Softcover

ISBN 10: 1612650023 ISBN 13: 9781612650029

Publisher: ArchiteG, Incorporated, 2011

A Practical Mock Exam for the Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division of the ARE!

Every July, NCARB begins to draw the Architect Registration Examinations (ARE) questions from a new edition of ARE exam guide and scope.We have incorporated this latest information into our books.
 
To become a licensed architect, you need to have a proper combination of education and/or experience, meeting your Board of Architecture's special requirements, as well as passing all seven divisions of ARE.

This book provides ARE exam overview, resources, exam prep and exam taking techniques, tips and guides. It also provides a realistic and complete set of Mock Exam, solutions, explanations for the Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division of the ARE. This book covers the following subjects:

1. ARE, IDP and Education Requirements
2. ARE Exam Content, Format and Prep strategies
3. Principles: Selection of Systems, Materials, and Methods, Historic Precedent, Human Behavior, and Design Theory
4. Environmental Issues: Sustainable Design Including Hazardous Material Mitigation, Thermal and Moisture Protection, and Adaptive Re-Use
5. Codes & Regulations: Zoning, Specialty and Building Codes, and Other Regulatory Requirements
6. Materials & Technology: Selection of Systems, Materials, and Methods, including Masonry, Metals, Wood, Concrete, Specialties, and Others
7. Project & Practice Management: Cost, Scheduling, Construction Sequencing, and Risk Management
8. Accessibility/Ramp Vignette: Designing a stairway and ramp connecting two levels that abides by the code and accessibility requirements
9. Stair Design Vignette: Designing a stairway connecting multiple levels that abides by the code and accessibility requirements
10. Roof Plan Vignette: Designing a sloped roof for draining the rainwater, locate equipment and accessories
11. Step-By-Step Solutions for 6 Graphic Vignettes Using NCARB Practice Program Software

This book includes 85 challenging questions at the same difficulty level and format as the real exam (multiple-choice, check-all-that-apply, and fill-in-the-blank), and 6 graphic vignettes. It will help you pass the BDCS division of the ARE and become a licensed architect!

See posts under the Customer Discussion Section at the lower portion of this book's Amazon detailed page for ARE Exam prep strategies, and more information on this book.
Sample text from "Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam(Architect Registration Exam)":
 
·"Since we do have an area of refuge for this vignette, the stair width needs to beat least 56" or 1422 (48" or 1219 CLEAR because of the area of refuge, plus an 8" or 203 allowance for handrails on both sides)...
 
Note: NCARBthrows in the 44" (1118) minimum stair width requirement at the beginning of the program, and place the 48" (1219) CLEAR stair width requirement because ofthe area of refuge at the end of the program. This is to make sure you can coordinate various criteria, and make sure you are patient enough to read the entire program."
 
... Note: There is a defect with the gutter command of the NCARB's oftware. Once you place it, it is almost impossible to modify it. There are two ways to solve this problem...ArchiteG®, ARE Mock Exam®, Green Associate Exam Guide®, GA Study®, and GreenExamEducation® are registered trademarks owned by Gang Chen.

From the Author:

Can you study and pass the ARE Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Exam in 2 weeks?

The answer is yes IF you study the right materials: If you have ZERO experience but read the right materials, you can pass with 2 weeks of prep.

If you study our book, "Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)," you have an excellent chance of studying and passing the ARE Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Exam in 2 weeks. We have added many tips and tricks that WILL help you pass the exam on your first try. Our goal is to take a very complicated subject and make it simple.  "Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)" will save you time and money and help you pass the exam on the first try!
ARE Mock Exam series by ArchiteG, Inc.
 
Time and effort is the most valuable asset of a candidate. How to cherish and effectively use your limited time and effort is the key of passing any exam. That is why we publish the ARE Mock Exam series to help you to study and pass the ARE exams in the shortest time possible. We have done the hard work so that you can save time and money. We do not want to make you work harder than you have to.
 
Do not force yourself to memorize a lot of numbers. Read through the numbers a few times, and you should have a very good impression of them.
 
You need to make the judgment call: If you miss a few numbers, you can still pass the exam, but if you spend too much time drilling these numbers, you may miss out on the big pictures and fail the exam.
 
The official NCARB sample MC questions have no explanations, and the official NCARB sample vignettes have no step-by-step solutions. The existing ARE practice questions or exams by others are either way too easy or way over-killed. They do NOT match the real ARE exams at all.
 
We have done very comprehensive research on the official NCARB guides, many related websites, reference materials, and other available ARE exam prep materials. We match our mock exams vignettes questions as close as possible to the NCARB samples and the real ARE exams instead. Some other readers had failed an ARE exam two or three times before, and they eventually passed the exam with our help.
 
All our books include a step-by-step solution to each of the NCARB sample vignette with screenshots and related NCARB software commands, a complete set of MC questions (except for the SD ARE mock exam) and vignettes matching the real ARE exams, including number of questions, format, type of questions, etc. We also include detailed answers and explanations to our MC questions, and a step-by-step solution to each of the mock vignette with screenshots and related NCARB software commands. Our DWG files for our mock exam vignettes can also be installed and used with the NCARB software.
 
There is some extra information on ARE overviews and exam-taking tips in Chapter One. This is based on NCARB AND other valuable sources. This is a bonus feature we included in each book because we want our readers to be able to buy our ARE mock exam books together or individually. We want you to find all necessary ARE exam information and resources at one place and through our books.
 
All our books are available at
GreenExamEducation.com

Check out FREE tips and info for all ARE Exams at GeeForum.com, you can post jpeg files of your vignettes or your questions for other users' review.


What others are saying about Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)...
 
"Great study guide for broad range of BDCS Exam
"This was a great resource supplement to my other study resources. I appreciated the mock exam questions the most, and the solutions offer an explanation as to why the answer is correct. I will definitely check out his other ARE exam resources!

UPDATE: Got my PASS Letter!"
--Sean Primeaux
 
"Add this to your ARE study
"This was a very helpful practice exam and discussion. I really appreciated the step-by-step review of the author's approach to solving the graphic vignettes. The BDCS is a challenging test and I believe that every bit of help finding the right solutions to the vignettes was necessary for me to make passing solutions within the allotted time. If I had made any other mistakes I would have been in real trouble. As I studied it last before taking the test Gang Chen's book probably made the difference for me."
--Dan Clowes ("XLine")
 
"Excellent resource!
"This publication was very helpful in my preparation for the BDCS portion of the Architectural Registration Exam. It contained a mock exam with 85 multiple choice questions, followed by the answers and brief explanations to the answers. Also included, and most beneficial, were the overall strategies and tips for the ramp, stairs, & roof vignettes. Each practice vignette was solved step-by-step in a logical manner. The most valuable information for me were the "notes on NCARB traps", a list of common errors made by test takers, and a "summary of critical dimensions", which is a checklist of compliant dimensions to have in mind while taking the exam. There are also many websites referenced that add to the experience of studying for this exam...Good Luck on your exam!

UPDATE: Received PASS letter!"
--Doug Bentzinger ("Doug")
 
"Good supplemental mock exam
"I found the mock exam to be very helpful, all of the answers are explained thoroughly and really help you understand why it is correct...Also the introduction and test taking tips are very helpful for new candidates just starting the ARE process."
--Bgrueb01 (Quoted from Amazon Customer Review)
 
"Great Study Tool for ARE-BDCS Exam
"This is a great study tool to use when preparing for the BDCS exam. I highly recommend. I used Mr. Chen's CDS Mock Exam book and found it very helpful. I also Passed the CDS after utilizing Chen's book. After reading the BDCS Mock exam book I found it to be setup the same way as CDS. Which has helpful tips for taking the exam both MC and Graphics portion. I like how it is similar to the way that NCARB asks questions on the exam and give explanation of why the answer chosen is correct or wrong.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for those going to take the BDCS exam. I would say this is the best study material out there!!! I hope that Mr. Chen would write books for BS, SS, PPP, & SPD. Thanks."
--James Lushbough
 
"Essential Study Tool
"I have read the book and found it to be a great study guide for myself. Mr. Gang Chen does such a great job of helping you get into the right frame of mind for the content of the exam. Mr. Chen breaks down the points on what should be studied and how to improve your chances of a pass with his knowledge and tips for the exam and practice vignettes.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that is taking the BDCS part of the ARE Exams as it is an invaluable tool in the preparation for the exam as Mr. Chen provides a vast amount of knowledge in a very clear, concise, and logical matter."
--Luke Giaccio

 

From the Inside Flap:

"Wish I had this book earlier
"I used Mr. Chen's CDS mock exam, which was invaluable to me for passing CDS on my first attempt. Unfortunately, the BDCS mock exam wasn't out prior to my taking that exam, on which I did not fare so well. After having looked at the BDCS book, I know that I would have done better, much better, if I had it to study. Nevertheless, the vignette walk-throughs are particularly helpful in navigating NCARB's notoriously difficult software by proposing a logically ordered sequence and showing where inefficiencies could be eliminated to save time and perfect solutions...The questions are written like the NCARB questions, with various types...check all that apply, fill in the blank, best answer, etc. The answer key helpfully describes why the correct answer is correct, and why the incorrect answers are not. Take it from my experience, at half the cost of other mock exams, this is a must buy if you want to pass BDCS the first time you take it."
--Domiane Forte (" Vitruvian Duck")
 
 
"He does a good job of taking you through the vignettes in particular and the test questions are a fair approximation of what you might expect to encounter. Highly recommended."
--Gary Leivers (" ukarch66")
 
"Highly recommended for A.R.E. candidates!
"The material presented in the BDCS ARE Mock Exam book is excellent. It is presented in a manner which students or candidates for the A.R.E. can understand and gain conceptual knowledge. The practical vignette design solutions are great. It helped me prepare for the BDCS exam with confidence."
--Stephen Bent (" bentarchitect")
 
"BDCS ARE Mock Exam -- Great for Vignettes
"This prep book is a great way to prepare for the Building Design and Construction Systems ARE. The author takes you through all three of the vignettes and gives step by step instructions on how to find the solutions-- including graphics. Also, there are summaries of the key dimensions that you need to know.

I recommend using this book to prepare for the exam-- especially if you've had trouble with the NCARB software in the past."
-- Christine Williams
 
"Good Mock Exam
"... The mock exam is very useful as a tool to estimate how well you know the material. It's tougher than the NCARB practice tests, making it more realistic. He does a good job pointing you in the right direction for study materials (what documents to read, etc.)..."
--Penelope Marvel ( penny "penny")
 
"Good Study Guide
"I am using this as a supplemental study guide for the BDCS ARE Exam and the step by step instructions on how to tackle the vignettes has been very helpful. The multiple choice mock exam was very helpful for discovering where my weaknesses were as well. I would highly recommend this as part of your study material for this exam."
--Bryan Bell (" bell1658")
 
"BDCS - Gang Chen ARE Study Guide
"This is a great addition to the long list of study guides for the ARE BDCS exam. I used the practice exam as an additional preparation for this exam. Just found out that I passed BDCS! I recommend this guide to other ARE candidates!"
--Brian Fracasse ("BFracasse")

"Love it
"This is a good book to start studying for the BD&CS Exam..especially the vignette instructions, it gives a step by step guide to solving them. With illustration from the NCARB practice program. I have never seen any other book showing them which makes it a lot easier how the software works.
The multiple choice questions are good in helping you prepare to some of the style of questions that the real ARE exam will be.
Overall, I am pleased in getting this book in helping me with my studies.
Thank You!!!"
--Phoebe Lee
 
"Great additional resource for passing the BDCS exam!
"For architectural interns seeking to decipher the cryptic nature of the NCARB Architect Registration Exam's Building Design and Construction Systems, Gang Chen's Mock Exam book helps to clarify things. The essential component of this guide is the step-by-step manner in which the graphics portion of this exam in delineated with the accompanying support images. The majority of the commercially available resources do not provide this kind of dispensement of information. This edition is invaluable for this reason. I am currently still in the process of going through my other study materials for the written content portion of the exam and reserve comments regarding the multiple choice portion of this guide, but at a cursory review, seems to cover the breadth of the exam
-- Jeff Koo
 
"Chen's Book Helped me prepare for the A.R.E
"I took my time going through the book and comparing it to the other study guides that I have for the exam. Chen's book is very helpful in preparing for the graphic drawing portions of the exam. The questions in the mock exam, just like on the real exam, are thrown at you in different styles: pick all that apply, select the best two, choose the incorrect statement, etc. Which I felt was good practice for the exam. Some of the questions come very close to the questions on the actual test. I would recommend this guide as another useful tool in preparing for the A.R.E."
--Troy Bettridge ("Archtulsa")
 
"BDCS: ARE Mock Exam
"The book starts off with an overview of the Architecture Registration Exam. In this chapter gives important information on understanding the who what when where and why of the Intern Development Program (IDP) and the Architecture Registration Exams (ARE). If you're just starting out with your tests and you don't know where to start, this chapter condenses enough information to at least point you in the right direction. He answers some questions that a lot of people want to know about testing times, exam formats, and other various tips for all 7 of the tests, not just BDCS.
 
Chapter two dives into the exam content of the BDCS test. He lists various resources you should consult in your studying for this exam, which I believe to be vary valuable. With the other two tests I've studied for (CDS and SPD) I felt lost as to what books actually covered the material, always fearing that I've left something out. Along with the book list also comes tips on how to use the vignette software specifically for the vignettes on this test. The book includes screen shots of the lovely graphics software we are forced to use on the ARE's which help explain the steps to take to solve the vignettes. As another reviewer pointed out, there is a definite focus on how to pass the vignettes, whereas the multiple choice is presented in a way for you to "test" yourself in a mock exam setting...All in all I would recommend this book as yet another way to expose yourself to NCARB like questions before taking the real exam and get another perspective on how to conquer the vignettes for this test."
--Nicholas Allen
 
"Very Helpful!!!
"This book has been a great help in preparing for the Building Design and Construction Systems ARE Exam. The book gives a very detailed explanation for each of the vignettes as well as a step by step guide on how to complete each one within the exam format. The author goes to great lengths to identify tips and potential mistakes for each vignette.

Unlike many practice guides and books that are generic and focused on multiple exams, this one is extremely detailed and directed specifically for the BDCS exam. It includes a practice exam that surpasses all others. I found the practice exam (85 questions) to be invaluable for my preparation. In addition the author also offers many test taking, studying, exam order, and reference material guidelines and tips."
-- Dusty Eaton