Planning on taking PA...is this the correct order for testing?

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Adam D'Elia

March 03, 2020 13:38

I have passed PjM and PcM.  Additionally was given credit for CE from 4.0.

 

That leaves: PA, PPD, and PDD left to take.  I've read a few posts saying some info in PDD/PPD is in PA  but it seems the logical test taking order is PA, PPD, and PDD.  I've just started to study for PA but want to make sure I am being most efficient in my "exam study order".

Also have some material for these tests for the 4.0 version (Kaplan 4.0 textbook) - worth studying or makes it too confusing?  I believe I have practice questions from PPI/Kaplan/Balast too...

 

Thank you in advance!

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  David Kaplan March 03, 2020 19:30

  Adam,

  I took those three tests in the order of PA, PPD, and PDD.  The reason I did so is because those three tests are arranged in the chronological order of a typical architectural project.  PA deals with the up-front services that we provide when we are initially contacted by an Owner for a project and have to do things like code review, zoning review, conceptual building planning, surveys, site selection, etc.  PPD takes it through to the DD level of drawing completion.  The PDD takes you to the CD level of drawing completion.  So for my studying, I found it easier to start at the beginning and end at the end!  

  I also found that my studying for PA paid off greatly when taking PPD, and my studying for PPD paid off greatly for PDD.

  Now I would offer to you this - if you feel that you're real, real strong mainly in construction documents, detailing, wall sections, things like that, and perhaps not so much on the other parts - you may want to consider doing PDD first.  Several on here have recommended playing more to your strengths when making this determination.  For me personally, I have lots of experience of running full projects from start to finish, so this order made sense to me.

  Hope that helps.

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  Adam D'Elia March 04, 2020 13:17

  David

  Thank you for confirming, this was the feedback I was looking for.  I should have stated I understood the logic in the test but the info you provided that they actually do build on each other  (and not "sorta build on each other and skip around") is helpful concise insight.

  Thank you...best of luck!

   

   

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  Corey Buchholz March 11, 2020 16:26

  Thank you as well for that I was figuring they built on each other like pjm pcm and ce do. This info if very helpful!

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