So after the 3rd attempt (and after having a baby in between the first and third tries), I FINALLY passed this exam! The difference this time was making sure I really, truly understood the concepts behind the contracts, and the applications and implications of the documents. I will also admit that having some work experience made a big difference as well. This exam was very difficult for me since I'm a visual person with a short attention span. Trying to retain all the legalese was NOT easy, and I was beginning to think that I was never going to pass - but I did, and so can you!
Here's what I used to study:
1) Thorough reading of the A201. I read the version with the commentary, which was incredibly helpful. I read this document all the way through once without taking notes, then read it a second time taking careful notes, then a third time referring to the notes I took. So many of the questions came from the A201, and my understanding of it is what helped me pass this time. There were some questions on the exam that I got stuck on but I mentally took time to stop panicking and to think through the meat of what they were asking, and that helped me choose the right answer. A lot of the questions were situational; "A contractor does [x]. Your response should be [y]", and the answers made more sense if you understand the general conditions thoroughly (obviously). I started my studying by reading the A201 which helped me put all the rest of the study material in context.
2) A less thorough reading of the B101. I was already somewhat familiar with this contract so I didn't need to study it as in-depth as the A201, but I still read through it twice.
3) Specs - this is fairly rote memorization, which makes it easier in some respects. Referring to an actual spec book used for a project is helpful too.
4) ArchiFlash cards. I used some old cards but they still contain great questions and are an easy way to get in some quick study sessions if you have some free time to kill.
5) Schiff Hardin lectures. Particularly the classes about A201.
6) Ballast. All the chapters on CDS (Section 8 in Ballast 2009) and Building Regulations (Section 9).
7) Caroline's Notes
8) Practice Exams. Although I didn't use Kaplan to study, I got a copy of the practice exam to take as well as Ballast exams, a random Architectural License Seminars exam, and the NCARB practice exam. I took the Ballast exams twice each, once in the middle of my studying (I scored roughly 50%) and at the end (I scored 75%).
9) The AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
10) Work experience. I enjoy drawing details at work and understanding them so I didn't really need to officially "study" any detail-like information, which is lucky for me. If only I felt that way about contracts...
11) Dorf Video. Great for understanding how to solve the vignette. Also reviewing posts on this forum for clarification on things like calculating plenum depth.
Having taken this exam three times, I don't think the content really changed all that much between exams. It's a good mixture of all the stuff NCARB says it's going to test you on. Again, I must stress the understanding of the concepts rather than simply memorizing the contracts or the questions from the study materials. The questions are somewhat nuanced, which requires an interpretation of the contract documents. This may be obvious to everyone but me, but realizing that this time is, I believe, why I passed. Don't just memorize, understand. I also had a lot of code questions - don't expect to get out of those.
The vignette is one of the easier ones in the ARE series, but you still have to practice it a few times. Thank goodness they're going away with 5.0 (which I'm transitioning to now).
Hope this is helpful, and good luck to all those of you out there studying for this for the third (or first, or fifth) time! You can do it!