Archive for July, 2009

Newer Entries »

A.R.E. Strategies Podcast

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

I have been searching for ways to stay exam focused. I found this AIA podcast, A.R.E. Strategies, that discusses Architectural Registration Exam strategies. It has been out since May 2009. You may not have seen it, if you’re like me. (I hadn’t clicked the “Subscribe” or “Get All” button in iTunes for the AIA Architecture Knowledge and Review podcast series.)

Download A.R.E. Strategies in mp3 or iTunes
or via the AIA Podnet feed xml. (Search for A.R.E. Strategies.)

Today looking through the list and updating my other podcasts, I downloaded and listened to it. In this podcast Umber Kazmi, CEO of Funkaar Studios, describes Architectural Registration Exam strategies. Below are some points paraphrased and summarized from the podcast.

Exam Strategies and Preparation

  • Treat the 7 part exam as one exam
  • What kind of person passes the ARE? “Someone who studies“
  • Study on a daily basis
  • Clear your mind and get a schedule
  • Focus on one main resource to study from
  • Follow a sequence to taking the exams

Question Formats (really Answer Formats)

  • multiple choice
  • alternative item types
    - fill-in the blank
    - check multiple (select the two that apply)

Question Types

  • terminology or definition – what does this mean
  • calculations
  • comparative analysis – advantage of this system versus that system, or choose correct order (best to worst order)
  • formula relationship – conceptual knowledge of a formula (what happens to one component, if another changes)

Make sure to listen to the audio file (podcast/mp3). My summary leaves out: the exam she recommends to start with, the “easiest”; the exam she considers the “most difficult”; brief mention of book knowledge versus real experience; and more. Umber mentions “recent graduates do better on the exam” than candidates further out from school. Another reason for interns to take advantage of IDP ARE concurrency in the states that allow satisfying the Intern Development Program while taking the Architectural Registration Exam. Don’t wait!

Tags:
Posted in Architectural Registration Exam Journey | 1 Comment »

Cut Score

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

At the AIANY’s “Got License?” disscussion back in May 2009, NCARB’s representative Nick Serfass provided a lot of information. He discussed that a cut score is set for each architectural registration exam.

It seemed Nick (NCARB) wanted to clear up how the architectural registration exam is graded. Likely there are people out there confused as to why they can’t know their grade and accordingly they question the grading process. Anyway, here is what Nick said.

After getting a group of architects together to create exam questions, NCARB selects a group of architects to establish a “cut score” that is passing for a particular exam. You must score above this cut score in order to pass an exam. If you fail, your score was not above the cut score.

The point being there is a set unpublished passing grade (cut score) for every exam. The cut score has been set by a group of architects for each exam. There you have it. If you failed, your score was not above the cut.

Here’s what Nick did not mention. Exam mistakes are weighted. This is no secret either, moderate versus major deficiencies. Different mistakes count heavier against your grade.

I must disclaim. Everything I’ve said is heresay. The cut score was also discussed (and stressed) last year by the NCARB representative at AIANY’s discussion, “Demystifying the ARE 4.0″. I may have read about this in NCARB literature, but at present I haven’t found a single good NCARB source to reference. What I have found are these recommended readings about architectural registration exam grading. The last one referrences NCARB statements and literature.

ArchVoices ARE Score Reporting
In early 2004 there was an ARE score reporting delay in order to reset the cut scores. This spurred ArchVoices to investigate. If you don’t read the whole article, read “2. NCARB Scoring Process”. (ArchVoices, a now defunct architecture think tank, thankfully has allowed their website to remain archived on the web.)

ArchVoices ARE Score Reporting Follow-Up
This is a follow up to the above.

ARE Forum’s ARE Frequently Asked Questions
This very helpful pdf references NCARB literature to answer ARE FAQ.

Tags:
Posted in Architectural Registration Exam Journey | No Comments »

Newer Entries »