaplan October 17, 2019 01:47

Kamila,
That all sounds good to me, sounds like you're covered. Best of luck!

PPD - What to study in addition to Amber Book videos?

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