How to Pass the AREs: Push Past Perfectionism

Just Start!

That’s my best piece of advice. You’re welcome. You can stop reading if you have a deadline today.

Looking for a bit more? Ok, how about “Don’t worry so much about it. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Well, okay; taking and passing your exams, and becoming a licensed Architect IS a big deal. But it doesn’t have to be a source of great stress.

No one would argue that you can go into the exams without studying. It’s a significant commitment – one that requires a focus that you may not have tapped into since design school. Depending on your disposition, the studying process can lead to hesitation to even start, or to burn out as you ignore everything else in life. Be aware of which direction you lean. Then, strive to maintain a balance between keeping yourself honest – practicing appropriate rigor to meet your goals; and giving yourself a break when life honestly gets in the way. If you’re living a full life, it likely will. Check in with yourself and reassess regularly.

I valued the routine of studying until I felt prepared and ready mentally for each exam. However, you could argue I went too far in that direction, wasting far too much time working toward a level of preparedness that wasn’t even required. I wanted to feel risk-free going into the test – but that was both impossible, and even counter-productive.

There is a significant benefit in studying efficiently, finishing the exams, and getting your license. The education from studying, the respect of your peers, and pride in your own dedication. Those benefits greatly outweigh the risks of failure – mostly just time lost, and embarrassment (remember, the latter is only internal). The risk/reward proposition is even easier if your company provides incentives for licensure, or assistance during the process. Some firms, like PRAXIS3, have a library including hard copies of relevant textbooks. Ask about help they may offer, like group study sessions or exam reimbursement.

Among architects I’ve spoken with, a predisposition toward perfectionism is typical. It makes sense, with the level of detail required for our work, and the level of care needed to fulfil our ethical mandate to protect the safety and welfare of the public. But perfectionism has a dark side. It can lead to fear and stalling, as we fret over every possibility in an effort to avoid missing anything. You may fail one exam, at least. Most people do. But that is how we learn. Don’t let the very human bias toward loss aversion keep you from pursuing your goals.