Passing All Six ARE Divisions Requires a Plan - Here Is the One That Works
The ARE 5.0 is not one exam - it is six separate exams spanning the full scope of architectural practice, from business management through structural engineering and from building codes through construction administration. No single study approach works equally well for all six divisions; each division has a different content profile, different question format emphasis, and different relationship to the typical architect's daily work experience. Candidates who approach the ARE with a comprehensive, division-specific plan - knowing what each division tests, how much preparation each requires, in what order to take them, and what resources are most effective for each - pass the full set faster, spend less time on retakes, and experience less anxiety than candidates who figure it out one division at a time. This article synthesizes the complete ARE 5.0 preparation approach.
Division-by-Division Overview
Practice Management (PcM): Tests business of architecture - firm types and structures, owner-architect agreements, marketing and business development, financial management, HR and employment law, and professional ethics. Best preparation: read through AIA contract documents (B101, B201), review AIA professional practice references, study business entity types and financial ratios. Most relevant to principals and project leads; recent graduates may need more content preparation for the business content.
Project Management (PjM): Tests how projects are managed - project delivery methods, owner-contractor-architect relationships, project scheduling, consultant coordination, scope management, and quality management. Best preparation: study AIA A101, A201, and C401; understand CPM scheduling; review project delivery methods (DBB, DB, CMR, IPD). Closely related to PcM - study these two together or in sequence.
Programming and Analysis (PA): Tests pre-design and planning - programming, site analysis, zoning and code research, building classification, site selection, occupancy loads, egress, accessibility, and building planning. Best preparation: work through IBC Chapters 3, 5, 10, and 11; study ADA accessibility requirements; practice reading site plans and topographic maps; review building planning principles by building type. This division tests code more than any other except perhaps PPD.
Project Planning and Design (PPD): Tests the integration of building systems in the design phases - structural systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems, plumbing, fire protection, daylighting, acoustics, energy codes (ASHRAE 90.1), LEED, and sustainable design. Best preparation: study structural system types, HVAC system types, and ASHRAE 90.1 energy code basics; understand LEED credit categories; review passive design strategies. Broadest technical content of any division; plan more preparation time here than for PcM/PjM.
Project Development and Documentation (PDD): Tests construction documents production - how drawings and specifications are produced, coordinated, and organized; construction details and building envelope systems; CSI SectionFormat; BIM coordination; and the complete construction documents package. Best preparation: work with actual construction document sets from your office; study CSI MasterFormat and SectionFormat; review standard details for waterproofing, roofing, curtain wall, and fire-rated assemblies.
Construction and Evaluation (CE): Tests construction administration - bidding procedures, construction contract administration, payment certification, change orders, submittals and RFIs, site observation, construction defects, and project closeout. Best preparation: immersion in AIA A201 (know it section by section); study bidding procedures including addenda, substitutions, and bid alternates; understand the payment certification process including AIA G702/G703.
Recommended Sequence
For most candidates with typical office experience: PcM → PjM (business foundations first; related content) → PA (code knowledge, then) → PPD and PDD (technical content; take within 3-4 months of each other) → CE (construction administration last, when you have most CA experience). Adjust based on your current work assignments - take the division closest to your daily work first.
Final Principles
- Plan total hours: 80–200 hours per division depending on your background and experience alignment.
- Study consistently: 6–8 hours per week is more effective than cramming.
- Practice questions: use them diagnostically, not just as review - track your performance by content area.
- Mock exams: take at least one full-length timed mock exam per division before the real thing.
- Protect your study time: treat it as a professional commitment.
Start Studying on AREprep
AREprep covers all six ARE 5.0 divisions with flashcards and practice exams built around the actual NCARB exam guides - so every hour you study is targeted at what the exam actually tests.