My Prep Plan

Oh, when did I say I'd share this!? Last week? Oops. 

So, here's my plan of attack. Day by day. Yeah, it seems less daunting when I break it down. Or does it seem more daunting? Either way. I'd rather be water-skiing in Maine, drinking wine in Cape May, fishing in the mountains, snorkeling in Oahu, or eating everything in Italy. Mostly, though, I'd rather be passing this exam. 

THE OFFICIAL PREP SCHEDULE

Feb 1-7 See this post for my Prep-Prep 
Feb 8 OFF
Feb 9 Review Blog 
Feb 10 Lighting Prep, ADA Restroom Prep - review old practice test (6 hours)
Feb 11 Lighting Prep (1 hour)
Feb 12 Take Lighting Exercise (1 hour)
Feb 13 Grade Lighting Exercise, document, review solutions book (2.5 hours)
Feb 14 

• Review Millwork (1 hour)
• Late dinner with my Valentine :) (2 hours)

Feb 15 Review Millwork (1 hour)
Feb 16 

• Review Millwork (1 hour) - Really 2 hours
• Review Space Planning Exercise from old test, corridors, codes, heights, restaurant design, plumbing trenches (3 hours) - Move to Feb 24
• Review Egress (1 hour) - Really 3.5 hours

Feb 17 

• Review Space Planning (continue, 2 hours)  Week of Feb 19-22
• Take Egress Exercise (1) hour
• Grade Egress Exercise and document (2 hours)

Feb 18 (President's day!)

• Take Millwork Exercise (1) hour
• Grade Millwork Exercise, Review, and document (1.5 hour) - Really 4 hours

Feb 19 

Feb 20 OFF / Blog (1 hour)

Feb 21 Review Life Safety (1 hour)

Feb 22 OFF / Blog (1 hour) (Happy birthday Laura Jane!)
Feb 23 

• Take ADA Restroom Exercise (1/2 hour)

Feb 24 

• Take Life Safety Exercise in morning (1 hour)
• Review Systems Integration again (1 hour)
• Grade Life Safety Exercise and document in evening (1.5 hours)

Feb 25 Take Systems Integration Exercise (1 hour)

Feb 26 Grade Systems Integration Exercise & document (1.5 hours)

---------- END PRACTICE TEST #1 ----------

Feb 27 OFF

Feb 28 Review Part A (2 hours)

Mar 1 OFF

Mar 2 

• Review Part B (2 hours)
• Purchase portable drafting table, drafting dots, and any other supplies
• Do mock-lighting plan (1 hour)
• Do mock-egress plan (1 hour)
• Review Blog

Mar 3

• Take Space Planning Exercise (3 hours)
• Grade Space Planning Exercise & document (2.5 hours)
• Review Blog

Mar 4 OFF

Mar 5 Do mock-Millwork plan (1 hour)

Mar 6 Do mock-ADA restroom plan (1 hour)

Mar 7 Symbols Review

Mar 8-10 OFF for Wedding / study Ballast book, articles, and blog in car (6 hours total)

Mar 11-14 Review all of above and blog

Mar 15 Wawa trip for next-morning breakfast

Mar 16 ----- TEST SIMULATION DAY -----

Mar 17 OFF

Mar 18 Grade Space Planning & Document

Mar 19 Grade Lighting & Document

Mar 20 OFF ----Birthday!!----

Mar 21 Grade Egress & Document

Mar 22 OFF
Mar 23 

• Grade Life Safety & Document (1.5 hours)
• Grade Restroom & Document (1.5 hours)
• Grade Systems Integration & Document (1.5 hours)

Mar 24 

• Grade Millwork & Document (1.5 hours)
• Study blog 

Mar 25-30 Study Blog 

Mar 31 OFF ----Happy Easter!!----

Apr 1-2 Study Blog

April 3 OFF (Happy birthday, Julie!)

April 4 OFF

April 5 OFF

April 6

-----TEST DAY-----

April 7 - OFF. No, really. I need a day of recovery and this is non-negotiable. 

Last year, I did NOT do this. Like, any of it. I think I spent about 6 Saturdays practicing. And really, I have no clue what I was actually doing - it was all a blur and I remember hating it. I skipped Andrew's first dirt bike race. And I looked at the solutions before I took the test to "teach myself" what to do. How, in any normal world, does that last part make sense?

I'm actually excited for test simulation day. I'll post about that later on! 

Love and motivation,

Carolyn