Since all prior results letters for me on this exam have shown the exact same deficient results areas, I know the points I have to cover. Because this is my last exam, I want this to be my last ‘take’ of this exam. So yet I still feel the need to prepare on the subject areas I confidently know.

For this Building Design Construction Systems exam I plan to rely on Edward Allen’s Fundamentals of Building Construction, HOK’s Guidebook for Sustainable Design, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidlines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings, and my Ballast question and answer book and ARE Review Manual. Those along with plenty of vignette practice and any vignette tutorials I can get my hands on. Onwards.

See early-April I still had 4 chances to take my exam within my 5-year rolling clock. I wanted to capture that 4th chance. Now I only have 3 chances left to take BDCS.

I’m not worried. (That’s a lie. I am concerned.) That is one disadvantage to taking a long-term approach to this seven part exam. The longer you take overall, the more risk there is in meeting up with the dreaded rolling clock. So if you’re taking your architectural registration exam, let my example be a lesson to you. Onwards.

I agree at some point you just have to take a test, but that is after putting out study time and effort. If you use an actual test as practice it may not always be advantageous in overcoming that same test! Practice your architectural registration exam, before going into the Prometric test center. Good luck on your exams!

Opening the mailbox, and shuffling through standard letter sizes, hoping this is the one. Then turning it over to discover another piece of junk mail can be so frustrating.

Then of all things the opening of the letter. I have to be careful when I do it, because I have a tendency to stop breathing. I gasp or hesitate in breath while sliding a finger or pen through the envelope seam. It is quite a moment for me.

Getting the envelope has such a heightened sensation. One day maybe New York state will post results online. Until then I’ll do my best to enjoy both the momentary thrill that can become the soft cofusing blow of deciphering a fail result or the lasting victorious feeling of a pass letter. Onwards to licensure!

Let that sink in.

New media has given all industries the opportunity of openness and access. Rather than resist these new venues, how can architectural organizations accept and encourage them and change our industry (profession) for the better?

What if NCARB was to accept this means of sharing information and use it to benefit the exam? NCARB would have to investigate how and in what ways its goals are aligned with the AREforum. After this analysis and acquisition then it can use the venue in ways that suit the people NCARB serves (architectural boards, intern architects). For example, does NCARB seek as many passing grades as possible? How could they mine (use) applicants’ comments to adjust or improve the exam? Does NCARB seek a means to improve its vignettes so they more accurately judge an understanding of code, site planning, programming, etc., and could they accomplish this by monitoring/using the AREforum?

Then after accepting and adjusting to the changes this causes, thereafter NCARB should react to this media in a manner that suits those it serves. How can such a venture change the development of architects by NCARB’s reaction to their development process? Can NCARB seek to align our profession academically? Can NCARB react in a manner that helps align architectural academia production with architectural industry needs? Perhaps they do not consider this a goal. (If in some way they do, I am not suggesting making the exam more difficult or adjusting the grade cut off point to limit the amount of passed exams to regulate the number of licensed architects. At least not until I’ve passed.) Can NCARB adjust the Intern Development Program to meet the needs (requirements) set by the registration boards for the new architects as they change the profession? How would NCARB react to a more open and accessible information (feedback) from those it serves.

These are some ramblings. Perhaps NCARB primarily serves the state architectural boards, more so than it serves interns. Again I’m putting this out there as a rambling post for others to consider what (or if) a change that would make. Perhaps such an action would simply kill the AREforum. Gosh. The thought. What if the American Institute of Architects (AIA) took over the AREforum instead? It doesn’t seem like the AREforum is formally encouraged by architects. Yet many of us have taken to it. Some stay on the forum beyond their completion of the architectural registration exam.

Perhaps the AREforum is what it is and I need not question or worry about its formal acknowledgement and acceptance within the professional architectural community.