May 2009
Transition Details
In early July, Prometric will begin to move Transition Candidates from ARE 3.1 to ARE 4.0. If you have no exam scores pending on 1 July 2009, you should be able to schedule appointments for divisions in ARE 4.0 by mid-July. If you have an exam score pending on 1 July 2009, you will be transitioned following the typical score reporting process. The transition to ARE 4.0 will be complete by mid-August for all ARE candidates. Once you have been transitioned, you can find your remaining equivalent division(s) needed to complete the ARE by checking the Prometric scheduling web site or by calling the ARE Help Desk at 800/896-2272.
NOTE: You will NOT receive an updated Authorization to Test (ATT). Your current authorization number will continue to work in ARE 4.0.
May and June Appointments
All ARE exam appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and are based on availability at your local test center. Appointment availability cannot be guaranteed. If you are having difficulty scheduling an appointment, please call the ARE Help Desk at 800/896-2272 for assistance.
The last day to schedule an ARE 3.1 appointment is 27 June 2009. The last day to take an ARE 3.1 division is 30 June 2009.
H1N1 Virus Announcement
Prometric is monitoring both the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control web sites for current updates and accurate information. At this time, only two Prometric test sites in Mexico have closed as a precaution. If a site is closed, whether by Prometric, a third-party center owner, or at the suggestion of local government in an impacted area, Prometric will proactively reach out to candidates to reschedule their exams.
Although the Centers for Disease Control have communicated that the wearing of masks is only minimally effective in virus prevention, Prometric will allow candidates to wear medical face masks during their exams if they choose. Please note that Prometric reserves the right to require every candidate wearing a mask to temporarily remove it for inspection prior to being allowed in the testing room. Only then will candidates be allowed in the test room. Prometric will not provide masks to candidates.
In addition, Prometric will post updated information about site closures for candidates at the following link: http://www.prometric.com/ImportantNews.htm. This page can be reached from the home page of their web site as well.
April 2009
NCARB Policy and Procedures for Testing Irregularities
The NCARB’s Board of Directors has updated its policy on procedures concerning ARE testing irregularities. The Board reserves the right to impose any sanction it believes appropriate for testing irregularities, either more or less than those noted in the policy. Action taken by the NCARB Board of Directors is final. Click here to read the policy.
NCARB BOD Takes Action Against ARE Confidentiality Agreement Violators
The Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) is designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by providing a psychometrically justifiable and legally defensible process that measures the level of competence necessary to practice independently. Recently, eight ARE candidates had their testing privileges suspended and scores cancelled for posting exam content and/or questions on the internet. Please see the News Clip and Factually Answered Questions on the topic.
January 2009
Score Report Delay
NCARB and Prometric have been implementing a series of quality control checks since the launch of ARE 4.0 in July 2008. There were many updates and adjustments made to the processes and systems used by Prometric to enable delivery of both ARE 3.1 and ARE 4.0 for the overlap/transition year.
Throughout this process, Prometric has been required to make a few adjustments to the score reporting systems. The recent delays in score report printing were necessary for Prometric to implement the adjustments. And, as a result of these adjustments, a small number of corrected score reports have been issued. In all cases, the individual multiple-choice items and vignettes were scored correctly. The software that combines the individual scores to an overall passing or failing result has been updated to reflect the findings of the quality control reviews. All exams administered since 1 July 2008, have been included in this extensive and exhaustive review.
It is the belief of NCARB that it is not acceptable to release any score report with incorrect data. The corrected score reports account for less than 0.1 percent of the nearly 30,000 examinations administered since 1 July 2008. All candidates who have been affected by this quality control process have been contacted directly by NCARB or Prometric staff and received corrected score reports.
We will continue to monitor the process throughout the final transition to ARE 4.0 in July 2009. We apologize for the periodic delays in reporting scores. Prometric is working diligently to process all recently tested exams in an effort to return to the ARE’s typical two to four week reporting period. Thank you for your patience.
NCARB has an obligation to our Member Boards and you, our candidates, to ensure that all candidates for licensure are evaluated fairly and accurately. We will continue to do everything in our power to accomplish this.
December 2008
UPDATE: ARE Score Reports
Please be advised that Prometric has completed the implementation of the additional quality control procedures that temporarily delayed the release of recent examination score reports. NCARB has approved the implementation plan and has removed the “hold” that had been placed on all ARE 3.1 and ARE 4.0 score reports.
To expedite the release, score reports are being sent in batches to all boards of architecture, as they are printed. Please be patient as we complete this final step of the release.
A Message from NCARB to all ARE candidates
NCARB’s mission is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public by assuring that those licensed as architects meet the qualifications to practice independently. The ARE is one tool we utilize to serve our mission.
All NCARB exams are created under strict security and held in confidence. All exam questions and vignettes are also registered under the U.S. Copyright Act.Before beginning any test, you are required to accept a “Confidentiality Agreement,” which prohibits any disclosure of exam content. Read more...
ARE Score Report Delay
Please note that Prometric is implementing additional quality control procedures which will temporarily delay the release of all ARE score reports to all boards of architecture. We anticipate the release of scores shortly.
Thank you for your patience.
October 2008
ARE 3.1 IMPORTANT DEADLINES REMINDER
The last date to test ARE 3.1 divisions is June 30, 2009.
The last date to attempt to schedule an ARE 3.1 appointment is June 27, 2009. Please note that appointments are made on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be based on availability at your local test center. Appointment availability cannot be guaranteed. Please allow enough time in advance of these dates to begin scheduling appointments for any remaining ARE 3.1 divisions for which you are eligible.
ARE 3.1 Retakes
If you are currently eligible to take ARE 3.1 divisions, please keep in mind that if you take and fail any ARE 3.1 division on or after January 1, 2009, you will not be permitted to retake that division due to NCARB’s mandatory six-month waiting period. No Exceptions will be made to the six-month retake policy.
July 2008
Personal Calculators
Effective 1 July 2008, ARE candidates will no longer be permitted to bring a personal calculator into the test center. All divisions of the ARE 3.1 and ARE 4.0 will include an on-screen scientific calculator for candidate use.
May 2008
If you have not successfully completed at least one division of the ARE,
your eligibilities will automatically be converted to ARE 4.0 over the
course of the next several weeks. If you recently took your first division
of ARE 3.1 (within the last 3 to 4 weeks) and have not yet received your
score, you will not be able to schedule any additional testing appointments
until your pending score has been determined. If you passed this initial
ARE 3.1 division, your eligibility files will be confirmed in ARE 3.1. If
you failed the division, your eligibilities will be converted to ARE 4.0.
The final scoring and conversion process should be completed by June 11,
2008. You will be able to schedule future appointments thereafter.
April 2008
ARE 4.0 Reminder
If you have not PASSED any division of ARE 3.1, the last date to schedule an ARE 3.1 division is May 13, 2008 and the last date to test is May 15, 2008. Anyone who has not passed a division of ARE 3.1 prior to these deadlines will test in ARE 4.0. Whether you transition to ARE 4.0 or stay in ARE 3.1 is solely based on the date you test, not the date you receive your score report.
If you have passed a division of ARE 3.1 prior to May 15, 2008, you will be unaffected by these scheduling restrictions.
The first day to schedule an ARE 4.0 exam is May 18, 2008. The first day that ARE 4.0 will be available in the test center is July 1, 2008.
February 2008
If you are an ARE candidate who has yet to PASS one division of the ARE (version 3.1 or earlier) and are at risk of not passing a single division by May 13, 2008, please be advised that if you make an appointment for any date after May 15, 2008, that appointment will be cancelled beginning May 15, 2008 and your exam appointment fee will be forfeited. You will be transitioned to ARE 4.0 and will be required to remit payment when you schedule a new appointment. If you already have an appointment for a date after May 15, 2008, we recommend that you re-schedule that appointment for a date prior to May 15 to avoid any forfeiture of fees. Again, this refers ONLY to candidates who are likely to be transitioned to ARE 4.0 in 2008. Candidates who have passed at least one division will remain in ARE 3.1 and can continue to schedule appointments and test after May 15, 2008 through June 2009.
November 2007
Ready to take the ARE?
Does your jurisdiction allow early access to the ARE? If you have an active NCARB Record and have fulfilled all of your jurisdiction’s requirements, you can request Authorization to Test through the “My NCARB Record” section of our web site. It’s quick and easy!
Click here for more information.
October 2007
"An Introduction to ARE 4.0: Providing Exam Content in a New Wrapper"
NCARB unveiled ARE 4.0 in the Spring 2007 Direct Connection.
Read the article to learn about the seven new divisions, the 3.1 to 4.0
transition period, and the reasoning behind this important change in exam
organization.
"The Evolving ARE: Building a Better Exam for the Profession"
The second article related to ARE 4.0 printed in the Fall 2007
Direct Connection. The article goes into greater detail about the evolution
of the exam, addresses the Rolling Clock, and has sample plans for preparing
for the transition to ARE 4.0.
March 2007
ARE 4.0: The Architect Registration Examination is changing for the better
In July 2008, NCARB will launch ARE 4.0. The latest version of the exam updates and improves the current format by combining graphic and multiple-choice content. ARE 4.0 integrates the exam format while emphasizing the problem-solving skills architects regularly use in day-to-day practice.
The Council has continuously worked toward improving the ARE's content, delivery, grading, and administration. The evolution to
ARE 4.0 has been guided by the 1999 Practice Analysis survey conducted by NCARB that provided a comprehensive analysis of the architecture profession.
Click here to read an article from NCARB's Direct Connection (2007 Volume 10 Issue 1).
Please refer to the Council's website for periodic updates.
November 2006
Prometric Website – Direct Link for ARE Candidates
Prometric has created a new link to their website specifically designed to provide ARE candidates with direct access to ARE appointment scheduling and other Prometric information.
Please update the bookmark on your web-browser from the old link www.prometric.com to www.prometric.com/NCARB .
We hope this change is an added convenience for all ARE test takers.
October 2006
Updated ARE Guidelines available
The ARE Guidelines have recently been updated. There have been a few minor changes made to the Guidelines, including some modifications to the References sections under the ARE Specifications & References. Click here to obtain the latest ARE Guidelines, dated August 2006.
Alternate Item Types
NCARB would like to thank all ARE candidates that participated in the Alternate Item Type (AIT) study that was completed in 2006.
The AIT Field Test was conducted to determine the impact of Fill-in-the-Blank and Check-All-That-Apply questions in future versions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
The study was successful and, as a result, the Mechanical & Electrical Systems division will include Alternate Item Types (AIT) beginning in February 2007 . This new question format will appear in the remaining multiple-choice divisions in the near future.
To see a sample of the AIT questions, please visit the NCARB website at www.ncarb.org/AIT.
November 2005
Experimental Questions for Mechanical & Electrical Systems discontinued
Beginning Thursday, December 1, 2005 , the experimental questions associated with the Mechanical & Electrical Systems division of the ARE will no longer be delivered.
Checks for those candidates that successfully completed the series of experimental questions will be processed during the first quarter of 2006.
Thank you for your participation and cooperation during this process.
ARE 3.1
An updated version of the computer-based ARE will begin February 27, 2006.
Updates include:
- NEW!
Site Zoning vignette combines Site Analysis and Site Zoning.
- NEW!
Site Design vignette combines Site Parking and Site Design.
- NEW!
Practice Program, including the combined vignettes, is available for downloading.
- NEW!
ARE Guidelines, including updated Specifications and References can be downloaded.
- NEW!
Study Guides with sample solutions for the NEW combined vignettes are available for purchase.
June 2005
Rolling Clock
During NCARB’s 2004 Annual Meeting, the Council passed a resolution officially creating a “rolling clock” requirement for the ARE. Under the terms of the Rolling Clock, which will be officially implemented on January 1, 2006, candidates for the ARE must pass all divisions within five years. Three transitional rules, which are noted below, will guide the process.
Rules
Three basic rules will guide the implementation of the Rolling Clock:
- For applicants who have passed all divisions of the ARE by January 1, 2006, regardless of the time taken, such applicants will have passed the ARE.
- For applicants who have passed one or more but not all divisions of the ARE by January 1, 2006, such applicants will have five years from the date of the first (non-exempt) passed division to pass all remaining divisions. [Exams passed prior to January 1, 2006, are exempt and will NOT have to be retaken.] If a candidate fails to pass all remaining divisions within the initial five-year period, the candidate is given a new five-year period from the date of the second oldest passed division. The five-year period shall commence after January 1, 2006, on the date when the first passed division is administered.
- For applicants who have passed no divisions of the ARE by January 1, 2006, such applicants shall be governed by the above five-year requirement. The five-year period shall commence on the date when the first passed division is administered. Adherance to these rules is required for NCARB Certification.
To learn more about the Council's rolling clock, visit the News section of the NCARB web site.
ARE 4.0 Voucher
