Changes to the LARE exam coming 2012- all computerized and only 4 sections…

Thanks for posting this.  I had heard rumors, but nothing concrete.  

Very interesting; hopefully the new format makes the exam more accessible, but no less rigorous.

I wonder if they’ll use Macs.

That is an odd question. The exams will be at pro-metric where the three current computer tests are administered. They were all PC’s of some kind. I am guessing that the vignettes will look something like the problems that the architects are currently working with.

Hi all,

It’s great to see the discussion on the changes to the L.A.R.E. I wanted to clarify a couple of things and answer any questions that you may have.

1. The exam will consist of 4 sections, all of which will be administered at computer test centers and will make the exam more accessible for candidates.
2. The content currently tested in graphic format will, in the new exam, consist of multiple-choice questions and advanced item types. Advanced item types require candidates to work with on-screen graphics. Examples of these new item types will be available in Spring 2012.
3. There will be two administrations of the current Multiple-choice exams (September 2011 and March 2012) and two administrations of the current Graphic exams (December 2011 and June 2012) prior to the transition to the new exam.
4. We are encouraging new candidates to take Sections A & B of the current exam as they will translate directly to Sections 1 and 2 in the new exam.
5. Additionally taking Sections A & B now will have financial benefits as well because the cost per section of the new exam will be higher as the development costs are spread over 4 sections versus 5 in the current exam.

I hope you find this information to be helpful. For additional information on the transition please visit the CLARB website. For further assistance please contact us by phone at 571-432-0332 or by email at info@clarb.org. You can also participate in our Facebook discussions.

I wish you all the best of luck on your pursuit of licensure!

Take care,

Veronica

Everybody,

You ought to read the FAQs on CLARB’s website. What Veronica has conveniently failed to mention is that, due to the assimilation of Section D into the new Sections 3 & 4, (the NEW graphic sections), if you have passed Section D at this point, and still need to pass Section C or E, you must do so in the current test format, or you will lose credit for your Section D…Uuhhh what???????

So, Veronica, correct me if I’m wrong (and boy, I hope I am), but if I do not pass my Section E (the only test I have remaining to pass) in the next 2 testing sessions, not only will I:

1) Lose credit for having already passed Section D, but

2) Have to take the new graphic grading & drainage (now called Section 4) AND

3) Have to take the new graphic site design (now called Section 3) and this is BECAUSE both of these will now contain material from the old Section D.**this part I’m still unclear on

But either way, the new tests will naturally cost more. So when I take the new grading & drainage test section, not only will I be tested on material that I have already passed, (Section D) but I will also be charged for it as well.

Not a good idea, CLARB. You already have the wrath of many landscape architects struggling to pass a test that is too expensive and in many ways completely irrelevant to the industry, not to mention & paying ridiculous fees for red-line reviews, etc….I could go on and on…..

I have a friend who is in this very situation you just described. He has passed all sections except section D, which i believe he has taken 3 times now. ‘Wow’, you might be saying ‘this guy sure doesn’t know construction very well. He must be pretty dense to take it 3 times without passing.’ But this guy owns his own design build firm!! He, of all my landscape architect friends, is the most well-informed about construction details, methods, processes etc. Just another example of how the LARE is so far off the mark in terms of testing pertinent, accurate, and useful information in the field of landscape architecture.

I too question the one-year window, given that the LARE has such a tremendously high fail rate and thus re-take rate (I know TONS of people who have had to take a section 2, 3, 4 times before passing!!)  If a candidate has only one section left to pass, that’s only 2 shots to get a passing score before you’re totally screwed and risk losing a ton of time and money spent on the previous tests. CLARB should extend the transition period to 2 years. But then again, why would they? This is just another fantastic ploy to rake in more profits at the expense of the candidates.

Thanks for posting this, helps for someone who is graduating undergrad soon to know how the new test will operate.