# Live Q&ARE w/ Desk Crits authors Tess McNamara & Sam Zeif
**URL:** https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113
**Category:** General Discussion
**Tags:** live-qa
**Created:** [April 27, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113 "2020-04-27T20:56:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lara](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/Lara)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/1 "2020-04-27T20:56:00Z")
Tap into the minds of two licensed experts who literally wrote the book on how to pass the ARE. Tess and Sam, both Yale School of Architecture graduates and recently licensed architects, share their survival stories and best tips in [Desk Crits: The Insider’s Guide to the A.R.E 5.0](https://deskcrits.com/). With 150 visually stimulating pages of curated material, they provide a clear framework for how to tackle the chaos of studying for all six divisions of the ARE.
[Architectural Digest](https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/meet-desk-crits-the-new-guide-thats-trying-to-shake-up-the-are-exam) took notice and is giving them some well-deserved props too. Don’t miss an opportunity to ask your burning questions related to studying from people who were just in your shoes, and made it through to the other side.
By the way, you can get $10 off Desk Crits: The Insider’s Guide to the A.R.E. 5.0 if you use code **SPECTACLES10** at checkout.
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**This Live Q&ARE is now over, but feel free to look through the comments below, there’s a lot of great advice about taking the ARE!**
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### Author:  [@haythammohamed\_abdelrahman](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/haythammohamed_abdelrahman)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/3 "2020-04-29T06:12:37Z")
Studying for PcM, in AHPP there’s a lot of info that’s out of the topics. What’s the best method to study this heavy book and get the most outcome. Is there a ready made Q&A or flashcards for each sub-chapter ?
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### Author:  [@spencerfried331](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/spencerfried331)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/4 "2020-04-29T16:18:53Z")
I’m just starting down the whole ARE journey. Do you have any tips for me on timing my exams? What are the baseline books I should get before I start?
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### Author:  [@margaret.f.marsh](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/margaret.f.marsh)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/5 "2020-04-29T16:20:31Z")
What is your approach to studying details (PPD, PDD, CA)? There is such a wide range it’s hard to know where to start! And how specific to get with each category.
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### Author:  [@ysoa.are](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/ysoa.are)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/6 "2020-04-29T16:43:43Z")
Hey you guys, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for those of us still finishing up our exams!
What advice might you give to someone getting ready to study, again, for an exam they have taken and failed? Or, to those who are already familiar with an exam topic and might not necessarily need to study it in its entirety?
I felt confident in my knowledge of the content, previously, and am not quite sure how to begin studying again!
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### Author:  [@cameronhbreck](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/cameronhbreck)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/7 "2020-04-29T16:59:49Z")
Hi guys! Do you have any tips for navigating the ADA Standards? Are there certain sections you recommend focusing on more than others? Thanks!
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### Author:  [@roystermeghan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/roystermeghan)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/8 "2020-04-29T17:19:00Z")
Could each of you say what your biggest priority would be when studying for PPD, if you could only pick one topic to prioritize?
(I realize this is somewhat of an impossible question but I’m curious to hear which content area popped out for each of you when taking this particular exam!)
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### Author:  [@phsi6213](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/phsi6213)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/9 "2020-04-29T19:17:01Z")
What are some rules of thumb dimensions, codes, or anything that are helpful to keep in the back of your mind? For time management per question or answering questions in general… Does DeskCrits provide lists/graphs/tables of what I’m describing?
i.e. from the PA videos, Mike spoke of 9’ x19’ as a good estimation for car park width.
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### Author:  [@jcamolloy](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/jcamolloy)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/10 "2020-04-29T19:55:37Z")
I’m getting ready to start my tests and I assume because you are featured here because you used black spectacles! How did you use it to study and how do Desk Crits + Black Spectacles work together?
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### Author:  [@crogers](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/crogers)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/11 "2020-04-29T21:48:15Z")
Will this be video be saved anywhere? I would love to watch it later.
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### Author:  [@luisr](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/luisr)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/12 "2020-04-29T21:49:06Z")
I was wondering if you could share your study habits with us. I read that once your getting at least 70% on your practice tests its time to go take the test. My highest score so far is a 51%. I really need help in knowing how to study. I also heard that you need to learn how to take the test as well meaning interpreting the question and what they are asking? Is this true and how can we study for this?
Thank you for your help
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### Author:  [@luisr](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/luisr)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/13 "2020-04-29T22:05:24Z")
Hi how do i know this is live? Do i go somewhere else to see the live discussion?
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### Author:  [@Lara](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/Lara)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/14 "2020-04-29T22:06:50Z")
Hey @luisr,
Tess and Sam will be online in about an hour answering questions. So feel free to post any questions you have now, or you can wait until they show up. They’ll be here for an hour so the window will be 6pm - 7pm Central Time. The discussion takes place here in this thread.
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### Author:  [@luisr](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/luisr)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/15 "2020-04-29T22:12:58Z")
Oh i see. ok Thank you.
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### Author:  [@luisr](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/luisr)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/16 "2020-04-29T22:15:13Z")
Hi Tess and Sam
The guide seems very interesting. I was wondering what has been the success rate of the people that have bought the Guide? And maybe if you have any feed back from people that have bought the Guide would be nice?
Also is the Guide just a 1 time purchase?
Thank you for your time.
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### Author:  [@tatiana](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/tatiana)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/17 "2020-04-29T22:23:35Z")
Hi there! The book looks great. Can you please talk about some of the supplemental material you reference – whether it’s other books or practice exams to purchase or free material? Thank you!
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### Author:  [@kirkmhenderson](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kirkmhenderson)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/18 "2020-04-29T22:32:32Z")
Yes, I’d love to watch this video later as well! Sadly, I won’t be able to make the actual discussion time. Please let us know, thanks!
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### Author:  [@TRCALLAWAY](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/TRCALLAWAY)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/19 "2020-04-29T22:33:24Z")
I recently took the ARE PjM and got (3) level three’s and (2) level twos. Do I need to get only three level three’s to pass the section?
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### Author:  [@Lara](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/Lara)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/20 "2020-04-29T22:33:43Z")
@kirkmhenderson @crogers Sorry, to be clear, there is no video. It’s a Q&A here in the thread, so they’ll post their responses here. If there’s interest we can possibly look into making a video in the future!
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### Author:  [@gor.ronak](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/gor.ronak)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/live-q-are-w-desk-crits-authors-tess-mcnamara-sam-zeif/1113/21 "2020-04-29T22:42:43Z")
Any advice on timing for finishing up these exams.
4wks - 6 wks for all 6 exams would work?
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