We know how important it is for emerging professionals to feel comfortable and prepared for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). To help ease your nerves, we’ve created a checklist to guide you toward a successful test day.

  1. Take NCARB’s new practice exams.
    NCARB developed practice exams for each of the six divisions of the ARE. Before you take a division, take the time to complete the related practice test and review your results to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll be able to view your examination results for the practice exam, so you’ll know which content section(s) you should focus on before your actual exam.
  2. Download and review the ARE 5.0 Guidelines.
    Complete with all information you need to prepare for testing online and in-person, the ARE 5.0 Guidelines includes information on scheduling your exam, requesting testing accommodations, testing requirements, study resources, and more.
  3. Reach out to your architecture community.
    We know the journey can seem lonely, but many emerging professionals are on the same path toward licensure. Get advice and support from your fellow candidates on the ARE 5.0 Community or through social media.
  4. Plan to arrive or log in 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
    To allow time to check in, arrive at your scheduled appointment early—even if you’re testing online. Your test session should begin within 30 minutes of your scheduled appointment time. To check-in, you must provide a valid, signed photo ID with a first and last name that matches the first and last name in your NCARB Record.
  5. Take a deep breath.
    You’ve made it to your exam day. We know it’s a lot of hard work simply preparing for the exam. Take a few moments before your exam to breathe and pace yourself for what’s to come.  
  6. Stuck on a question? Rule out the answers you know are wrong.
    The ARE features highlight and strikethrough tools that can be used to mark out answers you know are wrong or other distracting information. Narrowing down your choices can help you focus on the right answer.
  7. Don’t spend too much time on one question.
    If you find yourself stuck on one question, keep moving and come back to it later. The ARE features a “mark for review” tool that allows you to easily return to questions you were unsure about. But don’t forget: items marked for review must be reviewed and answered before taking a break—after the break, all questions you’ve previously viewed will be locked.