How to qualify for the ARE?

A candidate needs to qualify for the ARE via one of NCARB's member registration boards, or one of the Canadian provincial architectural associations.

Check with your Board of Architecture for specific requirements.

For example, in California, a candidate must provide verification of a minimum of five years of education and/or architectural work experience to qualify for the ARE.

Candidates can satisfy the five-year requirement in a variety of ways:

* Provide verification of a professional degree in architecture through a program that is accredited by NAAB or CACB.

OR
* Provide verification of at least five years of educational equivalents.

OR
* Provide proof of work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect...

Quoted from page 17 of “Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)”

Copyright Gang Chen 2011, non-exclusive rights granted to Amazon

Table of Contents for "Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)"

Table of Contents for “Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)”

Dedication

Disclaimer

How to Use This Book

Table of Contents

Chapter One               Overview of Architect Registration Exam (ARE)

A.     First Thing First: Go to the website of your architect registration board and read all the requirements for obtaining an architect license in your jurisdiction

B.     Download and review the latest ARE documents from NCARB website

1.      Important links to the FREE and official NCARB documents

2.      A detailed list and brief description of the FREE PDF files that you can download from NCARB

·         ARE Guidelines

·         NCARB Education Guidelines

·         Intern Development Program Guidelines

·         The IDP Supervisor Guidelines

·         Handbook for Interns and Architects

·         Official exam guide, references index, and practice program (NCARB software) for each ARE division

·         The Burning Question: Why Do We Need ARE Anyway?

·         Defining Your Moral Compass

·         Rules of Conduct

C.  The Intern Development Program (IDP)

1.      What is IDP?

2.      Who qualify as interns?

D.  Overview of Architect Registration Exam (ARE)

1.      How to qualify for the ARE?

2.      How to qualify for the architect license?

3.      What is the purpose of ARE?

4.      What is NCARB’s rolling clock?

5.      How to register for an ARE exam?

6.      How early do I need to arrive at the test center?

7.      Exam Format & Time

·         Programming, Planning & Practice

·         Site Planning & Design

·         Building Design & Construction Systems

·         Schematic Design

·         Structural Systems

·         Building Systems

·         Construction Documents and Service

8.      How are ARE scores reported?

9.      Are there a fixed percentage of candidates who pass the ARE exams?

10.  When can I retake a failed ARE division?

11.  How much time do I need to prepare for each ARE division?

12.  Which ARE division should I start first?

13.  ARE exam prep and test-taking tips

14.  English system (English or inch-pound units) vs. metric system (SI units)

15.  Codes and standards used in this book

Chapter Two              Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division

A.     General Information

1.      Exam Content

2.      Official exam guide and practice program for BDCS division

B.     The most important documents/publications for BDCS division of the ARE exam.24        

1.      Official NCARB list of references for the BDCS division

2.       Building Construction Illustrated (BCI)

3.      Historic Preservation documents

4.      Access Board, ADAAG Manual: A Guide to the American with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines.

5.      American Institute of Architects (AIA) Documents

6.      The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AHPP)

7.      International Building Code (IBC)

8.      Architectural Graphic Standards

9.      CSI Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat & Building Construction

C.     Overall strategies and tips for NCARB graphic vignettes

1.   Overall strategies

2.   Tips

D.  Accessibility/Ramp Vignette

1.   Major criteria, overall strategy, and tips for accessibility/ramp vignette

2.   Step-by-step solution for the official NCARB BDCS practice program accessibility/ramp vignette

3.   Notes on NCARB traps

4.   A summary of the critical dimensions

5.   An alternate and simple solution to the official NCARB vignette

E.  Stair Design Vignette

1.   Major criteria, overall strategy and tips for stair design vignette

2.   Step-by-step solutions for the official NCARB BDCS practice program stair design vignette

3.   Notes on NCARB traps

4.   A summary of the critical dimensions

5.   Practice using the cut stair tool. You will probably need to use it in the real exam

6.  A much tougher and very helpful stair vignette

F.   Roof Plan Vignette

1.   Major criteria, overall strategy and tips for roof plan vignette

2.   Step-by-step solution for the official NCARB BDCS practice program roof plan vignette

3.   Notes on NCARB traps

4.   A summary of the critical dimensions

Chapter Three             ARE Mock Exam for Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division

A.     Mock Exam: BDCS Multiple-Choice (MC) Section

B. Mock Exam: BDCS Accessibility/Ramp Vignette

1.   Directions and Code

2.   Program

C.  Mock Exam: BDCS Stair Design Vignette

1.   Directions and Code

2.   Program

D.  Mock Exam: BDCS Roof Plan Vignette

1.   Directions and Code

2.   Program

Chapter Four              ARE Mock Exam Solution for Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division

A.     Mock Exam Answers and explanation: BDCS Multiple-Choice (MC) Section

B. Mock Exam Solution: BDCS Accessibility/Ramp Vignette

1.      Major criteria, overall strategy, and tips for accessibility/ramp vignette

2.      Step-by-step solution for the mock exam accessibility/ramp vignette using the official NCARB BDCS practice program

3.      Notes on mock exam vignette traps

4.      A summary of the critical dimensions

C.  Mock Exam Solution: BDCS Stair Design Vignette

1.      Major criteria, overall strategy, and tips for the stair design vignette

2.      Step-by-step solution for the mock exam stair design vignette using the official NCARB BDCS practice program

3.      Notes on mock exam vignette traps

4.      A summary of the critical dimensions

D.  Mock Exam Solution: BDCS Roof Plan Vignette

1.      Major criteria, overall strategy, and tips for the roof plan vignette

2.      Step-by-step solution for the mock exam roof plan vignette using the official NCARB BDCS practice program

3.      Notes on mock exam vignette traps

4.      A summary of the critical dimensions

Appendixes

A.    List of Figures

B.     Official reference materials suggested by NCARB

1.      General NCARB reference materials for ARE

2.      Official NCARB reference materials for the Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) division

C.    Other reference materials

D.    Definition of Architects and Some Important Information about Architects and    the Profession of Architecture

E.     AIA Compensation Survey

F.     So … You would Like to Study Architecture

Back Page Promotion

A.    ARE Mock exam series (GreenExamEducation.com)

B.     LEED Exam Guides series (GreenExamEducation.com)

C.    Building Construction (ArchiteG.com)

D.    Planting Design Illustrated

Index

How to Use "Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)"

We suggest you read “Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)” at least three times:

Read once, and cover Chapter One, Two and Appendixes and the related FREE PDF files and other resources. Highlight the information with which you are not familiar.

Read a second time, this time focusing on the highlighted information to memorize. You can repeat this process as many times as you want until you have mastered the content of the book. Pay special attention to the materials listed in Chapter Two, Section B, The most important documents/publications for BDCS division of the ARE exam.

After reviewing these materials, you can do the mock exam, and then check your answers against the answers and explanations in the back; including explanations for the questions you answered correctly. You may have answered some questions correctly, but for the wrong reason. Highlight the information you are not familiar with.

Like the real exam, the mock exam includes all three types of questions: Select the correct answer, check all that apply, and fill in the blank.

Review your highlighted information, and do the mock exam again. Try to answer 100% of the questions correctly this time. Repeat the process until you can answer all of the questions correctly.

Do the mock exam about two weeks before the real exam, but at least 3 days before the real exam. You should NOT wait until the night before the real exam, and then do the mock exam: If you do not do well, you will go into panic mode and you will NOT have enough time to review your weakness.

Read for the third time the night before the real exam. Review ONLY the information you highlighted, especially the questions you did not answer correctly when you did the mock exam for the first time.

One important tip for passing the graphic vignette section of the ARE BDCS division is to become VERY familiar with the commands of the NCARB software. Many people fail the exam simply because they are NOT familiar with the NCARB software and cannot finish the graphic vignette section within the exam’s time limit.

For the graphic vignettes, we include step-by-step solutions, using NCARB Practice Program software, with many screen-shots so that you can use this book to become familiar with the commands of the NCARB software, even when you do NOT have a computer in front of you. This book is very light and you can carry it around easily. These two features will allow you to review the graphic vignette section whenever you have a few minutes.

All commands are described in an abbreviated manner. For example, Draw > Stairs means go to the menu on the left hand side of your computer screen, click Draw, and then click Stairs to draw the Stair. This is typical for ALL commands throughout the book.

The Table of Contents is very detailed, so you can locate information quickly. If you are on a tight schedule, you can forgo reading the book linearly and jump to the sections you need.

See my posts under the Customer Discussion Section at the lower portion of this book's Amazon detailed page for ARE Exam prep strategies, and more information on this book.

Where can you find other books written by Gang Chen?

See link below:
http://www.GreenExamEducation.com

Disclaimer for "Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)"

“Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)” provides general information about Architect Registration Exam. The book is sold with the understanding that neither the publisher nor the authors are providing legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal, accounting, or other professional services are required, seek the assistance of a competent professional firm.

The purpose of this publication is not to reprint the content of all other available texts on the subject. You are urged to read other materials and tailor them to fit your needs.

Great effort has been taken to make this resource as complete and accurate as possible. However, nobody is perfect and there may be typographical errors or other mistakes present. You should use this book as a general guide and not as the ultimate source on this subject. If you find any potential errors, please send an e-mail to:
info@ArchiteG.com

“Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam) is intended to provide general, entertaining, informative, educational, and enlightening content. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable to anyone or any entity for any loss or damages, or alleged loss or damages, caused directly or indirectly by the content of this book.

If you do not wish to be bound by the above, you may return this book to the publisher for a full refund.

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“Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)” has been published!

“Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam)” has been published!

Here is detailed information:

Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) ARE Mock Exam (Architect Registration Exam): ARE Overview, Exam Prep Tips, Multiple-Choice Questions and Graphic Vignettes, Solutions and Explanations

ISBN: 9781612650029
Here are the links:
http://www.greenexameducation.com/
Click on here to purchase BDCS Mock Exam on Amzon.com
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Synopsis

A Practical Mock Exam for the Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division of the ARE!

To become a licensed architect, you need to have the proper combination of education and/or experience, meeting your Board of Architecture’s special requirements, as well as passing all seven divisions of the Architect Registration Examinations (ARE).

This book provides ARE exam overview, resources, exam prep and exam taking techniques, tips and guides. It also provides a realistic and complete set of Mock Exam, solutions, explanations for the Building Design and Construction Systems (BDCS) Division of the ARE. This book covers the following subjects:
1. ARE, IDP and Education Requirements
2. ARE Exam Content, Format and Prep strategies
3. Principles: Selection of Systems, Materials, and Methods, Historic Precedent, Human Behavior, and Design Theory
4. Environmental Issues: Sustainable Design Including Hazardous Material Mitigation, Thermal and Moisture Protection, and Adaptive Re-Use
5. Codes & Regulations: Zoning, Specialty and Building Codes, and Other Regulatory Requirements
6. Materials & Technology: Selection of Systems, Materials, and Methods, including Masonry, Metals, Wood, Concrete, Specialties, and Others
7. Project & Practice Management: Cost, Scheduling, Construction Sequencing, and Risk Management
8. Accessibility/Ramp Vignette: Designing a stairway and ramp connecting two levels that abides by the code and accessibility requirements
9. Stair Design Vignette: Designing a stairway connecting multiple levels that abides by the code and accessibility requirements
10. Roof Plan Vignette: Designing a sloped roof for draining the rainwater, locate equipment and accessories
11. Step-By-Step Solutions for 6 Graphic Vignettes Using NCARB Practice Program Software

This book includes 85 challenging questions at the same difficulty level and format as the real exam (multiple-choice, check-all-that-apply, and fill-in-the-blank), and 6 graphic vignettes. It will help you pass the BDCS division of the ARE and become a licensed architect!

About the author
Gang Chen holds a master’s degree from the School of Architecture, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree from the School of Architecture, South China University of Technology. He has over 20 years of professional experience. Many of the projects he was in charge of or participated in have been published extensively in Architecture, Architectural Record, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, etc. He has worked on a variety of unusual projects, including well-known, large-scale healthcare and hospitality projects with over one billion dollars in construction costs; award-winning school designs, highly-acclaimed urban design and streetscape projects, multifamily housing, high-end custom homes, and regional and neighborhood shopping centers.

Gang Chen is a LEED AP BD+C and a licensed architect in California. He is also the internationally acclaimed author of other fascinating books, including Building Construction, Planting Design Illustrated, ARE Mock Exam Series and LEED Exam Guides Series, which include one guidebook for each of the LEED exams. For more information, visit www.GreenExamEducation.com