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5280 architect
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 106 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 04:22 am |
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Just got back from the exam. This is the last one, but the toughest one for me.
Studied Kaplan materials, Ching, Architect's Studio Companion, Archiflash, Architectural Graphic Standards, Fundamentals of Building Construction, and this forum. Ballast wasn't helpful. The best thing I did was take David Thaddeus' 3-day workshop and then did every mock exam & flash card that I could. Practicing the math questions definitely helped.
I thought the test was tricky due to the wording & mixing of units. Read and re-read every question, then discount the incorrect answers before selecting the correct one. Make sure you double check your units (kips-lbs, inches-feet, etc) as they intentionally mix them in the same problem, then the answer choices are a different unit. I missed one 'gimme' question b'c I think I screwed up the units..... This shouldn't have rattled me, but given the pressure of a ticking clock, it is easier said than done, so be prepared.
Your exam will likely be different, but mine had the following mix in the 85 questions:
(12) math questions - similar to Kaplan Q&A and Archiflash-type questions
(2) thermal expansion calculations - again similar to Kaplan & Archiflash
(3-4) moment/shear diagrams - study those! Many are also in the reference tab.
(6-7) systems selection questions - review chart in Architect's Studio Companion
(3) questions involving basement wall design or construction - study Kaplan
(1) simple truss calculation - Thaddeus really helped on this!
(2) anchor or framing connection visual identification questions
(1) tributary calculation (David Thaddeus was best for this)
Know all your systems - wood, masonry, steel, reinforced concrete as they are equally stressed.
Review & re-review all the Materials & Methods information as my exam had many questions including connections, material properties, systems & various terms. Reviewing the Archiflash cards & Kaplan for M&M helped. Also reviewed Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials & Methods by Allen & Iano which was very useful in explaining any terms or construction in more detail than Kaplan or Ching.
David Thaddeus recommends preparing a "cheat sheet" of key equations that you can memorize beforehand. Then during your tutorial, re-create this sheet before starting the timed portion. This was very helpful - especially in answering questions about various formulas or what aspects influence certain terms, etc. By visually referencing the formula, it helps clarify the correct answer.
For the first time through, recommend marking any answer you're unsure of and skipping all the math. Then click on the Review button. That way, you know how to best spend your remaining time once you've gotten through the 85 questions the first time. Next answer all the skipped math questions, then go back through the marked ones you're unsure of. Also recommend re-reading at least the first 8 or so questions again - I found that it took 5-8 questions to "warm-up" and get into the flow.
Honestly, I felt very prepared and confident going in and studied about 120+ hours, but I have no idea if I passed or not. I did not take structures in college, so perhaps it is not as natural for me as it will be for you. For me, GS is not as straight forward as the other exams.
Hope my experience & notes help you. Good luck!
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Pilot
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Boston |
| Posts: | 104 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 01:28 pm |
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Wow! Thanks 5280A! This is a fantastic summary. Quick question. Its the truss calculations I am having a mental block on... it seems that the various examples solve them differently and I have become muddled. Are the notes in the FTP - see beginning of "Day 2" here:
http://www.areforum.org/guest/General%20Structures/AREseminar/AREseminar/seminar%20notes/Day%202.pdf.pdf
what you learned? I may just go with this...
Last edited on Sun Mar 30th, 2008 01:29 pm by Pilot
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5280 architect
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 106 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 04:18 pm |
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Don't get muddled in the math. The kind of question I had (and they way that David Thaddeus teaches) is to first look at the truss BEFORE picking up a calculator. Get the forces to balance..... vertically, horizontally. Remember that a truss must be in H and V equilibrium (no M) as they are not designed as fixed connections. My exam question did not require a calculator.
I kept thinking about what I could have done differently. I realized that I should have answered ALL questions without a calculator, then used my calculator as verification only. That would have avoided a stupid answer if I messed up the units.
Pilot, focus on the principles behind the formulas and calculations and you'll be fine. You are tested on that as much as solving an equation. Thaddeus' approach (Marty's notes) are the right approach. Stick with it. Good luck!
Last edited on Sun Mar 30th, 2008 04:19 pm by 5280 architect
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Far Galaxy
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| Joined: | Tue Jun 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude |
| Posts: | 1254 |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 05:00 pm |
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5280 architect,
did you find those chapters in FEMA helpful for your exam?
David kept telling us to study those. I found the mat'l is more of LF than GS.
Good luck with the last result. It sure is a nervous time.
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5280 architect
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 106 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 05:05 pm |
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| Yes, the FEMA chapters were VERY helpful for LF, but no EQ or wind lateral questions (other than bracing during construction) on GS.
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JarrHedd
Member
| Joined: | Mon Sep 19th, 2005 |
| Location: | A-R-C-H-I-T-E-C-t, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP | | Describes Me: | Playing the waiting game...again. |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 06:00 pm |
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5280 architect wrote: Just got back from the exam. This is the last one, but the toughest one for me....
.....Read and re-read every question, then discount the incorrect answers before selecting the correct one. Make sure you double check your units (kips-lbs, inches-feet, etc) as they intentionally mix them in the same problem, then the answer choices are a different unit. I missed one 'gimme' question b'c I think I screwed up the units..... This shouldn't have rattled me, but given the pressure of a ticking clock, it is easier said than done, so be prepared.
Your exam will likely be different, but mine had the following mix in the 85 questions:
(12) math questions - similar to Kaplan Q&A and Archiflash-type questions
(2) thermal expansion calculations - again similar to Kaplan & Archiflash
(3-4) moment/shear diagrams - study those! Many are also in the reference tab.
(6-7) systems selection questions - review chart in Architect's Studio Companion
(3) questions involving basement wall design or construction - study Kaplan
(1) simple truss calculation - Thaddeus really helped on this!
(2) anchor or framing connection visual identification questions
(1) tributary calculation (David Thaddeus was best for this)
...For the first time through, recommend marking any answer you're unsure of and skipping all the math. Then click on the Review button. That way, you know how to best spend your remaining time once you've gotten through the 85 questions the first time. Next answer all the skipped math questions, then go back through the marked ones you're unsure of. Also recommend re-reading at least the first 8 or so questions again - I found that it took 5-8 questions to "warm-up" and get into the flow.
Honestly, I felt very prepared.....
I agree with everything you had in here. Looks like you and I took the same test yesterday. But, let me add just a few things that I did that hopefully helps anyone else looking for a different way to study.
Mark Mitalski's recorded online seminar is what helped me the most. For the first time since college, I actually "get it." Like 5280 wrote, know your systems. You also need to know what the question is asking (i.e. sheer, moment, section modulus, etc.). Once you "know" what the question is asking, you know what letter to apply (i.e. V, M, S, wl, Fsub b, etc.). THEN, you know how to figure out which formula to use off of the beam charts.
So, my advice is this in addition to what 5280 wrote:
- KNOW your beam diagrams and how they relate to the questions you are working with...there are a number of questions that were not math related, but all you needed to do was compare the diagram in the question to find the diagram it was asking for...don't need to memorize load, sheer and moment as it relates to each other in each set of diagrams if you know how to read those charts - Mitalski's course was invaluable in learning the steel manuals and other tables - another helpful hint is to know what the question is asking, find the diagram that is related to your question, and then the formulas on the side jump out at you. I failed the first time I took this, but was amazed and shocked that I would work the calc/formula and found that there was an answer that actually matched what I had on my calculator screen...outstanding!! I hate math...but, that's another forum.
- KNOW your systems...Studio Companion and Building Construction Illustrated helped me most
- KNOW your letters like above (V, M, S, wl, Fsub b, I, E, and delta). Temperature/expansion questions are straight math, and one set of variables was even given as far as the 'formula.' Not to say it's not important, just be aware.
- KNOW section modulus and how to go backward and forward within the formula...also, to find M.
- DO NOT need to memorize formulas...all formulas are given on the reference sheet...but you DO need to know which formula they are asking for and how to apply it.
- KNOW your load paths.
- KNOW your frames (i.e. rigid frame, pin connections, fixed connections and moment & shear connections) and how they combine altogether within a frame...Construction Illustrated good source for this.
- KNOW your systems...like 5280 wrote, at least 10% of the questions where on selecting a system based on an abbreviated program given....critical to understand this, especially as future practicing architects IMHO.
- KNOW how to select your foundation systems (i.e. mat, spread or raft footings, piles, caisons and piers). Know how these relate to the soil conditions given in the question and the loads they are supporting.
- KNOW how to apply e - coefficient of friction...simple problem, but I skipped over it while studying because I ran out of time, therefore, I had to make an educated guess on the answer.
I know this is a long post, but like 5280, I felt a lot more confident after completing this go-round. Did not quite put 120+/- hours in studying, but I know it was at least 50. But, this time, Mitalski's course was the bulk of my studying. Could not have taken this test without it. Building Construction Illustrated and Arch. Studio Companion were critical in studying for and selecting systems and supplemented Mitalski on connections. IMHO, I do not think you can pass the test without knowing this information....the math is the least of your problems.
I hope this helps a little, and I will update when I get my letter....hopefully, this time it is a PASS....Good Luck!!
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Pilot
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Boston |
| Posts: | 104 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 08:31 pm |
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5280 architect wrote: Yes, the FEMA chapters were VERY helpful for LF, but no EQ or wind lateral questions (other than bracing during construction) on GS.
I see the FEMA website, but I am not sure that you mean by "the FEMA chapters". I don't see anything in FTP...
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5280 architect
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 106 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sun Mar 30th, 2008 08:48 pm |
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| Far Galaxy was referring to FEMA Chapters 4 & 5 re: earthquake & seismic design. I also found reading chapter 8 on retrofit helpful.
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Spokes
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| Joined: | Tue Oct 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | In The Saddle |
| Posts: | 640 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | 1 kilometer from the finish |
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 01:58 am |
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5280 architect wrote: Just got back from the exam. This is the last one, but the toughest one for me.
Studied Kaplan materials, Ching,...........
Which Ching book did you study?
Good luck on a quick pass.
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JarrHedd
Member
| Joined: | Mon Sep 19th, 2005 |
| Location: | A-R-C-H-I-T-E-C-t, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP | | Describes Me: | Playing the waiting game...again. |
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 04:07 am |
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5280 architect wrote: Far Galaxy was referring to FEMA Chapters 4 & 5 re: earthquake & seismic design. I also found reading chapter 8 on retrofit helpful.
5280....are you talking about FEMA for LF or GS? With this being the GS forum, not sure we want ppl studying the FEMA chapters for GS.
I did glance over the FEMA stuff for LF, and I think it might have been relative for the exam...can't remember anymore, but I passed.
For those other folks out there reading this, there is nothing that I can remember from the FEMA stuff that you will need on the GS exam.
Good luck everyone!!!!!!!!!!
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5280 architect
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 106 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 02:34 pm |
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| As I mentioned to Far Galaxy, the FEMA chapters are helpful for LF, NOT for GS. However, it is helpful to study for GS and LF together as they are inter-related.
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Far Galaxy
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| Joined: | Tue Jun 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude |
| Posts: | 1254 |
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 02:51 pm |
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5280 architect wrote: As I mentioned to Far Galaxy, the FEMA chapters are helpful for LF, NOT for GS. However, it is helpful to study for GS and LF together as they are inter-related. good to know FEMA is applied exclusively to LF because with the amount of study mat'l for GS, 3 important chapters in FEMA can add a good load of study. I will tackle these 2 a little further apart. I need to make sure I have enough time to cover the available reading mat'l before I go in for LF. Can you believe that I am going thru David's lectures that I recorded for the 2nd time...? , it sure is a heck of a "class". Been working on it since last week and I am now starting on day 2.
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5280 architect
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Denver |
| Posts: | 106 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 08:22 pm |
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Got the GS results less than 2 weeks after taking the test.... I PASSED my last exam!!!!
Thanks to Marty Dallas, Lug-Nut, Brudgers, Pilot and many others who contribute to this forum. Special thanks to David Thaddeus and his workshop in Dallas for making a huge difference -- hearing it explained helped clarify & reinforce what I was studying on my own. Highly recommend taking this workshop in a city near you.
Now, what to do with all my free time??? Let me count the ways....
Good luck everyone. You'll be done in no time too.
Last edited on Fri Apr 11th, 2008 08:23 pm by 5280 architect
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Far Galaxy
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Posted: Fri Apr 11th, 2008 10:15 pm |
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!
That sounds fun....now you can sleep long nights every night without waking up in the mid of the night trying to regconize what is E=Pl/LI with I = bd3/12 with bd=A and all that crazy stuff.
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MIM Stratocaster
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| Joined: | Wed Jan 9th, 2008 |
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| Exams Taken: | PD, LF, BD/MM, CD | | Exams Passed: | PD, LF, BD/MM, CD | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Mon Apr 14th, 2008 02:05 am |
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It appears my test was very close to the breakdown below. This test is very doable...I feel about 50/50 that I passed we will see...I took thaddeus seminar (very good) and studied Archiflash and Kaplan test bank a bit of Ballast S topics and any other mock exam stuff I could gather for calcs. My confidence is a bit shaken because of the wording of the theory questions, you must be confident about systems and not just solving calcs. I think I am a victim of worrying about the calcs., that I probably didnt get enough text reading done...I studied about 40hrs after Thaddeus Seminar. Well see what the results are... Thanks to those who post on this forum, I hope to post more as I study / take more exams... on to LF.
Strat
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Pilot
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 3rd, 2007 |
| Location: | Boston |
| Posts: | 104 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Tue Apr 15th, 2008 02:15 am |
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5280 architect wrote: Got the GS results less than 2 weeks after taking the test.... I PASSED my last exam!!!!
Congratulations 5280! You deserve a break!
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Spokes
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| Joined: | Tue Oct 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | In The Saddle |
| Posts: | 640 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | 1 kilometer from the finish |
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Posted: Tue Apr 15th, 2008 04:07 pm |
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| Congratulations 5280
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JarrHedd
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| Joined: | Mon Sep 19th, 2005 |
| Location: | A-R-C-H-I-T-E-C-t, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP | | Describes Me: | Playing the waiting game...again. |
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Posted: Tue Apr 15th, 2008 06:03 pm |
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5280 architect wrote: Got the GS results less than 2 weeks after taking the test.... I PASSED my last exam!!!!
Thanks to Marty Dallas, Lug-Nut, Brudgers, Pilot and many others who contribute to this forum. Special thanks to David Thaddeus and his workshop in Dallas for making a huge difference -- hearing it explained helped clarify & reinforce what I was studying on my own. Highly recommend taking this workshop in a city near you.
Now, what to do with all my free time??? Let me count the ways....
Good luck everyone. You'll be done in no time too.
That's AWESOME 5280....as of this morning, still waiting on my letter.
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JarrHedd
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| Joined: | Mon Sep 19th, 2005 |
| Location: | A-R-C-H-I-T-E-C-t, Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 118 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP | | Describes Me: | Playing the waiting game...again. |
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Posted: Sun Aug 10th, 2008 09:44 pm |
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Sorry for the delay.....but, like 5280, it was a slam dunk PASS!!!!!!!
Good luck everyone...have to retake my last test this Saturday!
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