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Your Free NCARB / ARE 5.0 Cheat Sheet 2026 — Downloadable PDF

Every high-yield ARE 5.0 fact — the six divisions, AIA contract families, the critical path, FAR and occupant-load math, and the submittal-to-change-order workflow — condensed so you can print and review before each Architect Registration Examination appointment.

The premium NCARB / ARE 5.0 cheat sheet from the Capital Prep Method — Yours free

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This NCARB cheat sheet distills all six Architect Registration Examination (ARE 5.0) divisions into a printable rundown of the facts examiners test most. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free ARE 5.0 toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.

NCARB / ARE 5.0 exam at a glance

  • Divisions: 6 separate, independently scored exams — PcM, PjM, PA, PPD, PDD, CE (pass all six)
  • Items & time: 65 to 100 items per division; about 2 hr 40 min to 4 hr 5 min of seat time each
  • Scoring: Pass/fail per division — no passing percentage published (550 marks the minimum threshold on a 100–800 scaled score shown only on failing reports)
  • Cost: $235 per division ($1,410 to attempt all six once); delivered by PSI, English and inch-pound units

What’s on the NCARB / ARE 5.0 cheat sheet

  • Practice Management (PcM) — 65 items — how a firm runs: net operating revenue, standard of care, professional liability, ethics, and the B101 owner–architect agreement.
  • Project Management (PjM) — 75 items — AIA contract families, the critical path and float, scheduling, project execution, and QA/QC.
  • Programming & Analysis (PA) — 75 items — site and environmental analysis, zoning and Floor Area Ratio, and turning owner needs into a building program.
  • Project Planning & Design (PPD) — 100 items — the largest division: systems integration, egress and occupant load, the IBC, sustainability, and design cost.
  • Project Development & Documentation (PDD) — 100 items — detailing and assemblies, the vapor-retarder rule, construction documents, and CSI MasterFormat specifications.
  • Construction & Evaluation (CE) — 75 items — bidding and addenda, submittals, RFIs, change orders, substantial completion, and closeout.

How to use it in your final week

  • Study one division at a time — pull out just the section for the division you're sitting next (PcM, PjM, PA, PPD, PDD, or CE) instead of reviewing all six at once.
  • Front-load the two 100-item design divisions (PPD and PDD) — they carry the most content and the most case studies, so give them the most cram time.
  • Drill the AIA contract families until they're automatic — B101 owner–architect, C401 architect–consultant, A101 with A201 general conditions for owner–contractor — they recur across PcM, PjM, and CE.
  • Read the sheet the morning of each appointment for a final pass on the quick math — FAR × lot area, occupant load = area ÷ factor, and duration = finish − start + 1.

The cheat sheet is your review layer — your NCARB / ARE 5.0 practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.

NCARB / ARE 5.0 cheat sheet FAQ

Yes — the NCARB cheat sheet is 100% free to download as a PDF, with no sign-up required. It's part of Career Employer's free ARE 5.0 toolkit alongside the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.

References

  1. 1.NCARB. “Architect Registration Examination (ARE) 5.0 Guidelines.” National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 2026. ↑
  2. 2.NCARB. “ARE 5.0 Test Format.” National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. ↑
  3. 3.NCARB. “How ARE 5.0 Is Scored.” National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. ↑
  4. 4.NCARB. “ARE 5.0 Fees & Scheduling.” National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. ↑
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