Q&A: How learning science can help you pass the ARE®

Whether you’ve already taken the Architect Registration Exam (ARE) or are getting ready to, you know one thing for sure — it ain’t easy. 

With the ARE’s wide-ranging content and challenging format, effective study techniques can make or break success. In a recent 40 Minutes of Competence session, journalist Benedict Carey broke down five key study hacks any student can use to help them pass any exam, based on years of research from learning scientists. 

In this interview, Amber Book Director of Product, Matt Young, shares his thoughts on how aspiring architects can leverage Amber Book’s exam prep course to apply those same hacks while prepping for the ARE.  

Q: The Spacing Effect is a well-established learning principle that suggests spacing out what you study over time (versus cramming) helps you better retain that information. How does Amber Book integrate this technique into its course structure? 

Matt Young: Amber Book provides structured 8-week and 16-week study schedules that naturally incorporate the Spacing Effect, which helps students retain more information by spreading their study sessions. The schedules encourage daily reviews and periodic revisiting of earlier weeks' material. This approach, coupled with our short video lessons (usually just 3 to 12 minutes), makes it easy for students to study in bite-sized sessions throughout the day, which enhances retention without overwhelming them.  

On top of that, we include flashcards and practice exams sprinkled throughout the study timeline to reinforce spaced repetition and retrieval practice. This method aligns with cognitive science research, helping students retain and apply what they've learned effectively over time. 

Q: The Context Effect suggests that studying in different environments can help to improve memory retention. Does Amber Book’s course do anything to support learners in applying this principle to their study routines? If so, then how? 

Matt Young: Absolutely! Amber Book's on-demand nature means learners can study anywhere and anytime. For instance, a learner can study at a coffee shop, outdoors, or, if extreme studiers, at karaoke. This variety helps learners avoid being dependent on one specific environment for memory retrieval, which can improve overall recall. 

That said, while studying in varied places is excellent, it's essential for students to occasionally mimic their testing environment—a quiet, distraction-free space—so they're mentally prepared for the actual exam day. Finding a quiet place with minimal distractions, like the conditions of the exam experience, is highly recommended. Balancing varied and quiet environments is vital to optimizing memory recall during the test. 

Q: Mixed Practice, or interleaving, is a learning technique where different topics are alternated during study sessions to improve retention and problem-solving skills. How does Amber Book incorporate interleaving, and what topics should students mix up during their study sessions? 

Matt Young: Interleaving is at the core of Amber Book's ARE prep approach. While other platforms suggest studying for individual divisions one at a time, we structure our course to allow learners to prepare for all divisions simultaneously. We do this to reflect the significant overlap in topics like structural systems, materials, and project management.  

The scenarios you will solve on the exam, as well as the situations you will find in practice, are complex and often require understanding the interactions of different building materials, assemblies, and project delivery methods. The Amber Book curriculum zooms in and out and around topics, leaving learners with a nuanced understanding of the material they are studying 

For example, students might study HVAC systems in one session, switch to construction materials like wood and steel, and later review project management or exam practice questions. The constant switching helps learners distinguish between concepts and strengthens problem-solving skills. It's one of the reasons Amber Book students report an 81% pass rate, much higher than the national average. 

Q: The act of teaching others is known to deepen the teacher's understanding of the topic at hand—a concept known as The Protégé Effect (or The Teaching Effect). How do you see this method playing out within the Amber Book community, and how can students take advantage of it in their study practices? 

Matt Young: Our discussion boards have organically become a community of sorts. They are essentially spaces where learners engage by asking and answering each other's questions. This peer teaching deepens understanding and retention. Similarly, our 40 Minutes of Competence sessions encourage real-time discussion, allowing community members to teach and test each other collaboratively.  

Students can take advantage of this by participating in discussion boards and study groups, where they can explain concepts to others. Doing so reinforces their knowledge and mirrors an architecture firm's collaborative environment, where peer teaching and learning are essential to growth. 

Q: Strategies such as self-testing and working through challenging problems without immediate help can significantly strengthen retention and understanding. This is generally known as The Testing Effect. What features of the Amber Book course are designed to help students apply this method effectively? 

Matt Young: Amber Book promotes self-testing right from the start. Many of our lessons begin with questions that students have yet to see. The goal isn't to get the answer right immediately but to engage the brain, forcing it to recall and apply knowledge. Afterward, the explanation helps align new information with existing understanding, which boosts retention.  

Our practice exams are also intentionally harder than the actual ARE, presenting complex scenarios that push learners to expand their thinking. The ARE feels more manageable when learners sit down to take it because they've already grappled with more challenging problems during their prep. This struggle with more complex questions makes their knowledge more resilient and prepares them for exam day. 

Adopt learning science into the way you study.

Young’s insights lend valuable understanding into the development of Amber Book and its integration of proven learning strategies that ensure long-term retention. By using methods such as spaced repetition, interleaving, and self-testing, you will go into the ARE feeling more confident and increase your chance at success.  

Amber Book doesn't just provide you with content—it equips you with the tools to master it. Start leveraging these study methods alongside Amber Book’s exam prep course and get one step closer to licensure today.