PPD Fail and Upcoming PDD
I failed the PPD earlier this fall but still scheduled to take the PDD in February 2021. Does anyone have an opinion if I should retake the PPD first or just stick with taking the PDD and then retake the PPD? I got level 3 for four out of five of the sections and level 2 for one section. Basically if I would have gotten one or two more questions correct for those four sections I would have passed. Frustrating to say the least and like many these are the last two exams I need to pass....
Also, I wonder if it would be helpful if people would indicate how many years experience they have when making new posts for passing or failing an exam. I know that experience is not everything but maybe helpful when deciding what resources to study for the PPD and PPD exams, in addition to taking practice exams and studying for other exams. I have about 13 years experience with a variety of project types and feel pretty good about my knowledge of sections and details but may struggle a bit with building code in a testing environment.
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If I were you, I’d take PDD first because PPD and PDD has a lot of overlap. Taking another exam first will expand your knowledge base and increase you chance of passing for both divisions.
Gang Chen, Author, Architect, LEED AP BD+C (GreenExamEducation.com)
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I don't think it matters which you take next. Personal preference. You can redo PPD and know that you are already familiar with the content, or get your head in a slightly different space with PDD.
Thirteen years of experience should be more than enough to help you with these two divisions. I'd suggest changing up your study approach or augment with new approaches. You have GOT to have a firm grasp on IBC for PPD. Much less so for PDD. -
The content of both of these divisions has been discussed a great deal. The trick is to know to what DEPTH to study. The exams do not typically require you to have extensive knowledge.... The basic level of knowledge for each subject area is what's required. But you need to study a lot of material to get that. Although the level of knowledge isn't very high for each subject area, the aggregate of the studying will also enable you to tackle questions which may span several subject areas. Example... A question may give certain parameters of an existing building and ask what would be the best strategy for th Architect to implement regarding schedule priority. You may have to know about roofing systems, seismic, brick veneer systems and structural bracing systems. These types of questions are not uncommon and really embody what ARE 5.0 is trying to achieve. Namely, getting us to think like architects.
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I have 10 years experience and every time I took PPD or PDD I left feeling like I had studied for the wrong exam. The exam content level is not consistent from one exam to a retake. For example the first time I took PPD I had multiple structural calculation questions, the second time I took it I did not have a single structural question. It was infuriating.
As far as the close scoring, I've had the same thing, level 4 and 5 for most of the sections then a level 1 for a category that was only 5-10% of the exam. WTF?! I found out that the cut lines are not disclosed and they fluctuate depending upon the combination of content you get on your exam. Completely asinine concept for a professional exam.
I have found that my experience has worked against me in these exams. So what I do is ask myself "How would a 25 year old answer?" This helps me from overthinking the questions. Also get Building Codes Illustrated if you don't already have it, it's a fabulous resource.
Having taken both PPD and PDD I would say it doesn't matter which one you take next, the information overlaps.
Best of luck!
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When you finally pass your last division... Leaving this hall of mirrors behind will be such a relief. It's a torturous gauntlet where logic doesn't exist and arbitrary changes in the system always seem to create yet another obstacle to passing. Maybe some of us will get the opportunity to join NCARB and change things for the better.
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