PCM Pass
This is my first post on this Forum, so I wanted to share my thoughts and study strategy I used for this exam. Just an FYI, I passed PJM prior to this one, which helped tremendously since I felt PJM was easier than PCM and there was a LOT of overlap. I took PCM before, but failed. Looking back, the fail allowed me to remember what topics I needed to focus on to give me this pass.
Schedule: 7 weeks studying total. I ended up only studying for about 5.5 weeks because Life threw a curb ball at me in between, which set me back a week and a half.
I used the following:
AHPP - The Bible. Focus Chap: 1,3,5,7,9, 10, 13, 16. I followed the study guide provided by Pluralsight. I encountered topics mainly on Ethics, Building Code, Risk Management for Projects, Practice Methodologies, and Finance. Also, Focus on Project delivery and the corresponding cost associated with each.
AMBER Videos - HUGE help to understand the financial/accounting portion of the exam. I'm a visual learner, so the videos did a great job breaking down calculations and understanding the key financial terms and they relate to keep a firm profitable. The videos also give good questions on different scenarios for calculating fees. With that in mind, be sure to understand what the exam is asking you and don't get overwhelmed when a question throws a bunch of numbers. Usually when I got a long accounting question, I read the first sentence, which gives me the scenario, and then I read the last sentence, which tells me what this question is about.
AIA Contracts - Focus on B101, A201, and C401. You will get these.
Ballast - I usually read Ballast the week before the exam. I did that for PJM and I did it for this exam and it gave me a good review of the topics without unnecessary explanation that Ballast may include. It's straight to the point, especially when talking about Project Delivery.
Designer Hacks - I enjoy the practice quizzes and exams from DH. They're very straightforward and test my knowledge and understanding of the topics.
Ballast Practice Exam: Taking this practice test is extremely important, I feel. I timed myself too and prepared me for the exam. Even though I had literally thirty seconds left for my last question.
Good Luck!
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Branford: are you referring to the Black Spectacles Exams? Or are there quizzes I don’t know about. If you are getting 86-92 on the 80 question Black Spectacles exams you are in great shape I think. I only took one BS exam and scored a 63%. I test in two weeks, and I too have failed this exam twice already.
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That’s terrible. I’m sorry. Do you remember where your deficiency was? My first attempt i got 3’s in everything except for Business Operations. Second exam was more difficult so i was deficient in all except practice methodologies.
I’m doing my best to study for this one, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Just going to study for tge remaining two weeks that I have (i’ve already been studying for 4 weeks) and just see how it goes.
Using AHPP, Shiff Harden, Some Black Spec, Amber, some Pluralsight, going to read AIA docs, going to read the AIA Ethics and NCARB Code of C.
Review AHPP, finish pluralsight, may touch up on some more Black Spec.
And then go and hope for the best within reason. After all the studying I still feel as though i have a 50/50 on this one.
Anyway, not trying to be a downer, just venting lol.
I’m sure you will be fine this time. Best of luck in two weeks. Sounds like we are taking it at the same time.
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