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ARE® 5.0 Project Planning & Design (PPD) Exam Prep

Explore available comprehensive study materials for the ARE 5.0 Project Planning & Design exam.

ARE® 5.0 Project Planning & Design Exam Prep Bundles

The Project Planning & Design (PPD) division of ARE 5.0 tests your knowledge of project planning and design concepts, universal design, sustainable design, and forms of regulations that deal with sites and buildings. Dive into one of our comprehensive ARE 5.0 exam prep courses, and prepare to ace your PPD exam.

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David Ballast's ARE 5.0 Exam Review, 2nd Edition, is approved by NCARB for Project Planning & Design exam prep.

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Exam Details for the ARE 5.0 Exam

The Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) consists of six divisional exams designed to assess your knowledge and skills regarding the practice of architecture. Each division exam can be taken in any order, but all six must be passed as a key step on the path to earning a license. The ARE is designed to assess aspects of architectural practice related to health, safety, and welfare. For more information click below.

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ARE 5.0 Project Planning & Design Exam Division FAQs

The 2024 pass rate for the Project Planning & Design division is 47%.
You may not bring a calculator into the testing room. An on-screen calculator is available in every division. A demonstration version of the calculator is available at the NCARB website. Plan to acquaint yourself with it before you take the exam.
The ARE 5.0 Project Planning & Design Exam Division is one of six exams that complete ARE 5.0. It is a computer-based test and does not need to be taken in a particular order. The Project Planning & Design Exam Division consists of 100 questions with a 4-hour and 5-minute test duration and a 45-minute break.

The ARE 5.0 Project Planning & Design (PPD) Exam Division focuses on the preliminary design of sites and buildings. There are 100 questions on the exam with a test duration of 4 hours and 5 minutes. The sections include topics related to these content areas: 

  • Environmental & Condition Context
  • Codes & Regulations
  • Building Systems, Materials & Assemblies
  • Project Integration of Program & Systems
  • Project Costs & Budgeting
For more detailed information on topics for this exam division, please visit the NCARB website.

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