The exam experience

For every aspiring architect, the exam remains a memorable experience, reflecting years of work andstudy. This article continues the Preparation for Architecture series with my own experience from the 2015 exam for entering Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, which took place on the 1st of September.

Sitting the exam

8 years have passed since I decided to go on the path of becoming an architect. For achieving this, 2 years of weekly preparation have gradually improved my architectural skills, and finally, on the 1st of September 2015, this so long-expected exam has come. It was a great responsibility, but I had no fear. After two weeks of summer preparation, it was just like another day when I was supposed to spend 5 hours drawing. 

In front of UAUIM, there were lots of aspiring students with their parents, friends and relatives. Enthusiasm combined with nervousness and wishes of good luck: hundreds of dreams had to pass one major step until they could turn into reality. I entered at 9:30, admiring the drawings displayed on the walls on my way to the classroom and soaking up the atmosphere of the place I wished to study at for the next 6 years. The exam was scheduled to start at 10 o'clock, but the subjects arrived only at 11:10... One more hour of waiting. Some of the candidates did some sketching to relief stress. Some were just staring at the walls. I was looking around, thinking of the long hours of preparation hidden behind the appearances. Everyone of us had a story, a motivation, a passion for the same magnificent field of architecture that brought us together in the same classroom that day. Everything was made for those 5 hours in which we strived to do our best. In that room full of untold stories, only the sharpened pencils were expected to confess our experience.

The subjects were generally considered more difficult than the ones given in the previous years, and some of them completely unexpected. There were two subjects of descriptive geometry, which were truly enjoyable for me, since DG is among my favourite aspects of architectural studies. Three of the subjects implied drawing perspectives and another asked for a freehand sketch of the modern facade of UAUIM. In my opinion, this was the most surprising subject, somehow testing the visual memory of the candidates. 

As I learned during the preparation, I started with the line drawing and made the hatchures only after finishing with the line drawing for all subjects. In 5 hours I only stopped drawing for a few moments to drink water and to check the general layout of the page. The time passed quickly. Calmness was essential in order to finish the subjects in time. At 16:10 the exam finished and we handed in the drawings to the supervisors. It was 16:30 when I went out of the building. It had been a tiring experience, and the results were scheduled to be given in 4 days. The only thing we could do then was to wait for them. 

The results

Yesterday, the results were published online on the UAUIM website. It was a difficult exam and, since architecture exams combines both technical and artistic aspects, the evaluation is more or less subjective. Finding out that I was the first on the list of 475 candidates was a rewarding moment not only for me, but also for my professor, my family, friends and acquaintances, who were kind and supportive for such a long time. 

And I wish to express my gratitude once more for everyone of you who trusted my architectural and artistic skills, who supported me, who criticised me and showed me better ways of development, who took your time to have a look on what I drew or wrote on this blog. You all give a sense to my work.

From my own experience, I know how difficult is to prepare yourself for the architecture exam. As far as I am concerned, I had the oportunity to study with Mr. Radu Tanasoiu, whose patience, wide teaching experience, broad culture and refined tastes helped me develop my own views on architecture, apart from the drawing skills. The preparation also implied a lot of independent studies: countless hours spent drawing, reading about history, styles and architects, visiting architectural masterpieces, writing articles. Based on these, the Preparation for Architecture series will go on with lessons and advice for everyone interested in architecture. Feel free to ask anything you would like to know about.

This is only the beginning of an arduous journey. For me, architecture remains the most complex field. It is a mission for building a future. It is a chance to give birth to the culture of the future. It is a trace that human beings can leave in the infinite Creation. And everything starts when, guided by the invisible force of inspiration, a pencil touches the white surface of paper.