Just Took BP Test

[RazorbackBB]

Just got back from the BP Test. Here's my experience and the most valuable tips I found during practice and post.

Interior Layout Vignette: Pretty straight forward. nothing complicated. Just practice and post all the alternates you can get ahold of and you should be well prepared.

- Use the T-R-A-FF-I-C method as talked about on this forum. Very good order of tasks and clever name whoever thought of it.

- One thing I learned while posting, is to always make sure you draw the doors LAST. You can still draw your sketch rectangle clearances, because those are movable. This is very helpful because you can move walls around up until the last 20 minutes without having to re-draw doors. Doing that alone saved me 20 minutes on every practice alternate I did.

Schematic Design Layout: This one was pretty challenging. I spent a good hour just reviewing the program, making my list, and then drawing a bubble diagram by hand. I worked out my solution in 2.5 hours, and then fortunately had 30 minutes left to check it thoroughly.

- My advice is, don't get caught up in one layout. Try a few dfferent layouts. If you get stressed that one layout isn't working, you have plenty of time to try a few different ones.

- Work on the 1st and2nd floor simultaneously, not one then the other. This eliminates "suprises" at the end.

- Good tip that sprout gave me was to not get caught up in making the building footprint a regular shape. Like he said, keep in mind that this is NOT DESIGN. You are strictly meeting programatic requirements. Its OK if the footprint has jagged edges, just try to stay away from deep pockets.

- Keep circulation simple. The more staight forward your circulation, the more efficient layout you will have.

- Door swings CAN go over property lines

- You don't have to stack the bathrooms unless it states it in the program (thanks again Brudgers... this fact saved me some heartburn in the testing room)

- Practice, Practice, more Practice. There are some really great resources at your fingertips, so put in some effort and take advantage of all of this info, andthe great people herethat can help you point out your weaknesses so you can be well prepared for this test.



All in all, I feel like I did well. even if you have extra time, still double and triple check everything. In my cheking I caught that I had notswung the exit doors in the direction of egress out of the large space, and also I had put a window facing East, that really needed to face a southern view. Anyway, that's it. Once again, thanks to everyone who helped me out and reviewed my posts. This forum prepared me very well once again. Good luck everyone! "Yooouuu can doooo iiit!"

[Laz]

Good luck!

- Laz

[ctk115]

why do you suggest to stay away from deep pockets? just curious.