Study Notes and Guidelines for the LEED® AP Exam

Before you start studying…

• Acquire the LEED® NC 2.2 Reference Manual (or LEED® CI / EB if you are taking one of those tracks). This is obviously the most important information.
• Register on the www.usgbc.org . This will give you access to additional information, especially the “Letter Templates.” NOTE: If your company is a USGBC member, then you are also a USGBC member and are entitled to the discounted member rates for materials, seminars and exam fees.
• Acquire a copy of “The Sustainable Building Technical Manual” (from the USGBC Research & Publications page: CLICK HERE). This will give you an overall understanding of the process of designing and building a sustainable project.

We also recommend:

• Download the LEED® Professional Accreditation Candidate Handbook from the GBCI website.
• Download the LEED® NC 2.2 Credit Summary, great for quick reference.
• Register on www.areforum.org . This is a wealth of information from both people that have passed and failed the exam.
• Find a study group in your area. Participating in open discussions will help you to understand how your peers are studying and what parts they are having trouble with.
• Sign up for a LEED® NC 2.2 one-day seminar. You will not be able to pass the exam from just the seminar, but the information is presented clearly and I found it very helpful.
• Acquire a mock exam.
• Find a study guide and/or flashcards. I have made all of my information available on my website: www.leedsource.com . (It would be in you best interest to create you own flashcards, I believe that you would retain more information that way.)

What to study, you MUST know the following:

• LEED® Credits and Prerequisites (reference guide & summary)

1.        What is the intent?
2.        What are the requirements?
3.        What are the standards that are referenced (if any)?
4.        What are some of the strategies?

1.        Who will submit the letter template and documentation?
2.        What supporting documents are required?
3.        Is it part of the “Design Submission” or a “Construction Submission”?

1.        When should you register a project?
2.        Who should register a project?
3.        What are the fees involved to register a project?
4.        What are the advantages of registering early in the design process?
5.        What is the complete CIR process (from submission to result)?

1.        How early in the project should you start planning for sustainability?
2.        Who should be involved in the early planning stages?
3.        Who is “in charge” of each phase regarding sustainability and LEED®?
4.        What are some sustainability strategies and how do they relate to LEED®?

As always, acquiring and learning this information will not guarantee that you will pass the LEED® AP exam. You are responsible to learn and understand the information.

Tips for one week before Exam Day:

• Review all of the prerequisites and credits.
• Answer the sample questions in the LEED® Professional Accreditation Candidate Handbook and in any mock exams that you may have.
• Review the answers that you got wrong, and learn the correct answers
• Continue to study.
• Review the standards that are referenced for each and every credit, this is very important!

What to expect on Exam Day:

• You will be asked 80 multiple-choice questions, many which have two or three answers that must be selected.
• You will have 2 hours in which to complete the exam.
• The exam is administered by computer.
• The computer will not permit you to answer more that the required number of correct answers.
• The computer will “flag” any question that does not have the required number answers selected.
• You will be able to “mark” any question, this will not effect the question or exam in any other way.
• At the end you will be given a summary of all 80 questions, where you can see which questions are completed, which questions need to be completed, and any questions that are “marked”.
• When you have completed the exam, you will see your results in about 10 seconds.
• You final score is converted to a 75 point scale from 125 to 200. You need to achieve at least 170 to pass.

Tips for Exam Day:

• Relax and dress comfortable.
• Use the restroom before entering.
• Take your time and read each question carefully, make sure you understand the question.
• If you are not sure about the answer(s), guess and MARK THE QUESTION. You will most likely have time to review it at the end.
• An unanswered or incomplete question is wrong, so make sure you answer every question.
• Go back and review as many questions as time will allow. Some questions may help clear your thoughts on other questions.
• When you are finished, take a deep breath before you click the “finished” button. (I think I wasn't breathing during the 10 seconds or so that I was waiting for the results.)

If you do not pass:

• Before you get drunk or have a good cry, “jot down” as many things that you can remember about the questions on the exam. This will become an excellent resource while you study for your next attempt.
• Schedule the next exam within 2 to 4 weeks. Do not allow yourself to forget what you have learned, just so you have to learn it over again.
• Your testing center will give you a sheet that shows you how you performed (percentage wise) in four categories. Study the categories that you did poorly in. You should strive to achieve better than 65% in each category.

If you did pass:

• Call everyone you know so that they can congratulate you!
• Have new business cards printed that read: Your Name, LEED AP
• Email us at info@leedsource.com so that we know that we have helped.
• Get drunk and/or have a good cry (optional).