Your Part 3 Case Study: Cracking the Code

We’ve covered clarity, time management, and PEDRs so far—three of the most important pillars of your Part 3 journey. Today, we’re tackling a biggie: the case study.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed about choosing the right project, structuring your report, or even knowing where to start, don’t worry—you’re not alone. The case study is like the boss level of Part 3, but with the right approach, it can also be the most rewarding part of the process.

Why Your Case Study Matters

The case study isn’t just another assignment. It’s your chance to demonstrate:

1. How you approach real-world problems.

2. Your understanding of architectural practice.

3. Your ability to reflect critically on your own work.

   
   

In short, it’s your opportunity to prove that you’ve got what it takes to handle the responsibilities of a registered architect.

The 3 C’s of a Great Case Study

To ace your case study, you need to focus on three things:

1. Choosing the Right Project

Your project should:

• Be something you’ve worked on closely.

• Cover a variety of ARB/RIBA criteria (e.g., contract administration, design development, stakeholder management).

• Include challenges or complexities that you can analyze.

Avoid projects where you had minimal involvement or ones that are too straightforward—examiners want to see your ability to think critically and solve problems.

2. Crafting a Compelling Narrative

Your case study isn’t just a list of tasks; it’s a story.

• Start with the project’s background: What was the brief? What were the client’s priorities?

• Highlight your role: What were your key responsibilities?

• Dive into challenges: What problems arose, and how did you address them?

Make sure your narrative ties back to the ARB/RIBA criteria throughout.

3. Critical Reflection

The most important part of your case study isn’t what you did—it’s what you learned.

• What worked well, and why?

• What didn’t go as planned, and how did you handle it?

• What would you do differently next time?

  
  

Reflection shows examiners that you’re constantly learning and improving, which is exactly what they want to see.

My Case Study Mistakes (So You Don’t Have to Make Them)

When I was working on my case study, I made a few rookie errors:

1. Choosing a project I didn’t know inside-out. This made it harder to write in detail and answer questions confidently in the exam.

   
   

2. Overloading with technical jargon. Examiners want clarity, not a language test. Keep it simple and to the point.

   
   

3. Skipping reflection. My early drafts were all about what I did and missed the crucial why it mattered.

Your Case Study Starter Pack

Here’s a quick framework to help you get started:

1. Project Selection

Take 10 minutes today to list all the projects you’ve worked on. Next, highlight the ones where you had significant involvement and that align with multiple ARB/RIBA criteria.

2. Outline Your Narrative

For your top project choice, draft a rough outline using these sections:

• Background and brief.

• Your role and responsibilities.

• Key challenges and how you tackled them.

• Lessons learned and areas for improvement.

  
  

3. Set Small Goals

The case study can feel overwhelming, so break it into smaller tasks. For example, aim to write 200 words a day instead of trying to complete the entire thing in one sitting.

Today’s Action Step

Pick one project you’re considering for your case study and answer these questions:

1. Why does this project stand out?

2. What challenges did you face, and how did you address them?

3. What did you learn from the experience?

   
   

This will help you figure out if it’s the right fit and get you thinking critically from the get-go.

Keep It Simple, But Significant

Your case study doesn’t need to be a 10,000-word masterpiece—it just needs to clearly show your understanding of architectural practice. By focusing on the 3 C’s (Choice, Craft, and Critical Reflection), you’ll be well on your way to creating something examiners will love.

Tomorrow, we’ll wrap up this email course with a bonus session on navigating the Part 3 exam day itself. Spoiler: It’s not as scary as it sounds!

As always, hit reply and let me know: What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to the case study?

You’re doing great—keep it up!