Black SpectaclesReviews of blackspectacles.com

I took my first exam based on books/google/notes... and failed. A friend mentioned Black Spectacles so I thought why not. Lectures are a great starting point but you should study up more and I LOVE the practice exams. They look JUST like the real thing and helps me get mentally prepared for test day. I’ve subscribed before my last 4 exams and passed them all on the first try! I’ll be using Black Spectacles for me last 2! Recommend it!

The best investment I have made in my professional career! Provided me with the curriculum and schedule to be successful on every exam the first time testing!

5 STARS!!! I passed the ARE using Black Spectacles almost exclusively.This program is hands-down the most helpful for passing the ARE 5.0. Their content is explained very clearly, but eben better than that is how it is organized. The way it is organized, as well as the study tools it offers, are designed to help you understand NCARB's priorities, so you can answer questions about content that maybe you had never seen befofe the real test. Their practice exams are the most important tool in preparing for the actual exams. I have recommended them to everyone I know who is trying to pass the ARE 5.0!

Black Spectacles its okey

The practice exams alone are worth the subscription fee. They accurately reflect the ARE exams regarding material, question-type + wording, computer interface, and timing. After three exam failures in a row during the crossover from ARE 4.0 to 5.0, I had developed horrible test anxiety because of the long, stressful (and expensive) process. Black Spectacles has helped me get out of my rut-- I PASSED PDD this week, and just have to take PPD to finally get that stamp! THANK YOU!!!

There is some good content and support in the PPD and PDD modules, but they are sorely lacking in enough detail and specifics. I had taken both of these two tests twice previously and passed all the sections - just not all in the same test. After 4 months of 20-30 hours of studying using Black Spectacles - I actually did much WORSE on the tests than I did on my two previous tries, and consequently lost three of my four passes due to the five year rule. I attribute this to general mental fatigue and increased distance from specifics in NCARB recommended resources - particularly IBC. The content of the videos is mostly a review of everything you should have learned in college or your first internship. Nicely done, but too vague and general to be useful during testing. Content of Flashcards is better. The practice tests are helpful, but don't compare in difficulty to the real tests. I was finishing the practice tests in 2.5 hours and scoring well, whereas on the real test I finished with only 10 minutes to spare (3 hours 50 minutes), and not enough time to check all the code items I had jotted down. They do help one to feel more prepared, but falsely so... I'd recommend Hyperfine and NCARB listed resources over Black Spectacles. And, if you do elect to utilize Black Spectacles - do so judiciously. One up side - I was I able to connect with great study buddy via Black Spectacles and that is pretty invaluable! And, Black Spectacles did help me keep moving forward when I was feeling pretty discouraged. Onward and upward!

In general I was missing the visual content. I would have liked to receive and/or see more visual documents/content of the lectures. (Diagrams, sketches, etc.) Also a summary of some sort (list of most important items or similar) would be helpful at each section.

I think the lecture and the tests are excellent. Although it took almost twice as long for me to really understand the contents because English is my second language, the lectures helped me understand the concept well and taught me how to deal with the problems as an architect. I believe I could pass the ARE because I took the lectures and the tests very seriously and thoroughly.