How I’m Studying for the A.R.E.’s as an M.Arch Grad
Architecture Registration Exam Guidance - IS THERE ANY?
The path to licensure is not a guided journey. After school, there isn’t a lot of guidance on how to pursue an architectural license. Since the new release of the ARE 5.0 in 2016, the pass rate is still at a minuscule 58%. The exams are HARD. It can be frustrating knowing where to start when studying for the exams.
Here are the steps I took & how I’m studying for the A.R.E.’s on my path to licensure as an M.Arch Grad.
How I Started
Before going into the black hole of finding resources & techniques for the exams, make sure you are qualified to take them. Read the blog post HERE that breaks down the exam requirements.
In the work setting, I would ask the licensed or people on their path to licensure about their experience with pursuing licensure. I would ask, “How did you study for the ARE’S?”, “What order of taking the exams worked for them?”, and “What were the best resources they found useful when studying for the exams?” While not everything works the same for everyone, it helps to know what worked for others & seeing if that’s somewhere you could start.
Most firms will offer incentives & benefits for getting licensed while working. Some firms will reimburse the cost of the exams & offer paid leave for the time it takes to take an exam.
Once I knew the basics, I did a deep dive. Here’s everything you need to know.
Understand the Exam Structure
Find the Best Resources
Find the right Order to take Exams
Utilize Practice Exams
Understanding the Exam Structure
The Architect Registration Exams are composed of 6 separate divisions, each focusing on different aspects to being a licensed architect.
Practice Management (PcM)
Project Management (PjM)
Program & Analysis (PA)
Project Planning & Design (PPD)
Project Development & Documentation (PDD)
Construction & Evaluation (CE)
Finding the BEST Resources
I’ve done a lot of digging to finding the best resources. The ARE’s are more than just understanding the concepts, it’s knowing how to apply them in real world scenarios. The exams are TRICKY. These resources help me break down the concepts & prepare me for what the exams are actually like.
BYOUNG DESIGN
Brynn Young, licensed architect, recognized the lack of preparation for the ARE’s & created a course, study plan, & materials to help people pass the exams. Her breakdown of necessary resources for the exams is a great tool of knowing which study materials to study & where to find them. The NCARB Handbook lists a lot of resources, BYOUNG provides a detailed breakdown of what you actually need to study.
PPI2PASS ARE EXAM BUNDLE
I find the PPI Bundle to be extremely helpful with studying. I got the ARE bundle which comes with material for every division. With the bundle you get an exam review book that covers key concepts, flash cards, practice workbook questions, & a practice exam book. The verbiage for the practice exams is extremely close to the exams, which I found to be very useful.
ARE QUESTIONS - BY ELIF BAYRAM
Elif offers bundles as well for each division & covers review material as well as practice exams/quizzes. The ARE practice exam/quiz questions are extremely challenging but very helpful & close to real exam questions.
NCARB PRACTICE EXAMS
The NCARB Practice Exams are THE most important practice exam you can take to prepare for the exams. Why? Because the layout is the exact same as the exam, preparing you for the exam before taking it. It also has the same type of questions on the exams, preparing you for the types of questions. It also carries the same verbiage as the real exam, so you know what to expect when it comes to the real exam.
The Order to Take Exams
Based on resources & others experience taking the exams, this is the recommended order to take exams based on the material overlap between exams. But find what works best for you!
PcM
PjM
CE
PA
PPD
PDD
My Study Methodology
When researching what works best for other people taking the ARE’s, it helpedbto understand their study methodologies. Here is what works best for me, & may work best for you too.
Read Material & Take Notes
First you need to hone in on the right resources & study the necessary material, terms & concepts.
Review Notes & Flash Cards
Notes & Flash Card reviews are important to understand the terms & concepts that will be on the exam.
Read PPI Exam Review
PPI Exam Review covers a broad overview of concepts that will be on the exams. Highlighting the important & unknown concepts helps to understand them in a deeper way.
PPI Practice Workbook
It’s a great resource that asks exam-like review questions & concepts. Highlight the incorrect or unfamiliar questions & review those concepts.
Take PPI / ARE Question Practice Exams
The PPI & ARE Question Practice Exams ask extremely specific questions about key terms & concepts related to real world scenarios. Review incorrect & unfamiliar concepts thoroughly! The more you understand the concepts, the better you can apply them in real world scenarios.
NCARB Practice Exam
The NCARB Practice Exam is a MUST because the format, verbiage & topics are the closest to the real exams.
My Advice
As someone who is also new going through the Architect Registration Exam Process, here is some advice I can offer to anyone else pursuing their Architect License:
If you Fail, You’re not a Failure
Do you realize how much time, effort, & skill you have put into where you are right now? You are not defined by a “FAIL” on an exam. Failure is a part of the process! It’s how we learn & grow. Take failure as a minor setback & keep moving forward!
Stay Organized & Take Breaks
Make a schedule of how you plan to study, how long & how often. This will help keep you accountable. Take breaks often so you don’t burn out!
What Matters is You’re Doing it!
Whether you pass or fail, you took it! Now you have an understanding of the exam material. Stay resilient & persistent!
You’re Not Alone!
These exams are hard. But if it were easy everyone would be licensed. We’re on this journey together & I’m here to help & offer guidance along the way!
Knowing where to start when studying for the ARE’s is overwhelming. Most importantly, these exams are hard and can feel isolating at times. As someone new going through the process, I’m here to tell you you’re not alone & offer any guidance I can along the way.
