How to Pass the Architect’s Registration Examination (ARE)
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
The Architect’s Registration Examinations fill many aspiring architects with dread. Almost all recent graduates meet those in their firm who have taken the exam many times without any end in sight. Horror stories are shared of a “friend of a friend” that has taken the exams over 20 times and failed throughout. Passing the ARE’s are one of the worst boogeymen that haunt the architectural profession, and that fear is based in fiction.
The happiness and fulfillment you achieve in life has little to do with passing these tests. I can promise that the high of receiving a passing score is fantastic, but like many exciting moments in life, (such as buying a new car or graduating college) that euphoria lasts about 48 hours. After that time, for better or worse, your life remains relatively the same. Your mental, physical, and emotional health are much more important. So my first piece of advice is not to place undue pressure on passing the tests. Work hard, but do not tie your self-confidence to them. Some of the most talented designers I have met never passed the exams, nor did they see them as essential to their career.
Before starting the journey to pass these tests, make sure it is the path that you want to take. “People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.”[1] If this is the path you want to follow, it’s important to remember your motivation for taking them because these tests are extremely difficult.
If financial incentives are what push you, your earning potential goes up considerably when you do pass these tests. If opportunity and prestige are what drive you, remember that without being licensed, you may be limited to single family residential projects, or be required to hire a licensed architect to not be limited on the types of projects you take on.
I saw passing the exams as the culmination of my architectural education. After over 7 years invested in architecture school, internships, and jobs, I knew that for me, if I never got licensed I would always feel like I had come up short. I had the goal of owning my own firm and designing civic and institutional buildings, so becoming licensed was essential in providing career autonomy. However, the largest motivating factor for me was providing for a family: I understood that as you complete certifications in your career, financial opportunities are more likely. The exams, then became essential for my goals. Make sure they are for you too. Now that you’ve determined that the exams are the path you want to take, let’s talk about the details of the exams.
What is the Architect’s Registration Examination (ARE)?
Similar to the Bar Exam for lawyers, the ARE is the gatekeeping test to become an architect. All states in the US require licensure applicants to pass these exams. Legally, you cannot advertise yourself as an “architect” until you pass these exams.
The Exam is made up of six[2] different divisions, aimed at testing your general knowledge on a wide array of the practice of architecture. These divisions are as follows:
· Practice Management (PcM)
· Project Management (PM)
· Programming and Analysis (PA)
· Project Planning and Design (PPD)
· Project Development and Documentation (PDD)
· Construction and Evaluation (CE)
Notice that these exams are the same categories as the AXP experience program covered in an earlier chapter. The entire process of gaining experience and logging hours is meant to prepare you for these exams. Earlier, we looked at the content of each division and what they mean for your architecture experience. For now, we will focus on the exam’s format and content, and my experience passing them.
Format of the Architect’s Registration Examination
Odds are, if you’re reading this, you are already familiar with the format of the ARE. If that’s you, skip this section.
The ARE’s are an online based exam, meaning each applicant will be taking the exam via computer. You have two options to take the exam; in person at an approved testing center, or remotely with a proctor monitoring you through webcam.
Note: I experienced success with both in-person and remote testing methods. Some people will tell you that one is better than the other. For me, the experiences were nearly identical, with some additional up front work for the remote tests (getting a webcam and making sure your testing space is approved).
The test divisions are timed, with each exam being allotted more or less time, based on the amount of questions. The duration and content of each division are as follows:
· Practice Management (80 items, 2 hours and 45 minutes)
· Project Management (90 items, 3 hours and 15 minutes)
· Programming & Analysis (95 items, 3 hours and 15 minutes)
· Project Planning & Design (120 items, 4 hours and 15)
· Project Development & Documentation (120 items, 4 hours and 15 minutes)
· Construction & Evaluation (95 items, 3 hours and 15 minutes)
The questions on the exams are a combination of multiple choice, check-all-that-apply, quantitative-fill-in-the-blank, hotspot, and drag-and-place. The following descriptions are from NCARB’s (the governing body that creates and manages licensure in the United States) website:
Multiple Choice
Multiple-choice is probably the most familiar type of question seen on any exam, ARE or not. A multiple-choice item is composed of a question followed by three or four response options and is used when there is only one correct response for the question being asked.
Check-all-that-apply
A check-all-that-apply item is similar to a multiple-choice item, except it allows you to select multiple responses out of six response options. These items are used when a question can be answered in more than one way or when multiple pieces of information are used together to answer a question.
Quantitative-fill-in-the-blank
A quantitative-fill-in-the-blank item contains a question followed by an input box where you’ll need to provide a numerical response to the question being asked. Rather than selecting the correct response from a list of options, you must arrive at the correct answer through your own calculations or by analyzing information provided in the question.
Hotspot
A hotspot contains a question followed by a drawing, photograph, diagram, or other image. This item type is used for the same reason architects produce drawings—sometimes it’s easier to present information graphically! To answer the question, click on the appropriate location in the image provided. If your response is within the acceptable scoring area, it will be scored as correct.
Drag-and-place
A drag-and-place item, like a hotspot, contains a question followed by a background drawing, photograph, diagram, or other image. But unlike a hotspot, a drag-and-place item also includes a series of design elements along the left side or top of the background image. This item type is used when you need to create a visual solution to a question. To respond, you will need to select one or more of the design elements and place them onto the background image. If all required elements are placed within the acceptable scoring areas, the item will be scored as correct.
It's important to remember that each type of questions has the same weight for the exam. Even if the “check all that apply” question has 4 or 5 right answers, that questions is worth one point. Each questions is worth one point, so it doesn’t benefit you in spending extra time on one format of question over another.
Tip: Take the NCARB practice exams. They give you an opportunity to see the format of the tests, the abilities and deficiencies in the software, and prepare you not to freak out on test day.
Each exam is made up of two parts: the first, larger portion of the test are the general questions for that division. These questions are unrelated in content. The second part of the exam are the last 15-25 questions, made up of case studies. These questions all deal with the same hypothetical project, and you are given resources to answer the questions: project brief, plans, elevations, sections, portions of the International Building Code (IBC), Local Jurisdiction Requirements, etc.
Don’t spend too much time on each question. There is no partial credit. Give yourself 1-2 minutes for each general question and 3-4 minutes for the case studies (you need a little bit more to go through the project brief and resources).
Content of the Architect’s Registration Examination
When taking the tests, you electronically sign a document promising you will not disclose any content or questions found on the exam.[4] However, I can tell you that the exams are not what you think. Most potential test takers would guess that some of the more complicated aspects of architecture would be at the forefront of the exams. This would include structures, mathematics, formulas, etc. In my experience, I had one or two questions regarding free-body diagrams and other structural calculations, and one question with some form of trigonometry involved. The tests are not trying to trick you, but rather prove that you grasp the basic principles of architecture, and that you are at an entry-level understanding to protect the well-being of the public.
My Experience
While I went to architecture school, I had a general idea that the exams existed, but I didn’t place much emphasis on them. I was too busy learning the design principles, history, theory and practice of architecture. It was only after I graduated from my Master’s program that my attention turned towards the exams. If I were to go back, I would start early to understand what was on the exam and get more out of my education.
Tip: While in Architecture School get a general idea of what is on the Architecture Registration Exams and look for the content in your classes. Keep in mind that was is taught in school isn’t always the answer the exam is looking for, but starting to notice the principles early will help immensely when you do take the tests.
Once I graduated I set a goal to complete all the tests in one year. This is where I think me being naïve about the tests was a huge strength. I quickly found out from coworkers and friends that the common strategy for the exams was to study for 6 months, take one exam, and move on to the next one. Following this formula, it would like three years to finish all the tests (provided you didn’t fail any of them)! I thought there had to be a better way; Enter the Amber Book study course.
Amber Book is a study course developed by Michael Ermann, an architect and professor at Virginia Tech. University. His strategy for the exams is to study for all of them at once and take them in a short period of time. He argues that the defining characteristic of the 5.0 version of the test are the overlap the divisions have with one another. This was exactly what I was looking for! Fortunately, the firm I worked for at the time generously paid for the study course and I was on my way. If you commit to Amber Book and strictly follow the course, you will not need any additional resources for your studies.
Life Circumstances
Create a schedule to study for the exam and stick to it. This is the defining characteristic of those who have passed all the exams. You cannot pass these tests without spending the time and making it a huge priority in your life.
When I took and passed the exams, I had three kids under four years old, was working a full time job, and was present in the lives of my wife and kids. (I want to take a moment to say that I couldn’t have accomplished this without the help of my wife.) What sort of sacrifices did this require? I had to sacrifice staying up late, sleeping in, hobbies, social events, and relaxation, among many others. To pass these tests, there are sacrifices that need to be made. Look at how you spend your time and re-prioritize. What activities are you spending your time on that could be cut out of your day?
Daily Study
I found that the ideal time to study for me was in the morning, when my brain was fresh and there were few distractions. I had a window from about 6:00-7:30 before my kids woke up that I could study. I would set my alarm for 5:45, which gave me enough time to hit the snooze button a few times and be up by 6:00. Don’t beat yourself up if your head doesn’t pop off the pillow at 4:00 am because you’re so excited to study. It’s hard work. Some mornings, if my kids were up for several hours throughout the night, I would let myself sleep in until 7:00 and then get moving.
Note: While studying it is important to get as much sleep as possible. Your brain cannot log away the information into long term storage without enough sleep. If you find it difficult to get 8 hours of sleep a night, research biphasic sleep schedules: before electricity a lot of cultures followed a biphasic (“two-phase”) sleep schedule. This is made up of 6 hours of sleep a night and a short 30-90 minute nap in the middle of the day (i.e. Spanish siestas). Obviously this schedule does not work for many people working a 9-5 job, but for students this is a possible way to ensure you get enough sleep while studying for the exams.
To start my study session, I would give myself 5-10 minutes of reading to wake my brain up. I recommend books or articles with a deeper meaning than the technical aspects of architecture. Those few minutes are important to maintain motivation for a long study session. For me, I knew I always wanted to own my own firm, so I would read books about entrepreneurship, or business management to keep the larger goal in mind. Throughout the week I would switch between those types of books, TED talks, religious texts, or motivational speeches; all with the intent to keep myself centered on why I wanted to pass the exams.
Tip: Sprinkle alternative study material throughout your study session to keep you engaged. Every once in a while I would watch YouTube videos about the practice of architecture, and while it did not apply specifically to the exams, it helped keep me motivated.
I started work at 9:00, so the 6:00-7:30 study session gave me enough time to really get into the content and still have time in the morning to workout, spend time with my kids, and get ready for my day of work.
Even if you have structured your day to study for an hour to an hour and a half of studying, that’s not enough. If you want to take and pass all the tests quickly, it takes active learning throughout the day. I did this by intentionally trying to understand architecture principles throughout my workday. I was Architectural Designer at the time, mostly on the production end. I had my hand a little bit in management opportunities, but not much. While studying for the exams, I would analyze every task I was given and try to understand the larger architecture principle. For example, if I was given the task to change all the wall types in a Revit model because we made adjustments to the stud or insulation thickness, I would take a few minutes to ask, study, and think about the effects change would have architecturally on the R-Value, structural capacity, or water/vapor protection strategy. By taking an intentional interest in learning why you are drafting something as opposed to just cranking out a product, you multiply your daily study time.
Frequent Testing
While studying for the exams, I bought the audio book, “Make it Stick”, by Peter C. Brown. I listened to this on my commute to work. The book illustrates how to take information learned and log it into long term memory (“making it stick”). There are numerous principles from the book that I employed in my study strategies, but the most important was the principle of testing to log information.
Today, standardized tests are under intense scrutiny with their social, cultural, and racial implications, but the book advocated for testing to improve understanding. While learning new information, your brain logs it into short term storage. After a while, you will start to forget some of the material. This is inevitable as the information is not used regularly, but the effort of attempting to remember content builds new neural pathways in your brain and turns that information into long-term memory. Studies show that professors and teachers who employ manageable yet challenging pop quizzes throughout a course will have higher test scores among students at the end of the semester. These teachers are giving their students the opportunity to log that information into long-term memory.
In my daily study, I kept strict to the Amber Book study course schedule. The content is easy to follow and understand. While watching the course, I had a stack of blank flashcards next to me. As I learned items I thought would be on the tests, I would create a flashcard then and there. This was my notetaking strategy. I knew that this method would allow me to take 20-30 minutes each week to test myself with the content and give my brain the opportunity to build neural pathways to the information. By the end of my studying I had amassed a collection of well over 700 flash cards. Some flashcards were more helpful than others (including at least 30 that had one word on the front and no definition on the back), but this practice of studying helped me streamline the entire process.
Exam Tips and Strategies
From my experience with the exams, I have developed some tips for the actual exam. These worked for me, but try to experiment and find the right fit for you.
Order of the Exams
Each of the divisions cover different aspects of the architectural process. All are challenging, but for one reason or another, pass rates among the different divisions vary quite a bit. NCARB publishes pass rates by each year and for me, it was important to select the right order to take the exams. I took them in order by the highest pass rate. My thinking was that if I wanted to pass all the tests, I had to build some momentum and confidence. I took the three “easiest” exams first, prioritizing my studying on those subjects. After passing those, I felt confident in tackling the more difficult exams.
I did a three month study sprint and took the following exams:
· Construction and Evaluation (CE)
· Project Management (PM)
· Practice Management
Then I took a one month break to recuperate. It genuinely took a lot of me to study and pass those first three exams. After I felt I had rested enough I started a second three month study sprint and completed the exams in this order:
· Programming and Analysis (PA)
· Project Planning and Design (PPD)
· Project Design and Development (PDD)
I was extremely fortunate to pass all the exams the first time I took them. The time from my first test to my last test was three months.
Tip: Take the “easiest” ARE exam first. Some of the exams have pass rates around 75%, and even higher if you used Amber Book to study. Get the ball rolling and start building your confidence.
Exam Breaks
In each of the exam divisions, there is an allotted amount of time given to take a break. You can get up, stretch, use the restroom, but you cannot use your phone or study material. During the exam, as you click through the questions, you have the opportunity to flag questions you find challenging. As soon as you have opened a question, it is marked as “seen”. If you opt to take a break, then any question that is marked as “seen” will be locked out to you. This means that you give up the opportunity to review those flagged questions at the end of your exam.
I highly recommend not taking any breaks during the exams. There are two reasons for this: first, you will be locked out of any “seen” questions. Second, you will not have the chance to use the resources from the case study section to answer flagged questions. Data from NCARB shows that most people taking the tests pass or fail because of 2 or 3 questions. You need to review each question on the exam and use the case study resources as much as possible. It will most likely mean the difference between passing and failing.
Tip: Don’t take any breaks during the exam. Train your body to wait 3-4 hours without the restroom. The benefits outweigh the inconvenience.
Caffeine
In connection with taking breaks during the exams, start weening yourself off caffeine as you work up to the test. Caffeine irritates your bladder, causing you to use the bathroom more. If you have caffeine in your system and try to not take any breaks during the exam, you will be uncomfortable for the exam. That discomfort can distract you from the questions that stand between you and passing. There is also a correlation between anxiety and caffeine consumption.
I know this can seem daunting. Working up to the exam I started thinking about the issue of taking breaks and using the restroom. I looked into forums and found discussion after discussion of people taking professional exams with the same issue. Many of the comments went along these lines, “I have to have coffee on the day of the exam. My brain will not function without it.” If you start about two weeks before your exam to ween off caffeine, especially in the morning, you will notice a cognitive difference, and your test anxiety will lessen, but most of all, you will be comfortable during the test, and more likely to not need a break.
Mid-Test Anxiety
If you’ve worked hard to study the material and frequently tested yourself, be confident that you have built the necessary neural pathways to the information. Confidence is the most important thing to have going into an exam; it will make or break your success. If you can’t muster enough confidence, try your best to have a dumb belief that you can pass. The tests are long, and you need to stay mentally focused that entire time. Each question requires deep and critical thought, and there will be a point in the test when mental fatigue starts to get to you. That is when you have to hunker down, read carefully and not give up.
Conclusion
Passing the ARE’s was a wild ride. There were several moments that I thought I never would be able to do it. Now that I’m a licensed architect, I’ll meet those still struggling with the exams. Honestly, I look at many of them and think they are wildly more talented designers than I am. The difference between a licensed architect and an unlicensed designer is often one or two questions that happened to go their way.
[1] This quote has been attributed to several people, including, American theologian Thomas Merton, or renowned author Steven R. Covey.
[2] The current version of the Architect’s Registration Exam (5.0) is made up of six divisions. Past versions have had more divisions and different formats. This chapter focuses on the 5.0 exam version.
[3] If you want more detailed information on the format and content of the exams, look up NCARB’s website. This chapter is meant to be a quick reference for my tips and strategies to passing the exams, not an in depth study material.
[4] While writing this chapter, NCARB sent out an email informing that 4 individuals had been caught attempting to copy questions from the exams and sell them online. The specific punishments weren’t detailed, but I would bet those individuals will have a hard time becoming architects in the future.
