PjM Pass!

Hey everyone! I took PjM yesterday first try and got an official pass this morning. This division was challenging, possibly more than my previous PcM exam, but nothing I didn't anticipate.

My Timeline:

• YA Bootcamp: March 12 thru June 20
• 1st Exam - PcM - July 14th: PASS - 307 hours of studying
• 2nd Exam - PjM - August 17th: PASS - 151 hours of studying

My Study Strategy:

1. The Young Architect ARE Boot Camp: This is essential for anyone starting their journey in taking the ARE's. The syllabus, the deadline driven readings, the community, the meet-ups, access to quantity and quality of resources per each exam division - everything about the boot camp was a home run and I'm confident it ultimately led to me passing these past two exams. Worth every penny hands down. Thank you Michael Riscica for your outstanding program and mentorship!

2. The ARE Handbook: for all of these exams it's always critical for me to read the handbook a couple times, listen to the division section video by NCARB on YouTube, and to practice the problems a few times as there are very similar to the actual exam. Also, study smart - focus your efforts on the exam sections with the highest percentage / items. PjM is heavily skewed toward 'Section 3: Contracts' which is important to understand and review the Handbook referenced contracts.

3. AIA Contracts: B101, A201, A101, C401, A133 - know these backwards and forwards.

4. Michael Hanahan (Schiff Hardin) Lectures: I've lost count how many times I've listened to the B101/A201 lectures while I drive.

5. AHPP: reading all the prescribed Young Architect syllabus reading chapters. Skimming/reading 3 times over.

6. Hyperfine: I used this for PcM and certain week assignments helped me again for PjM. 

7. Walking The ARE: this is more for PcM but the background and understanding of the information is still beneficial for PjM

8. Ballast: review manual chapter readings two times over, practice questions, practice exam

9. WEARE: practice questions and exams

10. designerhacks: practice questions and exams

11. Misc. Math: the Young Architect Case studies 1, 2, 3 were very helpful for my PjM case studies. Knowing the conversions: sf to sy, cf to cy, how many sf in 1 acre, how many feet in a mile, etc. 

On to CE in a month - cheers!