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Ode to ME
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flats
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Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
Status:  Offline
Mana: 
 Posted: Sat Jul 5th, 2008 10:01 pm

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I got a call from Prometric about 3 hours before my scheduled exam. They said some openings showed up, and I could come in early if I wanted. If figured why not, I have nothing better to do. I was actually able to take my exam this time. Yea!



What I studied:

Kaplan/ALS
Ballast
Archiflash
AGS
MEEB (see below)

Select items from FTP

Practice Exams by:
ARE Sample Exams: Nonstructural Divisions By: Holly Williams Leppo
Architecture Exam Review, Vol. II: Nonstructural Topics By: David Kent Ballast
Kaplan cd and book.
NCARB 3.1 and 4.0

10th MEEB Chapters and Sections I took a peek in:
2
3
4
7
8, 9, 10
11.1-11.39
12.7-12.26
13.10-13.15
15.21-15.29
20, 21, 22
24.1-24.30
25.1-12
26.6-10
27.3-7
28.3
28.8
Below is what I wrote down before the exam. Some items I wanted a quick reference to, others were items I was trying to avoid dyslexia from occurring during the exam.


0-1          3db
1-2          2
3-8          1
9+           0

One psi --  2.3 feet.

I=V/R      V=IR       R=V/I       P=VI       =VIpf        =VIpf√3    

E=I/d²     =I cos θ/ d²

Number of luminaries = (footcandles)(area of room)
                                       everything else

1.6 H+ 350 = elevator speed

K  ↓  Rigid
L  ↓   IMC
M  ↓  EMT

I, S, H, F

     H2O         K             CO2         ABC
A      X        X                               X
B                X               X              X
C                                 X              X          
D                                 X              X

Multizone and duel duct: fan occurs before the heat/cooling coils.

1Pipe      H/C/R
2P           H/C,R
3P           H,C,R
4P           H,C,R,R                               

A=144Qcfm/v 

Luminance = brightness = footlamberts

               ┌←←←←← ←←Expan ←←←← ← ← ┐(liquid)
                ↓                                                  ↑
heat→ Evap→cool                                          ↑
                ↓                                        cool→ Conden→heat
                ↓ (gas)                                         ↑ (gas)    
                └ →→→→→→→→→→→→→→ Compressor           



Sidebar. The onscreen calculator is accessed from a button in the upper right corner of the screen (next to the reference button) The calculator is identical to the windows calculator, and you click on a button to gain access to the scientific calculator. Please note the √ button is labeled sqrt. The calculator comes in twice as big as it needs to be. You can pull and stretch it, which gets old very quickly. With the calc open, and the reference page open, they dominate the screen and it becomes a juggling act to read the question and answers.

The exam was brutal. Very little of what I studied resembled anything on the exam. It took me 65 minutes to go through the questions. Skipped 15, marked 25. I spent the next 45 minutes going over the ones I skipped because they all contained math. Out of my 15, only 2 were simple plug and play. The remaining added another layer that threw me for a loop. Some I had no idea how to proceed because I never seen anything like them before. It wasn’t pretty. I used the remaining 10 minutes to quickly go over the ones I market. Time flew for me. I usually have plenty of time on multiple choice exams to recheck my work, not this time.

There were some gimmee-type questions here and there. There were some that very nearly repeated themselves. There were even questions that used the Roman numeral VII…. seriously. 

There were also questions that I knew the answer, but what I thought was the answer was not available as an answer. These questions really screwed with my head. I knew the topic, but nothing even close was as option.

Plenty of graphics where you had to identify this whatchamacallit or this widget. I swear one looked like the spaceship from the Muppets ‘Pigs in Space.”

Best of luck to those who dare to take this monster.......

~flats

Attached Image (viewed 1362 times):

Untitled-1.jpg

Gardner
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Joined: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Posts: 485
Exams Taken: PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, GS, LF, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT
Describes Me: No more "I'm not licensed because..."
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Mana: 
 Posted: Sat Jul 5th, 2008 10:30 pm

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Flats---of course I hoped for a more upbeat recap from you. I am happy that you were able to actually take the exam this time.  So, your experience makes me wonder even more how to tackle it.  It seems tho that there are many post-exam-posts that sound like yours that pass.  I wonder if they end up throwing out the worst of the questions?? Keep us posted & enjoy some free time before structures!

flats
Member


Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
Status:  Offline
Mana: 
 Posted: Sun Jul 6th, 2008 12:41 pm

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Gardner,

Thanks for the kind thoughts. I too have read many horror stories in this forum, only to find out the candidate passed. Stranger things have happened. But if I do have to retake, at least I feel I got the difficult version of the test over with and the next will, by default, have to be easier.... right?:D

I was just disappointed by the content of the exam. Very few questions dealt with what I've seen across my desk in the past ten years. Being asked obscure questions, even if I got them correct, does not make me a better architect. But I'm still an intern, what do I know.

Just study like you do with any other multiple choice exam. Get a broad scope of knowledge so you can attack anything they throw at you. Face the fact that certain topics may not appear on the exam. I personally think acoustics are very important in our profession, but my exam felt differently. There are posts like this one, that have compiled a list of topics to study. My exam covered very few items on that list.

I'm taking a week off before I dive into the world of GS/LF. My family and friends forgot what I looked like.:P  Besides, it'll take me a week to accumulate all my ME notes, dead file them, and start compiling my structure notes.

~flats

Far Galaxy
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Joined: Tue Jun 19th, 2007
Location: Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude
Posts: 1248
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Exams Passed: 
Describes Me: OFFICIAL
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Mana: 
 Posted: Sun Jul 6th, 2008 03:56 pm

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Well...Flats,
I wanted to congrats that you were very brave to step up to this challenge.
This exam is well known to be a horror story.
Don't worry too much, sounded like you did just fine.
good luck.
FG.

edit: oh btw, I would guess the "X" on that spaceship image as either exhausting fan, muffler, intake air....or something in that extreme. It can't be a telescopic equipment or sewer main or anything on that side of extreme, right:P

Last edited on Sun Jul 6th, 2008 04:00 pm by Far Galaxy

ArchiLilly
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Joined: Tue Jul 4th, 2006
Location: Massachusetts USA
Posts: 77
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Describes Me: Wannabe an architect in 2008!
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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 01:17 am

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Wow Flats...I just took the exam a few days ago, and it sounds like we had the same exact experience, as well as similar exam questions!!   It makes me feel a little better that someone else had the horror show of questions that I encountered. 

Oh--and just an FYI..The Prometric instructor made me open their pre-packaged earplugs in front of the camera, and then he asked me to squeeze them to make sure there was nothing in them.....are they kidding with this???  What did he think I was going to squeeze out of one --test answers???  If I got them in there...I must have magic powers...

I also studied: Kaplan, Ballast, ArchiFlash, and some MEEB skimming.  I spent about 5 weeks studying.  This was also a re-take for me.

I was horrified to find so few questions I could actually answer.  I marked about 45 questions, had about 15 calculations (and could only answer about 2 of them quickly).  I thought I knew the answer to several questions, but my answer choice was not there, either.  I ran out of time and had NO time to review calculations or marked questions, so they were straight 'Monkey' guesses (just hit any old number for the answer!)

I am also positive I got the 'Pigs in Space' spaceship ....and I had NO idea what it was!!!

I am 100% sure I failed this...I don't expect to be one of the 'miracle' stories you hear about.  I don't think I have that type of random 'guessing' power since I was not able to miraculously stuff ME answers into my Prometric earplugs...

Good luck to you...I hope you passed!!!  I will be back in this Forum in 6 months, for sure, for a 3rd round...ugh.

Last edited on Mon Jul 7th, 2008 01:18 am by ArchiLilly

flats
Member


Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 03:18 pm

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Far Galaxy wrote: edit: oh btw, I would guess the "X" on that spaceship image as either exhausting fan, muffler, intake air....or something in that extreme. It can't be a telescopic equipment or sewer main or anything on that side of extreme, right:P


pssst. You didn't hear it from me, but "X" is always the exhaust port for the flux capacitor. Check out MEEB, 53rd edition, page 23,875. :cool:

flats
Member


Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 03:18 pm

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ArchiLilly wrote: Wow Flats...I just took the exam a few days ago, and it sounds like we had the same exact experience, as well as similar exam questions!!   It makes me feel a little better that someone else had the horror show of questions that I encountered. 

Oh--and just an FYI..The Prometric instructor made me open their pre-packaged earplugs in front of the camera, and then he asked me to squeeze them to make sure there was nothing in them.....are they kidding with this???  What did he think I was going to squeeze out of one --test answers???  If I got them in there...I must have magic powers...

I also studied: Kaplan, Ballast, ArchiFlash, and some MEEB skimming.  I spent about 5 weeks studying.  This was also a re-take for me.

I was horrified to find so few questions I could actually answer.  I marked about 45 questions, had about 15 calculations (and could only answer about 2 of them quickly).  I thought I knew the answer to several questions, but my answer choice was not there, either.  I ran out of time and had NO time to review calculations or marked questions, so they were straight 'Monkey' guesses (just hit any old number for the answer!)

I am also positive I got the 'Pigs in Space' spaceship ....and I had NO idea what it was!!!

I am 100% sure I failed this...I don't expect to be one of the 'miracle' stories you hear about.  I don't think I have that type of random 'guessing' power since I was not able to miraculously stuff ME answers into my Prometric earplugs...

Good luck to you...I hope you passed!!!  I will be back in this Forum in 6 months, for sure, for a 3rd round...ugh.


Greetings ArchiLilly of MA. It's nice to know I didn't go into battle alone. You marked 45 out 105 questions.... eeek! I completely sympathize. I've never been so pressed for time before. It was a very surreal experience. Chin up though, stranger things have happened, maybe we both squeaked by. Keep me updated.......:cool:

Loved the ear plug story. I'm surprised they let you take anything into the testing room. I just use the ear muffs they provide. Not the greatest, but something is better than nothing. I still want to know who these people are that get fingerprinted and photographed before/after their tests. What tests are they taking?

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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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 06:44 pm

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Hey Flats,

Sounds like we had the same ole curve balls from NCARB... I loved the 'pigs in space' diagram.  However the answer could be D...

I.  Exhaust fan or intake port

II.  Telescopic equipment

III.  Flux capacitor exhaust

IV.  Starboard naicel - NCC-1701

 

A.  I and II only

B.  II and III only

C.  III and IV

D.  I, III and IV only

Its so funny I could either cry or kick something.

flats
Member


Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
Status:  Offline
Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 07:19 pm

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Arch-shadow wrote: Hey Flats,

Sounds like we had the same ole curve balls from NCARB... I loved the 'pigs in space' diagram.  However the answer could be D...

I.  Exhaust fan or intake port

II.  Telescopic equipment

III.  Flux capacitor exhaust

IV.  Starboard naicel - NCC-1701

 

A.  I and II only

B.  II and III only

C.  III and IV

D.  I, III and IV only

Its so funny I could either cry or kick something.



Greeting and Salutations Arch-shadow,

So the 'powers that be' got you too. Welcome to the club..... it sucks!

I really hope I'm not showing my age with the whole Pigs in Space thing. The ironic part is, the morning of my exam I went for a run. Around mile two, I came face to face with a pig on the sidewalk. It was 6:30AM, not a soul around, other than the pig and I. Thought I was being punked or something. I'm used to seeing dogs, cats, the occasional deer, and old ladies in bathrobes getting the morning paper. But a pig, that was a new one for me. But I figured it was just out for a walk, getting a little exercise, nothing wrong with that. Of course, I've been craving bacon ever since.:P

I tried to think of a question like yours above, but my inner Trekkie let me down. But where is Roman numeral VII?! :cool:  Thanks for making me smile on this cloudy day. Good luck on your results.....

Punchlist
Member
 

Joined: Tue Oct 17th, 2006
Location: Massachusetts USA
Posts: 446
Exams Taken: GS, LF, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: GS, LF, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT
Describes Me: ME Exam awaits
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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 08:34 pm

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flats wrote: I really hope I'm not showing my age with the whole Pigs in Space thing.
Not at all. OMFG. I laughed so hard when I read that. Anyone who was 7-11 years old in the late 70's, as we obviously were, know all too well the many characters that appeared every Tuesday night at 7:30pm. Freakin' priceless. The two old geezers up in the balcony at the end of the show: pure gold. 'Happy Days' was a must-watch immediately after that at 8.

It's frightening to think that you studied Kaplan, Ballast, the many moons of MEEB, the backs of a dozen cereal boxes including 'Boo Berry', 'Lucky Charms' and 'Colon Blow' and still felt like you were reading a Chinese menu when the sign on the door to the restaurant clearly said "La Trattoria NCARBana". Like you, I have a fair amount of MEP coordination experience and something tells me I won't be asked to identify the fancoil unit or condenstate pump on a diagram nor will I be asked what my primary concern should be regarding power and a live animal facility. Nope. Ah, if only it were that simple. And realistic. Heaven forbid one should be able to draw from real world experience to take this or any of these exams.

Well, I hope you did well and I'm quite sure you did. In a couple of weeks, I'll begin to pull together the most useful study materials for the ME exam and get to it. I took GS and LF in June and my brain is still a bit swollen from that lovely experience. Good luck with those, by the way.

flats
Member


Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 09:22 pm

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Here's the thing Punchlist. Earlier today, instead of working, I was scouring the GS forum where I came across your post. I kept on thinking, this person is someone I could totally hang with, love the humor. Even though you have a soft spot for the Sox and Celtics, I could look past that (we all have our flaws). But then, I think you went too far. I don't know which is worse: the ridiculous content of my ME exam, or the fact you can recall the day AND time of the Muppets show, and what followed it. You need help, really. Possessing that type of knowledge is just wrong, and really scares me. :P

Oh, those two old geezers..... they were my favorite. They were my 3rd set of grandparents.:cool:

I remember reading in the SP forum about one particular insane exam. They gave you a building the size of an Ikea, an amazon type site smaller than my college apartment, and you could only kill 5 trees. I think there is one crazy exam per section thats sole purpose is to contribute to the NCARB vacation house in the Bahamas. I just happened to get it. Don't let that scare you. We all have gotten this far, it'll take more than one pig in space to stop me.:cool:

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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Mana: 
 Posted: Mon Jul 7th, 2008 11:28 pm

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flats wrote: We all have gotten this far, it'll take more than one pig in space to stop me.:cool:

 

'resistance if futile'... or in this in this crazy thread... R is V over I ;)

haroyal
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Joined: Thu Nov 2nd, 2006
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 111
Exams Taken: PD, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP
Exams Passed: BD/MM, CD, SP, BP
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Mana: 
 Posted: Tue Jul 8th, 2008 01:50 am

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Hi gang,

I'm in the process of compiling a study list for ME like I do for all my M/C tests and I had a thought....I've been reading the forum and notice the large amount of people who say they got stuff on their tests they never studied (or seen before).  

Does it make sense to focus your study on the "Content Area" published in the ARE study guide 3.1 or 4.0.  If this is the basis for the questions, the test shouldn't (in theory) be too far off course. 

If I'm stating the obvious, please advise.  I'm thinking of retooling my pre study strategy for this one.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

HAR   

Far Galaxy
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Location: Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude
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Mana: 
 Posted: Tue Jul 8th, 2008 03:39 am

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haroyal wrote: Hi gang,

I'm in the process of compiling a study list for ME like I do for all my M/C tests and I had a thought....I've been reading the forum and notice the large amount of people who say they got stuff on their tests they never studied (or seen before).  

Does it make sense to focus your study on the "Content Area" published in the ARE study guide 3.1 or 4.0.  If this is the basis for the questions, the test shouldn't (in theory) be too far off course. 

If I'm stating the obvious, please advise.  I'm thinking of retooling my pre study strategy for this one.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

HAR   
this exam has a boatload of information. It's a combo of M+E+P+codes+Chemicals+enviro. issues+BS. It's like a buffet. Eat as much as you could before you leave the table. So, you better go beyond ARE study guides. I find MEEB book very important for this section of ARE.

haroyal
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Joined: Thu Nov 2nd, 2006
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 111
Exams Taken: PD, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP
Exams Passed: BD/MM, CD, SP, BP
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Mana: 
 Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 03:00 am

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I tend to agree with you given the numerous posts I have read.  However, my sense is that the ARE Content Area should be the central focus and you can expand from there.  Unfocused studying may not be beneficial. 

I received the MEEB 10th edition today and am already leaning into it.  I'm also expecting the Lechner book later this week which appears to be highly regarded. These will add to the already owned GS, Studio Companion, Ching duo, Ballast, Kaplan, Archiflash and CD.  

In addition, I've already booked lunch with the office MEP Guru's to explain this stuff to me.  It will definitely be worth a few pizza slices.

Although I have a ton of work experience, the MEP side is still a fog and I need all the help I can get.

Thanks for the input.

HAR



flats
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Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
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Mana: 
 Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 01:28 pm

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haroyal,

I'm a big believer in multiple sources for studying. But I also think too many can be counter productive. But....

I had a handful of questions that asked for definitions of simple MEP 101 type terms. I thought I knew the definitions (from Kaplan, Ballast, MEEB, real world experience), but their definitions were unlike any of those I've seen. Sometimes the definition came in an illustrative manner. So don't just memorize words, that may not be enough. Other times, the question would ask for a definition of a MEP term, as defined by some reference source. The term was a MEP 101 type term that anyone should know, but I didn't know the 'official' definition from this source. After my exam, I checked out that source in our firms reference library. Naturally, the sources definition was 100% different from those I was given the option to choose from on my exam.:X 

elastigirl
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Joined: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008
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Exams Taken: ME, BP, BT
Exams Passed: ME, BP, BT
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Mana: 
 Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 03:13 pm

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Punchlist wrote: flats wrote: I really hope I'm not showing my age with the whole Pigs in Space thing.
Not at all. OMFG. I laughed so hard when I read that. Anyone who was 7-11 years old in the late 70's, as we obviously were, know all too well the many characters that appeared every Tuesday night at 7:30pm. Freakin' priceless. The two old geezers up in the balcony at the end of the show: pure gold. 'Happy Days' was a must-watch immediately after that at 8.



If you ever make it to Disney World, you can see those two old geezers up in the balcony ... throughout an awesome 3D (glasses and all) Muppet Movie. 

Flats, your rundown of the exam, almost as priceless as the two geezers.  I need all the help I can get.

Punchlist, I'll have to check out your GS and LF rundowns ... I hope to take all these exams by mid-Sept ... Have been putting everything off.

Good luck all!

haroyal
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Joined: Thu Nov 2nd, 2006
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 111
Exams Taken: PD, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP
Exams Passed: BD/MM, CD, SP, BP
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Mana: 
 Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 03:13 pm

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Hi Flats

I agree that too much may not be beneficial but the books I have, I use for all my exams.  I add to them as each test warrants.   

My strategy has always been to understand the general concepts and then specifics as they are relevant to the concept.  I totally agree that these exams can come at you from many angles as we saw in MM/BD and PD.

A perfect example was last night I was trying to understand what a Chiller does and every book I looked at gave me a slightly different definition including Wikipedia and MEEB.  After reading the different definitions, I now have a very general understanding and feel comfortable with this piece of the equation. 

I read lots of horror stories about MM/BD on the forum and my test was very straight forward. Was this because I prepared well or was my exam different than others?

Somehow I think that (we) Far Galaxy, yourself and I are on a similar page.  Understand how things work, what the important pieces are (including terms) and try to understand real world applications.

I hope that you pass as it seems that you have prepared well.  I plan to test at the end of the month so I'll let you know how this go.

Thanks again for the feedback.:dude:

HAR

pink pink
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Exams Taken: PD, ME, SP, BP, BT
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Mana: 
 Posted: Thu Jul 10th, 2008 05:20 am

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Flats:

Don't think this will make you feel any better, but I have to say that I shared your pain.  MEP was my first mc test which I took the past monday. I spent at least 150hr preparing for this test like pretty much everything you did.. My test is definitely as horrible as yours.... with at least 30-40% calculations, lots and lots of A) I and II B) I, II, IV, V  C) III only...type question. Out of 105, there were a VERY few straight forward questions that I can actually answer without having to flip my brain around.  Really, I thought I can handle this before I took the test...I mean after all those times studying who wouldn't think they know something.

But reality check... appearently I know nothing.  The test was nothing resembled anything I studied nor what have been posted on the forum.  I marked so many questions it is not even funny and had no time to go through them.  At some point while I was trying to guess something, I wondered whether I was taking the right exam.  Anyway, I talked to a couple of my friends who took this exam last month and realized that my test was nothing like what they got.  However, now that I am reading this post, mine does sound a bit closer to yours. (which confirm that I did take the ME test afterall.) Maybe it is because we took it about the same time.  Who knows...

May be someone from NCARB decided to play a cruel joke on anyone who dare to take this test this month...making it nothing like the previous exams, just for the heck of it.. 

If my suspection is correct, then i presume that I would see alot of *&&%$$\& posts this month.

Good luck to you and everyone else that went though this nightmare....

flats
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Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
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Mana: 
 Posted: Thu Jul 10th, 2008 12:11 pm

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Good Morning Pink2,

Sorry to hear about your test experience, especially since it was your first multiple choice. Do your best to put this exam behind you. You hit the ‘end exam’ button; there is nothing else to do other than wait for the results like the rest of us. Save your notes, and move onto the next exam. You knocked out all three graphics, and that is an achievement in itself. Chin up.:cool:

pink pink
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Joined: Wed Nov 28th, 2007
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Exams Taken: PD, ME, SP, BP, BT
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Mana: 
 Posted: Thu Jul 10th, 2008 12:50 pm

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Thanks,,, I am now on to MM.. well not quite yet..

may be in a week...  :)

B-NCAR
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Joined: Tue Oct 16th, 2007
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Posts: 70
Exams Taken: PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
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Mana: 
 Posted: Thu Jul 10th, 2008 04:05 pm

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Flats, thanks for sharing your story! Could you elaborate on the exam subject a little bit? Is this following highly regarded Eli Nastase post relevant at all?

 

http://www.areforum.org/forums/forum4/51344.html

 

 I think everybody here would appreciate it if someone can update the itemized list especially if this round is so different. btw, you’ll be just fine based on your preparation. :), I had similar experience with my previous exam and passed it.

flats
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Joined: Tue Jul 10th, 2007
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Posts: 421
Exams Taken: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT
Exams Passed: PD, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
Describes Me: In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.
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Mana: 
 Posted: Fri Jul 11th, 2008 03:35 pm

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B-NCAR,

For my exam, that list was irrelevant. I had 20% max of those topics on my exam. Check out the list below. I took that list and removed those I didn’t have. Notice how short the list got?

Calculations

1.      Plumbing fixture count - using charts
2.      # of light fixtures - using reference (I had a couple of zonal cavity calculations, some easy, some hard)
3.      U-value (couple questions)
4.      Escalator - ...that's right, escalator calcs.

Mechanical/Environmental

8.      Sun chart
13.    Vapor retarder (couple questions)

Plumbing

Electrical

Lighting

1.      Light types, efficacy, and colors (several questions)
4.      Ballasts
6.      Daylighting (2 very similar questions, very difficult and time consuming)

Acoustics

Fire Protection/Life Safety

3.      Standpipes

Miscellaneous

I had one obscure ADA question. It wasn’t your typical restroom type.
Had to identify many graphical representations of common MEP terms.
I was shown many MEP-type equipment, and had to identify the parts.

But this was just my exam. Even though it does look like others got a similar exam as me, I wouldn't ignore the list. Knowing the topics will give you a good foundation of MEP knowledge, and that is the point after all. Your exam may closer resemble what is on that list. Forgive me for sounding so blunt, but I was taken to the back shed I received several lashes from this exam. Good luck with your studies.:cool:

B-NCAR
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Joined: Tue Oct 16th, 2007
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
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Exams Taken: PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, BP, BT
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Mana: 
 Posted: Sat Jul 12th, 2008 04:12 pm

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thanks, flats! best of luck,

Far Galaxy
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Mana: 
 Posted: Sun Jul 20th, 2008 09:42 pm