architect54

I’ve been thinking about bringing my Schematic Design (SD) exam forward. I would like to, but I need to put in some good practice on the building layout. I’ve read thru tips and what not, but I haven’t applied them in practice sessions.

I may have mentioned before on another exam, how I might bring it forward if I was ready. I have to admit this is very unlikely. I don’t recommend scheduling an exam and saying to yourself, I’ll bring it forward. There is a slim likelihood of that happening. In my case I adjust to the time I have. So even though I’ve been studying daily, I haven’t progressed to a point where I think I could take the exam earlier.

Having given this warning, I still like to think I might be able to bring Schematic Design forward. I want to restart studying for structures without distractions from another exam. Well, somehow if I’ve practiced enough, maybe. Otherwise, I should really focus on passing Schematic Design and stop fooling myself.

I’m practicing the Schematic Design exam. In particular the interior layout. I’ve reduced my finish time, (when I already know the solution) to under 40 minutes using NCARB’s practice program. Unofficially I clocked about 20 minutes once, but I didn’t really check my start time. But that is when I know the solution. I won’t know the solution on exam day. Still by drawing slightly different solutions over these past two weeks, I’ve realized:

• There seem to be a “lot” of (what look to me like) passing solutions. There seem to be 3 basic room configurations from best to worst and then variations on each of those that pushes a door or wall and changes it enough to look different. When I started studying I had real difficulty seeing how the requirements could fit. Now I see ways to fit furniture.
• One solution is the “ideal” (or efficient or spacious) plan. All of the other solutions and their variants are “ugly”. Meaning if I didn’t have 60 minutes that feels like 15, I would resolve the plan where the reception area is the least crowded and one rectangle. The “ideal” solution I found from an AREforum post.
• When I finish [reworking] a solution I think, how can I not let this leave my office. The thing is, I don’t do drawings in my office. I guess I think this after a practice session, because if I did do drawings I would hope they were better than the interior layout solution I just drew.

The last note had me thinking, ideally I could use my time to practice how to find an efficient plan solution in 60 minutes. This would help me in my exam and career. I decided my goal is to learn how find a passing solution in 60 minutes. Maybe as I practice, the two goals will merge. Right now the “ideal” solution is not my goal. Achieving the required accessibility, furniture count, room access, and windows to the offices are my interior layout goals. In addition to PPI’s practice exams and the Schematic Design section in their ARE Review Manual, I have looked at an old Dorf Solutions book for help practicing.

[I have not provided a graphic of what I consider the "ideal", efficient interior layout to NCARB's practice problem, because I don't think that should be the goal. I've failed this exam and to me 60 minutes is not enough time to be looking for the best solution. Enough practice and someone eventually draws this efficient plan or finds it on a forum post.]

This weekend I practiced the interior and building layouts for the schematic design exam of the architect registration exam. The image is my solution for PPI’s interior layout #1 problem.  It is wrong, because it is missing an office. Rough and incorrect (i.e. FAIL), it took me 42 minutes. (I wrote down the furniture for each room as an exam strategy/method. I don’t think I’ll be doing that come exam time. 42 minutes seems a bit long for such a rough solution. Add to that I missed reading the instructions for two agent’s offices. Had I gone back and forth between the program, I might have caught the additional room.)

Weeks ago I made copies of the furniture and cut them out. If you do that, do it early. It took me longer than expected. Likely because I cut out extra furniture. I needed 6 lateral files, not 6 copiers. I made copies to cover the furniture with the most quantity and still cut out everything. Some extra items are useful. The round coffee table is 3 feet in diameter. You can use it as a sketch guide. That’s why they’re located in the way behind chairs in the conference room, manager and agent offices. They’re actually sketch circles to note 3′ clearance. Remember to use NCARB’s practice program when preparing for the schematic design exam.