Black SpectaclesReviews of blackspectacles.com

The concepts and delivery were easy to understand/absorb. It was just the push I needed to complete my ARE exams!

Worth the value for your future.

The flashcard is well-organized and informative. The multiple choice is helpful as well. Some more improvement can be made to the case study though.

I found the practice exam resource most helpful. The flash cards somewhat helpful, and the videos not helpful at all. Flash cards should have a feature that allow you to generate your own additional flash cards.

Black Spectacles is a good tool, especially if your company has an account. I paid out of pocket for my PRO subscription, and I would say if you are paying for it yourself, unless you are definitely a flashcard person, the premium level is much better. I'd say the practice exams are a must as the format is 90% similar to the actual NCARB browser (minus the newer strikethrough and highlighter updates). Mike Newman is quite a slow talker; i was able to fully comprehend and take notes at the 2x speed, and if the topic was particularly new to me the 1.5x speed was great too (and really cut down on the video sections). Initially I only used Black Spectacles and I passed 4 of the 6, failing PPD and PDD. Through reviewing the videos that were on new topics and trying to chip away at the massive stack of flashcards, I felt that I had to reach for reference books which turned out the be the difference maker. SOME reference books are noted in the practice exam reviews, but I think it would be nice if Black Spectacles had a more refined reference list of books for each exam, as NCARB's list is far too long and not specific enough. I had 7 years experience before taking the exams so I was not seeing a lot of the concepts for the first time, but I would say you could use Black Spectacles as your ONLY study guide and a 3-5 solid reference books and pass all the exams. I would have finished in the 6-month subscription if it wasn't for Covid (maybe a month or two added on to subscriptions that ended during Covid would have been nice), but I'm looking forward to the Software Learning subscription they say you'll get once you pass all 6.

Black Spectacles offers study material that most closely relates to the exam. I am late in my career becoming licensed and their material has prepared me greatly...even when I did not pass. Now with one exam remaining, I highly recommend their material over any other.

I just wanted to thank you for developing this amazing tool to assist with the preparation of future Architects. I learned this morning that I completed my last ARE Exam and could not have done so without Blackspectacles. The virtual exams, the flashcards, the videos and those live workshops aied my study and helped settled valuable concepts later used during the exams. As a member of the hispanic minority, language has always been another barrier to confront. Taking the practice exams over and over again helped me with reading comprehension and gave me practice to find solutions faster, yes your methodology is not least expensive out there but what is the worth of achieving something that will impact your career so broadly and provide opportunities for growth in your architectural office for many years to come? Thanks again and cheers for what you have created here. Marco Denver Colorado

The instructor was knowledgeable, reviewed at a good pace and explained well.