Fun Facts about the ARE's

Some new information about the ARE's has been brought to my attention lately.  My two sources are: 1.) the second-hand reports of some folks who attended an AIA chapter meeting where an NCARB representative presented information on the processes involved in establishing an NCARB records through taking the ARE's and receiving an NCARB certificate.  2.) my newly received Fall 2011 Volume 14 Issue 2 of NCARB's Direct Connection (I am just now realizing that this issue has arrived to me rather late, as it is no longer fall and certainly no longer 2011).

First of all, each ARE is graded through one single computer.  So, while it may seem a stream-lined process to have all the exams graded via computer, it is actually not as stream-lined as many other standardized testing systems.  The justification for this, is to maintain security as apparently many folks in the past have taken extremes to illegally obtaining exam questions and answers.  Now, because it is all graded through one computer, it is also graded by one individual operating the computer.  Therefore, if any answers or questions are leaked to the public, NCARB knows who is responsible.  A tremendous amount of responsibility for one individual!  However, knowing some of the limitations of NCARB, I agree this is an appropriate measure for the time being.

Second of all, each ARE (aside from Schematic Design which does not have multiple choice questions) contains "pretest" questions.  These "pretest" questions "will not affect a candidate's actual test score and are not included in the content distribution breakdown.  These pretest questions will be evaluated and may be included in future editions of the test."  I have extracted those explanations directly from NCARB's publication.  I am a little perturbed by this.  I have had occasion to find fault with some of the questions on the exams I have taken so far.  It is logical to suppose that some of these less refined questions I have encountered may in fact be "pretest" questions, but they also may just be faulty questions.  I'm not sure of the point I am trying to make other than it is most distressful to find controversial questions when you are in the throes of a $210 professional examination, the unsuccessful completion of which may delay your professional development by a period of at least 6 months.

Anyway, I just wanted to report those discoveries to you under the guise that knowledge is power (although, as for the pretest questions, I think that knowledge is frustration!).

In summary: 1.) every single ARE is processed through one single computer, as operated by one single individual human. 2.) each ARE may contain "pretest" questions which do not count toward the final assessment of your performance on it.

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.

ARE's under way!

It has been a long while since my last post, so I thought I would put some personal updates in here as a filler until I find something more profound to report.

I started taking the ARE's last month and am scheduled for my second exam on Tuesday.  This past week I received the confirmation letter that I had in fact passed the first one (Schematic Design), so that gives me some confidence for this next one.  I studied close to 60 hours so far for it and feel mildly confident.  There's a TON of information for this one (Building Systems) - it includes everything about plumbing systems, HVAC systems, fire protection, acoustics, environmental influences, lighting, electricity, some accessibility, vertical transportation, code information and regulations, it's like every imaginable component or factor aside from anything structural (which, by the way, is my next exam on December 5th).

I would like to offer insight on studying for this exam, but I do not feel qualified to do that until I know I have passed it.

I will offer, that for the Schematic Design exam, the most important part was being familiar with the NCARB software.  I recommend doing the NCARB practice exams first, then doing any hardcopy exams you can get your hands on, and then finishing up by taking the NCARB exams again.  That is what I did, and by the time I got to round two of the NCARB exam, I had totally forgotten the program and spaces.  (I did probably 10 other practice exams in between)

BOO!

It's that time of year. When scary things are everywhere and Architecture is not excused.






ok. the last one is just funny.