We wish you the best in your efforts to pass the ARE 3.1 by June 30, 2009. To acheive this goal, it is important to have a strategy for tackling the 3.1 divisions. Doing so will help minimize repeating divisions in the event you must transition to 4.0. Please note that due to NCARB's six-month rule, any 3.1 division you take and fail after January 1, 2009 cannot be retaken and will automatically be transitioned to ARE 4.0.

How to proceed depends on where you are in the exam process. NCARB has put together two charts showing how the divisions will be reorganized. We find the Reverse Transition Chart to be the most helpful. When you look at the chart you will notice that only the Building Planning Division will translate to a single division in 4.0, which is renamed Schematic Design. Pass Building Planning in 3.1 and you have passed Schematic Design in 4.0. Similarly, Site Planning and Pre-Design will be integrated into two renamed divisions, Programming Planning & Practice and Site Planning & Design. If you pass Pre-Design AND Site Planning in 3.1, you will have credit for both in 4.0.

Develop A Strategy

Only you (and NCARB) know where you are in the exam process. If you have only a few divisions remaining to pass, you know what you need to do. However, if you have passed only one or two divisions, you have to do some planning.

Two options to consider:

Option 1:
You can start by passing Building Planning, Site Planning and Pre-Design and know that you are three for three.

Option 2:
You can decide to leave Building Planning, Site Planning and Pre-Design for last, knowing that they will essentially be the same in 4.0.

Building Technology

When you review the Reverse Transition Chart you will notice that in 4.0 the Building Technology vignettes will be integrated, with five 3.1 multiple choice divisions, resulting in four divisions instead of five. If you do not pass Building Technology AND all five multiple choice divisions (Materials & Methods, General, Lateral, Mechanical and Construction Documents) in 3.1, you will have to repeat the vignettes from Building Technology that are given with each multiple choice division that you did not pass in 3.1. Thus, to not repeat ANY of Building Technology in 4.0, you must pass it as well as ALL the 3.1 multiple choice divisions that will be integrated with it.

Once you have passed Building Technology, look at the Reverse Transition Chart again. Note which vignettes, that comprised Building Technology in 3.1, are going to be given with which multiple choice divisions in 4.0. Then decide which Building Technology vignettes and/or which multiple choice divisions you would not want to repeat if transitioned to 4.0. Once you decide, take and pass the corresponding multiple choice division. Continue using this process of elimination until you have passed the five remaining multiple choice divisions or it is June 2009.

With this strategy, if you do transition to 4.0, you will be repeating the vignettes/divisions you decided you could most easily pass again.

About The Exam

In February 2007, two new question types were introduced into the the Mechanical & Electrical Systems division. NCARB refers to them as Alternate Item Types (AIT).

In addition to the standard multiple-choice question type there are two additional question formats. "Fill-in-the-Blank" and "Check-All-That-Apply." These question types will appear on most of the multiple-choice tests in 4.0. Check out a sample of these question formats at ncarb.org.

The Format

Prior to the administration of each multiple-choice division of the ARE there is a brief tutorial that explains how to move through the test questions. Each division consists of a fixed number of questions given within a maximum time limit.

You will be able to review and change answers during the exam. However, once you have exited the questions or the time has expired, you will not be able to return to any of the questions. The General Structures and Mechanical and Electrical Systems divisions will include reference material that is available throughout the test. The references are formulae and other material that may be helpful when answering questions in these two divisions.

The graphic portions of the exam consist of three divisions: Site Planning, Building Planning, and Building Technology. They are administered in sets of problems called vignettes. You are required to create a solution for each.

ARE Administration

You may schedule any division of the ARE at any time and in any order you choose. The test centers are open six days each week, fifty weeks each year.

In December, 2004 NCARB approved a five year "Rolling Clock" for ARE candidates which was implemented on January 1, 2006. Your five year clock begins with the first division passed after January 1, 2006. This means that all divisions of the ARE must be passed within the five year period. NCARB feels that the implementation of the "rolling clock" will strengthen the validity of the exam and reassure the public that the competency requirements for independent practice have been met. For more specifics on these issues visit ncarb.org.

For the most accurate information about registration and exam requirements, it is recommended that you contact the Registration Board or architectural association within the state or province you are seeking your initial license. To download the NCARB 3.1 or 4.0 Practice Software, ARE Guidelines Version 3.1 information booklet, or the ARE 4.0 Study Guides, go to ncarb.org or call them at 202 783 6500. You may also want to check our links page for other helpful sites.