Acting on the recommendation of the California Architects Board’s (CAB), Examination Committee, the CAB Board voted unanimously to eliminate the California Supplemental Exam (CSE) in its current oral format, and will now begin the process to transition to a written examination format. The CAB anticipates the written examination will be developed in 2010, administered in 2011, and will be provided via 13 computerized test centers throughout California, as well as 10 additional sites located throughout the US. It will be in a multiple-choice format.
This is quite possibly the only good thing to come out of the CA budget crisis.
Having just passed the oral interview, I have mixed feelings on this. Part of me is pissed because my suspicion is that the multiple test format will likely be 'easier' than the oral exam but I am glad that the state finally came to their senses and disposed of the oral CSE.
on the down side, however, we will soon see (more) continuing education requirements and they are raising the license fee to $250 (it's only $100 in PA)
for those in LA, it's one less reason to visit irvine, which probably makes it none now.
too bad others won't get to experience the cognitive dissonance of taking the last and arguably most anxiety producing exam, culminating years of academic and professional effort, next door to the taco bell world headquarters.
seriously, what's so wrong with the oral exam? I'm going to have to take it anyway, as I will fall into the period before the new test gets adopted. I didn't think the oral was that big a deal -- am I wrong?
The oral exam is arcane and obtuse. It also severely limits your options for scheduling and costs an inordinate amount of time and money for a "supplemental exam". Highly recommend waiting for the new format. Many great architects I know rate it as one of the worst experiences of their professional career. The fewer people that sign up for the remaining oral exams the faster the transition to the written will be.
i thought it was pretty easy. if you study for a month or two the hardest part of the exam is relaxing in front of the panel and articulating the information you already know. remember the exam is for minimum competency as an architect. the idea is to study because you want to learn how to protect your client and yourself.
i wouldn't wait for the new exam. the first few groups will be the guinea pigs. who knows how specific the information will be that you will be required to answer. where as before you could sometimes get away with explaining how you would arrive at a solution the computer will be right or wrong. true multiple choice is easy and should be a slam dunk as well. but who really knows if the exam will be easier or more difficult till the exam comes out. why wait? what does that gain? if you can take the test take the test, what is the worst that can happen? you fail, loose $100 and need to reschedule. seems like a small price to improve your professional career and get the license monkey off your back. believe me that is a good feeling.
Nov 24, 09 3:56 pm ·
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NO MORE CA ARE ORAl EXAM
Acting on the recommendation of the California Architects Board’s (CAB), Examination Committee, the CAB Board voted unanimously to eliminate the California Supplemental Exam (CSE) in its current oral format, and will now begin the process to transition to a written examination format. The CAB anticipates the written examination will be developed in 2010, administered in 2011, and will be provided via 13 computerized test centers throughout California, as well as 10 additional sites located throughout the US. It will be in a multiple-choice format.
finally!
Thank the economy, my friends. Renting a floor of hotel rooms near John Wayne airport is expensive.
This is quite possibly the only good thing to come out of the CA budget crisis.
Having just passed the oral interview, I have mixed feelings on this. Part of me is pissed because my suspicion is that the multiple test format will likely be 'easier' than the oral exam but I am glad that the state finally came to their senses and disposed of the oral CSE.
sounds like great news...but too bad i'm already signed up for the current exam. i am sure i would prefer the multiple-choice version.
Oh... I was kind of excited about the oral exam. Is that stupid? Is it a big waste of time? Or too hard or something?
I'm so tired of computer-based exams...
can we get a link?
on the down side, however, we will soon see (more) continuing education requirements and they are raising the license fee to $250 (it's only $100 in PA)
nice.
for those in LA, it's one less reason to visit irvine, which probably makes it none now.
too bad others won't get to experience the cognitive dissonance of taking the last and arguably most anxiety producing exam, culminating years of academic and professional effort, next door to the taco bell world headquarters.
great to hear! new version will be out just in time to be done with IDP!
seriously, what's so wrong with the oral exam? I'm going to have to take it anyway, as I will fall into the period before the new test gets adopted. I didn't think the oral was that big a deal -- am I wrong?
It ain't easy. It was the 10th test of the 9 exams. Now there's only 7, so it's the 8th one?
brilliant move.....I always thought doing an "oral" in an airport hotel room with crabby old burn outs was kinda creepy anyway!
The oral exam is arcane and obtuse. It also severely limits your options for scheduling and costs an inordinate amount of time and money for a "supplemental exam". Highly recommend waiting for the new format. Many great architects I know rate it as one of the worst experiences of their professional career. The fewer people that sign up for the remaining oral exams the faster the transition to the written will be.
i thought it was pretty easy. if you study for a month or two the hardest part of the exam is relaxing in front of the panel and articulating the information you already know. remember the exam is for minimum competency as an architect. the idea is to study because you want to learn how to protect your client and yourself.
i wouldn't wait for the new exam. the first few groups will be the guinea pigs. who knows how specific the information will be that you will be required to answer. where as before you could sometimes get away with explaining how you would arrive at a solution the computer will be right or wrong. true multiple choice is easy and should be a slam dunk as well. but who really knows if the exam will be easier or more difficult till the exam comes out. why wait? what does that gain? if you can take the test take the test, what is the worst that can happen? you fail, loose $100 and need to reschedule. seems like a small price to improve your professional career and get the license monkey off your back. believe me that is a good feeling.
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