What are the programming and analysis exam sections?
The ARE 5.0 programming & analysis exam has four sections and will test your ability to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. Here’s what each content area includes:
Environmental & Contextual Conditions
The first knowledge section will test your ability to evaluate a project site and identify the opportunities and constraints that may affect future development.
Objective 1.1
The first objective is to evaluate the site-specific environmental and socio-cultural opportunities. To do well on this section, you’ll need to analyze a project site to determine what opportunities could be incorporated into future site and building development. You must consider alternative energy resources, natural landscape features, microclimates, and neighborhood context. You should also consider the broader environmental, social, and cultural conditions.
Objective 1.2
The second objective will test your ability to evaluate site-specific environmental constraints. You’ll need to assess the limitations and hazardous conditions of the project site to determine how they’ll impact the building location and future site development. Possible constraints can include floodplains, unstable soil, radon, lead, brownfield, abandoned structures, environmental policies and regulations, and vulnerabilities and risks due to climate change. The test taker should also identify strategies to mitigate these constraints and conditions.
Objective 1.3
The last objective in this section tests your ability to determine the optimal use of onsite resources by incorporating sustainability principles. You need to consider the building’s location, orientation, massing, footprint, and passive energy use before developing design responses that minimize the project’s negative impacts on the environment and use the existing natural features.
Codes & Regulations
The second section focuses on the codes and regulations during a project's initial analysis and programming phases.
Objective 2.1
In this objective, you’ll need to identify relevant code requirements for building and site types, understanding the codes and regulations that govern that project type and geographic region. In addition, you should be able to distinguish the relevant accessibility and ADA requirements, applicable energy and building codes, and any sustainability-related guidelines or standards. You should also understand how to perform an initial code analysis and how the codes will affect the project design.
Objective 2.2
The second objective in this section tests your ability to identify the relevant land use and zoning requirements. To do well on this objective, you must identify issues that limit the extent of site and building development, including setbacks, footprint limitations, maximum building heights, FAR, parking requirements, easements, and other zoning and land use regulations. In addition to understanding these issues, you’ll also need to understand the approval process and when a special exception applies or variance is suitable.
Objective 2.3
The third objective ensures you know how to determine and understand any special regulations that could affect a particular site, including wetlands, flood plains, design overlay districts, or historic preservation.
Site Analysis & Programming
In this content area, you must analyze a project site while evaluating it based on the program and project requirements.
Objective 3.1
The first objective requires the test taker to evaluate a project site relative to the program to see if it’s appropriate and feasible for development. There are many attributes to consider when making your assessment, including climate, topography, drainage, soil, built and natural features, utilities, access points, traffic patterns, easements, and any other relevant attributes.
Objective 3.2
For this objective, you’ll need to understand site documentation, including geotechnical reports, landscape reports, archaeological studies, utility surveys, topographic maps, demographics, traffic studies, environmental data, historical reports, and other site-related reports. You’ll also need to understand how this documentation is used to determine the feasibility and select the right consultants to execute the project.
Objective 3.3
The third objective tests your ability to analyze and understand diagrammatic graphics. You’ll need to know how they’re used to communicate site conditions, relationships, and program requirements. Graphics can include topographic, programming, circulation, adjacency, environmental, view, and vegetation diagrams.
Building Analysis & Programming
In this section, you’ll analyze new and existing buildings relative to cost, schedule, and program requirements. The questions in this section represent the largest portion of the PA division.
Objective 4.1
The first objective in this section requires you to evaluate relevant qualitative and quantitative attributes of a new or existing building as they relate to the program. You’ll need to consider whether the design addresses views, daylight, spatial organization, and any other program requirements. You should also know how to analyze an existing building to determine whether it’s appropriate or feasible to renovate, preserve, demolish, or adapt the current building to meet the program. You’ll also need to consider relevant factors such as a building’s MEP systems, structural stability, historical features, hazardous materials, or tax credit eligibility.
Objective 4.2
The second objective tests your ability to review and interpret technical documentation to inform the building program. You’ll need to understand structural assessments, geotechnical reports, neighborhood and regional context, and condition assessment reports to do well on this objective. In addition, you’ll need to interpret them and consider how feasible the project will be and how these reports may affect the building program.
Objective 4.3
Next, you’ll need to review and understand the building program in the context of the client’s requirements. You should consider the following considerations: primary vs. subsidiary, back of house vs. front of house, occupied vs. unoccupied, and phasing and circulation components. You should also understand the area requirements of different building types, including net and gross square footage.
Objective 4.4
The fourth objective focuses on spatial and functional relationships. You should be able to analyze a building program relative to both horizontal and vertical spatial and functional relationships. Consider the vertical relationships of shafts, stairs, conveying systems, atriums, and other multi-level spaces. You’ll also need to consider horizontal relationships between circulation, entry, loading, assembly, MEP spaces, and other programmed spaces.
Objective 4.5
In objective five, the test-taker must demonstrate the ability to recommend a preliminary budget and schedule. To do well on this objective, you should know how to compare project information like master plans, existing documentation, program requirements, and site information to create a project schedule and cost. If the client developed the schedule, you will need to be able to evaluate the feasibility of the project while also providing appropriate recommendations.
Objective 4.6
Objective six focuses on the test-taker's ability to identify alternative building and structural systems based on programmatic requirements, budgetary constraints, and project schedules. You should have a good grasp of building materials and civil, structural, and MEP systems to determine the suitability of each to meet project needs. In addition, you’ll need to consider factors like building type, function, program, availability, cost, and sustainability goals.
Objective 4.7
The last objective will test your ability to analyze building analysis and building programming graphics. You’ll need to evaluate how they are used to communicate building relationships and requirements. These diagrams could include horizontal and vertical circulation, space adjacencies, solar paths, or views.
How to study for the PA exam
To study for the ARE 5.0, you should focus on two key components – what to study and how to study. Now that you better understand the PA exam content, you’ll next need to know how to study. The great thing about the ARE 5.0 is that study materials that help you prepare for the PA division can also help you on subsequent division exams. Therefore, make sure you are familiar with the reference materials suggested for the PA exam, as they can also help you in other divisions. Here are a few steps to prepare for the ARE 5.0.
Get familiar with the reference materials
NCARB does provide a list of reference materials that they use to develop each division exam. Since the exam now closely resembles how a project flows through an office, there can be an overlap between reference materials per section. Here are the most essential reference materials for the Programming and Analysis division from the ARE 5.0 Reference Matrix:
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)
The Architect's Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design Edward Allen and Joseph Iano, John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition, 2017
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
Dictionary of Architecture and Construction Cyril M. Harris, McGraw-Hill, 4th edition, 2006
Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods Edward Allen and Joseph Iano John Wiley & Sons, 6th edition (2013) and 7th edition (2019)
The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design Alison G. Kwok and Walter Grondzik Routledge, 3rd edition, 2018
ICC A117.1-2009 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities International Code Council, 2010
International Building Code (2018) International Code Council, 2017
International Building Code Study Companion (2018) International Code Council, 2018
Mechanical & Electrical Equipment for Buildings Walter T. Grondzik and Alison G. Kwok, John Wiley & Sons, 12th edition (2014) and 13th edition (2019)
Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer William M. Peña and Steven A. Parshall John Wiley & Sons, 5th edition, 2012
Professional Practice: A Guide to Turning Designs into Buildings Paul Segal, FAIA, W. W. Norton, 2006
The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of Practice The Construction Specifications Institute McGraw-Hill, 5th edition, 2005
Site Planning and Design Handbook Thomas H. Russ, McGraw-Hill, 2nd edition, 2009
Sun, Wind, and Light: Architectural Design Strategies, G.Z. Brown and Mark DeKay John Wiley & Sons, 3rd edition, 2013
While there are many references here, remember that you should focus on a broader understanding of the source material and best practices instead of memorizing each resource.
Use Amber Book for your exam prep
Preparing to take the ARE 5.0 involves a lot of studying. Whether you’re reviewing references, following study guides, learning how to read case studies, or taking ARE mock exams or quizzes, you’ll have to work to get results. But Amber Book makes studying for the ARE 5.0 easier.
Amber Book is equivalent to a university-level course focused on helping you pass the ARE 5.0 exams and get licensed. While pass rates for the PA division exam are just over 52%, those who complete at least 75% of the Amber Book course have a pass rate of 84%!
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.
