This was my first try. From reading the PPP forum topics I was expecting a lot of ambiguity on the MC. I would have to disagree. I think the MC was fairly logical and straightforward. Now the Vignette...that was a completely different ballgame. Thoughts & material used below.
Multiple Choice
Read Kaplan twice.
Read Ballast once.
Read Oscar Newman - Creating Defensible Space
Read Historic Preservation Guidelines
Read Kevin Lynch - Image of the City
Watched Andres Duany Videos
Caroline's Notes as an overview
Designer Hacks PPP Test - practiced until I was averaging above 95% - much easier than actual exam
NALSA Archiflash cards - Essential in my opinion
Ballast practice exam - If you score above an 80% you should pass - somewhat similar to actual exam
Vignette
There will be a curveball. For sure! I will tell you this. DRAW WHAT YOU READ AND DON'T OVERTHINK. DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE LOGICAL, OR ARCHITECTURE, OR TO LOOK LIKE THE PRACTICE SOFTWARE...BECAUSE IT IS NOT! READ SLOW AND WELL, COMPREHEND WHAT YOU READ, AND DRAW IT.
I read something that didn't make sense architecturally and it threw me off. Had a little panic attack, but took a breath and just wrote it down and drew it.
Familiarize yourself with the software and NCARB vignette language. Very, very important. When you are in crunch time you want to focus on developing the solution not figuring out what command to use, it should be intuitive.
I used the 3.1 Alt
I read BEN RUDGERS
watched the https://vimeo.com/50457422 Site Zoning Vignette
Read and understood logic in Dorf
Good luck to all!