Welcome to Your Part 3 Kickstart!

Welcome to Day 1 of our Ultimate Part 3 Kickstart series! Over the next five days, I’m here to help you set up the foundational skills, mindsets, and practices that will set you up for Part 3 success – all while keeping things as stress-free as possible.

An Intro to the Part 3 Exam Process

For many budding architects, the Part 3 exam is like an initiation – a way to show you’re ready to take on the responsibilities of an architect. But, as you may already know, it’s a beast with multiple heads: the oral exam, written exam, PEDR, and a case study. No worries, though – we’ll break it all down into manageable chunks.

So, let’s start with a quick overview of these components and why they matter.

1. The Oral Exam - Think of it as a ‘show me you understand’ session. Here, you’ll be asked to demonstrate knowledge of professional conduct, ethical decisions, and how to handle practical project scenarios. The goal? Show examiners you’re ready to make judgment calls in the real world based on information that you know and strategic thinking.

   
   

2. The Written Exam - This is where you’ll analyse a project scenario and apply your understanding of the building process, regulatory frameworks, and contractual issues. Imagine it as a set of challenges meant to test your “big picture” thinking. Although you are in a open book exam, you will need to rely mainly on your knowledge and experience as the amount of topics to cover will deplete your writing time.

   
   

3. Your PEDR - The Professional Experience and Development Record is where your real-world experience meets reflection. It’s less about filling in boxes and more about showing you’re learning from every phase of every project. This is your personal working journal. See it like that and the work of filling it out will become a pleasure rather than a task.

   
   

4. The Case Study - Here’s where you get to shine. You’ll choose a project that you’ve had significant involvement in and analyse it from every angle. This part really tests your critical thinking and ability to assess professional decisions. More on those two topics in my other blog posts.

That’s the high-level view. Over the next few days, we’ll dive into each of these sections, sharing strategies and tips to give you the best possible start. By the end of the week, you’ll have a strong grasp on where to focus, and you’ll already be ahead of the game.

Action Step for Today

Start thinking about your recent projects and experiences. Have a look through your PEDR or any project notes. Pick one project that you felt particularly involved in – maybe it was a tough one, or you had to solve a tricky problem. Just make a note of it. This project might be a good candidate for your case study later on!

I’ll see you tomorrow for Day 2, where we’ll cover Time Management – aka, how to make Part 3 work alongside your job and life, without feeling like you’re drowning.

Until tomorrow, keep it simple. And as always, feel free to hit “reply” if you have questions. I’m here to help.