ARE 4.0 Ballast Review Manual for 5.0 studying
Hello. Maybe someone asked this, but I don't see it. I am studying for the PPD exam, and want to take the PDD 2 months after that. I already have study materials for ARE 4.0, but not quite sure which Ballast ARE 4.0 Review Manual chapters to study for PPD vs PDD. e.g. Since I'm taking PDD afterwards, I was hoping to delay brushing up on statics and strength of materials type chapters until studying for PDD. Does anyone know exactly which Ballast 4.0 chapters to study for each of these tests? I made a preliminary list, and it looks rather unwieldy. Thanks!
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Hello Rossana,
I as well used ARE 4.0 study materials since half of them I passed before 5.0. Unfortunately I studied Kaplan but I hope it helps anyway:BDCS 4.0:
CONC
MASONRY
WOOD
METALS
THERMAL AND MOISTURE PROT
DOORS, WINDOWS, AND GLASS
FINISH WORK
BUILDING CODES
SUSTAINABLE DESIGNBS 4.0
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
WATER SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE SYST
BASIC THERMAL PROCESSES
COMFORT, CLIMATE, AND SOLAR DESIGN
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND ENERGY CODES
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
LIGHTING
ACOUSTICS
VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION
FIRE SAFETYSS 4.0
STATICS
BEAMS AND COLUMNS
WOOD CONSTRUCTION
STEEL CONSTRUCTION
REING CONC CONSTRUCTION
WALLS
CONNECTIONS
FOUNDATIONS
CONVENTIONAL STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
LONG SPAN STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS
TRUSSES
EARTHQUAKE DESIGN
WIND DESIGN -
Thank you for responding, Artem. I took 2 of mine in 4.0 also, CDS and PPP. I switched over to 5.0 and took PA (Programming & Analysis), since I hadn't taken SPD. That leaves me with the last 2, PPD and PDD, one of which I have already scheduled.
I have the Kaplan ARE 4.0 study materials also, but thanks anyhow!
Guess I'll just figure this out for myself, since no one else has responded.
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Do not use 4.0 material to study for 5.0. It's not the same exam at all. The $$ you save wastes more time than what it's worth... And you will miss topics altogether.
I used the Ballast Exam Review Guide book. It's a giant book... I did wind up reading the entire thing too, though the older version was a bit shorter I think. I do recommend it as THE comprehensive guide for all the exams. The PPD content has been updated and expanded in the new version, 2nd edition (yellow).
However, I think taking PDD first (pass rate 57%), and then PPD (pass rate 45%) last is a better strategy. PDD has a higher pass rate than the other 2, and cover cds and structures. It's more nuts n bolts. PPD is more schematic and touches on environmental design, seismic, structural system selection, and building siting.
Hope this helps.
Rebekka O'Melia, Registered Architect, NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, Step UP, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses
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Just a side note that 4.0 is not useless, since I passed all exams using it.
New 5.0 Kaplan PPI material is reshuffled 4.0 material with very few additions, for example.
I agree that some of it is obsolete especially historical and in-depth structural math. But I would not go as far as saying it is unusable. On a tight budget and a bit of research you can use it together with other materials.
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