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Vladdy
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 52 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | 5 checks - 4 to go |
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| Mana: |    |
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Posted: Fri Jul 18th, 2008 04:13 pm |
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This is just a post to let people know what I did to try and pass this test. I am taking the test tomorrow at 2:00 pm. I will post again this weekend to share my experience, good or bad. This may be more or less than what each person needs to do to pass BUT I thought it may be helpful to let people know what I thought I needed to do to pass this.
Information that might be relevant: I have about 6 years of experience at large firms and have a 4 + 2 Masters degree in Architecture.
Study Guides
- Browsed ARE Forum and FTP site
- Studied the Kaplan MEP Study Guide. I read it once completely (NO SKIMMING!) and highlighted important items. I then plan on reviewing on the highlighted part tomorrow morning before the test
- Graphic Standards, studied the drawings. Not too much reading here, just making sure I understood the drawings
- MEEB. I actually read a lot of the chapters on Mechanical, Plumbing, lighting. It is very dry and you have to read it slow but there is a lot of information in that book that you could be tested on. When I got to a chapter that really was not important, I skimmed. Chapters that were important, I read and studied.
Quizzes
- I know that no one really knows what it takes to pass but I think that if I get a 70%, I should be good.
- MEEB Chapter quizzes, averaged about a 72%,
- ALS quizzes, averaged about a 70%
- Last night I took the Kaplan Review test (selected the max amount of questions, 156) and got a 66%. The great thing about the Kaplan was that it showed that I TOTALLY need to review lighting and illumination. I got less than 25% of those questions right.
- So after taking all these quizzes/test, I am close to passing by my calculations. But that is just speculation.
Studying Schedule
6:00 am - Study for one hour before work
8:00 - 6:00 Work, No studying just practical experience
6-8 Dinner and relax
8-10 Study for two hours.
I did this for two weeks straight, not missing a day and on the weekends, I did about 4 hours a day. That gives me around 38 hours. I feel pretty confident going into this test but as everyone probably has read, this one is all over the place.
I will post again this weekend. I would like to give a PRE-Thank you for everyone that has posted and shared their experience.
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Punchlist
Member
| Joined: | Tue Oct 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 437 |
| 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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Posted: Fri Jul 18th, 2008 04:41 pm |
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Great post, Vladdy. Let us know how things went after having taken your exam.
Good luck tomorrow!!! 
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Far Galaxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jun 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude |
| Posts: | 1218 |
| Exams Taken: | | | Exams Passed: | | | Describes Me: | OFFICIAL |
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Online
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Posted: Fri Jul 18th, 2008 05:58 pm |
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why didn't you take LF right after GS?
Those 2 exams are like step brothers. They are different but under 1 roof. Keep them apart is not a good move.
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Vladdy
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 52 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | 5 checks - 4 to go |
| Status: |
Offline
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| Mana: | |
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Posted: Fri Jul 18th, 2008 06:06 pm |
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Far Galaxy wrote: why didn't you take LF right after GS?
Those 2 exams are like step brothers. They are different but under 1 roof. Keep them apart is not a good move.
I took GS and then circumstances happen where I found out I was moving to a different state. So I had to stop studying and work on my portfolio and resume. That took up a bunch of time so I took about 4 months off. Now that I am back into taking the test, I have found out that I did not pass the GS test. SO, in my thinking, I want to finish up MEP, then Pre-Design. THEN I study for GS and LF together! Take LF first and finish with GS as my last test.
I was dealt a hand where I had to change the order of taking the test. Oh well.
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Far Galaxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jun 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Apprx 32.2degrees N Latitude |
| Posts: | 1218 |
| Exams Taken: | | | Exams Passed: | | | Describes Me: | OFFICIAL |
| Status: |
Online
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Posted: Fri Jul 18th, 2008 08:07 pm |
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Ah..IC.
I tell you what, you need to check David Thaddeus seminar calendar and take the course. I am saying this not for my benefit or anything. I took his class, 3 days of brainstorm, and it made my life so much easier. Back a few months ago, my plan was to take ME, then GS then LF, but I found out that David's seminar was offered 400miles from my place and only within such time frame that I either take it or miss it til the next year, and so I took my friend's advice and flipped the whole plan and drove to take the course. Gosh, I spent tons of money for GS and LF, but it was worth it. It cut my study time down to 40%, better yet, it was the most fun class ever, and top of all, I passed both on the 1st try. So.
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Vladdy
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 52 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | 5 checks - 4 to go |
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Posted: Fri Jul 18th, 2008 08:38 pm |
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| I have heard that his classes are very good. I will look into it and see if there is a seminar in the near future. I need to get this all finished before the dreaded June 30, 2009 change over. And if it cost me some cash to help me pass and not have to take anything in ARE4.0 it will be well worth the money
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B-NCAR
Member
| Joined: | Tue Oct 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Seattle, Washington USA |
| Posts: | 41 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD | | Describes Me: | |
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Posted: Sat Jul 19th, 2008 02:16 am |
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good luck! looking forward to see your recap
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Disgruntled
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 31st, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 115 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | PD, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | my handle followed by the word INTERN |
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Posted: Sat Jul 19th, 2008 09:54 pm |
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Vladdy wrote: I have heard that his classes are very good. I will look into it and see if there is a seminar in the near future. I need to get this all finished before the dreaded June 30, 2009 change over. And if it cost me some cash to help me pass and not have to take anything in ARE4.0 it will be well worth the money
FYI
GS and LF are the two exams that you will get the benefit of only having to take as one exam under 4.0. Unlike BT!!!
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Vladdy
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 52 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | 5 checks - 4 to go |
| Status: |
Offline
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| Mana: | |
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Posted: Sat Jul 19th, 2008 10:12 pm |
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Well, I cannot say if it was enough or not.   
I just got back from this test and I do not feel good at all. A ton of emotions are racing though my body which include, MAD, disappointed, worried, surprised, confused, etc...
The test was very difficult. As I stated before, I really believed that I had a handle of what this test would be about. BUT, after taking it, I was completely wrong. I do not know if I could of studying the correct information if I tried. Studying an extra week, or month probably would not of helped that much.
That is all I can think of right now. My brain is mush. I do not feel confident about this test but enough people have wrote that they felt the same way and passed. I have to keep my fingers crossed.
On to Pre-Design!!!!!!! Taking that in 2 weeks. Same studying schedule, different material. Thanks to everyone that posted and shared their experience. I will make sure I post how I did
Last edited on Tue Aug 5th, 2008 01:23 pm by Vladdy
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sjansen
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jan 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Middle America, USA |
| Posts: | 185 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | GS, LF, ME, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Describes Me: | sleep,wait,eat,wait,work,wait, eat,wait,work,wait,repeat. |
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| Mana: | |
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Posted: Mon Jul 21st, 2008 06:55 pm |
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i took this exam on friday and feel exactly the same way about this exam. my consolation is also that there seem to be a lot of people who report back the same feelings of helplessness and then report passes a few weeks down the road.
i will keep my fingers crossed for the next couple of weeks for the both of us. good luck with PD! i will get there in a couple of weeks!
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B-NCAR
Member
| Joined: | Tue Oct 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Seattle, Washington USA |
| Posts: | 41 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD | | Exams Passed: | PD, GS, LF, ME, BD/MM, CD | | Describes Me: | |
| Status: |
Offline
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| Mana: | |
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Posted: Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 04:50 pm |
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I took it yesterday, I was a liitle nerves and was ready for getting beat up before the test, surprisely, I felt OK The calcs were not as straight forward as i thoguht, time management is key too. now is the waiting game.
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Vladdy
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 52 |
| Exams Taken: | PD, GS, ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BP, BT | | Exams Passed: | ME, BD/MM, CD, SP, BT | | Describes Me: | 5 checks - 4 to go |
| Status: |
Offline
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| Mana: | |
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 01:27 pm |
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Vladdy wrote: This is just a post to let people know what I did to try and pass this test. I am taking the test tomorrow at 2:00 pm. I will post again this weekend to share my experience, good or bad. This may be more or less than what each person needs to do to pass BUT I thought it may be helpful to let people know what I thought I needed to do to pass this.
Information that might be relevant: I have about 6 years of experience at large firms and have a 4 + 2 Masters degree in Architecture.
Study Guides
- Browsed ARE Forum and FTP site
- Studied the Kaplan MEP Study Guide. I read it once completely (NO SKIMMING!) and highlighted important items. I then plan on reviewing on the highlighted part tomorrow morning before the test
- Graphic Standards, studied the drawings. Not too much reading here, just making sure I understood the drawings
- MEEB. I actually read a lot of the chapters on Mechanical, Plumbing, lighting. It is very dry and you have to read it slow but there is a lot of information in that book that you could be tested on. When I got to a chapter that really was not important, I skimmed. Chapters that were important, I read and studied.
Quizzes
- I know that no one really knows what it takes to pass but I think that if I get a 70%, I should be good.
- MEEB Chapter quizzes, averaged about a 72%,
- ALS quizzes, averaged about a 70%
- Last night I took the Kaplan Review test (selected the max amount of questions, 156) and got a 66%. The great thing about the Kaplan was that it showed that I TOTALLY need to review lighting and illumination. I got less than 25% of those questions right.
- So after taking all these quizzes/test, I am close to passing by my calculations. But that is just speculation.
Studying Schedule
6:00 am - Study for one hour before work
8:00 - 6:00 Work, No studying just practical experience
6-8 Dinner and relax
8-10 Study for two hours.
I did this for two weeks straight, not missing a day and on the weekends, I did about 4 hours a day. That gives me around 38 hours. I feel pretty confident going into this test but as everyone probably has read, this one is all over the place.
I will post again this weekend. I would like to give a PRE-Thank you for everyone that has posted and shared their experience.
I took the exam about three weeks ago and I recieved my pass letter yesterday.  !!! Out of all the exams I have taken so far, this by far was the one that I felt the worst coming out. BUT I passed. So that is a relief.
I have listed what I studied about and how much time. I know that not everyone studies the same way and not everyone has the same experience BUT it does give an idea of what one person did to pass the test. Now I just have to wait for my Pre-Design (took that this past Saturday. Not bad) results and tackle structures. See you in the structures forum!!!
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