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NCARB ARE Exam Changes

940 Comments

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Erin Jung
4 years ago

I just took the exam today and found it extremely frustrating not being able to use a physical scratch paper to do jot down information to solve problems. Please bring scratch paper back!

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Danny Stevens
4 years ago

It's absolutely absurd to assume that drawing with a mouse is akin to a pen and paper. Provide me with a digital pad and pen and then we can talk.

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Meghan Hoopes
4 years ago

Why was this decision made? My husband is a doctor, and he recently took his exam and was given a physical (not digital) whiteboard with a pen to use for his test. Putting pen to paper is essential to problem solving (especially in architecture), taking that away is an odd decision that requires a good explanation. I worry that if you throw too many unnecessary obstacles up, people will eventually stop perusing a license and change their path completely... do you want people to be successful in getting licensed?

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Anna Gallagher
4 years ago

Fully Agree with all the signees.

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Rachel Mordaunt
4 years ago

Online whiteboard is so frustrating and difficult to use and wastes so much time on the exam. WE NEED PHYSICAL PAPER.

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Loc Nguyen
4 years ago

taking too much time and added frustration

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Yin wai Au
4 years ago

We need paper and pencil to THINK!!!

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AMY VIGEN
4 years ago

I just took my first test and failed. I truly believe that it it was in part due to the fact that I got flustered trying to do everything on their calculator with no scratch paper. A lot of us use scratch paper everyday in our profession lives so it is frustrating to to see that taken away when taking very important tests like these.

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Eunhyung Kim
4 years ago

Absolutely insane that testing for Architecture exams where calculations and sketches are critical for many questions would not be able to use pencil and paper. This should be a non negotiable. Can't imagine what kind of architects on the NCARB board came to a decision like this. The exams are challenging enough as it is, why make it even more difficult by forcing people to use completely foreign and cumbersome technology that is not even used in professional settings. Unless NCARB is planning ensure second monitors for digital whiteboard and calculator, or provide tablets with stylus pens, both options highly unlikely, bring back paper and pencil.

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sophie smits
4 years ago

We need to have paper and pencils provided to us anymore at the test, this is unreasonable. The whiteboard is a waste of time and an additional stress.

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Anonymous
4 years ago

Let us use scratch paper to take the exam, if we're a profession that's tactical and sketch to come up with ideas why take that away from us on the exams?

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Tabita Russi Daolio
4 years ago

This is extremely unfair, and unreasonable.

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Huseyin Yilmaz
4 years ago

I really like to see paper and pencil in the exam, it must our freedom to write, I hope it will come back.

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Tyler Updike
4 years ago

This is essential to the practice of architecture. Why are we not embracing/endorsing using scratch paper, let alone allowing it?

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Andres Rincon
4 years ago

whiteboard kept freezing while taking the test. wasted time on question because of this.

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Anonymous
4 years ago

Scratch paper is very necessary

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Anonymous
4 years ago

the technology being used isn't advanced enough to be used right now, so we should be allowed to use physical paper when taking the test in person. it is like expecting photoshop level iluustration using microsoft paint

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Anonymous
4 years ago

The white board didn't even work for me. Was laggy and caused my exam to freeze at one point.

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Kirsten Lisa Solberg
4 years ago

Architects think with their hands; sketching and writing is an extension of our brains thinking and figuring things out!

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Parminder sahota
4 years ago

NCARB needs to provide pen and paper .