and that makes 7

[fss106]

i passed SS yesterday. i just kept refreshing my NCARB test page for the past week. my results came in at 8am (8 days after testing). that's it. i'm done. i completed all 7 tests in 11 months, if you don't count the black out. 9 months, based on reading posts on here i feel like I studied less than everyone else. My wife told me I'm terrible at studying. I think I read 15 minutes before bed every night for 6 weeks. 2 weekends before the test I learned the math. 1 weekend before the test I just read a lot and figured out the vignette.

what I studied for SS:
-I kinda sorta read about a quarter of the Kaplan guides from the ARE 3.1, my boss had them lying around, so I used them instead of buying new ones (i'm cheap), if you do the things listed below, I'm not really sure you need study guides at all.

-Buildings at Risk: Wind Design Basics for Practicing Architects: http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/d ... 016809.pdf
-IBC Chapter 16-- Its boring, and I don't know if it translated to test questions, but others say it did.
-learned this: download/file.php?id=1531&mode=view
-Jenny's notes are good for quick cramming: http://arendurance.files.wordpress.com/ ... nnypdx.pdf
-read FEMA Earthquake stuff chapter 4,5,8,9. i don't think the audio files exist anymore. http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/8669
-watched Dilip Khatri's modules for free instead of paying hundreds of dollars for some lecture series, they are a bit excessive but FREE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsroawN … hKW2Q9AODo
-study the NCARB practice exam (duh.)

and please, do not fail the vignette, this vignette is like a freebie, i got done in 10 minutes then spent 15 minutes checking my work. I wasted 14 minutes doing that.

[fss106]

sorry, here's the link for Dilip Khatri's stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsroawN ... hKW2Q9AODo

[kristina]

Congrats on finishing your exams! I have to ask... are you particularly good with math? All these formulas are driving me crazy. It seems like either math comes easily to you or I am putting too much emphasis on it. I've been doing problems for months (well in addition to working full-time and 2 kids) and while I now understand the problems, I still have trouble coming up with the correct formula for the problem. etc. How did you get the math down in just two weekends?

[fss106]

i was the worst, or 2nd to worst structures student in my graduating class. i got F's on midterms and finals. i almost had to retake one of my structures courses in order to graduate. no lie. i hate math, math psychs me out and i start sweating. i'm not exaggerating. i hated my structural courses in school, thats why i saved this one for last.

I hope this makes you feel more comfortable about your test. its not like you have to get an A+, its pass or fail. its like gym class for architects.

"Well she didn't make any 3-pointers, but she knows how to dribble." Pass.

[iDefy]

I am so happy for you. Thanks for sharing about the barely pass situation in school. I totally understand how you feel. Thanks for all the links.

[k4dm0nky]

CONGRATS! Well deserved!

[ssarch25]

Congrats and thank you for the post. I like posts like this, calming, it's not that big a deal kind of posts. So far I've passed 4 tests, I hope this is just another one of them!

i passed SS yesterday. i just kept refreshing my NCARB test page for the past week. my results came in at 8am (8 days after testing). that's it. i'm done. i completed all 7 tests in 11 months, if you don't count the black out. 9 months, based on reading posts on here i feel like I studied less than everyone else. My wife told me I'm terrible at studying. I think I read 15 minutes before bed every night for 6 weeks. 2 weekends before the test I learned the math. 1 weekend before the test I just read a lot and figured out the vignette.

what I studied for SS:
-I kinda sorta read about a quarter of the Kaplan guides from the ARE 3.1, my boss had them lying around, so I used them instead of buying new ones (i'm cheap), if you do the things listed below, I'm not really sure you need study guides at all.

-Buildings at Risk: Wind Design Basics for Practicing Architects: http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/d ... 016809.pdf
-IBC Chapter 16-- Its boring, and I don't know if it translated to test questions, but others say it did.
-learned this: download/file.php?id=1531&mode=view
-Jenny's notes are good for quick cramming: http://arendurance.files.wordpress.com/ ... nnypdx.pdf
-read FEMA Earthquake stuff chapter 4,5,8,9. i don't think the audio files exist anymore. http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/8669
-watched Dilip Khatri's modules for free instead of paying hundreds of dollars for some lecture series, they are a bit excessive but FREE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsroawN … hKW2Q9AODo
-study the NCARB practice exam (duh.)

and please, do not fail the vignette, this vignette is like a freebie, i got done in 10 minutes then spent 15 minutes checking my work. I wasted 14 minutes doing that.

[tinaruiz]

i was the worst, or 2nd to worst structures student in my graduating class. i got F's on midterms and finals. i almost had to retake one of my structures courses in order to graduate. no lie. i hate math, math psychs me out and i start sweating. i'm not exaggerating. i hated my structural courses in school, thats why i saved this one for last.

I hope this makes you feel more comfortable about your test. its not like you have to get an A+, its pass or fail. its like gym class for architects.

"Well she didn't make any 3-pointers, but she knows how to dribble." Pass.

hahaha, that's a great way to look at it. Thanks and Congrats on the 7 passes!