Yes, I took Construction Documents and Services. It takes me about a week to “bounce” back from these exams. Why “exams”, when I’ve only taken one? Well when I prepared for the same exam, but the test did not start up on the computer at the test center, it took a whole week for me to relax from the excitement of just the possibility of taking my first exam. The build up to the exam is so much that afterwards you just have to let go.
For me, it’s taking a bit too long though! Maybe after the next exam I’ll adjust better afterwards.
Another thing that happens is remembering the questions on the exam. At best I can remember three. Now that I think about it, make that two questions. You sort of don’t want to remember them. Good or bad. (YOU REALLY SHOULD TAKE NOTES OF THE TOPICS AND QUESTIONS AFTER THE EXAM!!! JUST IN CASE YOU FAIL, IT WILL HELP YOU KNOW WHAT TO STUDY.) Did I do that? No. Goodbye Construction Documents and Services. Goodbye.
How do I think I did? I think I did passing. What did I do to feel this way? Prepare early and when you think your head is full, pull back and study occasionally when you feel you are receptive. (I took days off to relax and prep before the exam.) To me, overload is good for this exam. The questions are written simply. The answer isn’t obvious, there is a judgement you have to make based upon “industry” practice. NOT HOW YOU DO IT AT YOUR ARCHITECTURE FIRM, COMPANY, CONTRACTING CO., ENGINEERING FIRM, CONSULTING CO., GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR WHERE EVER! All of you have adjusted and make (bully) contractors and owners into doing things THAT WERE NEVER INTENDED WITH CONTRACTS AND SPECIFICATIONS!!!! STUDY!!!
I did not leave the exam thinking I did great. There was just one question that left me thinking all four answers were wrong. Then I thought I read a very similar question with a correct answer.
Weird, huh? I have more to share in another post later.
PPI
Sketchbook Project
Caveat to my comments on your previous post: Never ever allow yourself to feel that you “should know this stuff.” No one knows all of this material because no one covers every single aspect of the built environment in their day-to-day practice. I do 90% residential – when do I see big steel, waffle slabs, huge HVAC systems, etc.? Or even an AIA contract (much to their horror, I’m sure)? The answer is – almost never… When studying for CDs, I would occassional ask my husband-the-construction-attorney to clarify certain things. His most common comment: “Who writes this stuff?” What is suggested to us as the correct way to go in our professional practice isn’t what is done in reality a lot of the time… Remember – these exams are also based on NCARB-land, not reality. While there is much to be learned by studying for the ARE, it must all be taken in with a grain of salt and much of it kept separate from what you would do in “real life.”