Here is how Construction Documents and Services (CDS) went:
Like I said before, I didn’t leave jumping up and down, “Oh I knew that and this.” I did leave thinking I probably passed… I hope.
1st Part – 100 multiple choice questions in 2 hours. I finished with 24 minutes left. 15 marked for review. Reviewed them and changed one (or two?) questions and unmarked five. Began to review all questions. I read question and the answer I chose (not all four responses) and felt like that was the correct answer. Got thru reviewing 20 (or so) more questions and felt good with the selected answer. Time ran out.
I had answered 60 questions at the halfway mark (1 hour), which was reassuring. When I finished the 100 questions (with 24 minutes left), I took a moment to breathe and relax. The point is I paid attention to the time remaining. (And I remained calm.)
When I first sat down at the computer, before the exam started, (before even clicking anything on the computer), I did write the numbers 1 to 100 on the scrap paper to mark any questions for review. That was so I could put a slash through a number to indicate it for review, or put a division sign to indicate math, or any other indication. But I did not use this method much after the 5th question. I used the features provided on the computer.
2nd Part – Do a (graphic) building section in 1 hour. I got to the 30 minute mark and only half of the first floor was done! I responded by speeding up!!!!!! It took me 18 minutes to finish the rest, the upper floor and the large room! (Didn’t matter, a feeling of panic had set in.) I had time to double check measurements. I felt as though I got all of the non-rated walls, rated walls and ducts. Even tho’ drawing the section over the plan is the way to go… YOU CAN”T SEE THE PLAN!!! How come this horror never came to my attention before?
Is there a way to turn the drawn layers off? I don’t think so. I don’t remember one. Maybe there is. I didn’t remember it during the exam. I didn’t have time to look. There isn’t one is there? The drawn stuff has to stay visible. Right?
… and the effects of taking this exam become visible …
Actually in the building section vignette, as of my posting there is no way to turn what you have drawn off (slabs, fire rated walls, etc.). (In some vignettes, like site zoning you can.) Now I don’t want this to encourage people to draw below (or above) the plan and then MOVE your entire section. Should you choose to draw below or above, LEAVE it there!!! To be graded your section has to reference (touch) two lines. One is the grade line, which you draw. The other line is the “exterior face of section” line. To quote NCARB’s CDS study guide (p. 14) , “The left side of your section should be placed along the line that is designated “exterior face of section.”" Having said that, and barring my experience of not being able to see the plan, I would still draw over the plan. It helps align walls, ducts and joists. That’s all you are responsible for, that and slabs and footings.
On my scrap paper I distinctly wrote down the elements that determine heights for each floor. I made a list like this:
First Floor
- joist
- duct
- light
- floor-to-ceiling
I made this list once and then wrote the heights (2′-0″, 1′-0″, etc.) in this order for each area, the first floor, second floor and large room. There is always a large voluminous room. You’ll notice I left out the deck on top of the joists. Don’t forget to add this number when checking heights after you’re complete. When drawing I didn’t worry about it and used sketch rectangles to measure these heights. Determining these lists is probably what took me so long in the first half hour. So that way, time was spent wisely so I could draw without referring to the program anymore.
Another important issue is, you are looking for the largest duct and joist combination on the floor to make a level ceiling. This is very important! The largest joist and duct are not necessarily in the same place on the floor. This is so important to understand. Go the forum! If you understand only this from this post I have done something good!
PPI