architect54

Should I keep going? OF COURSE!!! The architectural registration exam isn’t even that large of a hill! Don’t even tell yourself that it is. It takes time and effort. For some it only takes time.

So get over to NCARB. Start to figure out what you should be studying and practice those vignettes!

Grab a study guide, or flashcards, or reference book, or all of the above. Start using them!

Get onto one of those helpful sites that address the ARE, like AREforum, and it’s ftp, or dive into the ftp ‘backup’ at Ironwarrior. Use your resources people!!!

Let’s conquer the ARE!!!

Well I didn’t pass Schematic Design. Got moderate deficiencies on the building layout vignette.

I’m not exactly sure what I did wrong, which is disappointing. I have to guess at my errors. I think it was too many L-shaped and skinny rooms. It probably came down to room porportion. There may have been other things too. I had an overhang over the entry. Maybe it was too deep. I also had a visual control solution that may not have been as acceptable as I considered. But I really think it was all because of too many L-shaped and skinny rooms. Damn.

I’m disappointed because the interior layout was managable in the time allotted. Next time who knows what I may get!

At least this mishap will encourage more practice on my part. I had lost a bit of heart and had admitted to ‘throwing money’ at a previous exam. Well it wasn’t money alone that did it. In addition it was throwing some practice, time and effort. I’ll have to step up my efforts next time with more consistent practice. Onwards to conquer the architectural registration exam!

I left Schematic Design feeling cool and ok. I thought everything I did on that architectural registration exam was ok. I wasn’t leaving thinking it was perfect, just ok. No fatal errors anywhere as far as I could tell.

And that’s just it. “As far as I could tell.” Finished, I think back and say I really hope I didn’t have a fatal error.

Exit doors swung in the exit direction. No dead end corridors. Six foot clear corridor distance. Had the 60″ diameter circle in every room. 36″ clearance to all pieces of furniture, except some coffee tables placed in corners. Correct door clearances at both door sides of all doors. I mean those were the fatal errors that popped into my head.

Could I have missed something? Maybe. And that’s just a part of the after-exam-guessing torture some of us put ourselves through. Good luck on your exams!