Is PPD similar to PA??
Hey everyone! As I'm studying for PPD, I'm just really finding that it feels similar to PA. Am I wrong for thinking through it this way? It's helped me so far understanding concepts, and PA was the last exam I took and passed on the first try. I just want to make sure I have the right outlook on this PPD exam. Of course PPD is more broad though and I'm studying all the resources for it.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this because I keep seeing posts comparing PPD and PDD, but almost none that compare PA and PPD. Or if anyone has any advice based on what ive said do let me know!! thanks yall, take care! :)
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In my experience, and others I've talked with who recently took the exams, PPD is far more in line with PA than it is with PDD. I wrote on that comparison at some point, so I'll update with links if I can locate it.
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I agree with you Camille. I am always surprised to see that people find more overlap between PPD&PDD because I think PA and PPD share more content and discuss similar scales/project phases (Programming & Schematic Design). In addition to PA, PPD also contains DD phase too. So it gets a bit more deeper into the building systems but rest of the content has a lot of overlap. If I had to retake these exams, I would definitely study PA & PPD together rather than PPD &PDD method I tried (and failed until I realized that they aren’t that similar and studied them separately and passed:)) Hope this helps! Best of luck with your studies and exams! Elif Bayram, Founder of AREQuestions
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Elif, thank you!!! it's great to know I'm not alone in thinking that way! it's also great to know that my study overlap hasn't been in vain and that I'm on the right track. Thank you for the well wishes! I appreciate your response so much since my exams are only a few days away!! Take care as well! :)
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I passed PPD today. There is overlap with PA: know your shading strategies, know your sun angle diagrams, know your building positions in relation to trees, water bodies and topography. But in addition, become comfortable in navigating the IBC, chapters 3, 5, 6, 7, 10; know the difference between zoning ordinance, IBC, FEMA; know your structural systems (I am forever indebted to Elif's structure videos); understand moment and shear; understand failures in buildings (seismic, wind & soil). There is overlap with PDD too: know your wall assemblies; envelopes; joints; material costs in construction... Good luck!
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A coworker of mine recently took PPD and told me exactly what you are asking - that PPD was so much like PA for him.
That said, there are several forms of the exam, and just because it is similar for one person does not mean that it is going to be for the next person.
We like to describe it as a macro to micro scale. PA covers such a large subject area - in that it covers entire sites, which can be tremendous areas with many different circumstances and situations on the site. PPD "ZOOMS IN" closer to the buildable area, what the shape the building might take and why, and what is going on inside the building. It is still partially planning but also goes towards functionality. Finally, PDD is micro-focused almost entirely on the how and why of the building.
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