It is unfortunate that NCARB has not listened to its stakeholders. As test-takers we are the majority of the stakeholders and since day one, we have given our input and yet all of our feedback regarding the ARE software problems have been neglected. As paying stakeholders, this is 100% unacceptable. These exams are not cheap. We need a software that actually works and does not crash while testing, a software that works efficiently and loads reference materials quickly without wasting our precious test time.
NCARB does not have a good track record with providing efficient testing software and for them to spring this new digital whiteboard without implementing a proper transitioning phase is unacceptable. I do nothing know how it would even work properly with the software freezing all of the time. The only way I see this somewhat feasible is if more time is allotted to the exams and another screen is available for test-takers to be able to look at questions and write on the whiteboard at the same time. Can you imagine having to switch through the exam questions, the references materials, AND the whiteboard for making calculations? That would be a complete disaster!
J
Julia Winter
5 years ago
The "no scratch paper" rule is appalling. ARCHITECTS ARE VISUAL THINKERS BY DEFINITION!! Taking away our ability to sketch things with our hands and eyes is like asking a concert pianist to play one-handed. And don't try to sell me the "digital whiteboard" BS. The ability to sketch, draw, and write with pen and pencil is basic to our training. Digital tools may try to replicate this, but they only act as another layer of processing to mimic what is innate in all of us: THE ABILITY TO WRITE THINGS DOWN!
J
Janet Spees
5 years ago
Scratch paper is a necessary tool for exams. NCARB please don't get rid of it so hastily.
A
AVA BAPTISTE
5 years ago
Michell Miller (10/28/2020) said it best in my opinion..
Quote:
A digital whiteboard is no comparison to the use of paper during the exam. The computer software already presents challenges and one screen greatly limits simultaneous use of resources. This only makes things harder. Paper is useful for a variety of reasons especially any math problems. If paper goes then so should math problems! If its all for security reasons than maybe the digital white board should only be for the online-proctored appointments. Paper should not be taken away at Prometric sites!
The above quote expresses my sentiment on this.. I have been taking the exams for a while now. I have even taken two during this Covid pandemic. With the last 3 I have to take being the ones with all the calculations, this will be a disaster. I work best thinking on paper and for people like me who use paper for quick jotting down of ideas, this is an essential tool. To take that a way from us would be severely limiting us.
S
Sunnie Diaz
5 years ago
These exams are already difficult enough and now take away a necessary tool that some of us need due to our our learning style, this only puts more candidates at risk of failure.
B
Bo Howard
5 years ago
Scratch paper is a necessary.
D
Daniel Aros
5 years ago
Scrap paper is crucial, as the software is clunky and would take away from value time in the exam. The only way the paperless approach will work is if you add sufficient time to the exam to accommodate for the additional delay.
M
Michelle Miller
5 years ago
This is a major disappointment and creates major disadvantages. A digital whiteboard is no comparison to the use of paper during the exam. The computer software already presents challenges and one screen greatly limits simultaneous use of resources. This only makes things harder. Paper is useful for a variety of reasons especially any math problems. If paper goes then so should math problems! If its all for security reasons than maybe the digital white board should only be for the online-proctored appointments. Paper should not be taken away at Prometric sites!
D
Dean Schimmenti
5 years ago
LISTEN TO THE USERS!!!
S
Sarah Potzler
5 years ago
TEST out these options before implementing them... this is year has already been difficult. Also, we have all experienced more computer crashes since 5.0 roll out... fix the existing situation. Also, get a new leader - it sounds like its time to get someone that actually cares about the Architectural community.
C
Cristina Reis
5 years ago
Any possibility to help the student to feel confident during the test is important. Scratch paper is one strong reason.
A
Amy Rainey
5 years ago
Pen and paper are and always will be necessary tools for an architect. Trying to sketch with a mouse is incredibly difficult and an unnecessary obstacle to these exams. A large percentage of architects are left handed like me which makes this even more difficult because we don't use a mouse with our left hand. THIS IS DISCRIMINATION! At the very least you should provide a horizontal digital pad and a stylus to imitate the use of pen and paper.
V
Veronica Blanco
5 years ago
The exams are already extremely slow to add a whiteboard that will make the system even slower. NCARB is completely out of touch with reality, creating tests that are not close to reality. We want to obtain our license in a fair field, we want to become Licensed Architects but NCARB keeps changing rules and inventing questions and systems that the only thing they do is to frustrate people and avoid taking test. #fairtests #NCARB
D
Domenico A Vocisano
5 years ago
Some people are faster at working through problems on scratch paper and some people work faster with the computer. Both options should be available.
J
Jake Mullins
5 years ago
digital scratch paper... C'MON MAN!
E
Ed F
5 years ago
I'm halfway through the exams and about to dive into the more technical ones. I highly doubt this sketchpad will operate anything like CAD or Revit (industry standards) and is just another program to frustratingly learn for low pay out.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
This is an unnecessary impediment to testing for licensure in an inherently visual career. In addition to high test fees and a total test number that seems to fluctuate every few years, this measure will only reduce the number of practicing registered architects. If critical thinking skills are a requisite for testing and licensure, then perhaps those at NCARB should also exercise their critical thinking skills and reconsider this poor decision.
C
Courtney Simpson
5 years ago
As someone who uses scratch paper during the exams and can write faster than I can type. Removing scratch paper is not ideal.
V
vu pham
5 years ago
Please don't take the scratch paper away. This is an essential for taking the exam.
D
David P Gibbs
5 years ago
Terrible Idea. Again NCARB seems more interested in making the money from us failing this exams. The digital plan sets in the case studies are already INCREDIBLY clumsy. I can only imagine how cumbersome the digital scratch pad will be - i harken this thought: take and pass the exam yourself and let us know how it goes. haha
It is unfortunate that NCARB has not listened to its stakeholders. As test-takers we are the majority of the stakeholders and since day one, we have given our input and yet all of our feedback regarding the ARE software problems have been neglected. As paying stakeholders, this is 100% unacceptable. These exams are not cheap. We need a software that actually works and does not crash while testing, a software that works efficiently and loads reference materials quickly without wasting our precious test time. NCARB does not have a good track record with providing efficient testing software and for them to spring this new digital whiteboard without implementing a proper transitioning phase is unacceptable. I do nothing know how it would even work properly with the software freezing all of the time. The only way I see this somewhat feasible is if more time is allotted to the exams and another screen is available for test-takers to be able to look at questions and write on the whiteboard at the same time. Can you imagine having to switch through the exam questions, the references materials, AND the whiteboard for making calculations? That would be a complete disaster!
The "no scratch paper" rule is appalling. ARCHITECTS ARE VISUAL THINKERS BY DEFINITION!! Taking away our ability to sketch things with our hands and eyes is like asking a concert pianist to play one-handed. And don't try to sell me the "digital whiteboard" BS. The ability to sketch, draw, and write with pen and pencil is basic to our training. Digital tools may try to replicate this, but they only act as another layer of processing to mimic what is innate in all of us: THE ABILITY TO WRITE THINGS DOWN!
Scratch paper is a necessary tool for exams. NCARB please don't get rid of it so hastily.
Michell Miller (10/28/2020) said it best in my opinion.. Quote: A digital whiteboard is no comparison to the use of paper during the exam. The computer software already presents challenges and one screen greatly limits simultaneous use of resources. This only makes things harder. Paper is useful for a variety of reasons especially any math problems. If paper goes then so should math problems! If its all for security reasons than maybe the digital white board should only be for the online-proctored appointments. Paper should not be taken away at Prometric sites! The above quote expresses my sentiment on this.. I have been taking the exams for a while now. I have even taken two during this Covid pandemic. With the last 3 I have to take being the ones with all the calculations, this will be a disaster. I work best thinking on paper and for people like me who use paper for quick jotting down of ideas, this is an essential tool. To take that a way from us would be severely limiting us.
These exams are already difficult enough and now take away a necessary tool that some of us need due to our our learning style, this only puts more candidates at risk of failure.
Scratch paper is a necessary.
Scrap paper is crucial, as the software is clunky and would take away from value time in the exam. The only way the paperless approach will work is if you add sufficient time to the exam to accommodate for the additional delay.
This is a major disappointment and creates major disadvantages. A digital whiteboard is no comparison to the use of paper during the exam. The computer software already presents challenges and one screen greatly limits simultaneous use of resources. This only makes things harder. Paper is useful for a variety of reasons especially any math problems. If paper goes then so should math problems! If its all for security reasons than maybe the digital white board should only be for the online-proctored appointments. Paper should not be taken away at Prometric sites!
LISTEN TO THE USERS!!!
TEST out these options before implementing them... this is year has already been difficult. Also, we have all experienced more computer crashes since 5.0 roll out... fix the existing situation. Also, get a new leader - it sounds like its time to get someone that actually cares about the Architectural community.
Any possibility to help the student to feel confident during the test is important. Scratch paper is one strong reason.
Pen and paper are and always will be necessary tools for an architect. Trying to sketch with a mouse is incredibly difficult and an unnecessary obstacle to these exams. A large percentage of architects are left handed like me which makes this even more difficult because we don't use a mouse with our left hand. THIS IS DISCRIMINATION! At the very least you should provide a horizontal digital pad and a stylus to imitate the use of pen and paper.
The exams are already extremely slow to add a whiteboard that will make the system even slower. NCARB is completely out of touch with reality, creating tests that are not close to reality. We want to obtain our license in a fair field, we want to become Licensed Architects but NCARB keeps changing rules and inventing questions and systems that the only thing they do is to frustrate people and avoid taking test. #fairtests #NCARB
Some people are faster at working through problems on scratch paper and some people work faster with the computer. Both options should be available.
digital scratch paper... C'MON MAN!
I'm halfway through the exams and about to dive into the more technical ones. I highly doubt this sketchpad will operate anything like CAD or Revit (industry standards) and is just another program to frustratingly learn for low pay out.
This is an unnecessary impediment to testing for licensure in an inherently visual career. In addition to high test fees and a total test number that seems to fluctuate every few years, this measure will only reduce the number of practicing registered architects. If critical thinking skills are a requisite for testing and licensure, then perhaps those at NCARB should also exercise their critical thinking skills and reconsider this poor decision.
As someone who uses scratch paper during the exams and can write faster than I can type. Removing scratch paper is not ideal.
Please don't take the scratch paper away. This is an essential for taking the exam.
Terrible Idea. Again NCARB seems more interested in making the money from us failing this exams. The digital plan sets in the case studies are already INCREDIBLY clumsy. I can only imagine how cumbersome the digital scratch pad will be - i harken this thought: take and pass the exam yourself and let us know how it goes. haha