Tested...failed....tested...failed....tested...failed...vent

[sk1grl]

"How are your exams going?", they ask. No one in my life really knows what it feels like to take these exams. I try and explain, that I will continue to study and retake. My enthusiasm for my chosen profession is wavering. I want to believe my failures will make me resilient. "I am learning more and more each retake", I say. However, I am tired.

I think my husband ran out of empathy for me. He's tired of the studying. I think he looks at me differently, with each fail. He's not wired to be a cheerleader and I need one badly. He never wanted me to go to Arch school. He resents my student loans. I think he hates NCARB more than I do. I feel indifferent. I have thought about leaving him, leaving him over NCARB doesn't seem like a good endgame. We also have a busy 2 year old. Two weeks ago, my widowed mother admitted she was afraid she had dementia. She always has been kooky, but was demonstrating some more than unusual behavior. So being an only child, I am the only one to help her. Sorry, just need to vent and I feel like I am falling apart. I am trying my best to hold it all together.

So my last exam (BS) went horribly. What elements I passed I got level 1 on in the first exam, I got level 2 on the retake. The only good thing was I got level 1 on the areas I had gotten level 2 on the first time. I feel like these exams are a complete joke, where I potentially pass a section one day and fail it the next. I'll take it again. Just feeling defeated, depressed, and mourning the loss of time away from my family spent studying.

The SD exam, have I jinxed myself by saying that this is supposed to be the easiest exam? The first time I took it, I received a level 1 on the IL and a 3 on the BL. I thought I knew what my issue was, which was a incomplete wall opening. Which had been pointed out to me by Coach in one of my practice posts. So in the test, I had to rearrange my layout to place two spaces "near" each other and I was down to the last minutes and ran out of time as I was making the opening. The second time I took it I had been having a crazy month of client management and was thinking about work the entire time I was in the exam. I know I made mistakes as I was in in the exam, but had gone too far with my parti and thought they would be minor. Apparently, all those mistakes added up and I did worse than before.

I needed to pass the BS and SD before November 3rd, which is the date my first exam pass (SPD) rolling clock ends. I'm mourning this date. Now I have 3 more exams to pass. The end is near, just needed to get this off my chest and move onto my retakes.

[vrcat25]

Sorry to hear and I totally understand your frustration. Keep in mind these tests usually get more difficult the second and third time around so you can't really gauge how well you did the first time to prepare for the second. I think one of the reasons they make them more difficult is because they don't want to give you the same questions that you already had on previous exam so the questions become more obscure. Anybody who tells you differently, has not had to retake these tests. I'm certain that they are more difficult because I had to retake more than once and they are always harder the second time. I'm sure the third and fourth, they are almost impossible and can only imagine. I also heard that NCARB is making them a little tougher because 5.0 is right around the corner. I'm not sure, but it does seem like people are having a more difficult time recently and particularly with PPP. Keep your head up and don't ever give up. That's what they want you to do.

[buckie06]

wow, that just sucks. I'm sorry!

I am not married, so am no expert, but your husband should be encouraging and supporting you on anything that you endeavor in life. That's what a relationship is. He should especially be supportive of you pursuing your career.

We all have life issues that interfere with studying, part of the challenge in passing these exams is balancing time. Your "life" just needs to go on hold so you can study. Sounds like these distractions are keeping you from focusing?

What is your study approach? Maybe it is time to switch things up. Watching the videos instead of reading books, creating your own flash cards. Using different practice exams. etc.

Seems like you can either take a break and focus on the life issues you mentioned. Or buckle in a crank out the last exams. Think of how amazing it'll be when you get that final pass letter! Focus and determination, if it wasn't hard then everyone would be an architect.

good luck and stay positive.

[ekelsey15]

I feel you pain and I see his frustration. I am studying for mine while my wife is in nursing school. We also have a 2 yo monster. When she started school I decided hers was more important than mine since I already had my degree. Just stick with it and talk to him about it.

Good luck on future exams.

[vrcat25]

We also have a 2 yo monster.

She couldn't be that bad? Like Freddy/Jason type monster?

[ekelsey15]

ha. She would scare Freddy.

[rackbobo]

I too am coming up to losing an exam I passed in early November. I've failed exams multiple times and pretty much each time failed different sections.
Hang in there and keep moving forward.
Let your husband know how you feel and what you need from him. My husband does his best to be supportive; however the responsibilities of 'mom' are never ending with 2 little ones.
I have various

I have 4 exams to pass; and after November it will be 5.

Buckie06: Thank you for your perspective and advice.

[vrcat25]

ha. She would scare Freddy.

Bahahaha!

[porsche911]

"How are your exams going?", they ask. No one in my life really knows what it feels like to take these exams. I try and explain, that I will continue to study and retake. My enthusiasm for my chosen profession is wavering. I want to believe my failures will make me resilient. "I am learning more and more each retake", I say. However, I am tired.

I think my husband ran out of empathy for me. He's tired of the studying. I think he looks at me differently, with each fail. He's not wired to be a cheerleader and I need one badly. He never wanted me to go to Arch school. He resents my student loans. I think he hates NCARB more than I do. I feel indifferent. I have thought about leaving him, leaving him over NCARB doesn't seem like a good endgame. We also have a busy 2 year old. Two weeks ago, my widowed mother admitted she was afraid she had dementia. She always has been kooky, but was demonstrating some more than unusual behavior. So being an only child, I am the only one to help her. Sorry, just need to vent and I feel like I am falling apart. I am trying my best to hold it all together.

So my last exam (BS) went horribly. What elements I passed I got level 1 on in the first exam, I got level 2 on the retake. The only good thing was I got level 1 on the areas I had gotten level 2 on the first time. I feel like these exams are a complete joke, where I potentially pass a section one day and fail it the next. I'll take it again. Just feeling defeated, depressed, and mourning the loss of time away from my family spent studying.

The SD exam, have I jinxed myself by saying that this is supposed to be the easiest exam? The first time I took it, I received a level 1 on the IL and a 3 on the BL. I thought I knew what my issue was, which was a incomplete wall opening. Which had been pointed out to me by Coach in one of my practice posts. So in the test, I had to rearrange my layout to place two spaces "near" each other and I was down to the last minutes and ran out of time as I was making the opening. The second time I took it I had been having a crazy month of client management and was thinking about work the entire time I was in the exam. I know I made mistakes as I was in in the exam, but had gone too far with my parti and thought they would be minor. Apparently, all those mistakes added up and I did worse than before.

I needed to pass the BS and SD before November 3rd, which is the date my first exam pass (SPD) rolling clock ends. I'm mourning this date. Now I have 3 more exams to pass. The end is near, just needed to get this off my chest and move onto my retakes.

hey sk1grl
its a wonderful profession. you dont need a license to practice architecture. i have friends who are making 70000 to 100000 per year doing drafting, design ... whatever.

[little12]

sk1grl

First, you are doing a great job JUST by hanging in there!! These tests are no joke. Those unicorns you hear passing them all in 6 months are exactly that---unicorns. The majority of people take awhile and fail at LEAST one time! At least. So hang in there and know that what you're going thru is common.

Second, dude I have been there with the family stuff. Oie. I took 3 tests while pregnant with our first in a mad attempt to try to get done before he came. It would have been 4, but the stress got too much and I had to stop for everyone's health. That last test took me another 11 months to get done. Studying with a baby is nuts and I hated it. Despised it. Resented it. The ONLY thing that kept me going was some kind and helpful words from members of this group and shear determination that I was NOT going to let a stupid test beat me. Literally...I would get mad and say out loud "you will not f*cking beat me. I know this shit". Then breathe and move on. Every time. The thing that helped me the most with studying was making a distinct schedule of when and what. It allowed me to not waste the time I did have over a weekend by doing other stuff. So when it was study time, I studied and locked myself in a room. When it was not study time, we did walks, played, ate out, etc etc whatever to enjoy the time I did have so I didin't feel like I was missing it all. I did the same for certain nights of the week. I also used my lunch hours.

Third, like someone else said, maybe a different approach is needed? Sometimes a slightly different approach can change a mindset. I know one mistake I hear often is that people neglect areas they already got a level 1 in previously. Not saying you did that, but it happens. Maybe you can take a step back and see if you can figure out a slightly different way to get the info into the old noggen? Like making your own notes similar to Jenny's notes---or making your own flash cards.

Fourth, if it's an option for you, look at testing in a different location. I don't know why...but it worked for me with PPP. I'm convinced it played a part in my pass. Different location, different mindset.

Lastly, stick with it. I feel your pain. Alot of us do. Reach out to people here, reach out to a fellow professional, etc. My husband got really tired of all of it also. He was still my biggest fan, but I could tell that he just didn't get it. He didn't get why it was giving me such a hard time and everytime I tried to explain he would just want to know why there was nothing I could do about the mystery fail. I can't tell you how many times he compared NCARB to some sort of socialist regime, lol. You will get there. Reach out if you need to!

[vrcat25]

sk1grl

Those unicorns you hear passing them all in 6 months are exactly that---unicorns. The majority of people take awhile and fail at LEAST one time! At least. So hang in there and know that what you're going thru is common.

I knew there was a word for these people and I think you nailed it! "UNICORNS"! That's exactly what they are. Bahaha!

Seriously though, this was a great post Little! Thanks for sticking around. You are a BIG inspiration and I really appreciate all of your encouraging words.

[Quigaboo]

sk1grl

Those unicorns you hear passing them all in 6 months are exactly that---unicorns. The majority of people take awhile and fail at LEAST one time! At least. So hang in there and know that what you're going thru is common.

I knew there was a word for these people and I think you nailed it! "UNICORNS"! That's exactly what they are. Bahaha!

Seriously though, this was a great post Little! Thanks for sticking around. You are a BIG inspiration and I really appreciate all of your encouraging words.

I did them in 7 months so I guess I'm not a unicorn then.

These tests are more mental than anything. just need to learn how to study for them and how to approach the problem solving. BTW I was convinced I TANKED 2 of the exams and ended up passing. Study hard and be confident!

[vrcat25]

I did them in 7 months so I guess I'm not a unicorn then.

These tests are more mental than anything. just need to learn how to study for them and how to approach the problem solving. BTW I was convinced I TANKED 2 of the exams and ended up passing. Study hard and be confident!

Hook, line and sinker, i caught me a real life unicorn. j/k Quigaboo!

I think what little meant is that you would probably fall outside the norm. It's not to say you are any more/less intelligent than the rest, but you just think more like the "unicorns". What's even more disheartening to us "non-unicorns" is that, as you said, it's more about learning how to study for a test less about learning the field of architecture. The test is full of hypothetical and "best answer" type questions. I always capitalize on straight forward technical and code related questions (the opposite of the majority of the questions on the test). I take comfort after taking these tests and realizing that there was no amount of studying that i could have done to prepare myself for such nonsensical questions. Too bad we can't divulge what they are.

[little12]

sk1grl

Those unicorns you hear passing them all in 6 months are exactly that---unicorns. The majority of people take awhile and fail at LEAST one time! At least. So hang in there and know that what you're going thru is common.

I knew there was a word for these people and I think you nailed it! "UNICORNS"! That's exactly what they are. Bahaha!

Seriously though, this was a great post Little! Thanks for sticking around. You are a BIG inspiration and I really appreciate all of your encouraging words.

I did them in 7 months so I guess I'm not a unicorn then.

These tests are more mental than anything. just need to learn how to study for them and how to approach the problem solving. BTW I was convinced I TANKED 2 of the exams and ended up passing. Study hard and be confident!

LOL, Quig, you are awesome for doing it in 7 months! Unicorn is not a derogatory remark at all. I'm using it more like they do in the world of babies (since I have one). A "unicorn" baby is one that is so good that you hardly believe it can be real. They sleep thru the night, they rarely fuss, they love to snuggle, they eat well and have no health issues. Many debate they even exist! They're so rare...but yet when you see one, you think "OMG I want that!!!!!!". So that's how I'm equating it It's the thing we all want or want to do....but is so rare, that it's really silly to compare yourself to it or to expect that it will be you.

[vrcat25]

"UNICORN BABIES"! That is the EXACT mental image I had in my head, but I just couldn't describe it. Thanks little!

[arch30]

Yes, so so well said. I feel the same way, waste of time and money and time we could spend with our young family!

[tmston2]

@Sk1GRL, how's the testing going since op?
Like most have already said, failing exams can be discouraging but you have to curl up in a corner, contemplate the meaning of life, rant, vent ,
go cranky psycho a few days and then get up and get back to it.
As stated, i have failed 9 times!! and I have always been an A & B student, even carried a avg. 3.4 gpa in college and 4.0 one semester in grad school.
earn 2 academic scholarships, one was for $25k, but I am failing A.R.E. exams!!! after preparing like I have never prepared for anything in my life
and yep still failed. after my 5th or 6th fail, I even called NCARB to "tell them what I really think about this whole process"!!!

like you im married, 3 children, work fulltime, and involved in various community and local city boards, and yes I agree your
spouse should be your biggest fan but even bigger fan than your spouse is yourself! its your career and your accomplishment
and if its discouraging to you imagine the attention level of someone who's only interested because you are interested and ready for
you to be done. spouse is kinda forced to make this sacrifice, you consciously made it.
Best of luck to you

[nickedemus]

SK1GRL, I'm really sorry to hear of the challenges you are facing with these tests. I hope that you don't give up. Not sure what you've been studying, but if you live near a major city, try taking a Funkaar course. They are expensive, but I took all of the 4.0 seminars this past year and have been smashing through my tests. It's really kept me out of the weeds in my studying. Just a thought.

[dyl2016]

Feeling pretty frustrated and discouraged over here as well and needing to vent. I just took PPP for the fourth time yesterday and realized I made a pretty big error on the site zoning vignette after getting home. I believe I may have failed it for the 4th time. I find the MC portion to be simple at this point, but am having these hiccups with the vignette. I read somewhere in this thread each time there's a fail, the next test is harder. Does anyone know if this is true?

I'd never failed an exam prior and have always considered myself to be an academic overachiever- I went to two Ivies. I feel terrible that I'm having so much trouble passing something that would be so straightforward, in theory.

I believe the problems around this test are a product of some mental blockage having to do with fear of failure. That fear is overwhelming for me. PPP was the first ARE I took, and I'd failed that back in 2012. I stopped the process thereafter for two years. I picked up the test again and passed three in a row, then attempted PPP again. Failed the second time around and completely stopped again. I started up again this past October, took it again and failed for the third time.

This process is proving to be more a character building exercise than anything else. The perfectionist in me is freaking out. Not to mention my hugely bruised ego...

[vrcat25]

Feeling pretty frustrated and discouraged over here as well and needing to vent. I just took PPP for the fourth time yesterday and realized I made a pretty big error on the site zoning vignette after getting home. I believe I may have failed it for the 4th time. I find the MC portion to be simple at this point, but am having these hiccups with the vignette. I read somewhere in this thread each time there's a fail, the next test is harder. Does anyone know if this is true?

I'd never failed an exam prior and have always considered myself to be an academic overachiever- I went to two Ivies. I feel terrible that I'm having so much trouble passing something that would be so straightforward, in theory.

I believe the problems around this test are a product of some mental blockage having to do with fear of failure. That fear is overwhelming for me. PPP was the first ARE I took, and I'd failed that back in 2012. I stopped the process thereafter for two years. I picked up the test again and passed three in a row, then attempted PPP again. Failed the second time around and completely stopped again. I started up again this past October, took it again and failed for the third time.

This process is proving to be more a character building exercise than anything else. The perfectionist in me is freaking out. Not to mention my hugely bruised ego...

Don't beat yourself up to bad. A large portion of the people on this forum too embarrassed to admit their failure and create new accounts. Good for you for admitting your failures. It's just a bad test and nobody wants to admit the obvious. These tests are not an accurate measure of a person's knowledge of the field of architecture.

[nickedemus]

I read somewhere in this thread each time there's a fail, the next test is harder. Does anyone know if this is true?

No, I don't think the test gets harder with each fail. Get that idea out of your mind because you're just going to increase your anxiety with thoughts like that. I had to retake SPD and found my second go-round with the test to be very similar in difficulty to my first go-round. Similar to your situation, I failed the vignette section (site design). In my case, I misread the program and did not see my error until it was too late to correct! I literally watched myself fail that test LOL. The second time around, the vignette portion was MUCH easier. I could have kissed the screen. The MC portion was about the same difficulty.

When I took PPP, I caught myself making a very simple, but fatal error midway through the vignette portion of the exam and had to restart. The error was with the circles that I used to measure a setback. Let's say the setback was 400 feet. Well, I made circles with a RADIUS of 800 feet, thinking that the software was giving me the measurement of the DIAMETER. Of course, that messed up the size of my buildable area in both plan and section! I had to redraw the WHOLE THING over again! But I had time to do it. The thing is, this vignette is not terribly difficult. I think you are indeed psyching yourself out with your fear of failure. I know how devastating it feels to fail a test. I am a perfectionist, too. But dust yourself off and keep on going. Maybe give yourself a break from PPP to clear your mind, and take some other tests instead of this one. It really comes down to that simple phrase, quitters never win and winners never quit.

[tmston2]

No, I don't think the test gets harder with each fail.

Agreed, I definitely dont think so, I failed site design twice, third time actually seemed more easy, maybe it was my third time. Failed BDCS and second timed seemed more easy although I only failed roof vignette.

[corbismyhomeboy]

No, I don't think the test gets harder with each fail.

Agreed as well. I took BDCS as my first exam and hands down failed. I screwed up the stair vignette, and at the last minute, ended up with one riser that was 9" ! I walked out knowing it was a fail. (And I got level 3s on two of the MC sections.) I remembered what some of the questions were that, to me, were real head scratchers and read through my study materials/used google to see if I could find the answers. What helped me was to put it on the backburner and try to get some of the other exams out of the way. I took SPD, SD, PPP, and CDS, and came back to BDCS. The second time I tested, I had quite a few repeat questions, and the vignettes were almost identical.

Hoping it gets easier for you!

[sk1grl]

Here is my update...

I decided after I wrote my original post I would take a break from exams, get through the holidays and try and figure out what is up with my mom. Long story short she was diagnosed with stage 4 Alzheimer's. She was told that she needs to move into assisted living as soon as possible. Again, I'm the only child and I am frantically trying to figure all this out. I am devastated for my mom, for me, for my daughter.

Has anyone had any luck with an extension for taking care of a parent? As I don't think my brain can handle studying/taking exams while I juggle this in addition to my already full plate!

Also, send me some prayers. I might lose my shit.

[vrcat25]

Here is my update...

I decided after I wrote my original post I would take a break from exams, get through the holidays and try and figure out what is up with my mom. Long story short she was diagnosed with stage 4 Alzheimer's. She was told that she needs to move into assisted living as soon as possible. Again, I'm the only child and I am frantically trying to figure all this out. I am devastated for my mom, for me, for my daughter.

Has anyone had any luck with an extension for taking care of a parent? As I don't think my brain can handle studying/taking exams while I juggle this in addition to my already full plate!

Also, send me some prayers. I might lose my shit.

I'm very sorry to hear this. It must be especially difficult dealing with this without any other siblings to help. Do you have any other family (uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc.) that can help? Here is a link if you need financial assistance. -> https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare- ... -care.html

I also understand how difficult it can be having a "full plate". For me, there's never been an ideal time for me to study, having children and a family and also a full time job in which I regularly work overtime and always seem to have a deadline right around the corner. It's hard to find balance, but I've noticed that exercise and a healthy diet does seem to help. Also, having a support system whether it's family, friends or church members seems to help out too. Some people may try to take advantage of your mother financially, so be weary of people that "just want to help". You will probably need to get "power of attorney" and in some ways, it's similar to taking the role of a parent and becoming your Mom's "guardian". My only real suggestion would be to make the best from this difficult situation and try to find the time to balance your life and your studying. Most importantly, DON"T lose your shit. Now is the time when you need to find your shit and stay strong. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[tmston2]

Has anyone had any luck with an extension for taking care of a parent?

contact ncarb, or google ncarb extension form. That said,"You never know how strong you are until being strong is all you have "
Godspeed

[Barry]

Sorry about your mother. My grandmother had Alzheimer and it was rough. Especially on my mother who took care of her.

Passing and failing these is mostly just luck. Knowing which of the 4-6 choices are definitely wrong and guessing on the rest. Anyhow. Have you thought about transitioning to 5.0? I lost BS due to rolling clock and will lose SPD if I don't pass some exams before 1.6.17, So I transitioned to 5.0. I took PPD last week and thought the questions were much more strait forward without the famous NCARB word-salad we get with 4.0. Also, the lack of vignettes makes it so much better. Based on PPD, the content in 5.0 clearly shows that we've entered a new era. The baby boomers who ruled the world 10 years ago are leaving, and the people making the exam questions are less pedantic.

I don't blame anyone for not understanding how much the ARE sucks. There are things you just have to live through to understand. Kind of like architecture school. You just have to keep going.

[homer]

You are not alone. We are all in this journey together. I just got the bad news this morning. All I've been able to repeat is "I can't do this anymore..." l'll keep going if you will. Prayers have been spoken.

[vrcat25]

These tests are just hogwash. For me, the first 2 tests were easier than the third. For me, the tests WERE NOT equal in difficulty. In fact, I would say it's pretty much impossible to make them "equally" difficult. I would go so far to say that HALF of the questions on my lest test were simply bad questions. It's too bad there's no way to make a dispute. Has anybody ever had any success on a test question or vignette challenge anyway?? I understand that you have to live in a state where you can appeal, but even in those states?? I searched bing and google and haven't been able to find one post on a successful challenge/appeal. It's amazing that the ARE test is NEVER wrong. How is it possible that there is such a perfect record with no errors?