NCARB ARE 5.0 Practice Questions by Elif Bayram

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  • How to Pass the PA (Programming & Analysis) Exam

    I think PA is one of the exams that people underestimate the most. Everyone knows PPD and PDD are harder, and PJM and CE are easier, but when it comes to PCM and PA, the lines get blurry.  In fact, if you look at NCARB data over the years, the overall ARE pass rate hovers around ~55%, and PA sits right in that range.
    That alone tells you something important.

    This is not an “easy win” exam.

    PA also has a high number of retakes compared to other divisions. This doesn’t necessarily mean people perform worse on retakes, but it does show that many candidates don’t pass on their first attempt and often need multiple tries to get through this exam.

    And it’s usually not because they didn’t study.

    It’s because they didn’t expect what this exam actually feels like.

    This Exam is Wordy. And it is SLOW…

    PA is not a fast exam.

    You are given about 3 hours for ~75 questions, and many of those questions are long, layered, and sometimes include extra information you don’t even need.

    That creates a very specific problem.

    People start the exam feeling fine.
    Then they slow down.
    Then they realize they are behind.
    Then they rush the last portion – usually the case studies.

    Then they run out of time, sometimes unable to see the last 5 to 10 questions.

    And once you rush on PA, your accuracy drops quickly because it relies on analyzing information carefully.

    This is why timing is not just a “test strategy issue.” It’s built into the nature of this exam.

    What is NCARB actually TESTING here?

    If you look at the ARE 5.0 Guidelines for PA, the structure is very clear.

    This exam is not about isolated topics. It is about evaluating multiple things at the same time.

    You are working across four big areas:

    • environmental and contextual conditions
    • codes and zoning
    • site analysis
    • building analysis and programming (this is the largest section, up to ~40%)

    That last part matters a lot.

    You are constantly being asked to:

    • compare options
    • prioritize program needs
    • evaluate site constraints
    • interpret diagrams
    • and make early design decisions

    Not recall.

    Not recognize.

    👉 Evaluate.

    That is why this exam feels different (harder) from others.

    Why do people get stuck on the PA exam?

    There are patterns here. Very consistent ones.

    A lot of candidates try to turn this into a “diagram exam.”
    They memorize Sun, Wind, and Light diagrams, read a little bit of the Site Planning and Design Handbook or a third-party summary of topics, or watch some paid ARE video content and rely on them as being enough.

    Then they sit in the exam and realize: nothing looks exactly like what they studied.

    Another issue is reading too quickly. PA questions are long for a reason. They mix relevant and irrelevant information. If you don’t slow down, you either miss constraints or get distracted.

    There is also over-reliance on summaries.
    Short notes and videos make things feel familiar, but PA quickly exposes a shallow understanding.

    And then there is endurance.

    This exam is mentally tiring.
    If you are not used to reading carefully for long periods, your performance drops as you go through the questions. That’s where many people lose the exam.

    How I Recommend Studying for the PA Exam

    For this exam, I strongly recommend starting with NCARB-listed books before anything else.

    This is not about reading everything perfectly.
    It is about building enough depth so that when you see a scenario, you can think through it.

    Core books to study:

    • Site Planning and Design Handbook (Second Edition)
      Focus on site analysis, grading, circulation, and constraints. Read it cover to cover and do not skip the Appendix A: Environmental Site Assessment chapter.
    • Problem Seeking
      This is key to understanding programming logic and how to define priorities. A day or two spent on basic concepts and diagrams in this book should be enough. Especially focus on renatable/usable/net assignable..et. area types.
    • Sun, Wind, and Light
      Very important, but do not memorize diagrams. Understand why strategies work. Especially focus on Parts IV, V, and VI.
    • Planning and Urban Design Standards (Student Edition)
      Helps with zoning, planning relationships, and site-level decisions. Review as many of the diagrams as you can. Read related sections if diagrams don’t make sense.
    • The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties document: Read through the document, only focusing on the definitions of each historic treatment, and review all the tables that have correct and incorrect applications. Especially focus on the site images that show a problem, and explain what is recommended and what is not. These all can be scenarios in question.

    Secondary (if time allows)

    How to Practice (this is where things start clicking)

    You need a lot of practice for PA.

    Not just to test yourself, but to learn how to read questions properly.

    Use multiple sources:

    But here is the key:

    Do not just solve questions.
    Study how they are written.

    NCARB questions follow patterns.
    They give you extra information.
    They hide the actual problem inside a longer setup.

    You need to train yourself to:

    • filter information
    • identify what matters
    • ignore distractions

    That is a skill. You can use this skill with only practice. Use PPD questions for studying PA exam as they have some overlap and I think the order of taking technical exams should be

    PA → PPD → PDD

    A note on my videos (and how to use them)

    You can use my video lectures to support your studies, especially on topics such as sustainability, environmental strategies, and site response.

    But more importantly, I have videos where I walk through NCARB-style questions step by step and show how I read and solve them.

    This is where many candidates improve the most.

    I also share similar strategies on my YouTube channel. Here is a free example.

    Final weeks before the exam

    This is where you shift gears.

    At this point, you are not trying to learn new content.
    You are trying to perform better.

    Focus on:

    • longer question sets
    • reading without rushing
    • staying consistent through the entire exam

    If you run out of time during practice, it will happen on the real exam too.

    Final thoughts

    PA is difficult, but it is not random.

    It is predictable once you understand what it is asking from you.

    This is not about memorizing more.
    It is about reading better, thinking clearly, and managing your time.

    That shift is usually what gets people through this exam.

    I hope this post helps and you pass your PA exam next time! Good luck!

    Elif Bayram, AIA

  • How to Pass the PCM (Practice Management) Exam

    First, let’s be clear about what this exam actually is.

    PCM is not a memorization exam. It is not about recognizing terms or recalling definitions from videos. PCM is a business exam disguised as architecture.

    It is testing whether you understand how an architecture firm actually operates, financially, legally, ethically, and strategically. You are expected to interpret scenarios, make decisions, and understand consequences. If you approach it as a vocabulary-based or passive learning exam, it will feel confusing and inconsistent.

    Why do people fail PCM?

    Most candidates who fail PCM are not failing because they are not trying hard enough. They are failing because they are approaching the exam the wrong way.

    The most common issue is underestimating the financial portion. Concepts such as overhead, utilization, net multiplier, break-even, and profit are not intuitive to most architects, and many candidates spend insufficient time on them. But this section carries significant weight on the exam, and weakness here is very difficult to compensate for elsewhere.

    Another common issue is overreliance on videos, summaries, and quick explanations from test prep companies. These can help you get familiar with topics, but they do not build the level of understanding needed to apply concepts in unfamiliar situations. PCM questions are often about judgment and decision-making, not recall. So relying on someone else’s review of the material can leave you with a shallow understanding of the content.

    Many candidates also assume they have a testing issue. In reality, most PCM score reports show a clear pattern: one or two areas are relatively strong, while others are consistently weak. That is not a timing problem or exam anxiety. It is a targeted content gap.

    Finally, practice is often used incorrectly. Solving questions is helpful, but the real learning happens when you slow down, review your mistakes, and go back to the source material. Moving too quickly from question to question creates the illusion of progress without actual improvement.

    How PCM is actually structured (and why it matters)

    PCM is divided into four sections, but they are not equally weighted, and this directly affects how you should study.

    The largest portion of the exam is Finances, Risk, and Development of Practice, which makes up roughly a third of the test. This section focuses on financial performance, risk management, and business decision-making. It is also where most candidates struggle.

    Other sections, such as Practice Methodologies, tend to feel more intuitive and are often easier to perform well in. This creates a common trap. Candidates feel confident because they are doing well in some areas, but they remain weak in the section that carries the most weight.

    PCM is not a balanced exam, so your studying should not be balanced either. You need to spend more time on finances, risk, contracts, and business decisions, and less time on topics that already feel familiar.

    What Actually Works

    Instead of using many different resources, focus on a few core materials and study them carefully and repeatedly. This exam rewards understanding, not exposure.

    Core Resources

    • AHPP (Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice)
      This is the most important resource for PCM. Focus on how a firm operates financially and strategically.
      Key topics include overhead, utilization, profit, break-even, financial management, and risk.
      Important chapters to study carefully: Ch. 1 through 10, 12, 14, 16, 17
      Pay special attention to Chapter 7 and revisit it multiple times until it fully makes sense.
    • AIA Contracts (B101 and A201). 
      Focus on understanding roles, responsibilities, and risk allocation. To do this, you need to read the actual contracts, not their summaries. After reading them on your own for the first time, I would recommend reading them while listening to the Michael Hanahan Contract Lectures on YouTube. 
      After this study session, you should be able to read a scenario and clearly identify who is responsible and where the risk lies.
    • Professional Practice by Paul Segal 
      A faster and more digestible read that reinforces key concepts. Helpful for review, but it should not replace AHPP.
    • Law for Architects: What You Need to Know (optional)
      A readable introduction to legal concepts such as contracts, liability, and insurance.
      This can help if you feel weak in legal topics, but it should be treated as a supplement, not a primary study source.
    • You can also use my PCM question set in this process. The goal is not just to test yourself, but to understand how questions are structured and to use detailed explanations to guide your review and identify gaps in your understanding.

    How to Study

    Studying for PCM should not be passive. Reading once, highlighting, or watching videos is not enough. You need to engage with the material actively. Read carefully, take notes in your own words, and revisit those notes regularly. Do not aim to “get through” the material quickly. The goal is to become familiar with it. If something does not make sense, go back and read it again. Over time, concepts that felt unfamiliar will start to feel intuitive. PCM improves through repetition. The more you revisit the same ideas, the more comfortable you become applying them.

    How to Practice

    Practice questions are important, but they should not replace studying. They should guide it. When you get a question wrong, take the time to understand why. Go back to the related concept in AHPP or your notes and review it until it makes sense. For financial questions, repetition is critical. Solve them again, change the numbers, and solve them again. This builds fluency and confidence. Do not rush through questions. The goal is not volume alone, but understanding.

    Use all PjM and CE questions while studying for the PCM exam, in addition to all PCM questions you can find. This helps reinforce overlapping concepts instead of relearning them later. Focus especially on the NCARB free practice exams and try to understand how questions are structured. You can also use my YouTube channel to see how I approach NCARB-style questions and break down their logic.

    Study Duration (and how to plan it)

    The time you need for PCM depends on how you approach it.

    If PCM is your last remaining exam and you are studying it on its own, a focused 4–6 week preparation period is usually sufficient, assuming an average of ~20 hours per week of active studying.

    However, if you are planning to take PCM together with PjM and CE, or back-to-back, it is more effective to think of them as a group. In that case, a total study duration of 12–16 weeks for all three exams is a reasonable and efficient timeline, again assuming around 20 hours per week.

    The key here is not just the number of weeks, but how you use them. These exams overlap heavily, so studying them together allows you to reinforce the same concepts instead of relearning them multiple times.

    For example, you can study AHPP (I recommend reading it cover to cover), then review AIA Contracts, and listen to M. Hanahan’s lectures during the first 4–6 weeks. Then give yourself 2–3 weeks to focus on PjM questions and PjM-specific content before taking the exam. After that, spend another 2–3 weeks on PCM-specific content, followed by the test, and finally 2–3 weeks for CE content and the CE exam.

    If you space these exams too far apart, the process becomes longer and less efficient.

    Final 2–3 Weeks

    In the final few weeks, your focus should shift toward application and endurance. Increase your question volume while continuing to review your notes daily. At this stage, concepts should start to feel familiar rather than new. If everything still feels new, you are not ready yet.

    This phase is about reinforcing what you have already studied, not trying to learn everything for the first time.

    Overlap with PjM and CE (and testing order)

    PCM does not exist in isolation. It overlaps heavily with PjM (Project Management) and CE (Construction & Evaluation), and understanding this relationship can make your studying much more efficient.

    PCM focuses on the business and financial side of practice, PjM focuses on project execution and coordination, and CE focuses on construction phase responsibilities and contract application. While the focus shifts, all three exams are connected through contracts, risk, and decision-making.

    The same AIA contracts appear across all three. The same concepts of liability, responsibility, and risk allocation are tested repeatedly, just in different contexts. If you study these topics in isolation, you will feel like you are relearning them for each exam. If you study them as a system, the process becomes much more efficient.

    Because of this overlap, the order in which you take these exams matters.

    A common and effective sequence is:

    PjM is often the most intuitive starting point because it focuses on project execution, coordination, and day-to-day responsibilities. Many of these concepts are familiar from practice, making them a good entry point for the pro-practice exams.

    PCM builds on that by shifting the focus to the business and financial side of practice, including how a firm operates, how money flows, and how risk is managed.

    CE comes last because it requires you to apply contracts and risk decisions during construction. Many candidates struggle here if they do not already have a solid understanding of responsibilities, liability, and how contracts are interpreted in real situations.

    Studying these exams together, or at least back-to-back, allows you to reinforce the same concepts instead of relearning them. This reduces total study time and improves retention. If you treat them as separate exams, the process becomes longer and more frustrating than it needs to be.

    Final thoughts

    PCM is very passable, but it requires the right approach. It is not about speed or shortcuts. It is about understanding how a firm operates and becoming comfortable applying that knowledge in different situations. Once that understanding is in place, this exam tends to move much faster than most candidates expect.

  • Can AREs Be a Positive Experience?

    Can AREs Be a Positive Experience?

    Let me answer that right away: Yes, you can turn your ARE experience into something positive. It’s all about your approach from the beginning.

    Over time, I’ve had countless one-on-one exchanges with ARE takers, gathering valuable insights into their study strategies and success stories. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, I believe that my approach to the AREs is one that works. So, let me share with you the key principles of my method:

    1. Consistent Daily Study: Dedicate 1.5 to 3 hours of focused study each day. Consistency is key to retaining knowledge and building a strong foundation.

    2. Start with NCARB’s Reference Matrix: Begin by reading the books recommended by NCARB and complement your reading with a multitude of practice questions. This sets a strong foundation for your studies.

    3. Use Third-Party Resources: Don’t limit yourself to NCARB’s materials; use third-party resources to supplement your studies and gain different perspectives.

    4. Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that success in the AREs takes time, and it’s normal to encounter failures along the way. Don’t set rigid deadlines; instead, study at your own pace for each exam.

    5. Avoid Comparison: Everyone’s journey is unique, so don’t compare yourself to others. Your background and experience levels are different, and that’s perfectly okay.

    6. Be Skeptical of Unrealistic Stories: Don’t fall for the too-good-to-be-true success stories you might come across on social media. Trust in a well-thought-out, consistent approach rather than shortcuts.

    Setting the right expectations from the start is crucial. It helps you navigate the challenges of the AREs with fewer headaches and heartbreaks. When you know what to expect, recovering from a failure becomes much easier. Restoring your self-esteem, believing in the process, and staying motivated become manageable tasks when you have the right tools and a comprehensive understanding of the journey.

    Let me share a success story that exemplifies the power of this method. I received an email from an individual who quietly followed my advice, never reaching out until after passing all their exams. Despite facing skepticism from coworkers who questioned the intensity of their studies, this individual persevered and succeeded. Their fear of failure drove them to follow my suggestions, much like my own experience. This person diligently read the recommended books, solved hundreds of practice questions, and maintained a regular study routine. While they did experience a setback, it no longer seemed as daunting because they knew how to bounce back. The key takeaway here is that success is achievable with the right mindset and approach.

    Now, you might be wondering about the buts and doubts that often arise when discussing this method:

    • “But I don’t have time to read all those books.”
    • “But I saw a post online about someone passing all exams in 2 days with no studying.”

    Before succumbing to these doubts, consider this: I could easily recommend my own materials and tell you that you need only a book or two alongside my resources. You’d probably love that idea initially, and I’d make more money. However, I’m not here to deceive you. I understand the trauma of failing and the importance of genuine success.

    I’m not claiming that this is the only method to pass the AREs. You are free to make your own decisions, as there are many opinions out there. But this is the method you’ll hear from me when you reach out. I won’t lie to make you feel better because I genuinely care about your success, not just about your money.

    To turn your ARE experience into something positive, consider changing your perspective on reading. Yes, reading takes time, but why rush through a critical phase of your career? Impatience rarely leads to a better ARE experience. Instead, it’s more likely to lead to failure and frustration.

    Think about it: Do you believe the average completion time of almost 3 years for the exams is because folks are spending years on reading? I don’t think so. It’s more about unrealistic expectations, which goes like this:

    1. Expecting to spend minimal effort, like some random guy who allegedly passed all 6 exams in 6 weeks or 6 months.
    2. Failing the first exam and quitting or pausing studying/testing for months, sometimes years.
    3. Returning with the same approach, albeit with some success.
    4. Realizing it won’t work and starting a deeper, more effective study journey.
    5. Finally passing the remaining exams and completing AREs after 2-3 years.

    This process is one of the most common processes experienced by a lot of test takers, and I think this is why it takes about 3 years to complete AREs. So, why not start with an effective approach from the beginning?

    Moreover, reading might not be as difficult or dull as you think. You had been doing it for at least 16 years throughout your education. Rediscover the joy of learning through reading. It’s a gift that can make you a better architect in the end.

    To conclude, changing your perspective on reading and learning can transform your ARE experience into a positive journey. I wish someone had shared this wisdom with me when I began my own ARE journey. So, embrace the process, invest time in reading, and watch your career flourish. Success in the AREs is not about shortcuts but about building a strong foundation for your future as an architect.

  • Four Most Important ARE Tips

    Four Most Important ARE Tips

    Embarking on the journey of preparing for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) is a long and challenging adventure, filled with its share of ups and downs. As I navigated through the process of studying for these exams, I often felt like I hadn’t done my homework properly in the beginning. It took some trial and error to figure out what works best and what doesn’t. Among the plethora of advice and strategies, I’ve distilled four key insights that I believe would have greatly benefited me had I known them earlier in my ARE journey. So, without further ado, let’s delve into these invaluable study techniques.

    1. Collaborative Learning: Study with a Group

    To successfully conquer the ARE exams, you’ll find yourself diving into numerous books. Over the course of tackling six exams, I personally read through more than 12 books cover to cover, and at times, even revisited them. Let’s face it; tackling a comprehensive book like MEEB all on your own can be far from enjoyable. But what if I told you there’s a more engaging way? 

    Imagine connecting with a group of individuals who are also navigating the intricacies of “MEEB” or any other study material, and instead of struggling through it in isolation, you read it together. You can harness the power of collective learning to enhance your comprehension and retention.

    You can use the NCARB Community, the ARE Facebook Group, or other social platforms to meet people and use online meeting platforms to meet regularly.

    How to Study with Your Group?

    First and foremost, I recommend interviewing potential study partners before committing to a study group. It’s crucial to ensure that you share similar schedules, expectations, and mindsets. Misaligned schedules can lead to challenges down the road. For example, if you typically finish work at 6 pm, but your study partner consistently works late (due to an inefficient boss), the timing won’t work. Similarly, if you have three kids and your only study time is between 5 am to 7 am, your study buddies should have a similar schedule. So, interview each other to ensure regular meetings and shared goals.

    Secondly, it’s essential to study for the same exams. Seek out individuals who are willing to delve into the same books you plan to study but may be struggling to do it independently. If someone believes they can skip reading books entirely and follow a different path, it’s best to wish each other good luck and part ways.

    Third, appoint a group leader who will facilitate the study sessions. Someone should keep track of time and ensure that the discussion stays on track. Sometimes, you may need to agree to disagree and move on to the next topic.

    Fourth, establish a schedule for each book and stick to it rigorously. For example, if you plan to read the Architectural Graphic Standards (AGS) for multiple exams, create a schedule to cover 2-3 chapters over the next two days. Then, convene as a group to discuss these chapters at the end of those two days. Each group member can prepare flashcards or questions to quiz the rest of the group. Engaging in active discussions like this is invaluable. It transforms solitary reading into a collaborative effort, making the content more memorable. Knowing that your peers will quiz you about the material in a couple of days encourages you to engage actively with the text. The social pressure is a significant motivator, as no one wants to feel embarrassed in front of their study group. Consequently, you’ll find yourself studying more attentively. Furthermore, you’ll be prepared to ask challenging questions, which will deepen your understanding and enhance comprehension. No more nodding off while reading!

    2. Effective Note-Taking

    Taking notes may seem obvious, but it’s worth reiterating, especially for those who haven’t been in a learning environment for a while. Rewriting concepts in your own words is an excellent exercise for better comprehension. I personally had a favorite sketch/notebook that accompanied me throughout most of my study process. Consolidating all your notes in one comprehensive notebook is a smart approach. Additionally, I used erasable pens to jot down notes and sketch details.

    3. Embrace Digital Books

    I have a preference for digital books due to their efficiency in keyword searches and easy topic navigation. Many resources offer PDF versions, often more cost-effective than printed books. If you have access to your college’s online libraries, you may also find valuable resources there. To declutter your workspace and make the most of your desk real estate, consider using two monitors for your digital books. If you only have one monitor, investing in a lightweight, portable monitor can significantly enhance your efficiency. I’ve been using the one I linked here and can’t recommend it enough. It’s affordable, functional, and clears up desk space.

    Lastly, if you have dyslexia or prefer listening to books while performing other tasks, consider using PDF read-aloud options. Adobe offers a read-aloud function, or you can explore alternatives like Speechify. I primarily used Adobe, but I must admit it can be a bit dry. However, it served its purpose for me at the time, as it was free, and I didn’t require read-aloud functionality for all my readings. If you plan to rely heavily on this feature, consider exploring Speechify, which offers a 3-day free trial for you to evaluate.

     (Please click here to see how to activate this function on Adobe Acrobat Reader.  If you don’t like Adobe’s read-aloud performance, check out Speechify.)

    4. Practice Questions: Engage and Improve

    Solving practice questions tends to be a more engaging and less tedious study method compared to reading books. Therefore, gather as many practice questions as possible and work through them repeatedly until you gain a thorough understanding. If questions include feedback, use it to delve deeper into the content. Your goal should be to learn the material, so treat each question as an opportunity to explore the topic further.

    While practicing with questions, try to develop effective test-taking strategies. When tackling the new NCARB free exams, see if you can reverse-engineer the relationship between the correct answer and the question. This approach will not only prepare you for the content but also enhance your test-taking skills.

    Please watch my Youtube video to see how I use this strategy. 

    Furthermore, I recommend increasing your question volume, particularly during the last two or three weeks leading up to your exams. Start with 50 to 75 questions per day and gradually work your way up to 300-400 questions per day. During this process, allocate a minimum of 3 hours, mimic the test day environment by turning off your phone, and use a digital notepad. Avoid eating or drinking during this time. Essentially, simulate the test day experience as closely as possible. Once you can comfortably sit down for 3-4 hours, answering 300 questions without distractions, you’ll be well-prepared for the real exam day.

    These are the four most crucial and valuable recommendations I can offer to any test taker preparing for the ARE exams. As I mentioned at the outset, passing the six ARE exams is a significant achievement that demands substantial effort. However, I hope these tips will make your journey more manageable and ultimately lead you to success.

    Best of luck on your ARE journey!

    Elif Bayram, AIA

  • What is New? Final ARE 5.0 Guidelines (PSI)

    A few hours ago, NCARB released the final ARE 5.0 Guidelines for testing with PSI, and I wanted to analyze the changes for the study materials.

    Let’s take a look at them together…

    First of all,

    Deleted Materials

    • Architectural Acoustics
    • Daylighting Handbook 
    • Framework for Design Excellence
    • The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design
    • Legislative Guidelines and Model Law/Model Regulations
    • Planning and Urban Design Standards
    • Plumbing, Electricity, Acoustics: Sustainable Design Methods for Architecture
    • The Professional Practice of Architectural Working Drawings
    • Space Planning Basics
    • A305-1986, Contractor’s Qualification Statement

    NCARB removed these books from the Handbook, and I am surprised!

    For example, the Architectural Acoustics book is gone… Should we expect little to no acoustics questions now..? I am not sure.

    I had another favorite book on this list called Planning and Urban Design Standards because I thought it was such a valuable source for the PA exam. Besides, there are a few resources now highlighted for PA, so I believe NCARB is slightly changing its PA strategy and making it even more, closer to PPD & PDD.

    Secondly;

    Added Materials

    With these additions, I see an increased focus on Building Code. And, again, for PA, now IBC is highlighted too. So, I think this proves my theory of pushing PA closer to PPD and PDD in the coming exams. 

    Highlighted Resources per Exam:

    PCM

    This remains pretty much the same. I don’t see any big content revision for PCM exams.

    PJM

    The same goes for PJM, it looks like study materials remained the same, and the biggest highlight is still The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AHPP) and the Contracts.

    PA

    As I said, I am expecting revisions for PA. I would expect more IBC questions and more technical questions because NCARB highlighting Architectural Graphic Standards (AGS) is not arbitrary. I would focus more on Site and soil-related chapters in AGS now. 

    PPD

    PDD

    Looks like the AHPP of technical exams is now Architectural Graphic Standards (AGS). It is highlighted for PA, PPD, and PDD. I suggest closely studying it for all three technical exams now.

    For PDD, since Olin’s is also highlighted now, it makes me think that NCARB will ask for even more minutia information for PDD. But, don’t be discouraged. You can definitely study that book even if it looks like a brick. Use it as your backup book like I did while studying for PDD. Meaning, review the content portion of the Olin’s book and if you are missing any of the content (like if Fundamentals or Mehta books didn’t cover it), then read it from Olin’s. So do a little bit of selective reading to avoid reading the whole book. 

    CE

    I hope this helps you to analyze the reference matrix portion of the new Handbook. 

    As usual, I suggest prioritizing the books that are recommended by NCARB and using 3rd party material as a supplement (not a substitute) for less frustration and more chances of passing your exams with the least amount of takes. 

    Happy studying!

    Elif Bayram

  • NCARB ARE 5.0 Reference Matrix with Links

    If you read any of my blog posts or comments on ARE Facebook Group or on NCARB ARE Forum, you know that I am a big fan of reading the reference material specified by NCARB in the 5.0 Handbook. And my favorite portion of the Handbook is the Reference Matrix at the end of these guidelines. In fact, NCARB recently posted a new Guideline for testing with PSI, and they revised the Reference Matrix. It is the draft version, but I am sure the final version will not be too different. 

    But I have noticed that people struggle to find which book NCARB or their fellow test-takers are referring to, especially since the newcomers do not recognize abbreviations like MEEB, HCL, or AHPP. So I have decided to create this document where you can easily access all of the materials in the Reference Matrix with one click. I linked all the materials to the seller’s website (primarily Amazon) or, if available, to the direct pdf that you can download or access online for free, like IBC-2018 or contract documents.

    One last note; pay attention to the little star symbols next to some of the materials. According to NCARB, those are the books that are cited (by questions) the most. So to use your time wisely, start reading with those books.

    I wish everyone the best of luck with your readings and exams!!

    Click Here to Download the PDF Document. Download the document on your desktop, open it in Adobe and click on the reference materials underlined with blue lines to access the web pages.

     

    Four Most Important ARE Tips

    December 9, 2022 No Comments

    Embarking on the journey of preparing for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) is a long and challenging adventure, filled with its share of ups and

    Read More »
  • how to pass the PPD exam?

    how to pass the PPD exam?

    After almost 9 months of studying, I passed the PPD exam on my second try. As you know, the pass rates are the lowest for this exam, which makes it objectively the hardest of all 6 exams. So, I want to start with:

    why the PPD exam is the hardest?

    • The guidelines that are provided for these exams are just NOT ENOUGH! , The ARE 5.0 Handbook doesn’t have enough information about what they are precisely testing for PPD exam. 
    • It has the broadest content of all six exams. Scale-wise, the PPD exam is somewhere between the PA and the PDD exams. If we matched the contents of these three exams to the architectural project phases, PA would be the Programming and Site Planning Phase. For the PPD exam, the phases would be Schematic Design and Design Documentation Phases, which are also the hardest phases of a design and construction process, in my opinion. At these phases, the options are limitless, and the criteria are complicated. As an advanced computer, you must carefully analyze all of the inputs, such as client goals, program requirements, budget, esthetic, codes, etc..… and make sure that nothing conflicts. You have to create harmony! All minor details that will be dealt with within the next phases, Construction Documentation and Construction Administration (PDD), should also be thought of meticulously during SD and DD phases. So it is not a linear process. You zoom in and out of the same problem repeatedly to find the perfect medium. This is why, like SD and DD phases, the PPD exam is also broad, complicated, and painful.
    • There are misconceptions and bad advice about PPD exam on online study forums. First and foremost is: “Study PPD and PDD exam together and take them one after another in a week or two weeks.” IMO, this is wrong. PPD and PDD exams are not that similar exams. Therefore they should NOT be taken closely. There should be at least 4 to 6 weeks between these two exams. Yes, they share some content, but their scales are wildly different. As I explained above, they look at things on different scales. You cannot rewire your brain between these two scales in one or two weeks. For example, on the PPD exam, you are supposed to know which mechanical system works best under the given conditions. And on the PDD exam, you will be asked to review the RCP of a room to make sure that the supply and return outlets of that mechanical system are not in conflict with the other systems or structural components. So, no! These are not the same exams. You need to give your brain some time to change gears between these two scales.
    • People look for shortcuts. I admit it. It is hard to study for 2-3 years to pass these six exams, so we look for shortcuts and easy recipes. We want to be that person who posted on the NCARB forum that he passed PPD and PDD exams in 4 weeks by just reading one book. But the pass rates tell us another story, the truth! That one guy can not be the norm, and he is not. He is an exception.  If it were that easy, we all would pass like that, and the pass rates would be around 80 percent, not 40 percent. So don’t look for the easy recipes, do the work.

    ARE exam prep materials I used/recommend

    I read almost everything in the ARE 5.0 Handbook Reference Matrix and even more. I felt dumb! I asked the question you are asking now: Why do I have to read so much? The answer is: These exams are very hard, and there is not enough information in the Handbook, so you need to flip every stone and make sure you covered everything before going to the exam. Here is what I read and what was my take on each book:

    • Mechanical & Electrical Equipment for Buildings: Do not listen if someone tells you otherwise. Bite the bullet and read this book! Especially if you have taken this exam more than once. In my experience, this book is one of the three-four books for the PPD exam that you must read and review carefully. Please pay attention to all of the diagrams and graphics in the book and read them. It also comes with excellent online quiz access, where you can take online quizzes per chapter. 
    • Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects: I think this book is also the key to passing the PPD exam. I read this book twice to pass. I created so many questions depending on the stuff that I learned here. You will see it in my question feedback if you get my PPD exam questions. It has a lot of overlapping information with the Mechanical & Electrical Equipment for Buildings book and is great for solidifying knowledge.
    • International Building Code 2021: PPD exam has a lot of questions that expect you to analyze code. Almost all of the case study questions are like this. As you know, case study questions are time-consuming, and navigating the code can take a lot of time if you are unfamiliar with it. So, even though I hate to say this, try to memorize some basic code knowledge to save time. For example, memorize the occupancy types, which will save you from a 30-second trip to Chapter 3 before you can go to Chapter 5 and check out the allowable height table. Then do a lot of exercises where you can test yourself if you can find two or three steps of information in code. I have a lot of questions like this in my PPD exams. Try to understand the chapter order in the International Building Code and memorize the locations of common tables. Time yourself to see if you can find any information in the code within a minute. Definitely spend some time on the code while studying. Passing the PPD exam is very relevant to knowing the International Building Code.
    • AREQuestions Video Courses & Questions:

      I understand that reading can be challenging, which is why I’ve created a comprehensive learning experience to help you master the material. When you engage with my Practice Questions for the PPD exam, you’ll have the opportunity to thoroughly review your studies. Additionally, my video courses offer an in-depth exploration of the content that goes beyond anything you’ve encountered before.

      I have designed my lectures to not only convey the subject matter but also to guide you in approaching various scenarios effectively. Each lecture includes a list of references for further reading, and I provide a detailed walkthrough of all relevant exam-related content.

      Besides, my courses are budget-friendly when compared to other available options in the market. Your success in the exams is my priority, and I aim to make your learning experience as accessible and valuable as possible

    • Other important resources that I read and, in my opinion, worth mentioning are:

    study method

    • Give yourself enough time. In my opinion, if you can study 20-25 hours a week, you need a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks for the PPD exam. Do not rush yourself.
    • Follow all the methods that I outlined here in this post. 
    • Study regularly, every day, and a minimum of 20 hours per week. Review your notes from the same day or same week and take a 20-question practice quiz every day. Write down your hours and share your study goals with some study partners or someone that is around you and loves you enough to listen to it 🙂 Keep yourself accountable.
    • In the last two weeks, before your exam, only take practice questions. But I want to be specific about how you do this: Start taking 200 questions at one sit and build your way up to taking 500 to 600 questions a day, without taking no bathroom breaks, cellphone checks, posting on Facebook, eating, drinking, or snacking. Similar to the test but with way more questions. You cannot take 5 questions here or 10 questions there. Turn off the phone, put the kids in bed, and tell your spouse not to bother you for the next 3-4 hours. Try to get faster and faster. Do this even if it means repeatedly taking the same practice exams/questions! It is like training your body to run with extra weights tied to your ankle. You are building endurance. If the last 2 weeks before your exam, you take 500 questions a day (every day), you will fly on the exam. Especially non-native speakers should follow this method to close the language gap. Also, this is an excellent solution for people with time-management issues. Once you score consistently 80-85% and over the practice questions you keep taking, you can feel very confident about the exam.

    other ARE prep materials I used

    Here is a list of practice questions that I benefited from most:

    • My questions 🙂
    • ARE 4.0 Handbook questions for BDCS, SS, BS, PPP, and SPD (Free)
    • ARE 3.1 Handbook questions for GENERAL STRUCTURES, LATERAL FORCES, MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS and BUILDING DESIGN / MATERIALS & METHODS (Free)
    • Free MEEB Review by Wiley (Flashcards and Chapter Summaries)
    • Ballast 5.0 PPD and PA questions
    • Hyperfine assignments
    • Designer Hacks
    • Ballast 4.0 BDCS, SS, BS, PPP, and SPD questions
    • Kaplan 4.0 BDCS, SS, BS, PPP, and SPD questions
    • Following monographs and their quizzes:
    • Architectural Acoustics Illustrated
    • Mold Moisture Prevention
    • Seismic Mitigation
    • Why Buildings Fail
    • Wind Forces
    • Fire Safety In Buildings

    I did not use these myself, but I heard good things about them:

    • tryWEARE and PPI questions, so you can try them too. As I said, the more, the merrier
  • how to pass the PDD exam ?

    how to pass the PDD exam ?

    After almost 9 months of studying in total, I finally passed the PDD exam on my third try!!! PDD exam is the only exam that I had to take up three times! 

    but why..?

    I am sure you know by now that none of the ARE 5.0 exams are easy. But I think I made a major mistake before I started studying for this exam. I have terrified myself with all the horror stories I heard on forums about PPD & PDD exams. People love to lump these two exams together and treat them as one. If you read my blog post about the PPD exam, you know I disagree. I am not saying the PDD exam is easy, don’t get me wrong, but I think if you do what you have to do, there is no need to terrorize yourself:)) Stay calm and keep reading the rest of this post, please, because I think I have a fairly working method to pass this exam.

    My second mistake was assuming that I could get away with some test-taking tricks to pass the PDD exam. Certainly, being good at test-taking helps all ARE exams, but if I had to pick an exam that my methods work the least, I would say it is the PDD exam because the questions and options in this exam are much shorter and more direct. They rather measure direct knowledge (of minor things and details). Unlike the PA or PPD exams, where questions & options are much longer and allow you to use some methods I listed here and here in this Youtube video. Questions on PDD exams are more to the point. This can make passing harder if you haven’t studied the content thoroughly. But if you studied the content (and I am sure you will), your chances of passing the PDD exam are much higher. So, I think this makes the PDD exam much easier than the PPD exam because, more or less, the exam meets your expectations of content. However, on the PPD exam, many people complain that they didn’t get any questions from what they have studied…PDD is less prone to this issue. Hence easier.

    But why is this exam still considered “hard” by many..?

    I think the answer is simple: because still, you need to study and know many things to pass this exam. There are a lot of minutiae that need to be memorized to be able to pass this exam. Recently I made a list of things that I felt should be memorized to pass the PDD exam. (This list may not cover everything that has to be memorized to pass the PDD exam. There may be more to this list, so please contact me if you have any contributions.)

    books, books, and more books

    I read almost everything in the ARE 5.0 Handbook Reference Matrix and even more to pass PPD and PDD. Here is what I read (on top of all the books I read for the PPD Exam) specifically for PDD:

    • Architectural Graphic Standards: This book is a MUST for PDD. But rather than reading every word in it,  you have to review all the details and tables carefully. Make sure you can answer each element in the details comfortably. Try to review all the details and all the tables that are given in the book. The tables have a lot of comparisons between different systems/assemblies regarding different functions/ uses or expectations. Understanding the relative relationship of different objects/assemblies is crucial to passing the PDD exam. For example, understand the relative relationship between different insulation materials regarding their R-value. DO NOT memorize the exact R-value of XPS or EPS; rather, try to learn their relative relationship. Which one is superior to which one? Do the same thing for the acoustical properties of different materials or assemblies, and so on and so forth. 
    • The Mehta Book:  I certainly believe this book is why I passed PDD. I heard about it on my 3rd try for PDD, and thank god! I did. I read the whole book, cover to cover. All chapters are equally important and amazing. This is the only book I read that was not in the ARE 5.0 Handbook Reference Matrix, and since then, I have kept recommending this book to people. I hear great feedback. Besides, the book has +1000 questions
    • Architectural Acoustics: I read this book initially for PPD, but if you haven’t and now studying for PDD, I can’t stress the importance of this book enough. It compares different assembly types /details regarding their acoustical performances. Again, understanding this relative relationship between different assemblies and materials is crucial to passing the PDD exam. 
    • NCARB Monographs: I gave a detailed list of the monographs I used here. I will recommend the same for PDD. If you already did it for PPD, you can skip this step. 
    • AREQuestions Video Courses & Questions:

      I understand that reading can be challenging, which is why I’ve created a comprehensive learning experience to help you master the material. When you engage with my Practice Questions for the PDD exam, you’ll have the opportunity to thoroughly review your studies. Additionally, my video courses offer an in-depth exploration of the content that goes beyond anything you’ve encountered before.

      I have designed my lectures to not only convey the subject matter but also to guide you in approaching various scenarios effectively. Each lecture includes a list of references for further reading, and I provide a detailed walkthrough of all relevant exam-related content.

      Besides, my courses are budget-friendly when compared to other available options in the market. Your success in the exams is my priority, and I aim to make your learning experience as accessible and valuable as possible

    study method

    • I would take the PPD exam before taking the PDD exam. But still, give yourself enough time. In my opinion, if you can study 20-25 hours a week, you need a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks for the PDD. But do not rush! Take 8 to 10 weeks if it is necessary.
    • Follow all the methods that I outlined here in this post. 
    • Study regularly, every day, and a minimum of 20 hours per week. Every day, review your notes from the same day or same week and take a 20 question practice quiz. Write down your hours and share your study goals with some study partners or someone that is around you and loves you enough to listen to it 🙂 Keep yourself accountable. 
    • The last two weeks before your exam, only take practice questions. But I want to be specific about how you do this: Start taking 200 questions at one sit and build your way up to taking 500 to 600 questions a day, without taking no bathroom breaks, cellphone checks, posting on Facebook, eating, drinking, or snacking. Absolutely similar to the test but with way more questions. You cannot take 5 questions here. 10 questions there. Turn off the phone, put the kids in bed, tell your spouse not to bother you for the next 4 hours. Try to get faster and faster. Even it means taking the same practice exams/questions over and over again, do this! It is like training your body to run with extra weights tied up to your ankle. You are building endurance. If last 2 weeks before your exam, you take 500 questions a day (every day), you will fly on the exam. Especially, non-native speakers should follow this method to close the language gap. Also, this is a great solution for people with the time issue. Once you see your score consistently 80-85% and over at the practice questions you keep taking over and over, you can feel very confident about the exam.

    practice questions

    Here is a list of practice questions that I benefited from the most:

    • My own questions, both PPD and PDD Bundles.
    • ARE 4.0 Handbook questions for BDCS, SS, BS, PPP, and SPD
    • ARE 3.1 Handbook questions for GENERAL STRUCTURES, LATERAL FORCES, MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, and BUILDING DESIGN / MATERIALS & METHODS
    • Free MEEB Review by Wiley (Flashcards and Chapter Summaries)
    • Designer Hacks
    • Ballast 4.0 BDCS, SS, BS, PPP, and SPD questions
    • Kaplan 4.0 BDCS, SS, BS, PPP, and SPD questions
    • Ballast 5.0 PPD and PDD questions
    • Hyperfine assignments
    • Monograph quizzes
    • I did not take them myself, but I heard good things about tryWEARE so that you can try them too.
  • why did I write my own questions and how to utilize them best?

    why did I write my own questions and how to utilize them best?

    Taking AREs has been one of the most challenging experiences of my lifetime. I don’t think it is because I was born into a privileged life and pampered with comfort up until that point:). On the contrary,  I have always had to study/work so hard to achieve things. The geography you are born in pre-defines your future, and ripping through that pre-defined borders requires a lot of willpower. I believe it was one of the biggest challenges of my life because my standardized test-taking strategy was not reasonably available when it came to AREs.

     What was my test-taking strategy up until AREs?

    Simple: Study the content and take as many questions as you can. Repetition is the key! But when it came to AREs, there were not enough sample questions in the market. I hear you saying, “Wait for a second, we have Designerhacks, Black Spectacles, PPI, Hyperfine, and WEARE…..and they all have mock exams” Yes, they do, and I am thankful to most of them but believe it or not, it is/was not enough! I needed a minimum of ten thousand questions per exam to pass these exams on my first try. Back in high school, we were doing 400-500 questions a day, and we did it for three years, every day, to pass the college exam! That was what I knew and was good at, and it wasn’t there…

     So, what did I do????

    Yup! You got it! I sat down and wrote almost 1500 questions for myself for all six exams. Insane…? No, actually, it is called desperation…What we have currently in the ARE market is roughly 1500 questions per exam. You can push the numbers a little higher if you include Kaplan and Ballast ARE 4.0 questions too, but that is it. And as a (forced) pro-test taker, I knew it was not enough when I started to take my first exam. So, I turned every valuable information in the books I was studying into a question. That was my way of taking notes.

    Why have I launched PPD & PDD questions first?

    I started with PPD and PDD questions first because they are the hardest of these six exams, and the low pass rates broke my heart. My journey with these two was not different than what some of you are going through now. Reading books and writing my questions worked great for the first four exams; CDS (4.0), PjM, PCM, and PA, but it almost felt like I hit the PPD & PDD (the painful duo) like I drove head-on to a wall. But, of course, like many of you, I did not give up! Shout out to us all who persist! I kept reading, studying, and writing questions. (You can read that journey and my suggestions to pass PPD and PDD in the following posts.) The number of questions accumulated.

    Eventually, I started to share those questions with friends, colleagues, and people I met on online study forums, and they liked it. Some even said they passed because of them. So after I passed my last exam in December 2019, I decided to share my questions, starting with the hardest ones: PPD and PDD.

     How to utilize the AREquestions best?

    • Ideally, before starting to study for an exam, visit the posts I wrote regarding how I studied PPD or PDD exam and which books are a must-read to pass. Start reading/reviewing the material first.
    • After doing the first round of reading or reviewing the books (yes, there will be another round of reading some chapters and sections), take quizzes one by one. 
    • I set up the quizzes to show the feedback immediately after every question so that you can utilize them as study tools. With each question, read the feedback carefully. Go to the referenced book and section and read that portion again if you answered the question wrong or feel weak in that content. Eventually, all questions will make you read almost four to five books.
    • Pay attention to incorrect options as well! I have included a lot of feedback for wrong answers. They are there for a reason. Study them too. Nothing is random.
    • Once you are done with quizzes and reading, precisely two weeks to your exam, take mock exams every day until you consistently score 80% and over. It is why the pass rate for mock exams and quizzes is set to be 80%.
    • Let’s be honest; you cannot pass these exams by just doing my questions, and I don’t believe anyone else has promised you this. There is no such thing as passing these exams using only one source. Look at the pass rates. If there were any single third-party material that was enough on its own to pass these exams, first, they would be insanely rich, and second, we would have 90 percent pass rates for the PPD exam, not 42 percent.
    • So, you have to read the books in ARE 5.0 Reference Matrix. My questions will refer you to many of them and help you pass, but they cannot do it without you reading the books.
    •  Good luck!!

    Elif Bayram, AIA

  • advices to succeed at standardized tests

    advices to succeed at standardized tests

    Standardized tests are reality of life and like I said in my earlier posts, I had my fair share of being tested throughout my life.  I failed and passed many times, made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot about them. I consider myself as a good test-taker now, except one issue: stress management which I will talk about it later. So here are my list of advices, before, during and after the tests:

    general strategies:

    • Repetition, repetition and repetition. It is key to succeed on standardized tests – also in many other things in life- and best way to repeat the information is to take practice questions. Repeating same content via different questions is like attacking the same beast from different angles. It helps your brain to have a 3 dimensional map of the issue so on the day of exam, you point out the problem much faster and with great confidence.
    • Studying. You have to do the work! There is no short cut, no sugar coating to this. You have to read the material to learn the content so in the exam when they throw at you all that weirdly worded, tricky and sometimes unnecessarily long questions, you can deduct what they are actually asking. The essence of the question can only be derived if you know the content. No cheatsheets or memorization method will give you that agility. AREs are not like any standardized test where they ask you “What is this?”, “Define this..?” They want you to use your judgement to find the answer. And to be able to have that judgement, you need to know the essence of the topic. So, do your best at reading books that The ARE 5.0 Handbook provides for each exam. That reference matrix, is the (maybe even only) best thing in that Handbook. Utilize it.
    • But how to read a book and retain the information? If you are complaining about not being able to retain the information that you are reading in the books, you are not alone. It is the biggest challenge of studying for these exams. As we established, NCARB doesn’t provide enough sample questions and we don’t have any other big company/association stepping in to produce tens of thousands of  questions per exam. So reading the books becomes your main study tool but retaining that much information is not easy. So what you should do, is to introduce some “active reading agents” in your study routine. The best way to actively read a book, meaning involving your brain into the process, is reading the book with a study group. An ARE book club if you will. In this method you find couple people that are taking the same exam with you with similar schedules. You all decide which books to read together and how much time you should spend per book. I would say give about 3 weeks for a thousand pages book. You all set a schedule, for example first week everyone agrees upon reading Chapter 1 to 6, second week 6 to 12, so on and so forth. At the end of each week, book-club meets and discusses/compares notes, questions, and topics that are worth to mention out-loud. When your brain knows that it will eventually have to explain what it is reading to a larger audience out-loud, it retains way more than usual. The pressure of public speaking, makes you remember and more importantly it makes you actually read. When you know at the end of each week, you will meet your friends and it will be embarrassing if you didn’t do your homework, you do your homework. This methods keep you accountable. I experienced the benefits of this method by joining after school programs during my mid and high school years and joining to Young Architect Bootcamp while studying for PPD and PDD. I think eventually it was the reason why I passed both of these exams.
    • If you don’t have a study group, or cannot  joint to one, the second best strategy is: taking notes, creating flash cards or even writing your own questions like me. Taking notes, rewriting what you read, pushes the limits of your brain. When taking notes, try to paraphrase what you read, do not copy the same sentence from the book to your notepad. Sketch it if you are more comfortable with it. But push your brain to rethink about it and come up with its own sentences. This will make your brain to involve in the active process of learning. As I explained before, I used this method by writing my own questions. When you write a question about anything, you need to come up with wrong answers too, right? In a typical multiple question with four options, only one option is correct. You know the correct information, you just read it. But you also have to think about what contradicts that information, at least three of them. And it makes you dive deep into the topic, think about it from different angles and really digest the issue.
    • You have to regularly repeat your notes, like on daily basis. All the active learning methods that I discussed earlier still needs “repetition”. Our first (golden) rule applies everywhere. Before you go to bed  at night, you have to repeat that day’s notes. And even pick a random day and quiz yourself from that random day’s notes too. You will see how much faster your brain is collecting that knowledge because you learned it in an active way.  Because now, you have an actual memory associated with that knowledge. When you were discussing it in the study group maybe someone made a joke about it. Or maybe when you were sketching it on your notepad, you found something unique about it. In either method, it is personalized for you. It is not a random information anymore, you have a history with that information now.
    • Do not memorize! Based on my experience 85% of ARE 5.0 questions (on any 5.0 exam) do not depend on memorizing. Yes, there are some things that you need to memorize (NCARB does not admit this but yes there are) like ADA dimensions, screw types, etc. but in general, most of the questions are much harder than basic memorized information. Personally, I am horrible at memorizing so that worked for my benefit but this feature of AREs also make them harder. You need to actually understand the content which requires more work.
    • Once you are done with reading and learning process, you circle back to our first rule: Practice (repeat), practice (repeat), practice (repeat). You need to solve all of the practice question you can find on the planet, over and over again until you score consistently 80-85% and above. I give a detailed list of all practice questions that I used (free and paid) in my; How did I pass PPD and PDD posts.
    • You need to be persistent about the whole thing. Try to internalize that failing or passing does not define you and they are both equally possible. Do not feel defeated or “less” when you fail. It is part of this process. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon. You will fall but you have to learn how to get up and keep running. Who cares if you take an exam four times or six times or once to pass, when you pass, all are equally valuable passes. They are not gonna have a note on your license that says, she took PPD seven times to become licensed. You are doing something great for yourself. What if it takes couple years and multiple tries? It is your life, your time, your money and your investment. Believe me, you are doing something much better than watching Netflix for four hours every night unless you are also a scientist working on how to cure the cancer or a peacemaker trying to bring an end to the Syrian civil war. Believe me, working on getting your license is one of the best things you can do for your personal development. You are keeping your self up to date, active and young!
    • Don’t listen Debbie Downers! I know, most of your colleagues are not taking these exams and they are rolling their eyes when they hear you do. They keep saying: “it is not important” or “it doesn’t matter to have a license”. Well, they are wrong. It does. So, don’t give a damn! People who don’t try, also don’t fail. All of the great inventors of mankind, who carried us all to a step forward, failed many many times before they succeeded and it mattered right? If not, we would still be sitting in our caves trying not to freeze when it get cold:)

    before the exam:

    • Try to sleep well, calm down and eat well. Make sure that nothing is actually and mentally in the way. Schedule your exam wisely, check your calendar and make sure that there is no conflict. If you have a stressful deadline coming up, don’t take your exam the week before or even right after. If your wife is due anytime, don’t schedule it until after the baby is born and sleep trained :)) Don’t eat outside, or order food couple days before your exam. Food poisoning is a real risk. Really pay attention to your personal life and work life before you pick a date. You need to be happy and healthy to be at the top of your game.
    • Do your homework and study the exam itself. How many questions you have? how much time you have? How many correct answers you need to pass? Be analytical about it. Math does not lie or hold sides, trust the numbers. It will give you power. For example, even if you get the easiest batch of question on a PPD exam, you can still get away with doing 38 incorrect answers out of 120 questions. Do you know what it means? It means, in every 3 question, you have the right to do almost 1 incorrect answer (0.95 to be precise). It is a confidence booster, remember this during the exam when you get a hard question after two good ones. Your answer can be wrong and you can still pass this test. And for the hardest test, things are even better. You have the right to mark 51 incorrect questions. So when you get a hard batch, during the exam, don’t let your mood go down. I know the exam makes you feel like : “You know nothing Jon Snow” But guess what? Jon Snow, may not need to know everything to pass. If you studied so much and still the exam feels so hard, it is probably a hard batch. It means you have right to have 1.28 incorrect answers in every 3 questions! Remember this math and don’t let yourself down during the exam. I love Ben Norkin’s post about how to be analytical about your exam, please read it if you have time.

    during the exam:

    • Calm the F… Down! I am sorry but you have to learn how to deal with the stress. This is (in my opinion) the hardest and the least fare part of any standardized test. It is stressful no matter how hard you try. But keep trying. I heard some people get a massage the day before. Some do meditation. I will admit it, if I was a less stressful test taker, I would pass my exams earlier. But I was shi.ing my pants every time I went to the test center. I am looking back now and I feel stupid. It took me up until my 3rd take of PDD to realize that I was being childish and dumb by causing myself so much stress that made me want to use the bathroom in every five minutes (of course I didn’t) during my exams. On my last take of PDD, I told myself to calm down because I still had 3 years on my rolling clock which meant 9 more takes! NINE! Why was I shaky and scared? Why..?? Even if I failed then, I would still have NINE more rights to try and I was going to pass it at some point. So I went there super calm, I even did a little window shopping before I went to test center. I felt super powerful and relaxed. That realization gave me the biggest confidence in life and I finally passed my last exam that day. I went and actually tried some of those cloths after my test by the way:))
    • Do not spend more time than what you are given per question. Pick an option and go to the next question. Mark it as review if you want to go back and review it later but pick an answer.
    • Which takes us to the next big advice/mistake: Do not leave any questions unanswered. Just pick something. I don’t care, anything. Maybe you will get lucky, who knows?. That question is a miss for you anyway, what if you get lucky and pick the correct one. Your chances to get it correct are at 25%, in a 4 options multiple choice question. 25% percent is a great chance, compared to all the lotteries that you have played in your life. You spent your money on lottery tickets knowing that your chances of winning was 0.0000001%, why hesitate to gamble when your chances are at 25%. Take advantage of the flaw of the system. I repeat: DO NOT EVER, NEVER, EVER leave any questions empty, even if they ask you a question in another language and alphabet! It makes me flame up when I hear people left questions unanswered cause they didn’t know the answer. Please don’t do it!
    • Develop a strategy. Some people start with case studies, others with multiple choice questions. Decide what works best for you. It may take couple exams to set this right, it is ok. Again no body is rushing you, you can take this exam again. Don’t panic yourself.
    • And lastly, try to fish for clues and hunt for repeating words between question and given options. Synonyms are something many question makers love. They give you two different word or concept that essentially mean same thing, one in the question and one in the answer and voila! That is your correct answer. By using this method, you can even answer 10% of questions correctly on a Welding License test:) Especially if you have no clue about the question or the options, make an experienced guess on the repeating or synonymous words and concepts. For example, if the question is stressing “sustainability” repeatedly then your correct answer or answers all should have some sort of sustainability concern. Anything that is “environmental”, “low carbon” or “long-term effects considerate” is your answer.

    Hope all these strategies help you to better your test-studying and taking game. Pleas keep me posted if you utilize this strategies and see some benefits as I did.