100+ Free ARE 5.0: PjM Practice Questions

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Question 1

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Under AIA Document B101-2017, the architect's Basic Services are organized into five phases. Which of the following is NOT one of those five phases?

Schematic Design

Design Development

Construction Documents

Programming

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ARE 5.0: PjM Exam

Exam Items

NCARB

3 hrs

Test Time

NCARB

$257

Per Division

NCARB 2026

Content Sections

NCARB Handbook

25-31%

Contracts (largest section)

NCARB

April 27, 2026

Latest ARE Update

NCARB

ARE 5.0 PjM is a 75-item computer-based exam delivered in 3 hours (3h 40m total appointment) by NCARB at Pearson VUE for $257 per division. Five sections: Resource Management (7-13%), Project Work Planning (17-23%), Contracts (25-31%), Project Execution (17-23%), and Project Quality Control (19-25%). Heavily tests AIA B101, C401, B132/B133, A201, and G-series forms. April 27, 2026 brought updated objectives aligned with the NCARB Competency Standard.

Sample ARE 5.0: PjM Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ARE 5.0: PjM exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under AIA Document B101-2017, the architect's Basic Services are organized into five phases. Which of the following is NOT one of those five phases?

A.Schematic Design

B.Design Development

C.Construction Documents

D.Programming

Explanation: B101-2017 Article 3 organizes Basic Services into five phases: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding/Negotiation, and Construction. Programming is an Additional Service under Article 4, not a Basic Service. Treating programming as Basic Service is a common contract-management error that leads to scope and fee disputes.

2An architect uses AIA Document C401-2017 to retain a structural engineering consultant. C401 is structured to flow down obligations from which prime agreement?

A.A101 Owner-Contractor Agreement

B.B101 Owner-Architect Agreement

C.A201 General Conditions

D.G702 Application for Payment

Explanation: C401-2017 is the Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant. It is drafted to mirror and flow down the architect's obligations under B101 to consultants, ensuring scope, schedule, and standard-of-care alignment. Using C401 reduces gaps between prime and consultant scopes.

3Per AIA B101-2017 Section 2.2, the architect must perform services consistent with the professional skill and care ordinarily provided by architects practicing in the same or similar locality under the same or similar circumstances. This contractual provision codifies which legal concept?

A.Strict liability

B.Standard of care

C.Implied warranty of fitness

D.Indemnification

Explanation: Section 2.2 of B101-2017 expressly states the standard of care: 'professional skill and care ordinarily provided by architects practicing in the same or similar locality under the same or similar circumstances.' This is the legal benchmark used to evaluate alleged professional negligence and is intentionally not a guarantee of perfect work.

4An owner asks the architect to assume responsibility for the means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures of construction. Per AIA B101 and A201, what is the architect's correct response?

A.Accept and add the service to the fee

B.Decline because means and methods are the contractor's responsibility under A201

C.Accept but require the contractor to indemnify the architect

D.Accept only after consulting the structural engineer

Explanation: Under A201-2017 Section 3.3.1, the contractor is solely responsible for construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, and procedures. B101 mirrors this by explicitly excluding means and methods from the architect's services. Accepting that responsibility would void professional liability coverage and shift contractor risk to the architect.

5Per AIA B101-2017, which of the following is ALWAYS classified as a Supplemental or Additional Service rather than a Basic Service?

A.Coordinating consultant drawings during Construction Documents

B.Conducting LEED certification administration

C.Reviewing the contractor's submittals

D.Preparing the project manual

Explanation: LEED certification administration is listed in B101 Article 4 as a Supplemental/Additional Service requiring separate scope and fee. Sustainability documentation has expanded ramifications beyond the architect's core deliverables and is not included in Basic Services unless explicitly added.

6An architect is selecting an AIA agreement for a project where the owner has retained a separate construction manager who will act as adviser to the owner. Which AIA Owner-Architect agreement is most appropriate?

A.B101 Standard Form

B.B132 (CMa edition)

C.B133 (CMc edition)

D.B121 Master Agreement

Explanation: B132-2019 is the Owner-Architect agreement specifically drafted for projects where a Construction Manager as Adviser (CMa) is retained. It allocates responsibilities differently from B101 to reflect the CM's advisory role during design and construction.

7Under AIA B133-2019 (Construction Manager as Constructor edition), what is the primary distinction in the architect's role compared to B101?

A.The architect prepares the GMP

B.The architect coordinates with a CM holding trade contracts and advising during design

C.The architect assumes contractor coordination duties

D.The architect is paid a percentage of construction cost only

Explanation: B133-2019 is used when the project uses Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc), where the CM provides preconstruction advisory services during design and then holds the trade contracts (often under a GMP). The architect coordinates with the CMc but does not change scope or assume contractor risk.

8An architect's professional liability insurer recommends modifying an Owner's draft contract that contains an indemnification clause requiring the architect to defend the owner from any and all claims, including those arising from the owner's negligence. Why is this clause problematic?

A.It violates AIA copyright on B101

B.Most state laws and PL policies do not cover the duty to defend or indemnification of others' negligence

C.It increases the architect's fee

D.It requires owner approval

Explanation: Most professional liability policies exclude contractually assumed duties to defend and indemnification of another party's sole negligence. Many jurisdictions also have anti-indemnity statutes voiding such clauses for design professionals. The architect should negotiate a comparative-negligence indemnification limited to the architect's own negligent acts.

9A consultant retained under AIA C401-2017 fails to deliver structural drawings on time, delaying the construction documents phase. Under C401 and B101, who is contractually liable to the owner for this delay?

A.The consultant directly

B.The architect

C.The owner's project manager

D.Pearson VUE

Explanation: Under privity of contract, the architect contracts with the owner via B101 and is solely responsible to the owner for performance. C401 makes the consultant responsible to the architect, not directly to the owner. The architect carries flow-down risk for consultant performance and must manage and pursue the consultant under C401.

10AIA B101-2017 Article 11 addresses compensation. Which statement about the architect's compensation under B101 is correct?

A.Compensation must be a stipulated sum only

B.Compensation method (stipulated sum, hourly, percentage of cost, or other) is selected by the parties

C.Compensation must equal 6% of construction cost

D.Compensation is paid only at substantial completion

Explanation: B101 Article 11 provides several compensation alternatives — stipulated sum, hourly rates, percentage of construction cost, or another agreed method — selected by the parties. There is no AIA-mandated percentage; the 6% figure is a historical industry rule of thumb, not contractual.

About the ARE 5.0: PjM Exam

ARE 5.0 Project Management (PjM) is one of six NCARB Architect Registration Exam divisions. PjM tests the architect's ability to manage project resources, plan work, administer contracts, execute the project, and maintain quality control. The 75-item computer-based exam is delivered at Pearson VUE centers with a 3-hour test time plus a 30-minute break (3h 40m total appointment). PjM heavily references AIA Document B101 (Owner-Architect Agreement), C401 (Architect-Consultant Agreement), B132/B133 (CMa/CMc agreements), A201 General Conditions, and the AIA G-series administrative forms. Effective April 27, 2026, NCARB updated the ARE objectives to align with the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects.

Questions

75 scored questions

Time Limit

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

Passing Score

Scaled cut score (NCARB does not publish a fixed percentage)

Exam Fee

$257 (NCARB (Pearson VUE))

ARE 5.0: PjM Exam Content Outline

7-13%

Resource Management

Staffing plans, multipliers/utilization, consultant selection (QBS), C401 consultant agreements, fee budgets, resource allocation across teams

17-23%

Project Work Planning

Project work plan, scope definition, kickoff meetings, schedule (CPM, float, Gantt), fee allocation by phase, scope creep control, earned-value tracking

25-31%

Contracts

AIA B101 Owner-Architect, C401 Architect-Consultant, B132 (CMa) and B133 (CMc), A201 General Conditions, standard of care, indemnification, dispute resolution, additional services

17-23%

Project Execution

Delivery methods (DBB, CMa, CMc, IPD, Design-Build), Lean and Last Planner, BIM Execution Plan and LOD, consultant coordination, RFI/submittal/CO/payment processes, project closeout

19-25%

Project Quality Control

Quality management plans, QA vs. QC, peer reviews, document coordination, code reviews, CSI MasterFormat/SectionFormat, risk register, lessons learned

How to Pass the ARE 5.0: PjM Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Scaled cut score (NCARB does not publish a fixed percentage)
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: PjM Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read AIA B101-2017 cover-to-cover, then C401-2017 — Contracts is 25-31% of PjM and B101 is the most-tested document

2Memorize what is Basic vs. Supplemental vs. Additional Service under B101 Article 4 — high-yield

3Study the AIA G-series forms (G701, G702/G703, G704, G706/G706A, G707, G714) — when to use each and who signs

4Compare B132 (CMa) and B133 (CMc) side-by-side; understand how the architect's role changes with delivery method

5Practice CPM scheduling concepts: critical path, float, Finish-to-Start dependencies, earned-value status checks

6Review the CSI MasterFormat (50 divisions) and SectionFormat three-part structure (General/Products/Execution)

7Build a flashcard set for AIA defined terms (Work, Project, Contract Documents, Substantial Completion, Final Completion)

8Use NCARB's free ARE Practice Exam for PjM — case-study style mirrors the actual exam

9Take at least one full timed practice exam (75 items in 3 hours) before scheduling — pacing is tight

10Read the April 2026 NCARB ARE 5.0 Handbook for the updated objectives — older study guides may reference superseded language

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the ARE 5.0 PjM exam and how long is it?

PjM has 75 items delivered in a 3-hour test session, plus a 30-minute break, for a total appointment of 3 hours and 40 minutes. The exam is computer-based and offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. Questions include multiple-choice, check-all-that-apply, drag-and-place, and case studies based on a project scenario package.

What does the ARE 5.0 PjM exam cost in 2026?

NCARB charges $257 per division as of 2026, including PjM. This is for both first attempts and retakes. Some U.S. jurisdictions add their own application or licensing fees on top of NCARB's exam fee. NCARB offers a divisional fee waiver/scholarship program for eligible candidates; check the NCARB website for current eligibility.

What are the section weightings on PjM?

Per the NCARB ARE 5.0 Handbook, PjM sections are: Resource Management (7-13%), Project Work Planning (17-23%), Contracts (25-31%), Project Execution (17-23%), and Project Quality Control (19-25%). Contracts is the largest section, so AIA documents (B101, C401, A201, B132/B133, G-series) are the highest-yield study area.

What changed for PjM with the April 27, 2026 update?

NCARB updated the ARE in April 2026 to align with the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects, including refined PjM objectives. Section names and approximate weightings are unchanged; the changes refine task descriptions to match contemporary practice (BIM management, IPD/Lean delivery, sustainability and equity considerations). Existing study material remains broadly relevant; check NCARB's updated handbook for specific objective language.

Which AIA documents should I study for PjM?

Focus on AIA B101-2017 (Owner-Architect Agreement) — covered most heavily — plus C401-2017 (Architect-Consultant), A201-2017 (General Conditions), B132-2019 (CMa edition), B133-2019 (CMc edition), and the G-series administrative forms (G701 Change Order, G702/G703 Pay App, G704 Substantial Completion, G706/G706A/G707, G714 CCD). Read the actual document text — many PjM questions test specific section language.

How is PjM different from PcM and CE?

PcM (Practice Management) tests firm-level business and ethics; PjM tests project-level management; CE (Construction & Evaluation) drills deeper into construction phase services and project closeout. There is overlap on contracts, ethics, and CA processes, so studying PcM, PjM, and CE in sequence is a common strategy. PjM uniquely emphasizes contracts and project execution among the six divisions.