Case Study pass strategy
I am a much older candidate in my testing compared to most of you. I am 48 years old and have worked in the Architecture and Construction Sectors most of my adult life. I want to pass a little thing on to y'all about the case studies.
I'm not sure how you approach the case studies, but many make comments about running out of time on them.
I just passed the PPD test yesterday with more than an hour to spare after going back through all the questions to be sure I was happy. I know that my experience makes a number of the questions easier but I wanted to let y'all know about how I approach the Case Studies in particular.
I read the Scenario information and then go directly to the questions. Don't waste time looking through all of the other information. The tabs are just there as reference information. You can usually figure the answer out with out even going to the references. It seems the ARE tries to give you information overload.
Simplify your approach and trust yourself. We are all capable and intelligent people or we would not be on this career path. Mine has just been more circuitous since I do not have a degree. Unfortunately, my path is closed to anyone younger than me.
I spent 5 years as a fire fighter and we were taught "slow is smooth and smooth is fast". I know it sounds corny, but it is true. Take time and stay calm. You will do so much better and you all know far more than you think. These tests are all about Analysis! You have the knowledge base! Use it!
If I can I know that all of you can!
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Very good suggestions. A clear goal makes everything easier. You goal is to answer the case study questions, not reading the reference line by line.
Gang Chen, Author, Architect, LEED AP BD+C (GreenExamEducation.com)
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Roma, I know you asked Charles, but I wanted to chime in. I don't recall getting any structural calculations on my second attempt and I remember having only one structural calculation question at my first try. I would rather study to understand the conceptual side of it rather than worrying yourself about calculations. I highly recommend reading:
- Simplified Engineering for Architects, Part-I.
-Structural Design, A Practical Guide for Architects - Chapters 1 & 2
This chapters will give you a good understanding to answer all conceptual structures related questions. Hope this helps. Good luck!
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Ditto that. I was really surprised at how little
Info you need to answer the questions in the case study. The first time I took ppd and failed it I got the the case studies with like 2 hours left and wasted like 90 mins reading all into the first case study, speed through the second and didn’t have time to review my flags. The second time I took it I spent way more time on the test questions and then about and 75 mins to do the case studies. You really can answer most of them just reading them and thinking about what they are asking. -
Question about the case study strategy without anyone giving away actual answers. I'm rolling up on my 5th attempt at PPD, when all the other exams were passed on the first attempt. I feel with the amount of content in PPD it's sometimes just luck of the draw.
My question is this. If one of the case study questions has you provide an answer that changes the original program, and the following question is related to that same area you changed the program for, is that answer based on the new (revised) program or the original program question? My gut tells me it's the original program since each of these case studies have way more than 10 questions written for each one so that there is variety from one test version to the next, but since you never find out which questions you got wrong, this is one item that always has me second guessing. Especially being exposed to this same exam 4 times already.
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Evan
It seems to me that your overthinking the test. I cant think of a reason why the ARE would want you to change the clients program in the case study, or how this would become a cumulative test. PPD is more about making sure you know how to read building code, ie fire separations, building type components, and accessibility standards.
I would take a break from the exam and rehit your materials. There is a pretty good list of items to read here:
https://are5community.ncarb.org/hc/en-us/community/posts/360039935913-Passed-PPD-after-a-fail-and-done-
When your taking the test, remember how to attack it. Remove unlikely answers, dont read into the question for whats not there take it at face value and no more, Flag questions your unsure of but remember that your first answer is usually the right one. If you feel like your failing then take a moment collect your thoughts and attack the test not the material, seriously, the case tests are fascinating, but do you really need to read all that material to answer the question?
Good luck and if you already passed the other exam on the first try, it sounds like your in a position to get the final exam. -
David,
I appreciate you taking the time for leaving your advice. It's possible after all these exam attempts that I'm letting these scenarios get to my head, without knowing exactly what questions I got wrong to cause for the failing grade. At least with practice exams, you get the answer, right or wrong, and direction on where the correct answer came from.
I'll keep trucking along. Thanks!
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