Lying About the ARE Exam Could Help You Pass, Seriously
Few people outside the world of architecture can understand the scope, difficulty, and challenges posed by the ARE 5.0 exam. Tackling the licensure process and passing all six exams is a major commitment of time and money, not to mention the inevitable injury to your self-esteem along the way. You know it's a herculean task, but not many others will get it. And all those questions, smirks, and expectations only add to the pressure you and most ARE candidates feel.
The fact is, even "master test takers" fail these exams. It’s a reality for most ARE candidates. The ARE is not your typical standardized multiple-choice exam. Expecting to pass every division the first time is not realistic. Just take a look at the ARE 5.0 pass rates – something is wrong, and it's not you – a topic for another post.
The resulting anxiety can be debilitating from this undue pressure. But, for many candidates, their anxiety isn’t about atychiphobia (fear of failure). It’s about having to explain a failed exam to friends and family who don’t get it. Ugh. Sound familiar? There is one way to avoid these awkward conversations. Lie!
Announcing your goals publicly can be counterproductive, whether it’s weight loss, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or taking the ARE. The people you tell start to think of you as an architect, so the announcement itself feels like a small achievement toward that goal (an empty achievement). Then, if you fail, dealing with the fallout can be soul crushing and create a negative feedback loop.
Don’t tell people when you’re testing. Keep your test dates and study schedule to yourself. Nobody has to know. Let’s practice.
Them: “Hey, what are you doing after work?”
You: “I’m, uhh, meeting my cousin… from out of town.”
You, actually: Studying with CLARE ARE exam prep.
Them: “You have plans this weekend?”
You: “Yeah, I’m going, ummm, hiking, on Saturday.”
You, actually: Going to the PSI testing center.
See? It’s simple.
Now, if you fail an exam (at some point you most likely will), there’s nobody to answer to but yourself. Of course, there’s still the time, money, and self-esteem issues to deal with, but at least you won’t have to see the disappointed look on grandma’s face, or hear your friend say, “But didn’t you go to school for that?”
Lying about the ARE 5.0 is not a cure for anxiety. You’ll have to work that out with your therapist. It’s a strategy; a way for anxious candidates to minimize external pressures while navigating the inevitable pitfalls of the ARE. It’s self-preservation. Getting a FAIL is part of the process. Only quitting is failing.
Get back at it. We'll keep your secret and help you pass the next time with CLARE.
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