Let’s be honest. The ARE is a big test. It’s comprised of a tremendous amount of information. The thought of having to learn all off it is overwhelming. You will face 555 Multiple Choice questions, 11 very unique Graphic Vignettes and sit for more than 25 hours of testing.
The good news is that you will tackle the ARE in seven different parts, one division at a time. Instead of thinking of the ARE as one big scary entity, visualize it as seven much smaller, less scary entities.
This perspective helps make the task of studying much more manageable. You can slay the beast one blow at a time.

We do our best to ensure that our products contain the most accurate information possible. Short printing runs allow us to address typos, errors or clarifications very quickly. Books ordered on or after August 15th contain no known errors. If you believe you have found an error or feel that something needs clarification please contact us at support@nalsa.com. Thanks.

Books ordered on or after May 6th 2010 contain the following errors.

1. Page 89.

At the 3'-0" landing the handrail on east wall should extend 12".

2. Page 129.

A lateral file has been omitted between the secretarial desks on the east wall of RBO.

3. Page 215.

The ceiling height of the Library should be 29'-8".

Books ordered prior to May 6th contain the following errors:

1. Page 33, 34, 35.

The tree at the north end of the driveway should be shown slightly to the north, between contour 106’ and contour 107’.

2. Page 105.

The base drawing should show two windows in the south wall of the Lobby and one window in the south wall of room M(see sample solutions).

3. Page 111.

The dashed line at the south wall of the entry should be shown further south to enclose the exterior portion of the entry.

4. Page 113.

The second note should read, “This solution is taller than necessary. The 21’ – 9” ridge could be lower and still accommodate the 48” clerestory window. Effort should be made to keep the volume of the solution minimal. The slope at the south side could be steeper to facilitate this.”

5. Page 135.

One of the worktables in WR should be a copy machine.

If you are just beginning the test taking process you may be wondering which division to take first. You’ll have to take them all, so deciding where to start is a personal decision. Here are a couple of facts/tips that may help you decide:

1. Start with a division on which you think you will do well.


2. If you favor Graphic Vignettes vs. Multiple Choice or vice versa...

a. The Schematic Design division has no multiple choice section. It has two graphic vignettes.
b. The Programming, Planning & Practice division and the Construction Documents & Services division each have a multiple choice section. However, each of these divisions has only one graphic vignette, to which there is only one correct answer.

3. Schematic Design and Site Planning & Design have the highest pass rates, 71% and 69% respectively.

Six things you should know about the Structural Layout Vignette:

1. The clerestory window must be supported by a beam or bearing wall on the lower lever.

2. A column on the upper level must be supported by a column or bearing wall on the lower level.

3. While bearing walls, used appropriately, are acceptable, many candidates feel that this vignette is simpler to solve using only steel column and beam construction.

4. Columns do not need to align in plan.

5. Columns on the upper level may not bear on beams.

6. Columns within bearing walls are unnecessary.

Five things you should know about the Site Zoning Vignette:

1. There is only one correct answer to this vignette.

2. Use the Full Cursor tool to make plotting the Grade Profile easier.

3. The areas where Surface Improvements are allowed includes the area beneath the Buildable Area.

4. On the grid, draw in section what is cut by section A – A. Don’t draw a south elevation by mistake.

5. Don’t retrace the Grade Profile with the Building Profile.

Regarding the content of the exam, the short answer is, Not very different.

Here's the long(er) answer:

• ARE 4.0 still has multiple-choice questions and the same 11 Graphic vignettes, but they are not tested separately.
• Each of the 4.0 Divisions contains both Multiple-Choice and Graphic Vignette sections, except for Schematic Design, which has no multiple-choice section.
• Site Zoning Vignette- In the 4.0 NCARB practice problem, some of the contour lines have been changed from those in 3.1 so that the section cut line just touches the apex of certain contour lines. This eliminates the ambiguity of grade interpolation; a topic of some debate in 3.1. The grade profile now must clearly reflect the ridges and valleys of section cut A-A.
• Site Grading Vignette- In 4.0, candidates are required to place the object on the site (using the ‘Draw' menu), create a level area, and divert the water around it using swales. In 3.1, the object was sloping and already located on the site.
• Mechanical & Electrical Vignette- In 4.0, NCARB has revised the Lighting Diagram. It now reflects the different lighting levels of the side and the end of a 2' x 4' fluorescent fixture. The result is a different light spacing between long sides of those fixtures.

Recently, many of you have received your NALSA Publishing shipment and may have noticed that it contained a few handfuls of those foamy pink peanuts. Rest assured, we have not fallen off of the environmental wagon. Several weeks ago I rescued about 150 gallons of the peanuts, packing tape, ups labels, etc., from a dumpster headed for a landfill; the result of a nearby company going out of business.

Being in the publishing business, NALSA receives many shipments from our vendors which contain various types of packing material. We try to limit the amount of packing material we consume. So, we reuse this packing material in our own shipments. Consequently, some of our shipments contain peanuts or kraft paper while others contain news print, bubble wrap or those little inflated plastic pillows.

We'll continue to reuse the packing material from others. Please don't be shocked if you receive your NALSA order and find it protected by a packing peanut salad.

Revised 9/17/09 

IMO, the NCARB Study Guides are required reading. In the Guides, NCARB provides sample passing and failing solutions to each vignette. Unfortunately, too many candidates think that the passing solutions are ideal, when in fact they are merely "passing". Although studying these solutions is helpful, remember that some of the passing solutions contain inaccuracies and poor design decisions. What's more, not all of the errors in the failing solutions are noted. Don't let this fool you into thinking that all of these decisions are acceptable.

Here are some of the NCARB solution issues:

In addition to Archiflash (coming soon) and the Bootcamp lectures by David Thaddeus, we have some free information for you to download.

Check out the three pdf's at the following link. http://www.nalsa.com/about-us/study-materials/

Begin with a division on which you think you will do well. Passing is great motivation to continue.

Hate Multiple Choice?

Start with the Schematic Deign division. It has two graphic vignettes and no multiple choice questions.

Hate Graphic Vignettes?