Although my exam was decades ago and entirely by pencil and paper, I applaud the flexibility that digitized tests provide - but do not get rid of the means by which the examinee can work things through in their mind on scratch paper, which is the stock in trade of our profession.
J
Jose Antonio Torres
5 years ago
I always use the scratch paper for the Case Studies and Calculations in general. We definitely use these scratch paper during the exams.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Let’s keep the scrap paper!
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Very few people - let alone architects taking an architectural exam - can really think without a pen/pencil and paper. The connection between the brain and hand - the neural pathway - is formed very early on in life and is as old as human communication. Virtually no one in 2020 is as capable of drawing - let alone writing - with even the best of styluses as well as they can with pen and paper, let alone a mouse and rickety software program. There is not another professional exam in the world that forbids pen and paper. Prometric already examines and confiscates all scratch paper. Test takers are under surveillance at all times. I don’t know what your security concerns really are but please scan all scratch paper materials or conduct even more thorough examinations of candidates, although last time I had my glasses, shoes and pockets examined each time I entered or exited the testing facility. I cannot believe that a single architect or psychologist participated in this decision.
M
Melissa Cataldo
5 years ago
Does NCARB have any proof of the frequency of attempted cheating using scratch paper? Was there an actual case of someone trying to sell their old scratch paper or are you solving an entirely theoretical problem here with an unnecessary and draconian solution? Would someone's old scratch paper even confer an actual measurable advantage on a future test taker? You wouldn't even know what was right or wrong on someone's frantic notes. This is something I would never remotely want to use to study, even if it were magically available. Completely ridiculous. I graduated undergrad from a top engineering program, and to combat this problem the administration took the exact opposite approach: all old tests & answers were available to everyone, in the name of fairness. Professors would change the specific numbers every semester, but not the actual problem types. This did not degrade the degree, it helped us to learn the material from multiple examples.
J
Jinky Abanilla
5 years ago
I hope NCARB starts trusting the candidates in good faith that we will do the guidelines they entrusted to us in test taking. Instead of continuously guessing all the scenarios or ways a candidate will 'cheat'. Cameras are everywhere recording in Prometric test locations, not to mention scanning every corner of your clothes and even a cross-pendant thinking we-might-be-hiding-a-nanocamera to take pictures. It is already ridiculous and we abide by it. I don't see other profession's test takers being scrutinized like we do. NCARB, if candidates had been cheating why are the passing rates so abysmal?
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Having paper to write notes, perform math problems, and to think through questions logically is a very quick and accessible tool. Replacing it with yet another computer interface within the exam will only create more barriers and frustration in an already stressful environment. Please reconsider this action and allow Test takers to use scratch paper.
B
Ben Marcionek AIA LEED AP
5 years ago
Taking pencil and paper away from candidates taking the ARE is a disgrace to our industry. We are visual learners and already have enough obstacles to deal with in order to pass. On behalf of my peers I ask NCARB to please reconsider this.
V
Valentine Catapano
5 years ago
As an ARE candidate who performs much better with analog than digital, I hope you reconsider allowing paper and pencil to be used at the prometric test center. I find the decision to change means even more stressful than the exams are.
J
John Cunningham
5 years ago
This change is absurd
J
Jose Amaya
5 years ago
NCARB needs to listen to candidates on this largely unanimous uproar from the community. Taking the pen and paper from the exams is not the solution just a lazy solution to actually not deal with switching to PSI and online proctoring.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
It makes no sense whatsoever to do complicated and lengthy math problems without without taking notes on a piece of paper. Absolutely unfair and illogical!!!
N
Natalia Wieczorek
5 years ago
This is such a terrible idea, this is a profession that relies on hand sketches and notes!
R
Rachael Henry
5 years ago
Scratch paper is necessary!!
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Unacceptable
C
Craig Forneris
5 years ago
You've taken the core of what architecture is away from the architect
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Such a disconnect from the way many people process information.
J
Jason Comer
5 years ago
NCARB is out of touch and out of their mind
L
Lawrence Goldblatt
5 years ago
NCARB: listen. Act. Don’t let private industry be tougher and tougher for advancement of successful candidacies.
Although my exam was decades ago and entirely by pencil and paper, I applaud the flexibility that digitized tests provide - but do not get rid of the means by which the examinee can work things through in their mind on scratch paper, which is the stock in trade of our profession.
I always use the scratch paper for the Case Studies and Calculations in general. We definitely use these scratch paper during the exams.
Let’s keep the scrap paper!
Very few people - let alone architects taking an architectural exam - can really think without a pen/pencil and paper. The connection between the brain and hand - the neural pathway - is formed very early on in life and is as old as human communication. Virtually no one in 2020 is as capable of drawing - let alone writing - with even the best of styluses as well as they can with pen and paper, let alone a mouse and rickety software program. There is not another professional exam in the world that forbids pen and paper. Prometric already examines and confiscates all scratch paper. Test takers are under surveillance at all times. I don’t know what your security concerns really are but please scan all scratch paper materials or conduct even more thorough examinations of candidates, although last time I had my glasses, shoes and pockets examined each time I entered or exited the testing facility. I cannot believe that a single architect or psychologist participated in this decision.
Does NCARB have any proof of the frequency of attempted cheating using scratch paper? Was there an actual case of someone trying to sell their old scratch paper or are you solving an entirely theoretical problem here with an unnecessary and draconian solution? Would someone's old scratch paper even confer an actual measurable advantage on a future test taker? You wouldn't even know what was right or wrong on someone's frantic notes. This is something I would never remotely want to use to study, even if it were magically available. Completely ridiculous. I graduated undergrad from a top engineering program, and to combat this problem the administration took the exact opposite approach: all old tests & answers were available to everyone, in the name of fairness. Professors would change the specific numbers every semester, but not the actual problem types. This did not degrade the degree, it helped us to learn the material from multiple examples.
I hope NCARB starts trusting the candidates in good faith that we will do the guidelines they entrusted to us in test taking. Instead of continuously guessing all the scenarios or ways a candidate will 'cheat'. Cameras are everywhere recording in Prometric test locations, not to mention scanning every corner of your clothes and even a cross-pendant thinking we-might-be-hiding-a-nanocamera to take pictures. It is already ridiculous and we abide by it. I don't see other profession's test takers being scrutinized like we do. NCARB, if candidates had been cheating why are the passing rates so abysmal?
Having paper to write notes, perform math problems, and to think through questions logically is a very quick and accessible tool. Replacing it with yet another computer interface within the exam will only create more barriers and frustration in an already stressful environment. Please reconsider this action and allow Test takers to use scratch paper.
Taking pencil and paper away from candidates taking the ARE is a disgrace to our industry. We are visual learners and already have enough obstacles to deal with in order to pass. On behalf of my peers I ask NCARB to please reconsider this.
As an ARE candidate who performs much better with analog than digital, I hope you reconsider allowing paper and pencil to be used at the prometric test center. I find the decision to change means even more stressful than the exams are.
This change is absurd
NCARB needs to listen to candidates on this largely unanimous uproar from the community. Taking the pen and paper from the exams is not the solution just a lazy solution to actually not deal with switching to PSI and online proctoring.
It makes no sense whatsoever to do complicated and lengthy math problems without without taking notes on a piece of paper. Absolutely unfair and illogical!!!
This is such a terrible idea, this is a profession that relies on hand sketches and notes!
Scratch paper is necessary!!
Unacceptable
You've taken the core of what architecture is away from the architect
Such a disconnect from the way many people process information.
NCARB is out of touch and out of their mind
NCARB: listen. Act. Don’t let private industry be tougher and tougher for advancement of successful candidacies.
Unacceptable.