PPP- fail, PPP - fail, PcM - fail, PcM - Pass!
Hey guys!
Another post for those out there who struggle with this exam. I started this test material back in Dec. of 2016, tried again in Feb. of 2017, decided to take a break, tried in April 2019, moved onto different exams, and then came back to it just this past Saturday. And finally can say it's behind me!
I strongly believe in passing PjM and CE I gained some much needed confidence and also knowledge that helped me pass PcM this time. But below is what I did to study and felt I was very prepared.
4 weeks total, 22 days within those 4 weeks I studied.
Week 1:
- Listen to Schiff Hardin lectures on my way to and from work (all but A201 because I felt confident on that contract) This took me 3 weeks to complete as I have a 30-40 min commute.
- Black Spectacles Videos
- Black Spectacles Practice test #1
Week 2:
- Review practice test
- Read all pertaining sections of AHPP - http://narmourwright.com/wp/index.php/wiley-publishing/
(this is a must, must, must, if you do anything, do this.)
- Read AIA Code of Ethics
- Black Spectacles Practice test #2
Week 3:
- Review practice test
- Finish AHPP
- Read Ballast chps on PcM
- Review B101, C401, A101
- Review financial terms in AHPP
Week 4:
- Last Black Spectacles practice test
- Review practice test
- Ballast practice problems + review
- Ballast practice test + review
- Read NCARB legislative guidelines (wasn't really something I think was needed)
- Read NCARB model code of conduct (also wasn't too much needed)
A lot here, but I gathered all my resources, looked at the page counts, estimated at my reading/understanding rate, how many hours it would take me to do everything, and realistically how many hours a day, and which days I could study. Set a plan and stuck to it. I was very frugal with my time for these 22 days and it avg. about 4 hours a day (between driving to work, lunch, driving home, and 2 hours after dinner). This test was a long time coming and I hope I can help motivate you, just keep trying, I promise you will get there!
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Hi Abby,
Do you remember what your scores were on the Black Spec Practice Exams? I just took form 1 and received 62.5%. That’s a very probable fail if it were the actual exam. I’m looking for some kind of gauge to understand how others did. I look forward to hearing back. Thank you! -
Hi Pierre!
Thank you! And yes when I first took this exam in April and failed, my 3 scores were:
April 21 - 53.75%,
April 22 - 59.49%
April 27 - 69.62%
I will say that I learned about BS only a couple weeks before my exam so I had to take them close together and I did feel somewhat rushed on using them the way I could have. Therefore I think my scores reflect that.
When I studied in November, my 3 scores were:
October 26 - 66.25%
November 2 - 71.25%
November 10 - 81.25%
Hope this helps!
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Thank you.!
That is encouraging to hear. This one is not easy lol.
I take it in 3 weeks. Already done 3 weeks of study thus far. Also not sure how others have said the the Black Spec exams are “easy”. They are not. I’ve taken and failed this exam 2 times already, and this practice exam i just took resembled the more difficult of those 2.
I consider it a good gauge if not great gauge and i plan on taking at least one more if not all 3. -
Ya I think the more practice the better. And the more confidence you can have going in the better. My other friend would retake the exams just to remember "why" a certain answer was right or wrong and really try to make sure he was getting the concepts. I would also say make sure to review the AHPP sections as I learned the most from that resource. And when you go over the Black Spectacles tests, look at the areas you are scoring the lowest on and really work on them. In April I scored low on the practice methodologies and that ended up being the area I scored a 4 (the worst) on the actual exam so I think it really is a good judgement of what you know. And no the Black Spectacles exams are not easy! Keep going, I hope to hear back when you've passed! :)
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Haha, thank you! I hope so too!
I took this exam twice, once in April and once in August.
Started studying in January, listened to all the Shiff Harden lectures, beginning to end. Started reading AHPP and got lazy. Picked it up again the weekend before my exam. Terrible idea #1. I got 2's on all areas except for Business Operations.
Second time taking the exam, got lazy, studied for 2 hours before my exam... Terrible idea #2. I got a 4 on Business Operations, 3's on Finances and Practice Wide Deliveries, and a 2 on Practice Methodologies.
So I'm doing terrible on Business Operations, so so on the middle two and passing Practice Methodologies.
Here's what I've done to date.
Read AHPP using Kevin's (Pluralsight) list... I think it's about 600-700 pages of the book, yes I read the Oranges and Yellow's. This is about 50+ hours of reading.
I've been using the Community thus far, probably about 10-15 hours of the community.
Watched half the BS videos, and taken one Practice Exam from BS (62.5%) as mentioned above.
I've read C401,
need to read B101 and A201 still. Need to read AIA Code Of Ethics and NCARB Rules Of Conduct. Not sure if I'll read the NCARB Legislative document just yet.
I need to take time to review AHPP, it's easy to forget out of 600-700 pages of reading lol. I've put post its onto about 100 pages of the book. A lot to review.
I plan on taking at least 1 more of the BS exams maybe 2.
I have a ways to go, and I really need to breathe and relax... it's been non stop thus far.
Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement! It reminded me to step back and just feel proud of all the studying I've done thus far, about 80+ hours and still going.
I hope to come back to this very thread and have good news in mid Dec. We shall see! Best of luck on all your future studying and exams. I want this first pass to give me confidence moving forward, but I will say this. I have been working in the Industry since 2002, when I graduated. The real world helps but it's almost sad how little it helps, at least with me and my experience. This test in particular is NOT easy. It's humbled me and also tested me (at times absolutely furious) but somehow I keep going. Pass or Fail, I'll know I did the best I could this time around. Thanks again Abby!
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Lindsey,
I used this link: https://www.schiffhardin.com/professionals/attorneys/d-i/hanahan-michael-j/hanahan-lecture-notes-2019
And clicked "download lecture"
And then would hit play and listen through headphones, or my car's bluetooth while driving, and then would start where I left off on my way home!
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