architect54

Structural Systems is my next exam. I have the next four days off from work, Saturday to Tuesday, strictly for studying. I got a burst of enthusiasm from reading this post: http://www.areforum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=180826

Why:

• I can get in 90 additional hours of study time before my exam with the time I’ve taken off from work.
• Someone else (with more legitimate experience than me) considers taking BDCS and SS together (or closer together) beneficial. (Even though I’m not exactly taking them close together, this shows my initial exam thought process may be more on track than I thought.)

I’ll take enthusiasm for any reason regarding this exam. Now it’s off to study!

I’ve been seeking out advice, in preparing for my next architect registration exam, Structural Systems. I spoke to an engineer recently, who recollected on the professional engineering exam and he gave me some advice. I’m covering what was said in two posts. This is post 2 of 2.

“Treat it like a Reconnaissance Mission.”

“Treat it [the exam] like a reconnaissance mission.” I was dying with laughter when he said this. It seemed relevent to the architectural registration exam (ARE). The first time you take one of these professional exams is really honestly the only single sure fire way to know what’s on that exam. True, you can get help from study guides (Ballast) or the AREforum. But you’ll never know exactly 100 percent what’s on an exam until you take it.

So prepare as much as you can, and treat the exam like a stealth recon mission. When you finish the exam write down every question/topic/detail you remember. Not to share! For you to study and rely on, if you need to later. You’re going for the win, but you may meet this opponent again in the playoffs. Remember everything you can to improve yourself. Remember exam information is not to be shared in any way!

Recon missions are not just about what you learn during the mission, or deduce after the mission. They’re about executing effectively what you’ve researched before the mission. That means, Study! Don’t take an exam to learn about material. Take it with the intent to pass.

I’ve always thought the professional engineering exam is more difficult than the ARE. So when this reconnaissance idea was mentioned I laughed and said so. The engineer looked at me and ever slightly shook his head no, while continuing to speak. As if to say that’s not likely. I took his judgement to heart.

I hope these tips help inform your actions. They’ve helped me sit back, relax a bit and be less concerned about exam results. My concern should be about the process leading up to the exam. That’s what I have the most control over. Good luck and keep studying!

I’ve been seeking out advice, in preparing for my next architect registration exam, Structural Systems. I spoke to an engineer recently, who recollected on the professional engineering exam and he gave me some advice. I’m covering what was said in two posts. This is post 1 of 2.

“Don’t take it personal.”

Don’t take it [the exam] personal. This made me laugh. The engineer clarified. “Treat the test like a sport.” That got me thinking. How can I win? What training do I need? What are my weaknesses in this sport (topic)? Treat this how you would a game. Be sportsmanlike in your efforts to get ahead and keep trying. Sports are for fun, exercise, to release stress, lose weight, gain muscle and even for aerobics. (Who wants a stroke at 40?) Essentially, you’re meant to gain something from your efforts in a sport. Keep that in mind for each game (test).

True, in sports it’s about the win. But it’s about so much more as well. For example, a pick up game of basketball, might be your best chance to meet up with a group of buddies. As difficult as this may be, let the exam open you up as much as possible. This may be harder than it sounds, because many I think need to narrow their focus in order to pass. But don’t have a narrow view of your actions as it pertains to your career. Take away as much preparatory study information as possible towards improving yourself as a professional.