ARE 4.0 continues to assess a candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide various services required in the practice of architecture. The new format decreased the number of exam divisions from nine to seven by combining related content. The new structure allows candidates to demonstrate cognitive knowledge (multiple-choice) and applied ability (graphic vignette) for the specific content covered by each division of the ARE.

Prior to the launch of ARE 4.0, NCARB conducted a recognized standard-setting process utilizing multiple panels of licensed volunteer architects to recommend a passing threshold (aka "cut score") for each of the "hybrid" divisions. These recommendations were subsequently reviewed by NCARB's Committee on Examination and approved by the NCARB Board of Directors.

Historically, candidates have performed better on the multiple-choice divisions of the exam than the graphic divisions. Six of the seven divisions now contain the combined multiple-choice and graphic vignette format. Based upon this information and predictions derived from the cut score recommendations, the NCARB Board of Directors anticipated that the new ARE 4.0 format would initially result in lower pass rates.

Due to the nature of the combined format, the pass rates for all six of the hybrid divisions declined within expected parameters as compared to the corresponding ARE 3.1 content. The seventh division, Schematic Design (formerly Building Planning), in which the content remained virtually unchanged between ARE 3.1 and ARE 4.0, has maintained consistent pass rates compared to previous years.

Recently, NCARB published the division pass rates for all ARE 4.0 administrations conducted between July 2008 and June 2009 on our web site. To ensure the validity of the scoring process, these pass rates have been reviewed by the Council's testing consultants and were found to be within acceptable psychometric standards.

ARE 4.0 Pass Rates - July 2008 to June 2009
Programming Planning & Design: 54%
Site Planning & Design: 63%
Building Design & Construction Systems: 53%
Structural Systems: 65%
Building Systems: 66%
Construction Documents & Services: 59%
Schematic Design: 70%

Pass rates will typically decline whenever significant changes are made to any exam's format, test specification, or cut score. NCARB has also found this to be true throughout the history of the ARE. As candidates become more familiar with the changes and additional resources become available, the pass rates typically increase slowly. NCARB has reviewed the first six months of examination administrations as compared to the second six months and already see signs that this trend will hold true for ARE 4.0.

More information about the ARE can be found at our web site www.ncarb.org.

School Pass Rates
ARE 3.1 and ARE 4.0 pass rates for each of the schools with NAAB-accredited programs are also available on NCARB's web site. You can now sort through the pass rates by jurisdiction, year, and school. Click Here

NCARB Confidentiality Agreement
All NCARB exam divisions are held in strict security and confidence and are protected by U.S. copyright laws. Before beginning your test, you are required to accept NCARB's Confidentiality Agreement, which prohibits any disclosure of exam content. The Confidentiality Agreement you must accept before you take each division of the exam can be found in the ARE Guidelines. (PDF Download)

Reminder: IDP Six-Month Rule
The Six-Month Rule will go into effect for all interns at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 1 July 2010. The Six-Month Rule requires all interns to submit their training hours in reporting periods of no longer than six months and within two months of completion of each reporting period.

The Six-Month Rule is already in effect for interns that established an NCARB Record on or after 1 July 2009.

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