Hi! This is my last test left!, I have taken it 3 times, the first one I failed, I didn’t study much about earthquakes, and a lot of that was in the test then the second time I had some techinical problems with the test so I ran out of time (I didn’t do bad, but still not enough to pass), then the 3rd time I was just a few answers away to pass, (also now this time I studied a lot of the areas I was lacking the first time, but almost none of that was in this test) The last time I took PPD was end of May of 2023, and right after that I took PDD and passed and then last year I took CE and I passed as well. Now this year I want to get this done. Any advice on how to tackle this test, I really need to pass this time.
3 Likes
Welcome to the ARE Community, @sdhl333! We are happy to have you here and hope you find the community helpful as you tackle your last exam.
First off - congratulations on passing all other exams and making it this far in your journey! It sounds like you have a good idea of the obstacles you encountered for each attempt and that is the first crucial step. It’s tricky because you are unlikely to get the same version/questions of the exam each time you take it, so you must be prepared for any question that could come your way related to the NCARB objectives.
While it is important to dive deeper into the content areas you scored lower on, be sure to continue passive studying in your stronger areas. You want to focus on strengthening your weaker areas, while keeping your stronger areas consistent. If there are specific topics you are struggling with, I’d recommend using NCARB-recommended resources as outlined in the ARE 5.0 Guidelines (page 116). Take note of specific resources/sections we reference in our practice quiz/exam answer explanations, as those would be great starting points.
Having studied for and passed PDD since your last PPD attempt, I am confident that you will find the PPD content easier to grasp this time around. I took a similar approach (forged ahead to PDD after my unsuccessful PPD attempt) and being able to look at the similar topics from a different perspective was very helpful. Sometimes it helps to reset/refresh your mind, especially after studying the same thing for so long, so a change of pace/material is beneficial!
If you are looking for additional practice questions, check out our Practice Quizzes here on the ARE Community. I’d recommend you check out PDD in addition to PPD, as you may find some content helpful for your PPD retake as well:
You are so close to the finish line, and I know you will get there soon. You’ve got this!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Black Spectacles