Preparing for the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) in the Philippines is one of the most demanding phases in an architect’s journey. With an overwhelming scope and limited time, most reviewees ask the same question:
What does it actually take to pass—and even top—the LEA?
In a recent session of Topnotch Talks by VIZCODE, Architect Bernard B. Berberabe sat down with two newly recognized topnotchers—Ar. Joshua De lara (Top 2) and Ar. Lance Nalo (Top 7)—to unpack their experience.
This article shares key insights from that conversation—not the full session, but the ideas that stood out most.
Not Everyone Starts Ahead
One of the most overlooked truths about topnotchers: They don’t always come from perfect academic records.
Ar. Joshua De lara shared that his journey wasn’t always consistent. Despite being an achiever early on, his college years didn’t reflect the same results.
“The greater the drawback, the further you can go—if you use it the right way.”
Meanwhile, Ar. Lance Nalo approached things differently—balancing academics, organizations, and life outside school without obsessing over topping.
And yet, both reached it.
What changed wasn’t their intelligence. It was their approach.
The Shift Most Reviewees Don’t Notice
At the start of review, many aim high. But as the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) approaches, that mindset often shifts:
“I just want to pass.”
Architect Bernard pointed out how common this is among reviewees.
But according to Ar. Joshua Dallara, this shift quietly affects how you prepare:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you land among the stars.”
Because your target shapes your preparation.
What Their Study Routine Really Looked Like
There’s a common belief that topping the ALE requires extreme, all-day study sessions.
That wasn’t the case.
Both topnotchers followed structured but realistic routines:
- Focused study hours instead of long, unproductive days
- Time for rest and reset
- Systems they could sustain for months—not just weeks
For Ar. Lance Nalo, sustainability was key:
“You can’t avoid distractions. So you adapt.”
While Ar. Joshua De lara emphasized something most overlook:
“Rest is more important than studying everything.”
The key wasn’t intensity.
It was consistency with control.
The Biggest Mistake in ALE Review
If there’s one pattern that stood out, it’s this:
Too many reviewees rely on memorization.
But the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) is evolving.
Instead of recalling isolated facts, questions increasingly test:
- Application
- Judgment
- Situational thinking
At one point, Ar. Joshua De lara shared:
“Only around 20% of what I studied came out.”
What mattered more was how he approached unfamiliar questions.
How Topnotchers Think During the Exam
When faced with difficult questions, the approach changes. Instead of searching for the “right” answer immediately, topnotchers think differently.
According to Ar. Lance Nalo:
“Trust your first instinct.”
Both speakers emphasized similar strategies:
- Eliminate what clearly doesn’t fit
- Compare choices based on context
- Think from the examiner’s perspective
It becomes less about recall—and more about decision-making under pressure.
Managing Burnout Without Losing Momentum
Review season isn’t just academic. It’s mental.
For Ar. Lance Nalo, the response to burnout wasn’t pushing harder:
“If I feel overwhelmed, I slow down.”
While Ar. Joshua De lara highlighted the importance of balance:
“There is life outside architecture. Don’t lock yourself in.”
Because at some point, pushing harder stops being effective.
Sustainability becomes the advantage.
What Most People Still Get Wrong
There’s a tendency to believe that success in the LEA comes from doing more:
- More hours
- More materials
- More memorization
But the conversation revealed something different. Progress often comes from doing things better, not more:
- Sharper focus
- Clearer understanding
- Smarter pacing
A Glimpse—Not the Full Picture
These are only a few of the insights shared during the session. The real value of Topnotch Talks lies in the depth of discussion, the back-and-forth, and the nuances that can’t be fully captured in a summary. But if there’s one idea worth holding onto, it’s this:
The LEA is not just a test of knowledge.
It’s a test of how you think as an architect.
Final Thought
If you’re preparing for the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) in the Philippines
Don’t just aim to get through it.
Take the time to understand how top performers approach the process—how they manage their time, their energy, and their decisions.
Because the difference isn’t always in how much you study.
Sometimes, it’s in how you think while doing it.
For those inside the VIZCODE community, this was only a small part of the conversation. The real value lives in the conversation itself
