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Claire
Student
Memphis, Tennessee
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How do you recommend studying for the ARE's?
I am going into graduate school after working for 2ish years
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2 answers
Maria Rehmet
Architect
26
Answers
Plano, Texas
Updated
Maria’s Answer
Hi Claire!
I would like to share how I approached studying for exams, see if you can relate to any of my methods and try for yourself!
I started studying for my exams when my son turned 1 years old (crazy I know) and I was still working full-time. I felt like I had no time at all, and yet, 17 months later, I passed all 6 exams!
Now how did I find the time? Trust me, you have more than you think and it’s all about consistency. I studied at least an hour every night after work and took practice exams nearly every saturday. You can use black spectacles (they have great practice exams) and definitely use the free practice exams provided by NCARB. But even if you find that you prefer Amber Books, or Ballast - stick to ONE! Don’t waste time overlapping material with multiple study resources, instead read textbooks like Architect’s Handbook For Professional Practice, to supplement the topics that you have struggle with.
Study and review the questions you got WRONG. These are the topics where you are weakest so be efficient with your time and spend more time on the topics that don’t stick.
Give yourself enough time to study for each exam. Like others mentioned, don’t take all of them at once. Doing it in order PcM, PjM, PA, PPD, PDD, & CA worked just fine for me and I recommend it to everyone . I have a son, a husband, and a full time job so I couldn’t cram everything into 4 weeks for each exam, so I gave myself 6 (or more if it was a busy season for me). I ALWAYS scheduled the exam when I planned to take it so a) I would get the day I wanted and b) I had to commit! It’s a great motivator.
If you’re cost conscious like me, try out the study material that your firm offers. Many firms will pay for part or all of certain ARE Study courses and may even have a library with textbooks for these exams available to you!
Now this is just me - but if you’re in grad school and have no work experience yet, it may help you in the long run to wait until a firm has taken you under their wing so you can see the benefits of the job experience and camaraderie that many firms have in supporting young designers to be Architects! Plus grad school is hard enough, but if you want to study topics that interest you while you’re in school it will definitely help you on your journey.
Best of Luck!
I would like to share how I approached studying for exams, see if you can relate to any of my methods and try for yourself!
I started studying for my exams when my son turned 1 years old (crazy I know) and I was still working full-time. I felt like I had no time at all, and yet, 17 months later, I passed all 6 exams!
Now how did I find the time? Trust me, you have more than you think and it’s all about consistency. I studied at least an hour every night after work and took practice exams nearly every saturday. You can use black spectacles (they have great practice exams) and definitely use the free practice exams provided by NCARB. But even if you find that you prefer Amber Books, or Ballast - stick to ONE! Don’t waste time overlapping material with multiple study resources, instead read textbooks like Architect’s Handbook For Professional Practice, to supplement the topics that you have struggle with.
Study and review the questions you got WRONG. These are the topics where you are weakest so be efficient with your time and spend more time on the topics that don’t stick.
Give yourself enough time to study for each exam. Like others mentioned, don’t take all of them at once. Doing it in order PcM, PjM, PA, PPD, PDD, & CA worked just fine for me and I recommend it to everyone . I have a son, a husband, and a full time job so I couldn’t cram everything into 4 weeks for each exam, so I gave myself 6 (or more if it was a busy season for me). I ALWAYS scheduled the exam when I planned to take it so a) I would get the day I wanted and b) I had to commit! It’s a great motivator.
If you’re cost conscious like me, try out the study material that your firm offers. Many firms will pay for part or all of certain ARE Study courses and may even have a library with textbooks for these exams available to you!
Now this is just me - but if you’re in grad school and have no work experience yet, it may help you in the long run to wait until a firm has taken you under their wing so you can see the benefits of the job experience and camaraderie that many firms have in supporting young designers to be Architects! Plus grad school is hard enough, but if you want to study topics that interest you while you’re in school it will definitely help you on your journey.
Best of Luck!
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Claire! Congrats on taking the next step toward becoming a licensed architect buddy. Now lemme say that the AREs can feel overwhelming at first, but its totally doable. So, Here’s what I’d recommend, especially since you're coming in with some professional experience which I hope helps.
Start with one division at a time. Don’t try to study for all six at once. Choose one (many people start with Practice Management or Project Management), and focus fully on that. Once you pass one, the momentum builds on.
Use the NCARB handbook, It’s free and gives you a breakdown of what to expect in each division. Go through the objectives and mark what you already know vs. what you need to review.
Stick to one main study source, then supplement. Ballast and Black Spectacles are popular as far I know. Designer Hacks is great for quick quizzes, and YouTube has some helpful breakdowns. Just don’t overwhelm yourself with too many sources. Go on one step at a time whatever feels right for you to do.
Create a study schedule you can stick with. If you work or are in grad school, try 1–2 hours per day, 4–5 days a week. Use weekends for longer review sessions or practice exams. Quality beats quantity here.
Practice exams are the most efficient. The ARE isn’t just about knowing content but it’s about how to apply it under timed conditions. The more mock tests you do, the more confident you’ll feel on test day.
Form or join a study group can totally help a lot. Even meeting up virtually every week or two with others going through it can keep you motivated and offer new perspectives on tricky topics.
And finally, give yourself grace because bud these exams can be tough. You might fail one, and that’s okay because it’s part of the process. Take the lessons, adjust your prep, and go again.
You’ve already got two years of experience and truly that’s a solid foundation. You’ve got this and if you ever need a little help along the way feel free to always reach out.
Download the NCARB ARE 5.0 Handbook
Choose your first division and set a target test date
Pick one or two solid study resources to begin with
Block off consistent study time each week
Take practice questions every few days to track progress
Start with one division at a time. Don’t try to study for all six at once. Choose one (many people start with Practice Management or Project Management), and focus fully on that. Once you pass one, the momentum builds on.
Use the NCARB handbook, It’s free and gives you a breakdown of what to expect in each division. Go through the objectives and mark what you already know vs. what you need to review.
Stick to one main study source, then supplement. Ballast and Black Spectacles are popular as far I know. Designer Hacks is great for quick quizzes, and YouTube has some helpful breakdowns. Just don’t overwhelm yourself with too many sources. Go on one step at a time whatever feels right for you to do.
Create a study schedule you can stick with. If you work or are in grad school, try 1–2 hours per day, 4–5 days a week. Use weekends for longer review sessions or practice exams. Quality beats quantity here.
Practice exams are the most efficient. The ARE isn’t just about knowing content but it’s about how to apply it under timed conditions. The more mock tests you do, the more confident you’ll feel on test day.
Form or join a study group can totally help a lot. Even meeting up virtually every week or two with others going through it can keep you motivated and offer new perspectives on tricky topics.
And finally, give yourself grace because bud these exams can be tough. You might fail one, and that’s okay because it’s part of the process. Take the lessons, adjust your prep, and go again.
You’ve already got two years of experience and truly that’s a solid foundation. You’ve got this and if you ever need a little help along the way feel free to always reach out.
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