This is a long winded view of just 5 or so questions on my exam, so keep that in mind.
I wrote something that I want to clarify and discuss, regarding the Programming, Planning and Practice (PPP) exam. In the last two posts I said:
“This exam has opinion. Whose, I’m not too sure.”
and
“If you really sit down with some history books to prep for this bad boy, you’d be angry when they ask certain questions. If you hold theory dear, like most architects, (even tho’ they know it’s nonsense words) you’d damn near get up and walk out during your exam. “Enough!””
Firstly, theory is not nonsense. Without it we would not progress. Sometimes it becomes convoluted and no longer applies to execution of common everyday architecture. The “theory” in the PPP exam seems to apply predominantly to form (historically and purposefully how form achieves a desired result aka function). Some would might say that’s not theory at all. It’s precedent and function. Let’s broadly call this theory for this discussion. Read on.
Generally a simple issue in real life planning is simplified, ironically, due to the complicated surrounding issues or specific required program element(s). (I think A Pattern Language proves this point.) As a result of my opinion, I felt that some of the simple questions on PPP gave inadequate background information to test knowledge. I could be wrong.
I’ll leave it to you to determine whether it is possible to become familiar with NCARB’s perspective, prior to taking the exam. At some point experience may help a little. What also might help are the references mentioned in the study guide. In all I had access to six books prior to the exam, namely A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction; Programming from Design: From Theory to Practice; Site Planning, 3rd Edition; Design with Climate; The Image of the City; and The New Urbanism. If you can digest these books and somehow come to a general consensus of perspective, you are a true academic. I just don’t think one can derive a single perspective applicable to every question from reading alone. Somehow experience and your test taking ability to make judgment calls comes into play.
Most questions on this exam are not life and safety issues. A few (maybe 5 or so) are opinionated, point of view questions that (I guess) are supposedly common sense. I just wanted to clarify what I meant.
PPI
Sketchbook Project