Architect exam prep: NCARB’s practice exams, its forum and paid courses

ARE prep options compared

Option	Price	Free to use	Links
Official and free
NCARB ARE 5.0 practice examsSix full-length divisional practice exams and a 75-item demo exam from NCARB, the National Council of Architectural Registration BoardsSame format, tools, number of items and objectives as the real divisions. Take them in your NCARB Record in test mode or practice mode; each ends with a results page with the rationale for every item.	No charge for licensure candidates	Yes, NCARB lists them as free	NCARB: Free ARE 5.0 Practice Exams ↗
NCARB ARE 5.0 Guidelines and test prep videosNCARB’s exam rules, content outline and reference list in one PDF, plus a video series on each divisionThe Guidelines effective October 1, 2026 hold every section and objective, the ARE 5.0 Reference Guide, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) contract documents and codes in use, and the on-screen formulas. The videos cover exam content, sample questions and suggested references.	No charge; a PDF download and YouTube videos	NCARB doesn’t list a price for either	NCARB: ARE 5.0 Guidelines (PDF) ↗NCARB: ARE 5.0 Test Prep Video Series ↗
NCARB ARE 5.0 CommunityNCARB’s forum for ARE candidates, with study groups and answers from NCARB’s exam staffFollow topics or people, ask NCARB a question, or start a study group online or in person. Posts fall under the ARE Candidate Agreement, so exam content stays off the forum.	No charge	Anyone can read it; posting needs a My NCARB sign-in, which NCARB describes as a free account	NCARB: ARE 5.0 Community ↗
Apps and websites
Black SpectaclesOnline ARE prep subscription with practice exams for all six divisions, video lectures and a mobile appPro adds flashcards and a guided study plan. Expert adds scenario-based case study exercises and Black Spectacles’ Pass the ARE Guarantee, which covers your retake if you don’t pass after using the whole program (terms apply, in Black Spectacles’ words).	Premium $179 a month or $1,790 a year; Pro $249 a month or $2,490 a year; Expert $329 a month or $3,290 a year (Black Spectacles’ list prices, taxes extra)	No free plan on its pricing page; it says the yearly price gives you 2 months free	Black Spectacles: Individual Pricing ↗
Amber BookAnimated video course for the ARE 5.0, with practice exams, case studies, flashcards and weekly live webinarsAmber Book says the course has 50 hours of video, narrated by its creator Michael Ermann, and that if you cancel you keep access until the date your subscription would have renewed. It doesn’t sell part months.	$255 a month, billed monthly, for an individual license (marked as a limited-time price when checked in October 2026)	Amber Book’s free weekly Amber Hive study session (40 minutes, Thursdays at 6 PM Eastern, open to everyone) and a free course preview	Amber Book: Individual Enrollment ↗Amber Book: Free study sessions ↗
Coaching
Young Architect ARE Boot Camp10-week live coaching program for the ARE in small groupsA weekly syllabus, coaching meetings, videos and group study sessions, and milestones over the 10 weeks. You need permission to test from NCARB and your board to join. Young Architect doesn’t give refunds once you’re enrolled.	$1,300; Young Architect’s payment plans add a 10% to 20% processing fee	No	Young Architect: ARE Boot Camp ↗

Prices and ratings checked October 2026.

Are NCARB’s ARE practice exams free?

Yes, for licensure candidates. NCARB has one practice exam for each division, built with the same number of items and tied to the same objectives as the real division, and a demo exam of 75 items drawn from all six. They use the same format and on-screen tools as a real appointment.

With exam eligibility, open the Exams tab of your NCARB Record and go to Additional Resources. Without eligibility, use the “Practice the ARE” link in your Record.

• Test mode copies many of the conditions of a real appointment.
• Practice mode lets you take your time with the tools and shows the correct responses with NCARB’s rationale.
• Both end with a results page: the items you got right and wrong, your percentage in each section, and the rationale for every item.

Every divisional practice exam uses a fixed cut score of about 68%. Real divisions don’t use that figure. NCARB’s own example: you could pass the real Construction & Evaluation (CE) division with 66% and fail its practice exam with the same 66%. The pass rates page explains how real divisions are scored.

NCARB also publishes PDF versions for Architectural Experience Program (AXP) supervisors and mentors. They leave out the case study resources, and NCARB encourages candidates to use the on-screen version.