Barely did any better taking test blind vs taking with study

In 2019 I took CE blind, without any studying. I got:

Preconstruction: 46%

Construction Observation 37%

Admin procesures & protocols: 45%

Closeout: 28%

This time around I studied for about a month, about an hour every day. I memorized equations and facts, made flash cards, and took it seriously. And I got:

Preconstruction: 38%

Construction Observation 45%

Admin procesures & protocols: 45%

Closeout: 42%

This was fairly depressing. I basically saw mild improvement between taking the test blind vs studying.

I know why this is though. The question styles do not obey normal testing methods in professional fields and agencies like in engineering or environmental sciences. I would like to know how I can learn the question style, rather than the details in the exam. I know this stuff, but not in the convoluted way that's asked in the AREs. What's the best way to grapple with the question style in the ARE?

Gang Chen October 17, 2022 14:36

Maybe you can do ALL the NCARB practice exams multiple times, and also do some other mock exams. The real ARE exams are very similar to NCARB practice exams.

Gang Chen, Author, AIA, LEED AP BD+C (GreenExamEducation.com)

Rebekka O'Melia November 04, 2022 17:49

Hi Robert,

I don't mean to be a buzzkill, but that's not enough hours to study for an ARE. You need to study about 2 hrs/day for 2 months, or about 100 hrs total.

You should be reading the Ballast exam review guide, reviewing Fundamentals, and studying the A101 contract, and parts of AHPP for this exam.

I'd also recommend doing practice exams for about 7 days of 2hrs/day. Simulate the real exam experience at home, timed. Review any questions you got wrong. And keep going!

Step it up and you'll pass next time!

Good luck!

Rebekka O'Melia, Registered Architect, NCARB, B. Arch, M. Ed, Step UP, Step UP ARE 5.0 Courses

Barely did any better taking test blind vs taking with study

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