Common ARE PA Mistakes - What Trips Up Most Candidates

Why PA Trips Up Experienced Architects

Programming & Analysis tests your ability to evaluate sites, apply codes, and analyze environmental conditions. The difficulty is that it blends technical knowledge (IBC, ADA, zoning) with analytical skills (programming, site evaluation). Many candidates study codes but neglect the analytical side.

Mistake #1: Wrong Occupant Load Factors

IBC Table 1004.5 occupant load factors are heavily tested. Candidates confuse gross vs. net area factors:

Assembly without fixed seats: 15 sq ft net (standing) or 7 sq ft net (concentrated)
Business areas: 150 sq ft gross
Educational classrooms: 20 sq ft net
Mercantile (ground floor): 30 sq ft gross
Storage: 300 sq ft gross

The key word is gross vs. net. Gross includes walls and circulation; net is the actual usable space. Using the wrong factor changes your occupant load significantly.

See the complete egress cheat sheet

Mistake #2: Confusing Zoning Terms

FAR (Floor Area Ratio): Total building floor area divided by lot area. An FAR of 2.0 on a 10,000 sf lot allows 20,000 sf of building area.
Lot coverage: Building footprint divided by lot area. Different from FAR because it only considers the ground floor footprint.
Setbacks: Required distances from property lines. These reduce the buildable area, not the FAR.

Read the full zoning and land use deep dive

Mistake #3: Ignoring Environmental Analysis

PA tests environmental factors that affect site design - solar orientation, prevailing winds, drainage patterns, and microclimate. Candidates focus on codes and skip these analysis questions. Remember:

In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing facades get the most solar gain.
Prevailing winter winds come from the northwest in most of the US.
Water flows perpendicular to contour lines, toward lower elevations.

Mistake #4: Mixing Up ADA Requirements

ADA requirements for accessible routes, parking, and restrooms appear across multiple divisions, but PA tests them in the context of site design and programming. Know your ADA numbers.

Mistake #5: Poor Programming Analysis

Programming questions ask you to evaluate adjacency diagrams, space requirements, and client needs. The common mistake is jumping to a design solution rather than analyzing the program requirements. Programming is about defining the problem, not solving it.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

Memorize IBC occupant load factors with PA flashcards.
Practice site analysis with PA mini exams.
Review the PA glossary for zoning and code terminology.