Section 3 - so many study guides, which are necessary???

[jackgr...@gmail.com]

There are seven available study guides for this section, and I'm trying to figure out which would be the most helpful, since buying all seven would cost upwards of $350.   Is there anyone here who has passed who thinks any of these listed below were particularly helpful to them?

-Ken Worthington's Shake and Bake

-Power to Pass LARE Review Mastering Section C

-Power to Pass LARE Review Secton C Vignettes

-Power to Pass LARE Review Section C Sample Exam

-Power to Pass LARE Review Section D Practice Problems (which is also supposed to apply to section 3 concept development)

-LAREprep.com Section 3 Exam A

-LAREprep.com Section 3 Exam B

Not to mention Cheryl Corbson's learning webinar for another $175.

If one were to purchase all the study guides, the webinar and 3 or 4 of the recommended clarb books, your pushing $900 or more easily. Crazy.

This section of the four seems to have the most recommended books and study guides, but the cost starts to add up fast.  Has anyone been successful with this section using a limited number of study guides/books?

[ADMIN]

For what it's worth all of the PPI (Power to Pass) were written 2 revisions ago - i.e. Prior to 2012 and 2017 changes. I think it's a stretch that they are relevant at this point and they are the most expensive of all the sample exams. I believe Shake and Bake is pre-2017 changes and people generally complain about the quality of their product. Cheryl Corson has a great service but it's a study guide - she and LAREprep are the most current but LAREprep sells sample exams whereas Cheryl is a tutor of sorts.

[Sophie S]

I disagree - even though PPI are old, I still think they are valuable resources as they challenge the visual side / design side of things LARE-land style and PPI Section D has questions and the well-developed answers to help you identify holes in your study/knowledge. Even though there are no longer vignettes per se on the exam, the drag and drop items do require you to think in vignette style, if that makes sense. If you rely solely on multiple choice style exam prep material, I don't think you will be as well prepared. 

I did not use the LAREprep material, so I am commenting on what I used. 

Study guides aside, going through the outline from CLARB and making sure you really know each point (not just familiar), would be my first priority if I had to write it again.

good luck, Sophie

[ADMIN]

My primary issue with the PPI vignettes is that many are in the extremely outdated format where you have 45 min per each question. There are also a whole host of question types (listing order of applicability and I vaguely remember some sort of diagram questions) that are definitely no longer on the exams. I agree that they are still of some use but I am of the opinion that given the cost of the PPI materials, there are better resources out there at this point. In my opinion, LAREprep (which has vignette style questions) and the CLARB and ASLA sample exams are more than enough as far as sample exams go and Corson does a great job of helping you streamline your reading time on the front end of things

[Sophie S]

I just took Section 3 in April.  I don't think someone should spend 45 minutes on each practice vignette from PPI, but I do think that working through the vignettes gets you thinking about how to apply the material that you learn everywhere else into a design problem. The progression from bubble diagram to more detailed analysis and then design of a site is worth using to study. Remember that the 45 minutes allotted also included drawing it out for someone else to evaluate and not just roughing something out - which is what you can do to study for the computer administration of the exam. 

If you can get your hands on a used copy or borrow PPI, I wouldn't pass the opportunity up.The 'failed' answers are also extremely valuable.

I am also taking Cheryl Corson's webinars and agree, the streamlining and support are priceless, really. 

[jackgr...@gmail.com]

I didn't realize CLARB and ASLA sample exams are still offered, where does one find these?

I'm somewhat torn on the PPI guides.  I passed sections 1 and 2 recently and felt the 'style' of the ppi guides was more in line with the actual exam, even if the content might not have been as relevant as some of the others.  In other words, I felt they were more difficult and made me think about my answers more, which is what the real exams make you do.  But I hear all are saying, so its a tough call.  

[jackgr...@gmail.com]

Sophie, so if you had to puchase only 1 or 2 of the 4 ppi guides relevant to section 3, which one would you recommend?  Or are they all about the same? Thanks

[ADMIN]

Jack,

I posted all of these sort of resources to a Google Drive link.  The respective sections are all locked to the top of the forum.  So, you'd want to go to this link:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8H0N5A23wXxYXY4VnRlWmU4b1k
for the Section 3 materials.  I actually found your initial inquiry about "too many resources" for Section 3 to be confusing because, when I was trying to put together these links, Sections 3 and 4 had by far the least content.  Anyways, hope that helps.

[jackgr...@gmail.com]

Thanks for posting those.  Apparently clarb/asla no longer offers them.  You feel they are still in line with the current content/format of the exam?

I've found that section 3 has the most study material available in terms of recommended books, study guides and the Corson resources.  So for me, it's been the hardest to develop a study plan for.

[ADMIN]

In my opinion, the CLARB/ASLA resources are far more relevant than the PPI ones with the disadvantage that none of the answers are explained to you.  In the end, I think it makes sense to tailor use of these resources to where you are in the studying process.

Corson is great for when you are getting started, however, bear in mind that she isn't going to give you a sample question/exam and explain to you why the answer is or isn't correct.  She's there to give you test taking strategies, help narrow your focus on specific chapters of books and answer questions that arise through your reading.  All certainly valuable but it has a limit.  PPI, LAREprep etc all provide an actual exam to take that, and I think that sort of exam prep is better for the weeks before you actually take the exam so that you can gauge how close you are to being "ready" for the exam.  Plenty of people can attest to the fact that merely reading all of the recommended resources can leave you feeling completely unprepared when you are actually taking the exam - thus the benefit of the sample exams.  In my opinion, it is the job of these companies to assure you that you are ready to take the exam and that's why I don't really see the value of PPI at this point.  Certainly the information is of high quality, but I think that - especially for Sections 3 and 4 - you are in a much better place spending money on Corson and LAREprep - both of whom keep their resources up to date.  Like Sophie says though, there is definitely value in PPI and it could very much be worth your while to pick up one of the books (used if you can) to help study.  If I remember correctly, Masterin Section C: Site Design was better than the vignettes.  I truly think the vignettes from PPI for Sections 3/4 are an immense waste of time at this point.  Remember that all graphic style questions are now worth a single point, just like every other question.  You should be learning about clicking the hot spot etc...

While we are on the subject of section three, DEFINITELY buy Strom (5th edition or more recent).  You'll use it for Section 4, so its a well worth it.

[Sophie S]

I'd recommend Mastering Section C - Site Design, if I were to chose only one PPI. Please keep in mind that it refers to the LARE reference manual, which is no longer relevant. But the book elaborates on some of the vital components of the exam (circulation, for example), and also gives sample questions with a few potential answers. It's not full-blown "vignette" or practice exam, but an overview and a taste for the style of questions that you found helpful for Section 1 and 2.

ADMIN makes a good point that each question is only worth one point, but in the same vein, if you were to fail all graphic questions, I'm not sure you would pass. So putting all your eggs in the multiple-choice basket vs. hot spots and drag and drop is not recommended. But yes, they are all worth one point. 

Hope that helps, Sophie

ps. as for the textbook-like resources, if you can't afford them all at once, try interlibrary loans. what a resource - I live in a very rural state, but they've borrowed books from Boston, for example, and at least I get to see what I'd be paying for...

[Sophie S]

Can ADMIN provide full disclosure when giving advice on which resources to buy? Do you own/ work for LAREprep???

Sophie

[ADMIN]

There are several people who help admin the site - I am not affiliated with any of the products discussed above. I have however used Shake and Bake, LAREprep, PPI and Corson Learning to study for the LARE. Recently finished becoming a landscape architect so I feel that my experience with these resources is current enough. We do have an admin that has worked and edited for LAREprep in the past but I don't see how that has a bearing on my personal comments above.

[Emily Garavuso]

Jack,

I took sections 2 and 3 together because I didn't know how to separate the two (because they influence each other so much).  You certainty don't have to read all the resources cover to cover.  They give you a variety to choose from because different study materials work best for different people.  I think graphic standards and time saver standard are the best resources but they present the same info in different ways.  So if you don't understand a concept in one you can reference the other.  My office had both these books but I mainly used TSS.  Some other things you may want to consider is getting books for Inter Library Loan.  Talk to your local library and fill out a slip for the books you need.  I found all the references I didn't already own or have access to this way.  You should also try a google search of the titles you want .pdf   A number of them are online.  AND a number of them are somewhat readable via "look inside" on amazon.  I mainly read Booth and TSS for this section.  

I thought shake and bake and PPI were helpful, especially in building up the stamina you need to take the exam.  Don't just take the exams and leave it at that, use them as a study guide.  Make sure you know the concepts of all the answer options.  Focus on what questions might have pertained to those wrong answers and always ask yourself "how does this influence public health, safety and welfare?"  When I take the exams I write down with each answer if: I'm sure, I'm 50:50, or if I'm just guessing So I can study from those answers.  If I got a question wrong I was sure about I know I really need to revisit that concept.  If I guessed and it was right I still know I need to look it up so I can understand why.  Really use the orientation guide's Exam content guides.  Make sure you can check each off these bullets.  What are they? What is involved with each one?  How does it affect public, health safety and welfare?  Be thorough. 

It may be helpful to find out your learning style.  VARK offers a short questionnaire that will help you answer this just do a google search.  Personally, I get the most out of writing flash cards and teaching to others.  If you learn something well enough to teach it, you will have a firm grasp of the content.  Any time you don't fully understand a concept, look it up,use the resources you have, the internet, your boss or other professionals you work with.  If and when you write notes and flash cards try to put them into your own words and not just write it verbatim from the source.  

Figuring out which resources you need is entirely personal.  It is different for everyone.  Sifting through it all will help you figure out what YOU need.  Study a little bit everyday, don't just leave it for the weekends, we retain better in little bite size pieces.

Best of Luck!

[jackgr...@gmail.com]

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I found this section 3 strategy guide put out by ASLA back in 2012.  Does anyone know if this guide is still relevant/helpful? I know the exam format changed last year, but thought it could still be beneficial:

https://www.asla.org/uploadedFiles/CMS/Education/LARE_Prep/Section%203%20Strategy.pdf

[Ray Freeman]

I'm going to offer my take on Section 3 resources

ASLA Resources: These are ancient, especially the vignettes. Practicing pre-2012 vignettes on C and E (3 and 4) is, IMO, pretty much a waste of time.
The Frequent mistakes document is also quite old. I know, because I contributed to it many years ago. Some of the general advice is relevant.
The CLARB practice questions are useful, if a bit dated. CLARB made them, so they have to be relevent. OTOH, any of the new specifications not covered prior to 2017 are not going to be covered in those tests.
The Section 3 Design Prep Strategy from Sep 2012 is obviously dated. Uses the specs from 2 cycles ago! Some of the specs are still applicable, however.
My question is this: What the #### are the people who claim to be content experts for the ASLA thinking? Why isn't any effort being made to provide updated materials? Other than Tom Neiman, seems like the rest of the committee are just mailing it in.

PPI: The two 11x17 vignette books are worthless, and were the day they were published. The guy who wrote them presented solutions that would get you an automatic failure on the actual exam.
The Acomb Section C book is a decent resource, and the snippets of graphic problems he covers are actually somewhat similar to the current exam format for AITs. Still, it's from 2007, which makes it the newest resource on the LARE PPI has! That these people are now charging over $80 retail for this stuff is astonishing, since it was less than $30 in 2005-07.
Some of the multiple choice questions in the old section D book apply to section 3 and can be useful. Most PPI multiple choice questions are decent and the answers are somewhat explained.

Morrison Media: Ancient and basically crummy. This was thrown together as a money maker for the publisher. Avoid it like the plague.

Shake and Bake: Their stuff is questionable. I've reviewed their Section E and B books and they are pretty awful. The grading book is flat out idiotic. Admittedly, what I looked at was first edition stuff. Maybe it's gotten better?

LAREPrep: I have not bothered to review their work. They are a new kid on the block. I suggest you take any recommendations on this material from ADMIN with a grain of salt. He IS affiliated with the company. Read what other, more objective types have to say.

Corson Webinars: I admit I've only listened to the free snippets available. However, I'm not impressed with what I've heard myself, although that's not much. She does an overview of the exam, which is useful but basic. The detailed webinars I am unfamiliar with and therefore reserve judgement.

In the past I've spent money to stay current with as many study resources as possible. But now that I'm winding down to total retirement, I see no reason to spend a lot of $ to see what others are doing. Yes, I'm a crotchety old dude, but I still am offended by people who rip the candidates off. CLARB does a good enough job of that already.

[De Elle]

In my opinion you should go through all of it.  If you don't have the sources beg, borrow, and borrow for long term. 

[pe...@whitesycamore.com]

Is it possible we collectively gather which chapters/section from which book to focus the study on for each of the four sections?  Perhaps more of a CliffNotes type of approach?  Thanks.

[GLO]

I have many many vignettes with solutions plus Sections 1 and 2 notebooks well organized.  I live in St. Augustine, FL.  Shipping would have to be paid by buyer but if you live close enough, I can let them go for $50.  I paid alot for some of this stuff.  If anyone is interested, I'll itemize.