GDSM - for anyone who did pass

[Anne H]

Hi all,

Unfortunately, got likely to fail on this one. If anyone DID get a likely to pass, could you share what you did to prepare, and what you felt was most helpful? I've got a list based on how I felt in the test vs what I studied, but want to cross-reference by others who had more success. 

[Nick Pentico]

Anne,

First and foremost, this test is a beast, and I want you to know that a "Likely to Fail" is far more common than people admit publicly. Don't let it define you.

I had to sit for this section multiple times before receiving my "Likely to Pass," and I want to be transparent about my background because I think it matters. I've worked primarily in design-build, so I didn't have the GDSM exposure you'd typically find in a larger design firm. That gap was real, and I had to work around it deliberately.

Here's what helped me most. I used the LARE Prep and SGLA study guides as my primary material and purchased practice tests from LARE Prep, Pass the LARE, and CLARB. The only book I read cover to cover was the Site Engineering book, and I'd recommend doing the same.

The biggest shift in my preparation was learning how CLARB constructs questions. We aren't just being tested on knowledge; we're being tested on professional judgment and competency-based decision making. Understanding that distinction changed how I approached every question. Read every answer choice carefully. CLARB often tests what a competent professional would prioritize, not just what you memorized.

Cross-reference your list of where you struggled against the specific LARE sections, and be honest about where your real-world experience has gaps. Then study directly into those gaps.

You've got this. Keep going.

[Anne H]

Thanks, Nick, for the much-needed encouragement. Everything you are saying checks out with what I felt my next steps needed to be, so having that confirmation is really helpful. Time to brush myself off and try again :) 

[AMC]

I also got a likely to fail result. It was very disappointing because it was my last test I need to get licensed and I studied very diligently for months. While taking it I felt the most confident on the material of any LARE that I have taken and I thought I would get a likely to pass result. As usual though there were graphic questions that are very hard to interpret and multiple choice questions that are obviously meant to trick you. The hardest part about the test was the time crunch - there is no time to go back and try the multi-step math problems again and while I paced myself well I was scrambling towards the end and then getting the "Likely to Fail" result was a gut punch. It is ridiculous that they impose a strict time limit when in the real world that would never be the case. I am extremely frustrated by these tests. Know that you are not alone and that we will get there eventually! 

[Douglas Short]

I got "likely to pass" but still full of anxiety about it since it's still not a sure thing.

Tho I was able to pass three of the four tests first time each time, I was stuck on GDSWM.

Why is GDSWM different?  I think it's a mindset thing.  Since I absolutely know the core material, I was super frustrated and tried something different this time.  In fact, I barely studied.  What I DID do was do practice tests in conjunction with ChatGPT.

For example, I remember types of questions from previous attempts that always stump me or suck up an incredible amount of time doing math.  So I asked AI if there is another way to think about that sort of question.  First of all, let me tell you, AI seems to know all about CLARB and their obtuse way of looking at Landscape Architecture.  This is the exam where being in their non real world mindset is 100% imperative.  On this one sort of math intensive question, AI told me I fell right into their trap.  Instead of thinking about math, think about concept.  Look for patterns.  This unlocked my approach to this question and when the variation inevitably came up, I was able to answer it in less than 30 seconds instead of spending 10 minutes building anxiety, doing reams of slope and elevation calculations.

I wouldn't sweat the volume of material you study.  I thought doing Sara's course would help, but it only broadened the volume of material and made me feel more overwhelmed.  250 pages in my study binder from my own studies and LarePrep was suddenly 500 pages.  She is also saying the same thing conceptually as Chat, but Chat is available on a per question basis to walk thru the CLARB logic.

SO, here's what I would do:

I think most of the base knowledge is in Lare Prep materials.  I literally read it all and typed it into my own document to learn it.  Also, input all of the information into a massive word document organized by the CLARB outline.  They are telling you what you need to know!   Make sure you have data on all of the main headings and the study areas they suggest.  Then I'd do ALL of the practice exams.  ASLA, CLARB, SARA, LarePrep.  ALL of the practice exams you can manage to get.  It's okay if you fail.  In fact, getting stumped is exceptionally valuable at this point.   But when you DO get stumped, type in the question to Chat, upload the graphic if you need to, and let Chat explain what the test question is really about.  I did this several days before the actual test this time and it was incredibly helpful to get out of my head and into the weird CLARB way of thinking about this test.  Chat GPT will even generate practice questions and give you mini quiz along the way.  It's really incredible.  Then as you take the mini quiz it will explain why your thinking is good or not quite right.

In particular, I was having trouble finding my way IN to some of the graphic questions.  Chat always had a way of thinking about how to start your attack on what could seem like an overwhelming dilemma.  Knowing your way into a question is how you can stave off anxiety.  There is nothing quite like clicking next on the exam and getting a massively complex question that suddenly sucks up ten minutes of exam time and then you end up clicking "review" because you couldn't figure out a way in.  It casts a shadow over the rest of your test taking experience.  SO, knowing how to attack these tricky questions staves off anxiety and lets you answer quickly. 

Do this until you have a level of confidence about any question that comes up in the practice exams.  Not that you just know the answer, but you know the thinking behind the question.  The exact question you are practicing of course won't be on the test, but something like it will.  So using AI on the practice test is like working with a grad student who has already taken and passed the test.

SO, don't get too hung up on the volume of material.  Lean heavily on a base book of knowledge that you create.  Read it, reread it, know that base knowledge as CLARB outlines.  Then test, retest, and understand the thinking behind these questions to be in the CLARB vibe.  For me, this made all the difference for this section. (That is, if "likely to pass" actually means I did pass this time.)  It was strange, but the night before the test, I was actually kind of excited to take it--I felt like there was no way it was going to stump me this time.  And it didn't!

From someone who was absolutely stuck, i can say with certainty, if you've come this far, you can do it!

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Kimberly Klavoon]

This feels like such a good way to go about this Douglas! GDSM is my last one, taking it in August... Now that you've taken the exam - did you feel the info you got from ChatGPT was accurate and trustworthy? I think that's my biggest hang up is the lack of truly accurate study material, especially when CLARB and the LARE exist in their own little world! Real life/real job experience can be a detriment and it is so frustrating and often takes me out of the right frame of mind and it would be helpful if CLARB could offer us more help besides an outdated reading list that has books that contradict each other...

I know it has gotten better lately, but it's taken a long time to get there!

[Anne H]

"There is nothing quite like clicking next on the exam and getting a massively complex question that suddenly sucks up ten minutes of exam time and then you end up clicking "review" because you couldn't figure out a way in." Just about sums it up.

Thanks all for the input.