086. ARE Mentor: Schedule the Exam Before You Feel Ready

In this episode, David emphasizes the importance of scheduling the your first or next Architect Registration Examination (ARE) before feeling fully ready. He shares his personal experience, noting it took seven years to complete due to procrastination. He then highlights the psychological barriers, such as fear of failure and the desire to feel confident, that delay scheduling. Finally he advises setting specific dates and maintaining consistent momentum. David also suggesst taking eight to ten exams a year to complete the six divisions within 12 to 24 months. The key is to schedule exams to create urgency and focus, transforming study into structured training.

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Show Notes

Scheduling the Exam Before Feeling Ready

• David emphasizes that waiting to feel completely confident before scheduling an exam is unrealistic and leads to prolonged preparation.
• He shares that it took him seven years to finish the exams largely because he kept delaying scheduling.
• Common excuses include:
  • “I’ll schedule once I’m scoring higher on the exam simulator.”
  • “I’ll schedule once I get through more content.”
  • “I’ll schedule when work slows down.”
  • “I’ll schedule when I feel more confident.”
• David argues that readiness is not a feeling; it’s a decision.
  Without a test date, there’s no pressure, no urgency, and no forcing function.

Challenges of Scheduling an Exam

• David tells a story from 2013–2014 when he started an online study group for the CSE:
  • Out of about 14 people, only one scheduled their exam in the first week.
• This revealed deeper reasons why candidates avoid scheduling.
• Scheduling makes the process real:
  • Now there’s a clock.
  • Now there’s a risk.
  • Now there’s the possibility of failing.
• As a result, people stay in “preparation mode”:
  • It feels productive but is ultimately safe.
  • David notes that “safe studying” doesn’t pass exams—deadlines do.
• He explains the “deadline effect”:
  • A real date changes how we prioritize.
  • We shift from over-highlighting and passive study to practice and performance.
• David stresses the importance of being specific:
  • “I’ll take it in April” is vague.
  • “I’m taking it on April 25” is specific and creates focus and accountability.

Fear of Failure and the Importance of Deadlines

• A major reason candidates avoid scheduling is: “What if I fail?”
• David points out that if you never schedule, you never have to confront failure—but you also never move forward.
• He frames failure as:
  • A normal part of life and growth.
  • Central to every success story.
• David notes that we often learn more from failures than successes.
• He clarifies that there’s no real-life risk in failing an ARE exam:
  • The true risk is dragging the process out for years and constantly resetting momentum.
• He shares his experience with general structures:
  • Studied for it three separate times over two years.
  • Each time he got close, didn’t take the exam, then had to restart later.
  • Ultimately passed because he knew the material so well—but paid a heavy price in energy and time.

Impact of Life and Consistency on Exam Preparation

• David acknowledges that life gets in the way—work, projects, and responsibilities.
• In his coaching program, many candidates:
  • Are in and out of the process for years.
  • Have taken prior versions of the exam (3.0, 4.0) and lost credits.
• He emphasizes:
  • The importance of consistency.
  • Not letting life continually derail progress.
• David notes that NCARB removed the five-year rolling clock, which:
  • Removes external urgency.
  • Makes it easier to stretch the process out unnecessarily.

Beginning with the End in Mind

• David recommends scheduling the exam first, before deep-diving into content:
  • “Begin with the end in mind.”
• This approach:
  • Creates urgency, focus, and discipline.
  • Prevents endless, drifting study.
• He advises:
  • If you start studying today, schedule the exam today.
  • Aim for 6–8 weeks out, not more.
• David encourages taking exams consistently:
  • Pass or fail, keep moving to the next division.
  • Don’t wait to pass one division before starting to study the next.

Building Momentum: Exam Strategy and Timeline

• In his program, David encourages candidates to plan for 8–10 exam attempts per year:
  • That covers all six divisions plus retakes.
• Typical path:
  • Take an exam roughly every two months.
  • Fit retakes in between if needed.
• With this momentum:
  • Many candidates can be licensed in 12 months.
  • For others, 18–24 months should be enough if they’re consistent.

Psychological Shift and Empowerment

• When you schedule, you shift from studying to training:
  • You now have intention, structure, and stakes.
  • Training ends on test day, then you move on to the next division.
• David emphasizes that scheduling is an act of empowerment:
  • You decide: “I’m in control of this process.”
  • You commit to your license and refuse to be “wishy-washy” about your goals.
• He encourages adopting a determined mindset:
  • You want your license.
  • You will get your license.
  • No one is going to stop you—especially not your own hesitation.

Conclusion and Core Message

• David urges listeners who have been saying “I’m almost ready” for months to take this episode as their sign.
• The practical call to action:
  • Hit pause.
  • Book your exam for 6–8 weeks from today—especially if you don’t feel ready.
• Key takeaway:
  • “We don’t schedule because we’re ready. We schedule to become ready.”
• By consistently scheduling and taking exams, the license becomes a byproduct of:
  • Repeated action,
  • Sustained momentum,
  • And a clear, committed process.