architect54

…that I might have had an “good” exam. The entire exam covered material that I studied and nothing seemed off topic for the test. I only had one question that didn’t seem to have a correct response, but maybe I didn’t understand the question. All in all I felt like it was a fair exam. Now if I find out that I failed the exam… Well my whole outlook will change!

In preparation for my exam I reviewed:

• B141-1997 Commentary Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Architect (with commentary)
• A201-1997 Commentary General Conditions of the Contract for Construction (with commentary)
• C141-1997 Standard Form of Agreement between Architect and Consultant (There is a copy on the areforum ftp.)
• CSI Masterformat 2004 (I was familiar with some of these. The Ballast book recommends familiarity with 00 to 32 and the book notes some differences between Div. 10 Specialties and Div. 11 Equipment. Knowing page Intro-3 of this summary will help. NOT THE WHOLE THING!)
• Ballast Construction Documents and Services chapter in the ARE Review Manual and the Construction Documents and Services practice exam book
• Other study materials

Regarding B141 and A201, review AIA documents edition (1997 as of this post) that applies to your exam and review them thoroughly. Check NCARB’s site to know what year AIA documents to use.

I reviewed the areforum, well before my exam as time permitted. A topic may be posted and discussed that you never heard of or thought to study. As did in my exam. So check the forum every now and then. Go back and review older posts, you may find a topic or phrase that you are not familiar with and will help you in the exam room.

I reviewed as many mock exam questions as I could get my hands on. For me they were very effective in driving home the correct answers. This really helped when it came time to sit the exam. I was prepared to sit down for two hours and answer 100 multiple choice questions AND review as many as I could in the time remaining. In my next post I’ll give a kind of what happened time wise in the exam (as I explained it to “Just“).

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.

I take the exam in an hour. I took a lot of rest over the weekend and really don’t think I’m ready for this test. A bunch of people have told me, this is stuff I should know. I felt much more confident prior, when I scheduled this exam a month ago.

I did the practice test from the PPI book today and really did not do well. I did it this morning! Wrong time, architect54. Wrong time to be doing a practice exam. Well I’ve done what I could and I committed myself to this test time. Let’s see what happens.