NCARB’s pass rates need to be explained to me. The results for CCNY say there were zero test takers for Construction Documents and Services. What? I graduated from CCNY, took ARE 4.0 in that time period and passed. Isn’t that at least one? I don’t quite get it. This proves you have to be cautious reading into statistics because data may be missing or incorrect for whatever reason. (Funny.)

I’m giving myself three weeks to prepare two hours a day. If after three weeks I think I’m ready, I’ll reschedule schematic design for a closer date. That should give me one more week or so and put the exam date around the third week of February. For now I’ll leave my current exam appointment months off in the distance.

This means I’m going back to a 3-1-3 exam format. The first 3 exams I’ve taken and really studied for them as a group. The 1 in the middle being Schematic Design, which I’ll put myself to the grind for now. Then the last 3 I’ll study for as a group, similar to how I did the first group. That means essentially studying for Structural Systems (SS), Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS), and Building Systems (BS) together. Somewhat like I did for the first 3 exams. It sounds like a good idea on the surface. I think there is enough overlap in SS and BDCS for the strategy to be effective, but I’m uncertain about Building Systems.

I have 4 exams left (two I failed and two I haven’t taken). I’m thinking of grouping study for 3 exams (Building Systems, Structural Systems, and Building Design and Construction Sytems). This would leave Schematic Design to the end and a 3-1 exam sequence. I would take the exams in the order mentioned. I will have to reschedule to commit to this order.

I’m not sure how I’m handling this. Is there enough overlap of study topics? Will I be able to study enough of each topic to take the 3 exams close together?

In the podcast Umber Kazmi recommended treating the exam as one. Her advice still indicated studying for one part at a time. I think. That’s what I got out of it. So I don’t think I’ll be able to study for all three exams and take them within a week of each other. Not with 2 hours of daily study. Not unless that daily study lasts for a very consistent 3 month period with extended weekend studying. (OMG.)

I sort of treated my first three exams as one. Those exams had more similarity and content overlap. For my remaining exams I’m rethinking my exam strategy a bit and preparing my head for some extensive studying about to come.

Download A.R.E. Strategies in mp3 or iTunes
or via the AIA Podnet feed xml. (Search for A.R.E. Strategies.)

Today looking through the list and updating my other podcasts, I downloaded and listened to it. In this podcast Umber Kazmi, CEO of Funkaar Studios, describes Architectural Registration Exam strategies. Below are some points paraphrased and summarized from the podcast.

Exam Strategies and Preparation

• Treat the 7 part exam as one exam
• What kind of person passes the ARE? “Someone who studies“
• Study on a daily basis
• Clear your mind and get a schedule
• Focus on one main resource to study from
• Follow a sequence to taking the exams

Question Formats (really Answer Formats)

• multiple choice
• alternative item types
  - fill-in the blank
  - check multiple (select the two that apply)

Question Types

• terminology or definition – what does this mean
• calculations
• comparative analysis – advantage of this system versus that system, or choose correct order (best to worst order)
• formula relationship – conceptual knowledge of a formula (what happens to one component, if another changes)

Make sure to listen to the audio file (podcast/mp3). My summary leaves out: the exam she recommends to start with, the “easiest”; the exam she considers the “most difficult”; brief mention of book knowledge versus real experience; and more. Umber mentions “recent graduates do better on the exam” than candidates further out from school. Another reason for interns to take advantage of IDP ARE concurrency in the states that allow satisfying the Intern Development Program while taking the Architectural Registration Exam. Don’t wait!

After office discussion and forum reading/posting, I was influenced to start with Construction Documents. Plus I was told getting a pass letter boosts your confidence, so start with something you think you can pass. (Thanks, “just”!). No way am I starting with Building Design and Construction Systems (Methods & Materials). I have so much trouble remembering certain basics that I freak out. For example, where does the vapor barrier go in humid climates? I find those to be tricky questions, so Building Design is in the second batch of exams.

I expect to reschedule the first three exams. But below is my expected order, with the currently scheduled exams noted:

Construction Documents & Services CDS (Aug postponed)
Programming, Planning & Practice PPP (Sep scheduled) (Pre-Design)
Site Planning & Design SPD (Sep scheduled) (Site Planning)

Building Design & Construction Systems BDCS (Jan) (Building Design and Methods & Materials)
Structural Systems SS (Jan) (General Structures and Lateral Forces)
Schematic Design SD (Feb) (Building Planning)

Building Systems BS (Apr) (Mechanical & Electrical Systems)

From what I’m reading, I think Site Planning should be closer to Programming, Planning & Practice. I placed Schematic Design in the second batch, because I suspect there may be a lag time in a pass/fail response, since it is all graphic. Actually all exams have a graphic component now, so in general the pass/fail letters may take longer than the two to four weeks mentioned on the forum. So essentially I’ll be studying for three exams for two to three months and then take three exams about two weeks apart. I have to throw a disclaimer on this. I will reschedule, if I think I’m not ready.