First fail. Take CE in the meantime?
Just got home from taking my first go at PDD. Failed it. It's an absolute beat of an exam. Absurd range of topics and fine grain of detail. I got through PPD pretty easily so I was surprised just how difficult this was. Some of the depth in a few question is honestly ridiculous and would take 10 min+ to flesh through. Also several spelling errors, low res graphics with poor annotation snapping, and slow as molasse load times for resource load times (let a lone the sometime 10-20 second delay between progressing between questions - which counts towards your time).
My question: what next?
I have to wait 60 days to retake (by the way, what a ridiculous limitation on NCARB...). I had a grand scheme of finishing these tests asap to have an open summer. It's still within reach, but this is a delay I'm not happy with.
I have CE left to go after this one. Based on shear size in the Ballast book, it looks doable in about a month or so (I'm working full time and study about and hour or 2 each weeknight, a few on the weekends). Has anyone failed PDD and taken CE in the meantime to take PDD after the two months? For reference, I have 5 years of experience working, have done some CA and managed a couple small projects. My worry is stuffing my brain with CE and pushing out PDD knowledge that I'll have to regain (and potentially miss) for the next go around. I guess I could cram CE for a late April test date, then push PDD out to early or mid June.
I assume there isn't much overlap between PDD and CE?
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If I were you, I’ll take CE now and do not waste time. PDD is CD phase, and CE is CA phase, CE will definitely help PDD.
Gang Chen, Author, AIA, LEED AP BD+C (GreenExamEducation.com)
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Hi Nicholas
I also feel like I got through PPD pretty easily; this one is way harder for me! I've heard PPD was the most difficult, and I passed it on the first try... so I got all confident and took PDD just a few weeks later and it was like I got whacked in the head with that MEEB book; it hurt like hell. I just took the test again today (almost 3 months later) and I think I did better, but I didn't look at my score this time. It's my last test and I'm worried I'm just gonna get stuck on it.
Finishing the tests quickly is a goal by many, but few people actually accomplish it.... so don't beat yourself up if you fail one.
I think there is good overlap between CE and PDD. CE is just more contract heavy, and PDD is more technical. I'm not sure where you are at with your tests, but if you already passed PrM & PjM, then CE would be a good exam to take next. Also I found the Architects Handbook of Professional Practice to be a much better resource then Ballast for the pro practice exams.
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