PCM Pass
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:53 am
Hello All,
So I have decided to do a write up for each exam that I have taken so far. To give you guys a background, I have failed every ARE 5.0 exam at least once so don't be discouraged. I have attempted every exam and so far I am 3 for 6 (Halfway!). I figured I could pass on some of my knowledge of how I passed each exam to help others. I took this exam three times and passed on my third try(Thank the Lord above). When I first started studying I was overwhelmed with what do I study, how to study etc. Here's my advice:
So here is what I used to pass:
ARE Ballast 5.0 Review Manual
ARE Ballast 5.0 Practice Exam
Schiff Hardin Lectures
AIA Contracts with commentary
NCARB Code of Ethics
NCARB Community
Here's what didn't work:
Black Spec
Plural Sight
Brightwood
I do have the AHPP but it was too overwhelming for me, maybe not you but for me it was. I like Ballast because everything is in one book.
I took this exam on
8/8/2017 Fail
10/7/2017 Fail
1/12/2018 Pass
I ultimately ended up passing this exam after passing CE and PJM. I highly suggest studying for PCM, PJM and CE together. They all overlap so much and I wish I had done that sooner.
The biggest shift that caused me to pass was I took some time off after my initial fails to regroup and rethink. Sometimes we get in this study block and we need to step away. After a short month break, I came back with a fresh mindset and really started to understand that these exams are by NCARB for NCARB aka THINK LIKE NCARB. My mindset went from "What does my firm or what would I do?" to "What does NCARB want me to answer, how can this protect the health safety and welfare of the public?" This exam overlaps with PJM and CE and if you think of this as the big picture it will help with your studies.
If you guys have any questions feel free to shoot them at me.
Best of luck to all!
-Austin Fox
So I have decided to do a write up for each exam that I have taken so far. To give you guys a background, I have failed every ARE 5.0 exam at least once so don't be discouraged. I have attempted every exam and so far I am 3 for 6 (Halfway!). I figured I could pass on some of my knowledge of how I passed each exam to help others. I took this exam three times and passed on my third try(Thank the Lord above). When I first started studying I was overwhelmed with what do I study, how to study etc. Here's my advice:
So here is what I used to pass:
ARE Ballast 5.0 Review Manual
ARE Ballast 5.0 Practice Exam
Schiff Hardin Lectures
AIA Contracts with commentary
NCARB Code of Ethics
NCARB Community
Here's what didn't work:
Black Spec
Plural Sight
Brightwood
I do have the AHPP but it was too overwhelming for me, maybe not you but for me it was. I like Ballast because everything is in one book.
I took this exam on
8/8/2017 Fail
10/7/2017 Fail
1/12/2018 Pass
I ultimately ended up passing this exam after passing CE and PJM. I highly suggest studying for PCM, PJM and CE together. They all overlap so much and I wish I had done that sooner.
The biggest shift that caused me to pass was I took some time off after my initial fails to regroup and rethink. Sometimes we get in this study block and we need to step away. After a short month break, I came back with a fresh mindset and really started to understand that these exams are by NCARB for NCARB aka THINK LIKE NCARB. My mindset went from "What does my firm or what would I do?" to "What does NCARB want me to answer, how can this protect the health safety and welfare of the public?" This exam overlaps with PJM and CE and if you think of this as the big picture it will help with your studies.
If you guys have any questions feel free to shoot them at me.
Best of luck to all!
-Austin Fox