Blast from the not too distant past

Whoa! Just found this cleaning out my computer. This is the compliation footage I took while researching my thesis in Architecture school.

Does anyone have song suggestions? Currently there is no sound.

ARE: Schematic Design

So I realize this post is a bit delayed.  I figured I would just make a post about each exam after I took (and passed!) it, to give my advice on a study strategy.

For Schematic Design, I believe the procedure is quite simple.  Start with the NCARB sample vignettes.  This will get you familiar with the software, and will help you figure out how much time you will have to play around with layouts.  You do not have a lot of time for the interior layout, so it is best to get very familiar with those tools.  When I did the Kaplan & Ballast mock exams, I was thinking about how I would do my hand-sketching using the NCARB software.

You probably only need to do a handful of practice interior and building layouts.  I did everyone I could get my hands on - I think there were like 20 total.  Definitely overkill.  I did SD first, though, so I wanted to be sure I had well-prepared myself.

I think 2 weekends in preparation for the exam is satisfactory.  Maybe do 10 practice scenarios: 2 or 3 building layouts and 6 or 7 interior layouts.  You should try to develop a shorthand for the different program requirements, that way you don't have to constantly flip back and forth between the drawing screen and the program screen.  I used abbreviations for the different rooms (which NCARB gives you anyway), orientations/proximities, accesses, views, etc.  For anything that is a program requirement you should have a shorthand symbol deduced.

And finally, NCARB practice exams are, again, your most useful resource.

ARE: Structural Systems

I took my third ARE this afternoon.  Yet again, I feel I cannot even speculate as to whether or not I passed.  However, I will offer the following advice to anyone studying.

I found the Kaplan study guides to very disjointed and error-laden.  I would advise supplementing any studying you do with them by some other means.  The practice vignettes are misleading, so do not use them as your only practice resource.  I might actually recommend not using them at all.

I found the Ballast study guides to be more thorough.

I used the Ballast flashcards and the Archiflash cards from ARE 3.1.  All of which were quite helpful.

Absolutely take the NCARB practice test and practice vignette software.  This practice vignette is the single most important one for you to use.  It not only provides you the opportunity to get familiar with the software, but its sample passing and failing solutions depict the important things you need to include or not include.

Take a look at the references NCARB offers, as well.  I was surprised when I took the test today and saw just exactly what each of those referenced charts was.  There is a ton of information available to you as a reference - it would definitely help you to be aware of what that is before you studied.  In retrospect, I wish I had looked up each of those items and made myself familiar with them.

In conclusion, I feel the same as I did with the Building Systems test.  I hope in my heart of hearts that I passed, but I would not be too surprised if I did not.  I am certain my vignette was satisfactory, however.

Now I just wait it out the next couple weeks as I prepare for ARE #4: Construction Documents & Services.

ARE's 2 down, 5 to go

It turns out I passed Building Systems!  When I took it, I was certain I had failed - it felt like I had to guess on half of the problems.  However, somehow I managed to pass and I cannot be more thankful!  (I received my pass letter in the mail right before departing for Thanksgiving festivities!)

Next on the list is Structural Systems.  This is the other big one and I hope I can pass it, too. After that, I expect the rest should be pretty "easy."  I decided to push the exam back, having already scheduled it at Prometric.  I figured I would rather spend the $35 to reschedule it and give myself twice the study time, than to just go ahead and take it risking failure which would mean waiting 6 months to pay another $210 to take it again.

My current exam schedule has me wrapping up the ARE's (supposing I fail none of them) by the end of March.  Which should align nicely with the completion of my IDP.  I think I'm done IDP at the end of April.

I'm not sure how long it takes for NCARB to process all of the IDP and ARE information, but I have heard it can take another 10 months after you're finished before you receive your license.  I will research more into that as I approach.