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Arch-shadow
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| Joined: | Sun Feb 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | SF Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 38 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | almost there |
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 05:10 am |
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Hello all,
After a few months of slow study, due to a just average retention rate and an 18 month old baby... I finally took the dreaded MEP test. Actually, the night before the test I thought I had prepared pretty well: I had the flash cards down, Kaplan study guide fully reviewed, sample tests and test banks taken and retaken, reviewed "Heating Lighting and Cooling", review graphic standards for illustrations of mechanical devices, symbols, wiring, etc., reviewed the selected sections of the MEEB and did the on line quizzes, taken an AIA seminar and downloaded all I could from this site's FTP. So I thought/hoped I had prepared enough.
After the exam was over I walked out thinking WTF was that? Its like I had studied all the material in English, but as some kind of cruel joke they had given the test in Latin. There were diagrams I had never seen, I was asked to identify parts of mechanical equipment I had never even heard of. I really have no idea of how well or poorly I did. I was so thrown off by the material, I decided to save all the calculations until end to make sure I answered as many questions as I could... In the end I had to rush through the calculations, and even guess before time ran out.
There were a fair amount of calculation questions... I'd say about 15. And NCARB did provide a formula reference window. I was expecting a handout, but it was actually accessed from a button at the top of the screen, next to the provided calculator. The problem was that since I was rushing to finish, and the formulas were not set up the way I had laid them out on my own formula sheet, it took a while to find what I was looking for. If I could suggest anything, I'd recommend memorizing the formulas so your not wasting time looking for the right one... Also, after the test, if you have any doubt, try to write down as many questions as you can remember so you will have a better, more accurate reference of what questions will be asked.
I compared my post exam feelings with others in my office who had taken the exam, and they basically said that they felt the same afterwards, and they ended up passing. The preparation materials are evolutions removed from the actual test. In fact I had reviewed the current Kaplan study guide, and then compared that to an older ALS version from 1991 and the final exam questions were pretty much the same. That's nearly 20 years without updated questions - its just something to consider.
All I can do now is hope for the best... and get some rest before the next challenge.
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LibraLogic
Member
| Joined: | Wed May 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | West Palm Beach, FL, USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, ME, CD, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, CD, BT | | Describes Me: | Determined |
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 01:29 pm |
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| Hey Arch...any advice on which calculations to really focus on?
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Arch-shadow
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | SF Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 38 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | almost there |
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 03:59 pm |
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Hi Logic,
most of my questions were lighting and electrical based... a couple derivations of the zonal cavity method, there were a few on power and resulting voltage given the wiring or configuration (delta vs wye)... oh and there were some life cycle cost analysis... these weren't cals, they gave you a couple of tables from which you had to find the most effective solution.
Good luck.
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LibraLogic
Member
| Joined: | Wed May 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | West Palm Beach, FL, USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, ME, CD, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, CD, BT | | Describes Me: | Determined |
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 05:54 pm |
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Excellent feedback, thank you. Ive been hesitant to get too involved with the Zonal Cavity Method....due to its complexity. But now it looks like its time to bite the bullet.
Ive comfortable with the Delta-Wye, and the way it works.... http://www.areforum.org/forums/forum4/52506.html if I get in any more depth I think Ill just go take the electrical engineers license instead.
Thanks for the luck....I'll need that more than anything.  Let us know when you get the PASS letter!
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jaguar
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| Joined: | Thu Apr 10th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 163 |
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 01:24 pm |
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Hi Arch Shadow - Your comments sound like they could have been written by me - I had the exact same sentiments about the study material as it related to the quirky test questions. Many of the questions I could not remember when I left to jot them down becuase they were too obscure - I am not sure how anyone could answer them correctly without a lot of luck...Meanwhile, your test sounds very similar to the one I took - the one I took also had a few qestions regarding vertical transportation (i.e. know your escaltor speeds), light switching, landfill power generation, plumbing valves, HID lighting, fire protection systems. The amp/circuit question through me for a loop - I wanted to answer this one, because I knew that this one could be solved rather than quessed...Saved it for last - did not have time at the end to go through it - made a wild guess...All in all, I left the exam feeling absolutly wasted. (what was that fixture diagram all about - the one with neon light as one of the possible answers?)
One very good thing about this whole process - I know infinitely more about water supply, drainage systems, solid waste, wiring arrangements, voltage, decible ranges, circuit branches, series and parallel circuits, amps, phases, (never really got the wye delta thing but am still studying this), light distribution, ohms, sound pressure level, refrigeration systems, than I will ever need to know, and although I won't remember most of it, it the knowledge has helped me at least have a coherant discussion with the engineers about their systems. p.s. - I did fail this horific exam - am re-taking in August - will focus on MEEB which seems more relevant to the exam.
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Arch-shadow
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | SF Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 38 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | almost there |
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 04:06 pm |
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Hey Jag...
It does sound like we did have some similar questions... I did remember going WTF on a lighting diagram that appeared to have three other objects attached to it... identify? I've never even see this in the material? It is frustrating, because for an exam with so much scope, you'd think that NCARB should at least let you know what to study. I think after studying the material we all have the big picture concepts down... but seriously how often to you need to know the macro details of wiring diagrams?
Oh and I just remember another item... test taker should know the varrious types of plumbing traps (P, S, bell, etc) and where and why they are used - I had two of those questions.
I used an 8th edition MEEB... I wonder if the later editions have different (more updated diagrams)? Good luck all.
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LibraLogic
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| Joined: | Wed May 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | West Palm Beach, FL, USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, ME, CD, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, CD, BT | | Describes Me: | Determined |
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Posted: Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 05:27 pm |
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Arch Shadow....thanks for the contribution....Ill indeed look into those before I study this coming Monday. We'll get those NCARB bastar#$'s one way or another....
If you can think of anything else and care to share....the forum will be listening!
Last edited on Wed Jul 2nd, 2008 05:30 pm by LibraLogic
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jaguar
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 01:29 pm |
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| Shadow - While strolling down memory lane, I remembered another obscure subject on the exam - regarding fire places. Unfortunately I can't remember the question, as it was a subject on which I was entirely unfamiliar. By chance do you remember what this one was all about ? - J
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Arch-shadow
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | SF Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 38 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | almost there |
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 03:58 pm |
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Sorry Jag,
I didn't have that particular question... although there were some obscure ones...
One that seemed a bit too detailed had to do with automated fire alarm controls as related to vertical transportations... ie. if this response was triggered what would the system do.
Good luck again all.
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LibraLogic
Member
| Joined: | Wed May 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | West Palm Beach, FL, USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, ME, CD, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, CD, BT | | Describes Me: | Determined |
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 04:00 pm |
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| Was one of the answers to send all cabs to a specified (usually first) floor? This is the first thing that comes to mind....Fire service mode. (FSM) Last edited on Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 04:08 pm by LibraLogic
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Arch-shadow
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | SF Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 38 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | almost there |
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Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 06:48 pm |
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I can really say specifically... (big brother NCARB and all) but definetly know the Fire Service Modes and what happens for each mode.
Good luck.
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Far Galaxy
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| Joined: | Tue Jun 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude |
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Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 02:48 am |
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what is "fire service mode"?You mean the methods of controlling fire? like sprinkler system, compartmentation, fire rated walls, active and passive smoke control?
I did a search online and I can't find anything about that term. MEEB doesn't have it neither. thx
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LibraLogic
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| Joined: | Wed May 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | West Palm Beach, FL, USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, ME, CD, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, CD, BT | | Describes Me: | Determined |
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Posted: Fri Jul 4th, 2008 11:55 am |
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Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator#Fire_service_mode_.28EFS.29
Also....Section 23.43 in MEEB 9th ed. goes into detail about it.
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Arch-shadow
Member
| Joined: | Sun Feb 24th, 2008 |
| Location: | SF Bay Area, California USA |
| Posts: | 38 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | almost there |
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Posted: Sun Aug 10th, 2008 12:39 am |
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Hey guys... I passed.
I wanted to follow up, because a couple of folks on my office had the same WTF feeling after testing, and passed... I studied my (AT)$$ off, but came out of the test pissed off and pretty doubtful, actually I was almost certain I tanked this one... but some how I passed too. I am so relieved.
Now I only have to pass the Structurals... that should be easy right?
Good luck to you.
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LibraLogic
Member
| Joined: | Wed May 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | West Palm Beach, FL, USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| Exams Taken: | GS, ME, CD, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, CD, BT | | Describes Me: | Determined |
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Posted: Mon Aug 11th, 2008 11:20 am |
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Congrats!...I too am hitting GS, in fact I test in a couple more weeks. As far as ME goes....looks like I have to take another swing at it in 6 mo's.
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