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Under AIA Document A201-2017 General Conditions, who is responsible for means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures of construction?

The architect

The owner

The contractor

Jointly by architect and contractor

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ARE 5.0: CE Exam

Total Items

NCARB

3 hrs

Test Time

NCARB

55%

Pass Rate

NCARB 2024

$257

Exam Fee

NCARB

Content Sections

NCARB

5 yr

Rolling Clock

NCARB

ARE 5.0 CE has a 55% NCARB 2024 pass rate. The 75-item computer-based test runs 3 hours (3h 40m total with optional break). Content covers Pre-Construction (17-23%), Construction Observation (32-38%), Administrative Procedures (32-38%), and Project Closeout (7-13%). Mastery of AIA A201 General Conditions and the G-series administrative forms is essential. Updated guidelines effective April 27, 2026 streamline case studies to 1-2 resources per case.

Sample ARE 5.0: CE Practice Questions

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1Under AIA Document A201-2017 General Conditions, who is responsible for means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures of construction?

A.The architect

B.The owner

C.The contractor

D.Jointly by architect and contractor

Explanation: AIA A201-2017 Section 3.3.1 makes the contractor solely responsible for and in control of construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures. The architect's responsibility is limited to conformance of the completed work with the contract documents, not how the contractor builds it.

2Which AIA document is the standard form of agreement between owner and contractor where the basis of payment is a stipulated sum (lump sum)?

A.AIA A101

B.AIA A102

C.AIA A103

D.AIA A201

Explanation: AIA A101-2017 is the owner-contractor agreement used when the contract sum is a stipulated lump sum. A102 and A103 are cost-plus-fee agreements (with and without GMP), and A201 is the General Conditions, not an owner-contractor agreement.

3An owner is using AIA A102-2017 for a construction project. What is the defining feature of this agreement?

A.Lump sum with no contingency

B.Cost of the work plus a fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price

C.Cost of the work plus a fee with no Guaranteed Maximum Price

D.Construction management at-risk with multiple prime contractors

Explanation: AIA A102-2017 is the owner-contractor agreement based on the cost of the work plus a contractor's fee, with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). The GMP caps the owner's exposure while still using cost-plus accounting and shared savings provisions.

4Which AIA document is used by a contractor to submit a statement of qualifications during prequalification or bidding?

A.AIA A305

B.AIA A310

C.AIA A312

D.AIA A701

Explanation: AIA Document A305, Contractor's Qualification Statement, is completed by a prospective bidder to provide the owner information about experience, references, financial standing, and personnel. A310 is a bid bond and A312 is performance/payment bonds.

5Which AIA document is issued to contractors during bidding to provide the rules, requirements, and procedures for submitting bids?

A.AIA A101

B.AIA A201

C.AIA A701 Instructions to Bidders

D.AIA G612

Explanation: AIA A701, Instructions to Bidders, sets out procedures for bidders, including bid form requirements, bid security, bid opening, and how to handle addenda and substitutions. It is part of the bidding documents but is not part of the executed contract.

6During bidding, the architect identifies an error in the drawings that affects scope. What is the correct mechanism to formally communicate this change to all bidders?

A.A request for information (RFI)

B.An addendum issued before the bid opening

C.A change order issued after award

D.An architect's supplemental instructions (ASI)

Explanation: Before bids are opened, modifications to the bidding documents must be issued as an addendum so all bidders price the same scope. RFIs, ASIs, and change orders are construction-phase tools and do not exist before a contract is executed.

7An owner wants to compare base scope against optional scope items at bid time so the award decision can be made based on available budget. Which device should the architect use?

A.Allowances

B.Alternates

C.Unit prices

D.Contingencies

Explanation: Alternates are pre-priced, owner-selectable adds or deducts from the base bid, used precisely to expand or contract the scope after bids are received based on the budget. Allowances cover unspecified items at fixed dollars, unit prices are quantity-based, and contingencies are reserves held by owner or contractor.

8Which project delivery method is MOST appropriate when an owner needs the lowest first-cost bid and the design is complete and well-defined?

A.Construction management at-risk

B.Design-build

C.Design-bid-build (competitive lump sum)

D.Integrated project delivery

Explanation: Design-bid-build with a competitive lump-sum award is the traditional method for getting the lowest first-cost bid on a fully designed project. The owner holds separate contracts with the architect and the lowest qualified bidder, and price competition is maximized.

9Under AIA A101-2017 with A201 General Conditions, who has the authority to bind the owner to a change in the contract sum?

A.The architect alone

B.The contractor alone

C.The owner (or the owner's authorized representative)

D.The construction manager

Explanation: Only the owner — or someone the owner has formally designated — can authorize a change that increases the contract sum. The architect prepares and certifies change documents and may authorize minor changes that do not affect cost or time, but the owner signs change orders.

10A general contractor submits a request for clarification about a dimension on the drawings during construction. Which AIA form is most commonly used to track this request?

A.G701 Change Order

B.G714 Architect's Supplemental Instructions

C.G716 Request for Information

D.G702 Application for Payment

Explanation: AIA G716, Request for Information, is the standard form used by the contractor to ask the architect for clarification of contract documents during construction. Properly logged RFIs become part of the project record and may support later change orders if the answer alters scope.

About the ARE 5.0: CE Exam

The ARE 5.0 Construction & Evaluation (CE) division tests an architect's ability to perform construction-phase services and project closeout activities. The exam covers four content areas: Pre-Construction Activities (17-23%), Construction Observation (32-38%), Administrative Procedures & Protocols (32-38%), and Project Closeout & Evaluation (7-13%). CE relies heavily on AIA contract documents — A101/A102/A103 owner-contractor agreements, A201 General Conditions, A305 contractor qualifications, A701 Instructions to Bidders, and the G-series administrative forms (G701 change orders, G702/G703 payment applications, G704 substantial completion, G706/G706A/G707 final payment, G711 field reports, G712 submittal log, G714 ASIs, G716 RFIs).

Questions

75 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours (3h 40m total appointment with 30-min break)

Passing Score

Pass/fail by NCARB cut score (typically about 58-66% of scored items correct)

Exam Fee

$257 (NCARB (Pearson VUE))

ARE 5.0: CE Exam Content Outline

17-23%

Pre-Construction Activities

Bidding procedures, owner-contractor agreements (A101/A102/A103), Instructions to Bidders (A701), contractor qualifications (A305), addenda, alternates, allowances, unit prices, delivery method selection

32-38%

Construction Observation

Site visits, field reports (G711), conformance with contract documents, schedule reviews, RFIs (G716), means and methods, code compliance, concealed conditions

32-38%

Administrative Procedures & Protocols

Submittals (G712), shop drawings, payment applications (G702/G703), schedule of values, retainage, change orders (G701), construction change directives, ASIs (G714), claims, dispute resolution

7-13%

Project Closeout & Evaluation

Substantial completion (G704), punch lists, final payment (G706/G706A/G707), lien waivers, warranties, correction-of-work period, record drawings, O&M manuals, post-occupancy evaluation

How to Pass the ARE 5.0: CE Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Pass/fail by NCARB cut score (typically about 58-66% of scored items correct)
Exam length: 75 questions
Time limit: 3 hours (3h 40m total appointment with 30-min break)
Exam fee: $257

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ARE 5.0: CE Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master AIA A201-2017 General Conditions front to back — sections on architect role, payment, claims, completion, and termination are tested repeatedly

2Memorize the G-series form numbers and what each one does (G701, G702, G703, G704, G706, G706A, G707, G711, G712, G714, G716)

3Distinguish between an ASI (G714, no cost/time change), a Construction Change Directive (proceed before agreement), and a Change Order (G701, signed by all three parties)

4Know A201 timing thresholds: 7-day pay-app review, 21-day Claim notice, 7-day notice before termination for cause, 10-day notice for owner self-help

5Practice the substantial completion vs. final completion sequence — what is documented on G704 vs. what is required for final payment (G706/G706A/G707)

6Understand the architect's limits: not means and methods, not exhaustive inspection, not stop-work authority — these are recurring distractors

7Distinguish A101 (lump sum), A102 (cost-plus with GMP), A103 (cost-plus without GMP), and A201 (General Conditions, not the contract)

8Practice case studies with a timer — open the resources panel, find the relevant clause, and answer; speed comes from familiarity

9Know the lien-waiver flow: G706 (debts/claims affidavit), G706A (lien releases), G707 (consent of surety)

10Review NCARB's free CE practice exam plus the updated April 2026 Guidelines for any tested objective changes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ARE 5.0 CE exam pass rate?

The Construction & Evaluation division had approximately a 55% first-time pass rate in NCARB 2024 reporting. CE has historically been one of the higher-pass-rate divisions because the content is procedural and document-driven rather than open-ended design. Candidates who systematically study AIA A201 and the G-series forms typically perform well.

How long is the ARE 5.0 CE exam?

The CE division is 3 hours of testing with a 30-minute optional break, for a total appointment of 3 hours 40 minutes. The exam contains 75 items including a few unscored pretest questions and two case studies. Effective April 27, 2026, NCARB updated case studies to use one to two resources per case (down from three to six), but the total item count and testing time per division did not change.

What AIA documents are tested heavily on ARE CE?

AIA A201 General Conditions is the single most important document — sections on the architect's role (4.2), changes (7), payment (9), substantial completion (9.8), final payment (9.10), insurance (11), and termination (14) appear repeatedly. The G-series administrative forms (G701 change orders, G702/G703 pay apps, G704 substantial completion, G706/G706A/G707 final payment, G711 field reports, G714 ASIs, G716 RFIs) are also high-frequency. The owner-contractor agreements (A101 lump sum, A102 GMP, A103 cost-plus without GMP) and A701 Instructions to Bidders complete the core.

How is ARE 5.0 CE scored?

NCARB uses a pass/fail cut score determined through psychometric analysis rather than a fixed percentage. In practice, candidates typically need to answer between 58% and 66% of scored items correctly to pass. Pretest items are not counted in your score. NCARB does not publish raw scores — you receive only a pass or fail result by division.

Should I take ARE CE first or last among the six divisions?

Many candidates take CE near the end of their ARE journey because its content is procedural and easy to compress: a focused 4-6 week study period built around AIA A201 and the G-series forms is often enough. If you have day-to-day construction administration experience at work, you may pass CE early in your sequence. If your firm primarily does design phases, save CE for after PjM so contract administration concepts are familiar.

What changed in the April 2026 ARE Guidelines for CE?

Effective April 27, 2026, NCARB updated the ARE Guidelines with two CE-relevant changes. First, case studies now include one to two resources each (instead of three to six) while the approximate number of case study items remained the same. Second, CE Objective 1.1 was clarified to address the architect's role in advising the client during the bidding process based on project delivery method. Overall division structure, total item count per division, and testing time per division were unchanged.