I recently failed my project management test, despite completing all the assigned tasks and taking the practice tests more than once. I was quite surprised to encounter questions that didn’t seem to be covered in the materials. I’m trying to reflect on what went wrong and would appreciate any advice on how I can better prepare for the next attempt.
@CChris I am struggling with this too. No matter how much I study, I always seem to be confronted with a new question that comes out of left field with no connection to the study material. It is for this reason that I cannot bring myself to take this exam.
@CChris I apologize for my very delayed response - I am so sorry to hear about your PjM exam! I know you might feel discouraged, but rest assured that you are not alone. These exams are extremely challenging and it is super common to have a miss (or multiple) along the way, even after studying in depth.
We do offer free one-time ARE Consultations with a licensed architect to any member who has not passed an exam, to discuss exam results and develop strategies for the retake. If you’d like to pursue this opportunity, be sure to report your exam result on your dashboard. Within a few days, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete a Pre-Consultation Survey and upon completion, you’ll be able to select a 30-minute meeting with one of our consultants.
If you encounter any issues during this process, please reach out to me at kiaragalicinao@blackspectacles.com.
Best,
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator
Black Spectacles
@Citrillion I know exactly how you feel, as do many others who are (or have been) in your shoes! Remember that you don’t need to score 100% (or anywhere near that) in order to pass the exam. You just need to score somewhere between 58-71% of scored items correctly, depending on the division.
If you’re using the Black Spectacles study materials, you have all that you need to pass! You don’t need to be an expert in every single topic on the exam - you just need to understand the key concepts and be able to apply them to the ARE format and scenarios presented.
Check out these ARE Live episodes we did earlier this year, as there are some great tips for studying and taking the exam:
It’s always hard to rip the band-aid off, but once you get that first exam under your belt, you will be in a much better place (regardless of the outcome). You’ll see what the exam is like and know what to expect for future exams.
You’re going to do great. I believe in you!
Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator
Black Spectacles
hi kiara…i had a question about your previous response about scoring somewhere between 58 - 71% as that is not true at all. i can attest to that if the entire group taking the test scores higher than this average score, it skews the curve and the passing range. the percentages were only made visible just recently, a few years back, and it’s just now harder to comprehend navigating through “you have all that you need to pass” with a grain of salt when you’re scored with the rest of the test-takers in that division. can you shed some light into this?
Hi @pdgoff71 thanks for writing in and expressing your concern. To clarify one key point: the ARE is not curved based on how others perform on an exam. NCARB sets a fixed cut score for each division and individual exam form using psychometric analysis, and that standard does not shift based on candidate performance.
The 58–71% range I mentioned isn’t a moving target or a curve; it’s an estimated range of correct scored items typically needed to meet that fixed standard, depending on the division and exam form. These percentages were taken directly from NCARB’s article here. NCARB adjusts for differences in difficulty between versions of the exam, but everyone is still being measured against the same level of competency. We wrote a blog post about their processes, so I encourage you to check it out for more information.
Also to clarify my earlier comment – when I said “you have all that you need to pass,” I was referring specifically to the Black Spectacles study materials. The goal of our resources is to cover the key concepts and help you apply them in the ARE format. You don’t need to master every detail, you just need to reach the level of understanding required to meet that passing standard.
Hope that helps!
Kiara