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PASS!

PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 2:28 pm
by elduderino1234
Passed this morning! It was definitely challenging but after wrapping up all the questions I was reasonably confident that I had passed. There were certainly the gotcha questions in the exam, but as David has stressed, you must understand what the question is asking. If I was able to do that, the answers usually became apparent. I'd say that in both sections, I immediately knew about 50% of the answers, could reasonably figure out about 30%, and then had to spend some real time thinking about the remaining. At the end of the exam, I had about an hour to spare combined from both sections.

In total, I spent 12 weeks and about 1-2 hours per day studying. In addition to The Whole Enchilada (old test plan, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND), I studied the following:

- AIA Contracts (A201, B102, B201, C401, G701)
- Architects Practice Act (know this VERY well)
- CalGreen Chapter 5 (know this VERY well)
- Mechanics Lien and Stop Notices (read the primary source material)
- Building Codes Illustrated (good to have but not necessary)
- Schff Hardin lectures on B101 and A201 (very useful)
- Wetlands Permitting Guide (must read)
- Jenny PDX guides to CDS and PPP

What made studying a lot easier for me was listening to the audio guide on my phone at 1.6x speed while reading along.

Here's a tip for any of you are testing in the PSI center in San Francisco. If you are able to identify at least 3 ADA violations in the 2nd floor restrooms, then fear not, because you are thinking like an architect and should feel good about the exam.

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:19 pm
by adventurer4hire
Congratulations! And thank you for posting this. Personally, I really needed to hear that someone passed, and in some weird way this has reenergized me. It seemed like this board has been down in the dumps lately. I am really happy for you!

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 7:54 pm
by kass
Congrats.

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:48 am
by hnQ_9999
Congrats.
-------------------------------------------
1 pass in nearly 2 months into v2016.
That's encouragement.

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:58 am
by elduderino1234
hnQ_9999 wrote:Congrats.
-------------------------------------------
1 pass in nearly 2 months into v2016.
That's encouragement.


Don't get discouraged! Use your best judgement and keep plugging away at the material. Repetition is key, as David said many times. I would listen to the Knowledge Statements all day at work, even if I wasn't paying attention, just to keep going through them.

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:44 pm
by melehoala
Looks like each county has their own wetlands permitting guide. I'm guessing it doesn't matter which one we use to study?

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:22 pm
by elduderino1234
melehoala wrote:Looks like each county has their own wetlands permitting guide. I'm guessing it doesn't matter which one we use to study?


Doucette recommends this guide -- > vcrma.org/pdf/bio/FinalPDF.pdf

Are you using The Whole Enchilada to study? If not, you really should.

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 12:22 am
by markarch
elduderino1234 wrote: The Whole Enchilada (old test plan, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND)


I keep hearing about the old test plan, or pre alteration plan, etc., what year does this correspond to? I have the 2015 version of TWE, is this ok?

CONGRATS ON THE PASS btw!

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 6:46 am
by adventurer4hire
elduderino1234 wrote:In addition to The Whole Enchilada (old test plan, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND)


The way he worded it makes it sound like he recommends the old test plan. But I think he meant that he used the old test plan and recommends The Whole Enchilada (new or old test plan).

markarch wrote:I keep hearing about the old test plan, or pre alteration plan, etc., what year does this correspond to?


At the beginning of this year (2017) CAB updated the exam for the newly adopted Building Code. There my have also been some reorganization of task and knowledge statements. So when someone refers to the "old test plan" they are referring to CAB's test plan (recommended reference materials) before 2017.

markarch wrote:I have the 2015 version of TWE, is this ok?


Yes. But whenever a code reference is mentioned go look it up yourself in the 2016 Codes, because it may have changed. (Heck, I would argue that even with the new study materials that you should still look it up anyway. While I was studying I found many sections of TWE that were not updated. I was one of the first people to get and use the updated WE for 2017. I would hope that David has continued to update his study guide since I received it in March, and the new guides that are going out to people today are better proof-read than what I received).

I hope that helps. Good Luck with your studies!

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 2:08 pm
by babycarrot42
I just passed my final ARE and am awaiting eligibility for CSE. What is "The Whole Enchilada" that everyone keeps referring to??? I feel so out of the loop!!

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 9:01 pm
by Coach
babycarrot42 wrote:I just passed my final ARE and am awaiting eligibility for CSE. What is "The Whole Enchilada" that everyone keeps referring to??? I feel so out of the loop!!

Google it.

Re: PASS!

PostPosted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:01 am
by AREctct
Does anyone know where to find the "Mechanics Lien and Stop Notices (read the primary source material)" readings??

mechanics lien info

PostPosted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 6:01 pm
by ArchiShark