I procrastinated after graduating in 2009 and finally got around to taking the tests. My folks took every opportunity to encourage me to take the exams, but I always said, "I will, eventually..." but never did. The 4.0 to 5.0 transition calculator encouraged me to step up and actually take the exams since I figured that could get done in 5 tests. March 2016 I signed up for PPP, followed by CDS in June and SPD in December, all in 4.0. With 3 signed up and 3 passed, I transitioned, thinking that the pressure to hurry was off. Once the incentives to test in 5.0 went into effect and the gift card came out, I signed up for PPD, thinking I'd at least get a mulligan. I was surprised when I passed! I hadn't even studied because I figured it was a freebie and why not? I missed the PDD incentive, so I took a break and signed up for PDD for yesterday. I was having a hard time getting motivated to study, so I ended up watching a few youtube videos for the PDD and said screw it, lets try it. I got my pass this morning (that was fast! Less than 24 hours from clicking submit). Everything is done!
I know there are a lot of recommendations for testing order and study materials. I took the anti-study approach. My folks got me the ARE Review Manual by Ballast and O'Hara for Christmas many years ago. I casually studied it for the 4.0 exams at lunch, but got bored with it quickly. I had 6 years experience in various office settings including a construction office for a few months. I think that was so much more valuable than reading about architectural history from a study manual or reviewing theoretical details. I took every test and felt bewildered as if the material covered and the questions ask were either unfair or misleading. Every test I felt that way. So many times I thought, "I'm not an engineer! I would hire a consultant for this calculation!!!"
In the end, I was able to get enough questions right to squeak by. Its not a method I would recommend for everyone, but I would suggest that you relax a bit and use the information that you've learned over the course of your career. 5 tests, 0 fails, 5 passes! I'm beside myself.