After four years of development, the latest version of the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), ARE 5.0, launched on November 1, 2016. The updated exam incorporates new testing technologies and features six divisions that align with current practice and the progression of an architecture project. ARE 5.0 was developed with the help of practicing architects who volunteer their time and expertise, and reviewed by experts who ensure the exam is fair, reliable, and meets national testing standards.
Developed and administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the ARE assesses the knowledge and skills of all candidates seeking a license to practice architecture in the United States. NCARB periodically updates the exam to ensure it continues to reflect the demands of professional practice.
Aligning to Current Practice
To adapt to changes in the profession, ARE 5.0 content has been restructured into six divisions organized around architectural practice and the progression of a typical project. The new divisions also align with the experience areas of the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®), helping candidates connect their practical experience to exam topics and making the licensure process smoother and easier to understand. ARE 5.0 test durations are substantially shorter than ARE 4.0—ranging from three and a half to five hours and reducing total seat time by eight hours.
In addition, ARE 5.0 features the latest graphic testing methods, replacing vignettes with two new question types: hot spots and drag-and-place. ARE 5.0 also includes case studies, which provide candidates with multiple pieces of information and require them to assess and solve the types of problems architects face on a daily basis.
Preparing Candidates for ARE 5.0
Candidates looking for insight into the new exam have access to several free study tools developed by NCARB. These include the ARE 5.0 Handbook, the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, the ARE 5.0 Community, the ARE 5.0 Demonstration Exam, and the ARE 5.0 Test Prep video series. In addition, as an incentive to take the new exam, the first 600 candidates to test on each division will receive a $100 gift card.
NCARB will continue to administer ARE 4.0 until June 30, 2018. This 20-month period of dual delivery will enable current candidates to finish the exam in a way that best suits their needs.
For more information about ARE 5.0 visit www.ncarb.org/ARE5.
Related Stories
Architects | Nov 23, 2015
Dewberry acquires Houston’s Wilson Architectural Group
Now known as Dewberry | Wilson, the firm will have access to more MEP, technology design, site/civil, and land development capabilities.
Architects | Nov 19, 2015
Book helps prevent new architecture students from making common mistakes
Written by Iain Jackson, "The Architecture School Survival Guide" covers both broad designing ideas and specific architecture tips.
Architects | Nov 18, 2015
AIA: Demand for design services still up for the year
October's ABI score was 53.1, down slightly from the mark of 53.7 in September. This still reflects an increase in design services, as any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.
Architects | Nov 16, 2015
Croatia's 'sea organ' lets the ocean make music
Visitors to the shores of the Adriatic Sea in Zadar, Croatia, can hear the sounds of the ocean in an entirely different way. There, when the waves hit the coast, they make music—literally.
Architects | Nov 16, 2015
Perkins Eastman, ForrestPerkins combine practices
The combined international firm will total almost 1,000 employees.
Architects | Nov 10, 2015
AIA releases nine new contract documents
Include six new forms for design-build projects.
Architects | Nov 9, 2015
Perkins+Will acquires London-based Portland Design Associates
The firms will work together to offer “future-proofing” insights to clients.
Architects | Nov 6, 2015
Hungary’s A4 Studio Wins World Architecture Community Award using ARCHICAD
Inspired by the suspended, community-designed shading structures seen on traditional Moroccan marketplaces, the Casablanca Market in Morocco allows traffic to flow through the arcade-like marketplace.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 4, 2015
Hospital designers get the scoop on the role of innovation in healthcare
“Innovation” was the byword as 175 healthcare designers gathered in Chicago for the American College of Healthcare Architects/AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Summer Leadership Summit.
Office Buildings | Nov 3, 2015
Emotional intelligence and design
In a world in which technology and its skills are constantly changing, good people skills are becoming more important, writes VOA's Angie Lee.
