60 Day Challenge - PDD - Jan 2026 by Tomasz Groza

PDD - Week 1 Progress

tomaszgroza — 2026-02-03 07:52:25 UTC

Done with 1st week of Guided Study content

I'm targeting March 30th for my exam date

Intro

tomaszgroza — 2026-02-05 04:13:16 UTC

Hi, My name is Tomasz Groza. I'm starting a 60-Day Guided Study with PDD content and preparing to take PPD test soon as well. I have been using Black Spectacles for a year and have passed PcM, PjM, PA and CE tests so far. I live in Los Angeles, Pacific Time Zone and typically do my studying between 7-11pm. I've been working in architecture for 4 years since doing my M.Arch at UCLA. I work at a small firm on high end residential and hospitality projects.

Intro

aljacobs1_1 — 2026-02-20 01:41:28 UTC

Hi! My name is Abriana Jacobs. I am studying for PPD for the first time and my test date is March 30th :) This will be my 5th exam, I am hoping to finish testing in June!

Progress: February 22nd

2026-02-23 04:48:28 UTC

Progress of the Black Spectacles guided study up to Day 24.

PDD - Week 3 Progress and PPD update

tomaszgroza — 2026-02-23 05:18:46 UTC

I caught up with PDD up to Day 25 after being on Day 17 going into this weekend! Thank you to the study group meetings for the motivational boost I needed.

A lot of structural content this week. I am finding it challenging to stay focused on videos where just one person delivers the content but I found it more engaging to leaf through relevant section from Building Construction Illustrated while the videos play.

There were no practice exams in the Guided Study Path for PDD but I took one for PPD. I did very poorly, (partially because of taking the test late in the evening and struggling to stay awake at the end,) and got 58%.

Questions for PPD and PDD

tomaszgroza — 2026-02-23 05:59:23 UTC

What construction type is timber building with SIPS panel exterior walls?
How many parking spots does a parking lot has to have to require 2 accessible spaces. How about 3 or 4? How about van sized spaces? (this came up in PA and PPD)
What's a difference between vaulted and cathedral celling and what specific elements should be included in the assembly of the cathedral ceiling to keep the roof a cold roof. When is cold roof important.
(SPOILER: This is from PPD Practice exam) An architect is working on a project where their client wants the most efficient heating system possible to help minimize operational cost.
Which of the following heat sources could the architect recommend?
1. Boiler
2. Heat Pump
3. Electric Baseboards
4. Furnace
What issues could result from using a raked grout joint on exterior masonry wall? What joint would address some of those concerns?

Progress: Feb 23rd

aljacobs1_1 — 2026-02-23 22:04:55 UTC

Progress of Black Spectacles guided study - I'm "slightly behind" but plan on catching up by not taking the break days. I feel like having a practice exam day 18 really killed my motivation - its so hard to take such a lengthy exam and have to guess on so many questions because I havent watched the videos on those topics yet.. Does anyone else feel this way?

Progress: March 1st

aljacobs1_1 — 2026-03-02 03:44:44 UTC

Went from "slightly behind" to "ahead of schedule" this week!

Tomorrow is a flashcard day which I am looking forward to, something that helps me is making my own hand held old school flashcards, so i like to make my own based on the notes im taking from the videos and the flashcards black spectacles provides!

However, it looks like if I stick to schedule I will be taking a practice exam on Thursday.. taking practice exams after work and the gym never seems to be efficient for me so I might jump around in the schedule a little bit and take the practice exam Saturday!

Not sure if anyone has heard of it but I am competing in a HYROX workout / running race on Sunday so that will be a built in no study day for me!

PDD - Week 4 Progress

tomaszgroza — 2026-03-02 08:34:54 UTC

I ended up being behind because flashcard day and taking my first PDD practice exam today did not allow me to catch up with missed study days during the week. I got 69%, which considering I just finished and it's 12:30am is not so bad.

Progress: March 8

2026-03-08 21:42:14 UTC

Caught up to Day 38, this week included the Practice Exam which was very helpful to see which areas I needed to review.

I will go through the answers I got wrong again this week to make sure I fully understood the gaps in my knowledge.

PDD - Week 5 Progress

tomaszgroza — 2026-03-09 06:04:07 UTC

I was able to get ahead a bit this weekend! I scheduled my exams. PPD on March 22nd and and PDD on April 5th!

Progress: March 15

2026-03-16 02:29:57 UTC

Caught up with the videos this week, did the practice exam today and improved my score from last week. Will need to review the questions tomorrow again.

Week 6 Progress

tomaszgroza — 2026-03-16 07:20:33 UTC

A day behind because still studying a flashcard set. I have PPD exam coming up this week so I'm likely to fall behind on PDD this week. Wish me luck!

Questions for PA

2026-03-22 22:43:41 UTC

1) What are some passive cooling strategies for buildings in hot climates?
- Roof ponds
- Water fountains in shaded courtyards
- Night cooled mass located a the edge of the building (store heat during the day, release it at night)

2) (a) What do riparian buffers do?
They are bands of vegetation that flank a channel
(b) What is the minimum width of buffer strips to filter pollutants?
- 100 ft [correct]
- 200 ft [for urban buffers]
- 300 ft [min. to protect wildlife habitat]

3) List the materials by initial cost from low to high: asphalt or concrete / gravel/ porous asphalt
Low: gravel
Med: asphalt/concrete
High: porous asphalt

4) What is the main source of saturation in wetlands?
- Groundwater, precipitation, tidal water (but not surface runoff—is the source for constructed wetlands though)

6) What are some treatment methods for asbestos?
Abatement (removal)
Encapsulation (area inaccessible to public, cover with protective coating to prevent fibres in the air)
Enclosure (building a new wall in front of a wall)

Week 7 progress

tomaszgroza — 2026-03-23 06:26:19 UTC

No progress on PDD this week as I was studying towards PPD exam. I took it earlier today and passed!

I took an official practice exam yesterday and got 78% which was shockingly good, (on all previous 4 exams I passed i failed the official practice.) The result. and definitely boosted my confidence.

The testing experience was rough. It took me over an hour to check in for the test and do the environment check. The test disconnected twice becaue my webcam cord was loose and apparently momentry disconnect means the testing software needs to be restarted.

I was shocked by how strict environment rules were. I've been taking these tests for a year and its been getting more ridiculous but this time the proctors made me cover my furniture and lamps that were not in use with sheets, take pictures off the walls and out of the room along with any loose items

PDD test in two weeks!

Week 8 Progress

tomaszgroza — 2026-03-30 07:36:20 UTC

Catching up with PDD and getting close to the end of the study content. Just got 66% on a practice exam. There is another Practice exam on Black Spectacles and the official practice I will try to take before taking the PDD exam on April 4th.

Final Update

tomaszgroza — 2026-04-05 15:39:45 UTC

Passed PDD. Yay! That makes it 6 for 6 using Black Spectacles for studying. Good luck with your exams everyone!