Finally Passing on the 5th attempt
I’m posting because I know this test is particularly brutal—and if it were easy, everyone would do it.
If you’re gearing up for a retake after a 1st, 2nd, 3rd+ fail, please know you aren’t alone and that YOU CAN PASS. I failed PPD four times, and walking out of the testing center after that 4th fail was a real kick to my testing confidence.
What helped me most was reframing those failures as the best kind of practice test—expensive and time-consuming (especially with the 60-day wait), but still a high-quality diagnostic. Don’t just feel defeated—use it. Look at your score report, identify patterns, and adjust your plan based on what the exam is consistently telling you.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I finally reached out to a structured study platform (Amber Book is what got me through) and it made the difference for me.
If you’re feeling discouraged: keep showing up, keep learning from it, and keep going. You can absolutely pass.
-
Big CONGRATS on passing!!! Your post came at the perfect time for me—I only have PPD left, and I’m heading into my 4th attempt later this month after 3 tries. You’re absolutely right about treating these as very expensive practice exams. Luckily my cut score has increased each time, and my last attempt was a 525, so I know I’m getting close. I’ve got a solid plan to finally finish this exam and get licensed this year.
I also just picked Amber Book back up after completing it a long while ago. If you used Amber, could you please share what area did you find most useful to focus on for PPD? And did you use the PPD and PA flashcards—if so, how did you work them into your routine? I only have Amber for a month or two, so I’m trying to prioritize the highest-value sections to brush up on. Thank you in advance!
-
Michael Z
I actually didn't spend that much time looking at the flashcards at all. I only had the subscription for 2 months and I did start to run out of time. I watched the videos till part way through the pro practice section. I didn't finish those videos because it goes into detail about firm math and things that are more in PjM and PcM and Michael mentions you can probably stop here if you already have already have PjM, PcM, and CE at the beginning of a video. I did take a lot of notes in the workbook you can get for free with your subscription and I listened at 1.5 speed. I really like practice questions so the quiz and practice test I took very seriously and I read all the answer explanations as to why they were right or wrong. The "Walking the ARE" practice is test is very difficult and it is designed to be extra tough and I took that practice test a couple of days prior to the Amber Book standard practice test and I think reading through everything with the difficult test really helped with the other Amber Book test which I took 3 days prior to my actual test. I think getting all of the stress of testing out on the super difficult test and looking and seeing where my careless errors were helped me have confidence to retake an exam that had already deflated all my confidence from past failures, if that makes sense. One thing I think wish I did differently was starting with the last section of videos, Pro Practice, and working my way towards the top and ending with Thermal...something for you to consider. -
CONGRATS!
I feel a bit discouraged after failing my third attempt last week.. my score was a 525 which i believe the highest failing score! Same as my PDD second attempt. My main struggle in the exam are these many stupid hotspot questions that has nothing to do with any study material ir topic!!!! I feel it’s just a matter of luck and once you get the right package of questions you can hit that threshold of passing.
Are you also done with PDD?
I’m planning to give it a lst shot in a month ot two, hopefully pass this last attempt.. -
Kyussuf, I too scored a 525 at least once on one of my failing tests, and it hurts worse then failing with a score in the 400s so I completely understand the frustration with that. PPD was my final exam and I cried more with that Pass on that screen then with any other result because it was just so relieving to be done and you are so close that you too will soon taste that victory. I personally liked getting the hot spot questions, there is really know way of knowing if you get those questions right or wrong, like you might feel like you are struggling with those questions but you don't get the answers so you might actually be excelling with them. I find that with study platforms like Black Spectacles and Amber Book the hot spot questions are so specific to help you in the test and the actual spot is bigging in the real exam, but again we don't actually know. I think you should take PDD as soon as you think you are ready I find that PA, PPD, and PDD cover a lot of the same study material PA with the site stuff and PDD is just going the next step in the design process for PPD.
If I am being honest with you and everyone else that might read this post is that I think my personal biggest struggle is sitting in the test and being confident with my answers, not second guessing, and hitting that submit button at the end. PPD and PDD are the biggest part of our careers as architects its mostly about construction documents which is where we spend most of our time with AXP and actual drafting. Trust yourself and what experience you have that has gotten you to this point. I also had a lot of extra anxiety on this last test thinking it was the last test and that I was going to be done and I could finally check off this big to do item I had on my list since I was applying for colleges in high school, it is such a long journey for everyone. What also might help is if you can change your mindset on getting a failing result from you being a failure, because you are defiantly not a failure, to you took an expensive and time consuming practice test that sucks to fail that practice test but in reality it is the best practice you can get and celebrate that you are still showing up for yourself in studying and testing. You got this! I hope you find these words encouraging. -
jranck Congratulations on this HUGE accomplishment!!! It sounds like you had your fair share of struggles along the way, and the fact that you kept pushing through - recognizing your own challenges and finding ways to combat them - is commendable! I had a very similar experience with PPD/PDD and doubting myself during the ARE process. It feels so good to be on the other side of it, right?!
We are honored to have been a part of your ARE journey, and everyone at Black Spectacles is very proud of you! Best of luck on this next chapter as a licensed architect :)
Kiara | Black Spectacles | Community
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments