What are the construction and evaluation exam sections?
The ARE 5.0 construction and evaluation exam has four sections. Here’s what you’ll need to know for each content area:
Preconstruction Activities
The first section will focus on the planning activities that occur before construction begins.
Objective 1.1
The first objective of the preconstruction activities section focuses on your understanding of the architect’s roles and responsibilities during the preconstruction phase based on the delivery method. You’ll need to thoroughly understand the elements of bidding, such as bidding documents, the typical procedures for document distribution and the pre-bid meeting, bidder prequalification, contractor selection, and applicable standard AIA documents. Depending on the delivery method, you’ll need to know how an architect’s role may differ in each element.
Objective 1.2
The second objective challenges the test taker to analyze the contractor selection criteria. In addition to establishing the requirements for reviewing contractors’ bids, you’ll need to evaluate them for accuracy and completeness and then compare contractors’ qualifications.
Objective 1.3
The last objective will test your ability to analyze aspects of the contract or design to adjust project costs. The test taker must be able to evaluate and prioritize opportunities to reduce project costs, scope, quality, or schedule. To do well on this objective, you’ll need to consider the contractual implications of the changes, sustainability and life cycle cost goals, and the impact on project design and overall budget.
Construction Observation
The second section focuses on an architect’s visits to the job site throughout construction and their roles and responsibilities.
Objective 2.1
The first objective of this content area focuses on the architect’s responsibilities to the owner during site visits and subsequent documentation. You must understand the contractor’s duties to the architect, which can include change orders, applications for payment, shop drawings, and other submittals. You must also know the appropriate level of detail required for the schedule of values, considering the project size, scope, phasing requirements, and schedule. You should also be able to recognize the difference between the architect's design intent and the contractor’s means and methods. Finally, you should be able to identify appropriate limits and the extent of an architect’s authority and actions during construction.
Objective 2.2
The next objective tests your ability to evaluate construction conformance with contract documents, codes, regulations, and sustainability requirements. To perform well on this objective, you must analyze a contractor’s completed work against the project requirements, identifying any non-conforming construction on site. The test taker must also evaluate the impacts of unforeseen conditions and material substitutions against the code, quality, and program requirements. You’ll also need to coordinate these evaluations of construction conformance with that of your consultants and the owner’s consultants.
Objective 2.3
The third objective challenges the test taker to determine construction progress. You will need to review the work in place against the contractor’s construction schedule and schedule of values. You must also understand the impact of delays along the construction’s critical path.
Administrative Procedures & Protocols
This content area focuses on clear, written communication during the construction process, focusing on the necessary documentation for the construction process.
Objective 3.1
This objective tests your ability to determine the appropriate additional information that supplements contract documents. Doing well on this objective requires you to evaluate contractor requests for further information and determine if a request, unexpected disruption, or other situation necessitates a change in the construction contract. You’ll also need to decide which documents are most appropriate for communicating requested information and design revisions due to scope changes, schedule changes, or unforeseen circumstances.
Objective 3.2
In this objective, you’ll evaluate submittals like shop drawings, samples, mock-ups, product data, and test results. You’ll need to assess the contractor’s understanding of the project scope by reviewing the contractor’s submittals against the contract documents. In addition, you must determine the appropriate response to a contractor and evaluate substitution requests.
Objective 3.3
The third objective tests your ability to evaluate the contractor’s application for payment. As a critical component of the construction process, your ability to review the contractor’s application for payment against the completed work is vital. You’ll need to understand observations during construction site visits while concurrently reviewing the contractor’s schedule of values and approved change orders. To do well on this objective, you should also be able to evaluate methods of retainage and their application during the entire project.
Objective 3.4
The last objective in this content area focuses on evaluating responses to non-conformance with contract documents. You must be able to determine the source of non-conforming work and then analyze the cost, schedule, and design implications. Then, you’ll need to be able to evaluate possible resolutions and communicate a solution with the entire project team.
Project Closeout & Evaluation
The last section focuses on post-construction activities. While this is the smallest section of the CE division, it covers many important aspects of project completion.
Objective 4.1
The first objective in this section tests your ability to apply procedural concepts to complete close-out activities. You should be familiar with project close-out documents like warranties, record drawings, punch lists, and a contractor’s final application for payment. To do well on this objective, you should also be able to review a contractor’s completed work and determine substantial completion and final completion of a project while understanding the implications of each process.
Objective 4.2
The second objective requires you to evaluate a building’s design and performance during its first year of use. You’ll need to know how to use tools such as user surveys and building commissioning (which could include sustainability rating systems). In addition, you should know how to determine a response to any identified building performance issues.
How to study for the CE exam
No matter what you’re studying for, there are two main components: what to study and how to study. While we’ve included what subjects will be covered in the CE exam, now we’ll focus on how to study for the ARE 5.0. Since there’s a lot of overlap between division exams, study materials that help you in one division may also translate to other divisions. Understanding a broad base of reference materials is critical to passing the ARE 5.0. Here’s how to study effectively:
Familiarize yourself with the list of reference materials
NCARB provides a robust list of reference materials for each division exam. The structure of the ARE 5.0 more closely relates to an actual architecture project, so many reference materials can overlap. Here are the reference materials – from the ARE 5.0 Reference Matrix – that you should know for the Construction and Evaluation division:
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design U.S. Department of Justice, 2010
The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AHPP) The American Institute of Architects, John Wiley & Sons, 14th edition (2008) and 15th edition (2014)
Architectural Graphic Standards The American Institute of Architects, John Wiley & Sons, 11th edition (2007) and 12th edition (2016)
Building Code Essentials (2018) International Code Council, 2018
Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2018 International Building Code Francis D.K. Ching and Steven R. Winkel, FAIA, PE, CASp John Wiley & Sons, 2018
Building Construction Illustrated Francis D.K. Ching John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition, 2020
CSI MasterFormat The Construction Specifications Institute, 2018 edition
Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods Edward Allen and Joseph Iano John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition (2013) and 7th edition (2019)
International Building Code (2018) International Code Council, 2017
International Building Code Study Companion (2018) International Code Council, 2018
The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice The Construction Specifications Institute McGraw-Hill, 5th edition, 2005
AIA Contract Documents: A101-2017, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor where the basis of payment is a Stipulated Sum; A201-2017, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction; A701-2018, Instructions to Bidders; B101-2017, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect; C401-2017, Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant; G701-2017, Change Order; G702-1992, Application and Certificate for Payment; G703-1992, Continuation Sheet; G704-2017, Certificate of Substantial Completion; G709-018, Proposal Request
This is an extensive list, and it’s important to remember that the goal is not to memorize each reference material but to focus on a broad understanding of the source materials.
Use Amber Book for your exam prep
Studying for the ARE 5.0 requires a substantial commitment, no matter how you choose to study. Maximizing your time is crucial, whether following study guides, learning to read case studies, reviewing references, or taking mock exams and quizzes. Amber Book is a study tool that can help you maximize your ARE 5.0 study time.
Amber Book is equivalent to a university-level course focused on helping you pass the ARE 5.0 exams and get licensed. While national pass rates for the CE division exam are 67%, those who complete at least 75% of the Amber Book course have a pass rate of 85%!
In addition to an online animated course, you’ll also get a 375-page workbook, case study examples, practice questions and practice exams, digital flashcards, last-minute “panic” notes, and more.
Ready to pass the ARE with Amber Book?
Amber Book is a course developed by licensed architect and professor Michael Ermann, AIA. As the first person to pass all six ARE 5.0 divisions, he’s taught over 17,000 people how to better prepare for the ARE. Amber Book covers all six divisions of the ARE 5.0 – Practice Management (PcM), Project Management (PjM), Programming & Analysis (PA), Project Planning & Design (PPD), Project Development & Documentation (PDD), and Construction & Evaluation (CE). Because the ARE is now more comprehensive, there is a lot of study overlap – and the Amber Book course was built to help.
