Considering ARE 5 - NCIDQ or LEED?
- Shiri Shubbar
- Dec 27, 2024
- 4 min read
🌟 Tackling ARE 5.0 & NCIDQ: My Journey and Lessons Learned 🌟
I’ve been thinking about sharing my process for a long time. After seeing so many discouraging posts about licensure exams, I wanted to create something encouraging—a post that says: You can do it!
My Goal: I hope to provide helpful insights and steer others away from some of the issues I had to learn the hard way. This post will be updated over time to stay relevant for anyone thinking about starting or continuing their exam journey.
Disclaimer: Everyone’s experience is unique. While it’s great to learn from others, treat this as a guide, not a rulebook. Take what resonates and tailor it to your own needs.
Most importantly, if you’re feeling burnt out, it’s okay to take a break. Pushing through exhaustion can lead to confusion, so give yourself grace to rest and recharge.
Starting with ARE 5.0
I used Amber Book, and I absolutely love it! They provide a great schedule, a matrix, and a wealth of information to guide you through the process. However, at first, I found it overwhelming and had to figure out a strategy that worked for me.
When I first heard that Amber Book’s founder, Prof. Michael Ermann, completed all six ARE exams in one week, I was floored. It didn’t seem humanly possible! But it inspired a mental shift. Instead of thinking, I can’t do this, I started thinking, Maybe I can.
My Strategy: The “Scanning” Method
Before diving deep into the material, I like to form a big-picture view of how long it will take me to complete. This includes time to:
Watch the course material
Take notes
Memorize and review
Take breaks (and sometimes forget and relearn!)
Here’s how I approached it:
1️⃣ First Pass (Scanning):I went through all the video content with a goal of understanding the topics covered in the exam. I didn’t worry about retaining everything—this pass was about identifying what I was dealing with. I retained about 30% of the material, which was enough to start setting parameters for my schedule.
2️⃣ Second Pass:I went through the videos again, this time at 1.25x or 1.5x speed (sorry, Prof.!) and took serious notes. By this point, I was retaining about 65%-75% of the material.
3️⃣ Third Pass:I watched everything at 2x speed to ensure I could easily recall the information. If something didn’t click or I missed a question, I slowed down and rewatched that part. I used the AB matrix to focus on the areas specific for the exam.
Flashcards: The Real Challenge
Amber Book’s flashcards were tough—they felt more like essays than quick references! I underestimated how much time they’d take. To tackle them:
I printed the flashcards to avoid screen fatigue.
I supplemented with tools like Quizlet, which has a great interface for flipping through cards quickly.
it took me sooo much longer to digest the flashcard than with the videos. I recommend planning double the time you use for the course.
Extras: other materials
I joined Amber Book Thursday sessions every week, I also did my best to check the free videos Amber book has on Youtube, in addition to some additional play lists
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQF_7sBodJ09ZYtgBT3EJ6LpUMGvBouLO&si=6xfhRFQLh3TnJ1n4
I also Purchased ELif questions, I think they were helpful, but i think they were too advanced and time consuming in my opinion. ARE Exam Prep | NCARB ARE 5.0 Practice by Elif Bayram
I purchased AHHP book. It was definitely useful for PJM, and PCM. I think the exam was identical to the material in the book. i find the book more in depth than Amber book course when it comes to PJM and PCM, however, AB made it so much easier to digest and condensed the most important concepts in a short time, which made skimming the book way more easier.
You should not, go to the exam, without taking the NCARB free exams, I really recommend doing ALL of the exams just so you get a feel of what's the exam like
NCIDQ
I Purchased Interior Design Reference Manual from Amazon, I also decided to "Scan" it for a month, and then I started a subscription to a platform called Qpractice. the monthly subscription was about 150-160 per month. I really liked their initial test to determine your level. The platform had the lessons modules, which was well indexed and easily accessed, in addition to quizzes at the end of each lesson to make sure you captured the lesson, which was very helpful to make sure you're not just skimming without understanding.
Another thing I loved is the community website, you can think of it as a "facebook" for NCIDQm where all students can write posts regarding specific sections of the exam, or general posts for encouragement. Additionally, the Qpractice group moderator, responded quickly to all questions, on top of designating live 3 hours sessions to go through exam questions and explanations and take questions from the students.
I think it is really important to know the content, but also to have support network of people dedicated to your success -like Q practice network.
Encouragement: You Can Do It!
It’s okay if your journey takes time. Licensure is a long-term goal, and it’s perfectly fine to pace yourself and decompress when needed.
💬 Let’s Connect! I'm an NCARB student advisor volunteer , If you’re studying for ARE 5.0, NCIDQ, or LEED. let’s share resources, strategies, and motivation! I’m happy to answer questions and offer support for those just starting.
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