architect54

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 entry was posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 am and is filed under Architectural Registration Exam Journey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.