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Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 9:17 pm
by tom999w
I'd like to initiate a forum thread posting the pass rates of users on this forum. As you all know the Ncarb version is very vague and I'm sure very incorrect. Based on people that I know who are testing and posts in this forum, I feel strongly that the pass rate is alot lower than the NCARB version. The NCARB version is below:

Divison 2014 2015 2016
Programming Planning & Practice 62% 60% 56%
Site Planning & Design 69% 66% 65%
Building Design & Construction Systems 64% 64% 64%
Structural Systems 68% 66% 65%
Building Systems 68% 67% 64%
Construction Documents & Services 62% 58% 54%
Schematic Design 77% 77% 78%
Number of Candidates Testing 17,688 18,720 20,181

In the end, I can calculate our results.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 9:22 pm
by tom999w
I'll start:

Divison
Programming Planning & Practice fail, fail, fail
Site Planning & Design fail, pass
Building Design & Construction Systems
Structural Systems
Building Systems
Construction Documents & Services
fail
Schematic Design fail, pass

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 6:18 am
by jspruit
Here's my timeline:
ARE 4.0 CDS = Pass @ 9/6/2016
ARE 4.0 PPP = Pass @ 12/15/2016
ARE 5.0 PDD = Pass @ 2/23/2017
ARE 5.0 PA = Pass @ 2/24/2017
ARE 5.0 PPD = Pass @ 4/20/2017

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:13 am
by nickedemus
ARE 4.0-CDS Pass - 4/20/2016
ARE 4.0-PPP Pass - 5/6/2016
ARE 4.0-SPD Fail - 5/18/2016, Pass - 9/24/2016
ARE 4.0-BD Pass - 6/6/2016
ARE 4.0-SD Fail - 8/9/2016, Pass - 4/7/2017
ARE 4.0-SS Pass - 12/10/2016
ARE 4.0-BS Pass - 2/4/2017

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:36 am
by slap_back05
ARE 4.0-SPD Pass
ARE 4.0-PPP Pass
ARE 4.0-CDS Pass
ARE 4.0-SD Pass
ARE 4.0-SS Pass
ARE 4.0-BDCS Pass
ARE 4.0-BS Pass

Finished up and got licensed last November (Illinois). Basically used Ballast, Jenny's notes, and some old 3.0 flash cards from a colleague plus a couple recommendations from this forum for a test or two.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:41 am
by vrcat25
This is going precisely as i expected...Most of the people who fail probably aren't going to want to admit and mainly only the people that pass are going to post...i don't mind posting, but i don't think you're going to have a much accurate pass/fail rate. So far you have a 95% pass rate for most of these tests, lol! it was a novel idea, but too many people don't reveal their fails...

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:17 am
by charmedserenity3
I'm still trying to understand why you think NCARB's rates are so inaccurate. They literally tabulate everyone who takes the tests in that year and whether or not they passed or failed each attempt. They are the one managing those tests and have access to how everyone who took the test did. For them it is a print out report that they choose to share with us, just like any other standardized test could put out.

Mine:
CDS - Pass
PPP - Fail, Pass
SPD - Pass
SS - Pass
BDCS - Pass
BS - Pass
SD - Pass

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 4:12 am
by ekelsey15
CDS - Fail
CDS - Pass
SPD - Pass
PPP - Pass
PPD - Pass
PDD - Pass

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:13 am
by PEARLDRUMS
Here is my list of shame...
SD-pass
CD-PAss
PPP, Fail, Fail, Pass (all fails were from the Vignette)
BS Fail, Pass (fail from MC)
SS Fail, Fail Pass (fail from MC)
BDCS, Fail (fail from stair vignette only)... Pass

The toughest part about these exam is failing because of the vignette. I retake BDCS next Wednesday and I hope to finally be done with this stinking exams.

Good Luck everyone... If I can pass these exams. Anyone can. Just be persistent....

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 11:15 am
by sb84
SS- October 2014 = FAIL
BS- November 2014 = FAIL
SD- November 2014 = FAIL
CDS- April 2016 = PASS
PPP- May 2016 = FAIL
SD- November 2016= PASS
SPD- December 2016- FAIL
PPP- January 2017 = PASS
SPD- February 2017 = PASS
BDCS- March 2017 = PASS
BS- April 2017 = PASS
SS- June 2017 = PASS

12 total tests- Failed 5 out of the first 7, PAssed the last 5 in a row.

Good thread

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:59 am
by arearcher
ARE40-SD Pass 2/2015
ARE40-BDCS Fail 6/2015 (Level2 MC)
ARE40-CDS Fail 12/2015 (Level3 vignette)
--stopped being cheap with study material. Bought Ballast, Archiflash, & NCARB reccomended books. Stopped using Jenny's notes--
ARE40-PPP Pass 1/2016
ARE40-SPD Pass 2/2016
ARE40-BDCS Pass 10/2016
ARE40-CDS Pass 2/2017
ARE40-SS Pass 5/2017 -Thaddeus is great
ARE40-BS Fail 6/2017 (Level2 vignette) - Amber is ok as a start, you need to supplement with MEEB and one of the other books. I didn't use Ballast or Archiflash much for this and regret it.
ARE40-BS. Pass and done! 9/2017

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 2:02 pm
by failureisnotfinal
PPP - FAIL (12/2008); FAIL AGAIN (7/2017)
SPD - FAIL (12/2008)

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:10 am
by cabara01
CDS 6/3/2017 Pass
PPP 6/24/2017 Pass
SPD 7/15/2017 Pass

Considering transitioning and just taking PDD and PPD, but hesitant due to comments. Yikes!

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:18 am
by nickedemus
cabara01 wrote:Considering transitioning and just taking PDD and PPD, but hesitant due to comments. Yikes!


It's going to get harder to find a seat for 4.0 tests going forward.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:18 am
by madcap3693
No fails. I got lucky. All Division I took were 4.0....

SD - 2012: Pass
PPP - 2013: Pass
SPD - 2013: Pass
CDS - 2014: Pass
SS - 2016: Pass
BS - 2017: Pass
BDCS - 2017: Pass

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:19 pm
by cianchetta0
CDS 03/2017
PPP (fail) 04/2017
SPD 05/2017
PPP 06/2017
PPD 07/2017
PDD 07/2017

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 7:57 am
by Joz
CDS 07/2017 Pass


I'm studying right now, OK? RIGHT NOW. PPP on 8/31. Hate Kaplan like poison.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:24 am
by vrcat25
Joz wrote:CDS 07/2017 Pass


I'm studying right now, OK? RIGHT NOW. PPP on 8/31. Hate Kaplan like poison.


It must be working but why not use Ballast if you hate kraplan so much?

Just curious...How are you in a position where you have just taken and passed your first test and you're grandfathered in to 4.0?

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 11:28 am
by Joz
vrcat25 wrote:]

It must be working but why not use Ballast if you hate kraplan so much?

Just curious...How are you in a position where you have just taken and passed your first test and you're grandfathered in to 4.0?


I've been eligible for 4.0 since 3.1 was still a thing. I'm old. The shift to 5.0 prompted action since I've got the 4.0 books and didn't want to go through the hassle of picking and choosing chapters across the board... but I'm switching to 5.0 after SPD because fewer tests.
I'm using Kaplan AND Ballast. Because I'm an overachiever (just a procrastinatey one).

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 4:24 pm
by vrcat25
Joz wrote:
I've been eligible for 4.0 since 3.1 was still a thing. I'm old. The shift to 5.0 prompted action since I've got the 4.0 books and didn't want to go through the hassle of picking and choosing chapters across the board... but I'm switching to 5.0 after SPD because fewer tests.
I'm using Kaplan AND Ballast. Because I'm an overachiever (just a procrastinatey one).


I had no inclination you were old...Was more curious as to why it's taken you so long to take a test.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 9:12 am
by Joz
vrcat25 wrote:
I had no inclination you were old...Was more curious as to why it's taken you so long to take a test.


Because the damn thing has terrified me for years. Because I feel like I'm not very good at studying.
Because I'd never had much trouble finding a job before now, but my current level of experience is suspect without a license. I've also had several jobs that only lasted 5-10 months (some of which ended due to economic conditions, others I left due to personality issues with my employers, and that one time I got fired because I couldn't read my boss's mind), which looks problematic on a resume, and so I needed to eliminate a negative. Or finally get settled where I could do my own thing. As a 40 year old woman with a feisty personality, low tolerance for bullshit, and a glass face, I may very well be unemployable. It was finally time for me to stop relying on others to make work for me.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:32 am
by vrcat25
Joz wrote:Because the damn thing has terrified me for years. Because I feel like I'm not very good at studying.
Because I'd never had much trouble finding a job before now, but my current level of experience is suspect without a license. I've also had several jobs that only lasted 5-10 months (some of which ended due to economic conditions, others I left due to personality issues with my employers, and that one time I got fired because I couldn't read my boss's mind), which looks problematic on a resume, and so I needed to eliminate a negative. Or finally get settled where I could do my own thing. As a 40 year old woman with a feisty personality, low tolerance for bullshit, and a glass face, I may very well be unemployable. It was finally time for me to stop relying on others to make work for me.


Ya, those "mind reading" boss's can be real assholes. Especially when they have no common sense and you're always having to fix their f ups...I've found that there's way too much politics at many offices and it's easy to get caught in the middle of the left or right projecting their pointless political views. I'm not sure which group is dumber... Kinda makes you feel like a monkey in the middle eh? ;0

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 7:57 am
by kerzzo
I am like Joz, though I never got fired and have worked for a long time in the current site. I am doing this to be able to run my own firm and really avoid the mind reading as you both stated. :geek: we will get through these exams one way or another...

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:26 am
by drummer03
I have not had a good record at all. a lot of money invested. mine is pretty bad. but I do not mind sharing. Somehow I keep going

CDS-Fail-due to MC
CDS-Fail-due to MC
CDS-Fail-due to MC
SD-Pass
SPD-Pass
PPP-Fail-due to vignette
PPP-Fail-due to Vignette
PPP-Fail-due to Vignette
CDS-Pass
BDCS-Fail-due to vignette (roof)
PPP-Fail- due to vignette
PPP- took August 8/14/17-Awating on results

As you can see it has not been very good for me. hoping to pass PPP so I can move to 5.0. slowly for surely I will pass all of these exams someday !

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:50 am
by vrcat25
drummer03 wrote:I have not had a good record at all. a lot of money invested. mine is pretty bad. but I do not mind sharing. Somehow I keep going



Don't feel ashamed! At least you're honest...I'm certain many people will not admit their failures and thanks to you, we can all get a more accurate gauge...BTW, good luck with PPP. Are you planning on transitioning to 5.0 once you pass PPP?

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:57 am
by cianchetta0
drummer03 wrote:I have not had a good record at all. a lot of money invested. mine is pretty bad. but I do not mind sharing. Somehow I keep going

CDS-Fail-due to MC
CDS-Fail-due to MC
CDS-Fail-due to MC
SD-Pass
SPD-Pass
PPP-Fail-due to vignette
PPP-Fail-due to Vignette
PPP-Fail-due to Vignette
CDS-Pass
BDCS-Fail-due to vignette (roof)
PPP-Fail- due to vignette
PPP- took August 8/14/17-Awating on results

As you can see it has not been very good for me. hoping to pass PPP so I can move to 5.0. slowly for surely I will pass all of these exams someday !


Never give up. period. I did well with the AREs, but college was another thing. I have attended every level of public institution in California, CC, CSU, UC. Failed quite a bit but never gave up. I'm done with everything but the CSE and I'm now in law school at a top ranked school. Anything can happen lol

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 6:11 am
by kerzzo
It's great to see very positive feedback here.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:07 am
by drummer03
vrcat25 wrote:
drummer03 wrote:I have not had a good record at all. a lot of money invested. mine is pretty bad. but I do not mind sharing. Somehow I keep going



Don't feel ashamed! At least you're honest...I'm certain many people will not admit their failures and thanks to you, we can all get a more accurate gauge...BTW, good luck with PPP. Are you planning on transitioning to 5.0 once you pass PPP?


Thanks vrct25. Yes I am planning on making the Transition to 5.0. I do not think I can be done with 4.0 by next June. As you can see from what I posted the vignettes have not been good to me so the new format might work better for me.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:08 am
by drummer03
cianchetta0 wrote:
drummer03 wrote:I have not had a good record at all. a lot of money invested. mine is pretty bad. but I do not mind sharing. Somehow I keep going

CDS-Fail-due to MC
CDS-Fail-due to MC
CDS-Fail-due to MC
SD-Pass
SPD-Pass
PPP-Fail-due to vignette
PPP-Fail-due to Vignette
PPP-Fail-due to Vignette
CDS-Pass
BDCS-Fail-due to vignette (roof)
PPP-Fail- due to vignette
PPP- took August 8/14/17-Awating on results

As you can see it has not been very good for me. hoping to pass PPP so I can move to 5.0. slowly for surely I will pass all of these exams someday !


Never give up. period. I did well with the AREs, but college was another thing. I have attended every level of public institution in California, CC, CSU, UC. Failed quite a bit but never gave up. I'm done with everything but the CSE and I'm now in law school at a top ranked school. Anything can happen lol


Thank you. I am glad that you found your way. Good luck to you in Law School.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 2:43 pm
by tarynbone
PPP - Feb 10, Pass
SPD - Mar 17, Fail
CDS - May 12, Fail
SPD - May 26, Pass
CDS - Aug 4, Pass
Just transitioned. Taking PPD Oct 13 and PDD Nov 10

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 11:09 pm
by mpc123
4.0 SD -- PASS 9/9/15
4.0 SPD -- PASS 2/19/16
4.0 PPP -- PASS 6/20/16
4.0 CDS -- PASS 10/10/16

Posted this in another thread but wondering if you guys think it's worth pushing to finish the last three (BS/SS/BDCS) before June 2018 (I'm worried I will fail at least once with these tougher exams), or transitioning now (will render my SD exam useless.. and the thought of getting new material and restudying sections makes me tired already!). Also, does anyone know if you have to finish state-specific exams by the ARE 4.0 June 2018 deadline too? or just within your own 5 year rolling clock? :roll:

Thx!

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:38 am
by vrcat25
If you passed all of the 4.0 on first attempt, why transition? I did notice that you haven't taken a test in almoat a year and your others you have taken 4 months on average. Most people only need 6 - 8 weeks, so maybe take them a little faster. Don't be afraid to fail and retake. If you do that, you would have 3 tries per test before 4.0 is retired. In my opinion 4.0 is much easier and less ambiguous but we're all different.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 8:35 pm
by mpc123
vrcat25 wrote:If you passed all of the 4.0 on first attempt, why transition? I did notice that you haven't taken a test in almoat a year and your others you have taken 4 months on average. Most people only need 6 - 8 weeks, so maybe take them a little faster. Don't be afraid to fail and retake. If you do that, you would have 3 tries per test before 4.0 is retired. In my opinion 4.0 is much easier and less ambiguous but we're all different.


vrcat25 -- thanks for the advice and encouragement (reminder of why arecoach is the best). just signed up for BS in the fall. best of luck to everyone.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:55 pm
by ccolley12
Here is my tale of the tape: (All 4.0)

BS: Pass 2.6.15
CDS: Pass 4.24.15
PPP: Pass 10.15.15
BD: Fail 1.7.16 (stupid stair fatal error...)
SPD: Fail 3.18.16 (vignette fail level 2 for both)
BD: Pass 12.2.16
SPD: Pass 2.3.17
SD: Pass 3.30.17
SS: Pass 6.13.17

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:20 pm
by Raja
02/11/2005 - (3.1) Building Design / Materials and Methods - PASS

12/02/2005 - (3.1) Construction Documents and Services - PASS

01/27/2007 - (3.1) Mechanical and Electrical Systems - PASS

06/07/2008 - (3.1) Building Technology - PASS

Bad and unanticipated life events happened and the rolling clock took out my exams.

02/18/2017 - (4.0) Construction Documents - FAIL (failed vignette, passed MC)
04/27/2017 - (4.0) Construction Documents - PASS

09/05/2017 - (4.0) Programming Planning and Practice - PASS

Licensure is now a bucket-list item. Trying to decide if I should switch to 5.0 after SPD next month... unfortunately my state also has a supplemental exam. Can I switch states? I don't even live there anymore

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 6:16 pm
by Coach
Raja wrote: Can I switch states? I don't even live there anymore

Of course.

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 6:55 am
by jackstatic
BS - Pass - 5/16/2015
SPD - Fail - 9/5/2015 (Lvl 2 on Principals)
CDS - Pass - 7/16/2016
PPP - Pass - 11/13/2016
SPD - Pass - 3/12/2017
SS - Fail - 6/11/2017 (was brutally unprepared - General Structures - Lvl 2, Seismic Forces Lvl 3, Lateral Forces Lvl 3)
BDCS - Awaiting Results - 9/17/2017

Honestly, If I failed BDCS I think I am going to transition over to 5.0, considering I'd have to re-study for both BDCS and SS anyway.... I would need to restudy for BS as well, however that was the easiest exam for myself. Ive been a draftsmen at an engineering firm since 2011 because I got laid off from my previous employer and was unable to get a job during what was a tough economical time for everyone, as well as competing in a small area with people who were still employed by my previous job. They laid off like half the firm, and moved everyone else to a 4 day work week. I was interviewing for the same jobs as coworkers still employed, and, of course, they were getting the jobs and I wasn't. What sucked was, the reason they gave those who they let go as the reason they were chosen was "It came down to keeping those who had mortgages and children vs those who didn't" Anyway I took any job I could, doing whatever I could to make money. Drafting at an engineering firm. Now I do architectural stuff here, deal with landmarks, small bathroom and room designs etc etc. But I want to get back in to more architectural design and work. So thus I am finally getting my license. So anyway, like I said, the BS material is what it is for me. Literally read Kaplan once before the BS test.... which btw is absolutely why I failed SPD afterwards, I only used Kaplan for SPD, which, even tho I was pretty darn close with only 1 lvl 2 wasn't enough

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 7:55 pm
by Raja
Coach wrote:
Raja wrote: Can I switch states? I don't even live there anymore

Of course.


Wow, I had no idea Coach. Should I contact NCARB or local board?

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:21 pm
by testingtesting
ARE 4.0 CDS: Pass
ARE 4.0 PPP: Pass
ARE 4.0 SPD: Pass
ARE 5.0 PPD: Pass
ARE 5.0 PDD : Fail, Pass

Re: Forum pass/ fail rates

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 8:49 am
by finallydone
Graduated from 5-year NAAB accredited undergraduate program in 2004.

Completed IDP in 2007. NCARB signed off on IDP in 2008.

Pass; ARE 4.0 CDS - 6/5/17
Pass; ARE 4.0 PPP - 6/26/17
Pass; ARE 4.0 SPD - 7/25/17
N/A; ARE 5.0 PPD - 9/18/17 (Technical error, exam would not load. NCARB counts this as a 'fail' for their records.)
Pass; ARE 5.0 PPD - 9/25/17
Pass; ARE 5.0 PDD - 9/28/17

Good luck everyone!