Finding time during the week to study is proving to be difficult.
This week I read Kplan’s 2004 supplement. This document covers Sustainable Design and Project and Practice Management sections that are new to the 3.1 ARE from the 3.0. Sure the material is old but it’s still helpful.
I also took a few practice exams before studying to see where I am weak. All but three of these are from NCARB’s ARE Study Guide: Multiple-Choice. In full disclosure, here’s how I did:
Pre-Design: 40%
General Structures: 51%
Mechanical and Electrical Systems: 70%
Building Design/Materials and Methods: 49%
Construction Documents and Services: 53%
Sustainable Design: 90%
Delivery Methods: 80%
I think it’s clear where I need to study. It’s also clear that I need to read the questions thoroughly before answering and perhaps study all the required structural equations. Basically, I need to study everything.
This week I will be reviewing the site design documents.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
End of Week 1
End of week one and things aren't even going as planned. I changed my potential testing order the day after my last post. my testing order looks like this:
Site Planning and Design
Building Systems
Building Design and Construction Systems
Structural Systems
Schematic Design
Construction Documents and Services
Programming, Practices, and Planning
There were a few too many long nights at work this last week as we are working the the LEED 2009 Reference Guide, so I was unable to study during the week as I had planned. Because of the amount of sustainability questions asked in the ARE maybe I can say I study everyday by going to work. But the same would be true if I was in an architecture firm.
On the bus to and from work and doctors appointments I have been reading, "The ARE: Advice from the Trenches" from May 2001. This was a document a co-worker gave me. It was a more personal look at the test than the NCARB Overview. It was helpful for me just to get my head around it. I've also been reading a kid's study guide my mom sent me, "Exam Intelligence" by Patric Sherratt. it's helpful to review that I need my own place to study, quite, when my best study-time is, positive thinking, eating well, exercising, all that stuff. It feels like it's been so long since I was in school taking tests.
In continuing to wrap my head around all that I need to learn I've started adding all the topics within each test to my board of stuff to know. It helps to see all the stuff I need to learn in this format but it's also really depressing to see that in the same test, Building Design, I need to restudy 19th and 20th century architectural history and architects, ADA clearances, chimney details, soil types, STC values, AIA construction documents, and a bunch of other random crap that can't possibly be studied for out of any one resources. 
It's clear that to study for the Building Systems, mechanical, electrical, that I can break out my good $200 friend from school, MEEB. This is huge MEP book that is normally used to press flowers.
For this next week I plan to continue scouring the ARE Forum for information I need to understand for the remaining tests and fill in the remaining "stuff I need to know chart." I will post a photo of it when my camera SD card is restored.
Site Planning and Design
Building Systems
Building Design and Construction Systems
Structural Systems
Schematic Design
Construction Documents and Services
Programming, Practices, and Planning
There were a few too many long nights at work this last week as we are working the the LEED 2009 Reference Guide, so I was unable to study during the week as I had planned. Because of the amount of sustainability questions asked in the ARE maybe I can say I study everyday by going to work. But the same would be true if I was in an architecture firm.
On the bus to and from work and doctors appointments I have been reading, "The ARE: Advice from the Trenches" from May 2001. This was a document a co-worker gave me. It was a more personal look at the test than the NCARB Overview. It was helpful for me just to get my head around it. I've also been reading a kid's study guide my mom sent me, "Exam Intelligence" by Patric Sherratt. it's helpful to review that I need my own place to study, quite, when my best study-time is, positive thinking, eating well, exercising, all that stuff. It feels like it's been so long since I was in school taking tests.
In continuing to wrap my head around all that I need to learn I've started adding all the topics within each test to my board of stuff to know. It helps to see all the stuff I need to learn in this format but it's also really depressing to see that in the same test, Building Design, I need to restudy 19th and 20th century architectural history and architects, ADA clearances, chimney details, soil types, STC values, AIA construction documents, and a bunch of other random crap that can't possibly be studied for out of any one resources.
It's clear that to study for the Building Systems, mechanical, electrical, that I can break out my good $200 friend from school, MEEB. This is huge MEP book that is normally used to press flowers.
For this next week I plan to continue scouring the ARE Forum for information I need to understand for the remaining tests and fill in the remaining "stuff I need to know chart." I will post a photo of it when my camera SD card is restored.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Start
This is the start line.
My name is Webly. I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2003 with a Bachelor of Architecture. I quickly became a LEED AP. I've worked in residential architecture, mixed-use commercial, and now work as a green building consultant in Portland, Oregon.
In September 2007 I thought I had completed all my IDP hours, but NCARB thought differently. No longer working in an architecture firm completing the remaining NCARB forms was not on my daily to do list. I've finally put the remaining IDP forms together and I am ready to make the 8 year old Webly happy by becoming a registered architect in the state of Oregon.
My loose plan, before I research the best plan of action, is to study everything, including how to study, for three months then study for the first test and take one test a month until August 2009, or longer if I need to retest.
This is my anticipated test order:
Schematic Design
Building Systems
Building Design and Construction Systems
Structural Systems
Site Planning and Design
Construction Documents and Services
Programming, Planning, and Practice
Four others in my firm are eligible to test and I am attempting to drag them along for the ride.
I will be going to classes at Portland's AIA Center, and probably some study groups. I am looking at studying 5-10 hours a week. 2-4 during the week and 4-6 on Sunday afternoons.
August 2009 I hope to look back at this post and think I had good plan of attack.
Check out the links to find out more information about the process.
My name is Webly. I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2003 with a Bachelor of Architecture. I quickly became a LEED AP. I've worked in residential architecture, mixed-use commercial, and now work as a green building consultant in Portland, Oregon.
In September 2007 I thought I had completed all my IDP hours, but NCARB thought differently. No longer working in an architecture firm completing the remaining NCARB forms was not on my daily to do list. I've finally put the remaining IDP forms together and I am ready to make the 8 year old Webly happy by becoming a registered architect in the state of Oregon.
My loose plan, before I research the best plan of action, is to study everything, including how to study, for three months then study for the first test and take one test a month until August 2009, or longer if I need to retest.
This is my anticipated test order:
Schematic Design
Building Systems
Building Design and Construction Systems
Structural Systems
Site Planning and Design
Construction Documents and Services
Programming, Planning, and Practice
Four others in my firm are eligible to test and I am attempting to drag them along for the ride.
I will be going to classes at Portland's AIA Center, and probably some study groups. I am looking at studying 5-10 hours a week. 2-4 during the week and 4-6 on Sunday afternoons.
August 2009 I hope to look back at this post and think I had good plan of attack.
Check out the links to find out more information about the process.
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