Advice on studying for the AREs please
Hello, I am looking into starting to study again for the AREs and would like any advice or suggestions on what or how to study. I have taken, and failed, PCM twice and PJM once. I have always had test anxiety and end up spending too much time on most questions; I end up freezing at selecting which answer is correct, especially for the “choose the best three out of seven” type questions, and either have to rush to finish or end up running out of time. I have taken the NCARB Practice Exams multiple times, have tried Amber Book, have the Ballast ARE materials, read through the AHPP, have watched countless videos on YouTube, have taken endless notes, and created flash cards, so if anyone has any suggestions on what I should try next or a different method of studying, it would be greatly appreciated! The expensive monthly subscription study programs are not an affordable option for me at this time. Thank you for any and all advice and have a nice day!
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Hi,
I would not recommend starting with PcM as your first exam. Its pass rate is low (50% ) and it's about firm management, contract management, insurance, etc... All things that interns are not typically exposed to. Start with PjM or CE, which have pass rates of 60%. Do not spend too much time on any one question. Ever! Remember that there are 7 unscored questions on these exams. Start reading the Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice. This is the primary source for these 3 exams. Read the section about Project Management first. Print out the AIA contracts and take notes about them as you do readings and videos etc. Compile your notes about each contract in one place.
There's also great content on CSI Masterformat's youtube channel. You don't really need the subscriptions or study groups of candidates. You only need practice exams. Don't rely on video learning. In my opinion, if you aren't taking notes, it's likely that you are not retaining much from the videos. Always pause and take notes, and date/source all your notes so you can research the topic more later if needed.
Hope this helps! Keep studying!
Rebekka Klos
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Hi,
It sounds like you've already put a lot of effort into studying. Sorry about the failures.
If test anxiety and difficulty making decisions under time pressure are something you have experienced throughout school, college, standardized testing, or other exams, it may be worth speaking with a qualified professional. You may qualify for testing accommodations, such as getting extra time.
I would also be careful not to assume this is only an anxiety issue. Sometimes it can be a combination of anxiety, perfectionism, second-guessing, and content gaps. Correct answers in ARE questions are rarely the perfect answer. You need to pick the best option(s) under the circumstances, even if it may not be the best solution. So try to stick to the frame of the question and don't think further. It is a skill in itself and takes some time to achieve, but you will get there.
I recommend simplifying your resources rather than adding more. For PcM and PjM, (and for most of the CE) AHPP and the relevant AIA contracts are usually the most important sources. When reading, try to make the process as active as possible. Instead of simply highlighting or reading chapters, take notes in your own words, create flashcards from those notes, pause every few pages and quiz yourself on what you just learned, and explain concepts out loud as if you were teaching them to someone else. So a bit more active learning.
Lastly, I suggest spending a significant amount of time solving practice questions under timed conditions. Review not only why the correct answer is correct, but also why the incorrect answers are wrong.
I hope this helps. Wishing you the best of luck. Many people struggle with these exams before eventually passing them. You will get there too.
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