August Section 4 Discussion

[Robin S]

Anyone took the August Section 4 have any last minute advice?

Feel free to post it here!

Thanks!

[Jon F.]

I took it for the second time yesterday and it was more intense than April. Definitely know how to grade, and know your construction documents. 

On a non-studying side, I always get to the testing center early, so I can sit in the car and relax and go through terms one last time. That way you're not dealing with traffic and driving and go in immediately to take the test.  

[L.]

Jon,

I took Section 4 on Monday. I thought it was pretty complex for taking it for the first time. It's not reassuring to hear that you found it more difficult than the April testing. I've taken all the other sections and have passed them but Section 4 doesn't really match up to the others. I find the difficulty was mostly associated with the fact that we had to do a lot of calculations or just comprehending long, detailed prompts that seemed to take about 2 minutes to even understand and evaluate before attempting the response. I didn't even get to review all my flag questions and had finished one question I left incomplete with 10 seconds to spare.

I'm pretty disappointed in this section since the range of information on there was so diverse and the study outline that CLARB provides is so general. Everyone suggests knowing the broad sense of subjects for each section but then you take the exam and there is a very detailed fastener or lighting question. Oh well, I guess I have felt unsure with previous exams and have passed so here's to hoping that's true for this time. 

Hope you get some good results!

[L.]

Robin, 

I'd suggest practice with timing. I was given a lot of suggestions to save all the grading and graphic problems until the end and am kicking myself for doing that. I really only partially did that and found myself in a crunch towards the end. If you find yourself on a problem for longer than 10 minutes than move on. It's not worth the 1 point that the question is worth. As far as content, I can't really specify. There's a wide range. Review your section 1 material (if you've taken that already) because there will be some repeat information. 

good luck!

[Susan Quilligan-Maurer]

I agree about timing- I had many flagged that I didn't have time to review before the time ran out.  I found with the tests I have past, it served me well to go over all my answers one last time before time ran out.  You're so stressed and sometimes you don't read the question correctly the first time. This was my third time taking Section 4, and although I feel like I did better on this version than on the April exam, I really wish we would be give at least 4.5 hours test time instead of 4 hours.  I barely finished this test, and my previous two LARE4 exams I did not get through them in their entirety.  Are we able to complain to CLARB and ask for more time on this?  There is way too much content on this test for only 4 hours.  I think a 5 hour seat time would be appropriate in the least.

[Robin S]

Thank you all!

[S]

I agree with all the comments here. This was my first time taking it and time was a scarcity when you have so many questions that have so many possible answers and so much detailed information. It felt more like I was tested on my ability to critically think quickly rather than actually being tested on Grading and Drainage. I found it much more focused on specifications in terms of how they are organized. Knowing what goes on which type of construction document is key too with different types of plans in a drawing set, and I'm not entirely sure where to find this information. I got the Hopper book, but it scarcely talks about the different types of plans (if anyone happens to know where to find this information it would be greatly appreciated!) My main problem was over checking the math since the flimsy scratched up calculators they give you at pearson could easily fumble you. 

My advice would be to read the question thoroughly, but go with your instincts. 

Typically your first instinct is the right one, unless of course if you read or misinterpreted the question. 

[Mark Warfel]

I agree and with the multi step problems with exhibits - I would rewrite all the key information on the sketch book and work through the problem there without looking at the answers. Then if my answers matched one of the options I would feel pretty confident that it was right. I tried to think of it like middle school math class. I had to show the work so that when I rechecked I could easily make sure that I preformed each step right. 

[Kaitlyn Weimer]

I passed sections 1-3 on the first try. This was way worse than I was expecting. Wayyyy worse... Results should be out September 11, so we will see. 

[S]

Same!!! The worst part is that I don't know how I could study better to prepare for it because it was just sheer density. Plus I think that the exam was really taxing on the old Pearson Vue computers. Toward the end when I had 5 minutes left, my computer froze and I had to be moved to another computer and lost about a minute and thirty seconds as a result. I was just checking answers at that point, but even with the next computer that started up it hiccuped a bit on a few questions. 

[LY]

Just took the exam today. Here are couple of my observations and suggestions -
Lots of stormwater management questions in relation to grading and different types of stormwater management devices (know where to place and names), definitely study construction details for planting and paving (rigid and flexible). Understand what goes in the different sections of specs.No fastener questions.
I actually used up the entire seating time, make sure you don’t get stuck on one question and should aim to move through the entire test fast enough to leave time for going through all the flagged questions afterwards.
Good luck!

[Eric Kelly]

This was my experience as well. Lots of stormwater! Although I did get a couple of fastener questions too. I finished the exam (after answering + reviewing all questions) with 7 minutes to spare... so time management is definitely in play here as well. Best of luck to all of you! Looking forward to seeing lots of celebrations in September! 

[Kaitlyn Weimer]

I felt the exact same! I couldn’t have studied more, I needed to study differently. Used all of my time during the review. Glad I’m not the only one that feels this way. I’ll be interested in seeing the pass rate.

[Sunny Xu Zhang]

I'm wondering does laying pavers with sand swept joints on top of concrete base make it a flexible pavement or rigid pavement? Will it still be considered porous given there is concrete below it?

Thanks!

[WobbleGobbo]

It's definitely non pervious and rigid pavement.

[Eric Kelly]

Yes, the concrete base makes it rigid. 

[Erika Mueller]

I took 4 today and it was difficult! I agree, not enough time!  I also intended to do all the problems at the end but the drag and drops took so much thought - I had barely any time left last the end.   I know I didn't under-study for this, I just didn't study what was on the test.  Not what I expected - Not a deck question, no green roofs, very few details really - not even a sw detail from strom???  The study material list just doesn't correlate to what's on the test.  Taking 4 is like taking an expensive and time consuming practice test to prepare to pass it.  If it sounds like I'm frustrated - I am!

[psala...@gmail.com]

Very similar experience after passing the first 3 fairly easily.  There were only a few grading problems.  Those and the drag and drop took forever, so is it even worth spending time?   This test was the least similar to any practice test I've seen.  SO many questions about site protection for it being 1 bullet point.