New 2017 NCIDQ Exam Updates

The CIDQ has updated all portions of the NCIDQ exam, and the most notable and significant update has occurred with the Practicum.

The new Practicum exam, referred to as Prac 2.0, is now a computer-based exam administered at Prometric sites.

Similar to the ARE exams, it is administered on a testing platform, not a design platform, so according to the CIDQ, you do not need prior experience with the software before taking the exam. 

To provide more information and context about the new updates, the CIDQ has released several videos on their site that discuss the new Prac 2.0 exam, and demo the new testing platform.

Prac 2.0 Exam

• Exam Format: The exam is comprised of 120 questions. Each question will be worth 1 point, and partial credit will not be given.

• Exam Duration: Candidates will be given 4 hours to complete the exam

• Exam Dates: The fall 2017 exam will be administered October 1-31, and the Spring 2018 will be administered April 1-30, 2018.

• Exam Cost: $450 exam fee + up to $225 in application fees. Cost breakdowns can be found here.

• Passing Score: Scoring this exam will be scaled, and determined after the first exam administration. Read more about that here.

Prac 2.0 Case Studies

As stated in the video above, each Prac 2.0 exam will consist of three different case studies:

• Large Commercial

• Small Commercial

• Residential

The Case studies will include: a project scenario, universal codes, a plan and other resources that might be needed to answer a question correctly.

Prac 2.0 utilizes four different types of questions:

• Hot spot

• Fill in the blank

• Multiple Choice

• Drag & Place

Knowledge areas of the exam can be broken down, as follows. Refer to the Prac 2.0 Exam Blueprint for further details of each knowledge area.

Prac 2.0 Practice Quiz & Study Material

The CIDQ has released a Prac 2.0 Practice Quiz which gives users 40 practice questions using the same test platform and methodology the full scale Prac 2.0 utilizes.

The PRAC 2.0 Quiz is available for $75.00 and is a one-time, single-use exam to practice computer test methods used in Prac 2.0. They currently only have one version of the practice quiz available, so if you purchase it more than once, it will be the same quiz.

However, I would highly recommend purchasing this quiz to familiarize yourself with the new platform, study the format of the questions, and simulate an exam day.

While the exam has moved to a digital format, it is still designed to test the same body of knowledge as the past Practicum exam. For example, instead of hand-drafting a space plan, candidates will be asked to evaluate a plan as it relates to the given program.

The following study materials are still relevant to use, and have been recommended by the CIDQ, PPI, and myself.

You can receive 15% off your purchase by clicking the links below and using code CCN15!

NCIDQ® PRAC 2 Practice Exam Problems, 2nd Edition

New Edition: Updated to the Current NCIDQ® Exam Specs

NCIDQ® PRAC 2 Practice Exam Problems contains 150 exam-like, multiple-choice questions that will help you pass the Interior Design PRAC 2.0 exam.

NCIDQ® PRAC 2 Practice Exam Problems features include:

• detailed explanations and problem solutions to reinforce theory and application of fundamental concepts

• 150 questions divided into 3 case studies that are consistent with the level of difficulty, format, and exam’s content areas to simulate PRAC 2.0 exam experience

Interior Design Reference Manual, 6th Edition

The Interior Design Reference Manual (IDRM6) offers complete review for all three divisions of the NCIDQ® Certification exam. This book works in conjunction with division specific practice exams to help you pass every division the first time.

The Interior Design Reference Manual features include:

• complete coverage of content areas for every division of the NCIDQ® Exam

• over 200 figures in SI and U.S. measurements to illustrate design details

• study guidelines, exam tips, and tables to support exam preparation

• a downloadable study schedule to organize study priorities

Are you taking the NCIDQ Prac 2.0 exam? If so, I would love to hear from you! 

2017 NCIDQ Study Materials

Get excited! In partnership with Kaplan, I am so excited to offer Creative Confidante readers an exclusive discount for select NCIDQ PPI study materials. Simply click any of the products below to receive 15% off (offer excludes product bundles or review courses). We all know how expensive the exams can be, and this will help make your NCIDQ journey a bit more affordable! 

Now, onto the updated study material list. Here are the materials that have been recommended by the CIDQ, the folks at PPI, and myself.

To make things easy, click the links below to start shopping, and studying! 

Interior Design Reference Manual, 6th Edition

The Interior Design Reference Manual offers complete review for all three divisions of the NCIDQ® Certification exam. This book works in conjunction with division specific practice exams to help you pass every division the first time. I read this book cover to cover several times in preparation for all three exams.

The Interior Design Reference Manual features include:

• complete coverage of content areas for every division of the NCIDQ® Exam

• over 200 figures in SI and U.S. measurements to illustrate design details

• study guidelines, exam tips, and tables to support exam preparation

• a downloadable study schedule to organize study priorities

Interior Construction & Detailing for Designers & Architects, 6th Edition

Interior Construction & Detailing for Designers & Architects, Sixth Edition is a comprehensive guide for students, interior designers, and architects involved in commercial and residential construction. I would recommend this for the IDPX & Prac 2.0.

Clear and complete explanations of how to select suitable materials and components and determine appropriate construction techniques make this book an essential, time-saving reference.

Successful design requires the best resources, and the Interior Construction & Detailing offers comprehensive coverage of key codes and topics for designers and architects.

NCIDQ® IDFX Sample Questions and Practice Exam, 2nd Edition

New Edition: Updated to the Current NCIDQ® Exam Specs

NCIDQ® IDFX Sample Questions and Practice Exam, Second Edition contains 225 exam-like, multiple-choice problems to help you prepare for the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX).

NCIDQ® IDFX Sample Questions and Practice Exam features include:

• detailed explanations and solutions to reinforce theory and application of fundamental concepts

• 125 practice questions to reinforce the connection between relevant theory to exam-like problems

• 100-question practice exam that is consistent with the level of difficulty, format, and content areas

NCIDQ® IDFX Flash Cards

NCIDQ® IDFX Flash Cards are the perfect complement to your study routine. More than 200 flash cards, categorized by exam and content area, aid you in recalling key concepts and definitions for the NCIDQ® IDFX exam. I kept a set of flashcards on me at all times, and they were perfect for studying on the go.

NCIDQ® IDFX Flash Cards Include

• coverage of NCIDQ® exam content areas with cards that match up to NCIDQ® IDFX exam topics

• unique content specific to the NCIDQ® IDFX exam

• both question/answer formatting and answer/question formatting to help increase problem solving speed

• three binder rings to divide your cards and customize your self-study learning experience

NCIDQ® IDPX Sample Questions and Practice Exam, 2nd Edition

New Edition: Updated to the Current NCIDQ® Exam Specs

NCIDQ® IDPX Sample Questions and Practice Exam contains 275 exam-like, multiple-choice questions that will help you pass the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX).

NCIDQ® IDPX Sample Questions and Practice Exam features include:

• detailed explanations and problem solutions to reinforce theory and application of fundamental concepts

• 125 practice questions to reinforce the connection between relevant theory to exam-like problems

• 150-question practice exam that is consistent with the level of difficulty, format, and exam’s content areas

NCIDQ® IDPX Flash Cards

NCIDQ® IDPX Flash Cards are the perfect complement to your study routine. More than 200 flash cards, categorized by exam and content area, aid you in recalling key concepts and definitions for the NCIDQ® IDPX exam. Easily taken on-the-go, the cards come with six binder rings for easy organization.

NCIDQ® IDPX Flash Cards Include

• coverage of NCIDQ® exam content areas with cards that match up to NCIDQ® IDPX exam topics

• unique content specific to the NCIDQ® IDPX exam

• both question/answer formatting and answer/question formatting to help increase problem solving speed

• three binder rings to divide your cards and customize your self-study learning experience

NCIDQ® PRAC 2 Practice Exam Problems, 2nd Edition

NCIDQ® PRAC 2 Practice Exam Problems contains 150 exam-like, multiple-choice questions that will help you pass the Interior Design PRAC 2.0 exam.

NCIDQ® PRAC 2 Practice Exam Problems features include:

• detailed explanations and problem solutions to reinforce theory and application of fundamental concepts

• 150 questions divided into 3 case studies that are consistent with the level of difficulty, format, and exam’s content areas to simulate PRAC 2.0 exam experience

The Codes Guidebook for Interiors, 7th Edition

The Codes Guidebook for Interiors is an excellent book to supplement the Interior Design Reference Manual, and gives an in depth look at all of the codes referenced in the NCIDQ. You can reference this for the IDFX, IDPX, and also use it after the exams, for work.

The Codes Guidebook for Interiors features include:

• Easy-to-navigate format geared toward the code process as a whole

• A step-by-step guide through the codes relevant at each stage in the design process

• The newest changes to the ADA Standards and ICC/ASI accessibility requirements

• A companion site that offers interactive checklists, flashcards, PowerPoint lecture slides, and an Instructor's Manual