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Key Facts: ARE 5.0: PPD Exam
100 items
Question Count
NCARB ARE 5.0 Guidelines
4h 5m
Test Time
NCARB
$263
Division Fee
NCARB
48%
2025 Overall Pass Rate
NCARB, including first and repeat attempts
5
Content Sections
NCARB
Yes
Case Studies
NCARB
PPD has 100 items, 245 testing minutes and 45 optional break minutes within a 5-hour appointment. NCARB lists up to nine case studies and twenty case-study items. The division fee is $263 per administration. The published 2025 overall pass rate is 48%, including repeat attempts. Its five sections address environmental context, codes, systems/materials, program integration and costs.
Sample ARE 5.0: PPD Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ARE 5.0: PPD exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1An office building in ASHRAE Climate Zone 4 (mixed-humid) has a continuous insulation requirement on its exterior walls. According to ASHRAE 90.1-2019, the minimum continuous insulation R-value for steel-framed walls is approximately R-7.5. What is the PRIMARY reason continuous insulation is specified rather than only cavity insulation?
2A four-story office building has an occupant load of 220 on the third floor. Using IBC 2021 Table 1006.3.3(2) (Group B with sprinkler system), what is the minimum number of exits required from the third floor?
3A schematic design uses ordinary Type V-B wood-frame construction for a three-story apartment building (R-2). According to IBC 2021 Table 504.4, what is the maximum allowable building height in stories for Type V-B R-2 with an NFPA 13 sprinkler system?
4Which HVAC system is MOST appropriate for a building program requiring individual zone temperature control across many small offices with widely varying loads, where simultaneous heating and cooling is desirable?
5An architect is sizing a stair for a building with a Group B occupant load of 360 on the floor served (sprinklered). Per IBC 2021 Section 1005.3.1, the egress capacity factor for stairways in sprinklered buildings is 0.2 inches per occupant. What minimum stair width is required (assuming the stair serves only this floor)?
6A schematic-design cost estimate for a 60,000 SF mid-rise office is being prepared. The architect uses an order-of-magnitude method with a unit cost of $425/SF. What is the MOST appropriate level of contingency to recommend to the owner at this stage?
7In a passive solar design strategy for a building in the Northern Hemisphere, what is the MOST important orientation for the principal glazing area to maximize useful winter solar gain while minimizing summer overheating?
8An architect is selecting a primary structural system for a 6-story office with a 30 ft × 30 ft typical column grid and a target slab-to-slab dimension of 13 ft. Which system BEST balances span, depth, and speed of erection?
9An assembly occupancy with an occupant load of 1,200 has fixed seating. According to IBC 2021 Section 1029.6.2, what is the maximum travel distance to an aisle from any seat in unsprinklered conditions?
10A LEED v4.1 BD+C project is targeting Indoor Environmental Quality credit for Daylight. Which of the following is the MOST direct compliance metric used in the credit?
About the ARE 5.0: PPD Exam
Project Planning & Design (PPD) evaluates the candidate's ability to take an established program and develop the schematic design of a building that integrates structural, envelope, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire-protection, and code-compliant egress systems. PPD includes case studies that present drawings, contracts, and code summaries which the candidate must analyze together. Content covers environmental conditions and context, codes and regulations, building systems and materials, integration of program and systems, and project costs and budgeting.
Exam sponsor: NCARB (PSI). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
100 questions
Time Limit
4 hours 5 minutes
Passing Score
Cut-score (scaled, NCARB does not publish a fixed percentage)
Reported exam pass rate: 48%. 2025 overall PPD pass rate, including first and repeat attempts; NCARB. This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Environmental Conditions & Context
Site, climate, sustainability, neighborhood infrastructure, scale and historic context.
Codes & Regulations
IBC 2021 use/construction type, height/area, egress, fire-resistance ratings, sprinkler/standpipe, accessibility (ICC A117.1)
Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies
Structure, MEP, special systems, envelope and interior materials and assemblies.
Project Integration of Program & Systems
Coordinating program with site, code, structure, and MEP at schematic design; case-study analysis
Project Costs & Budgeting
Schematic estimating methods, contingencies, life-cycle cost (NPV), value engineering, escalation, soft costs
Preparing for the ARE 5.0: PPD Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Cut-score (scaled, NCARB does not publish a fixed percentage)
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Exam / certification fees: $263 per division Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
ARE 5.0: PPD: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current ARE 5.0 PPD format?
NCARB lists 100 items: 91 scored and 9 unscored pretest, with 4 hours 5 minutes of testing, 45 minutes of optional breaks and a 5-hour total appointment. PPD may have up to nine case studies and twenty case-study items. Following the April 2026 change, each case has one or two resources. Check the current NCARB Guidelines before scheduling.
How much does PPD cost?
NCARB currently charges $263 for each division administration, including retakes. Record application/renewal and jurisdiction fees are separate. Consult NCARB’s fee schedule for current charges.
Who is eligible to take PPD?
You need an NCARB Record and eligibility under your chosen licensing jurisdiction. Education and experience pathways differ by jurisdiction; passing PPD alone does not confer an architectural license.
Which references should I use?
Use the current NCARB ARE 5.0 Guidelines, PPD objectives and official PPD practice exam. The current reference list includes IBC 2021, ICC A117.1-2017 and the 2010 ADA Standards. Consult the listed editions and any resources supplied with an exam item rather than assuming the newest publication is the exam reference.
What is the PPD pass rate and passing score?
NCARB reports a 48% overall PPD pass rate for 2025, including first and repeat attempts. That historical statistic is not an individual probability of passing. NCARB does not publish one fixed percent-correct passing requirement for every form; use its current scoring guidance.
How do retakes and score validity work?
After a failed attempt, wait at least 60 days. No more than three total attempts at the same division are allowed in any 12-month period. NCARB uses version-based score validity rather than the former five-year rolling clock; passed ARE 5.0 divisions establish applicable credits through the next version under the transition policy.
How should I prepare for PPD versus PDD?
PPD emphasizes preliminary building and site design, system selection and integration, code constraints and cost decisions. PDD develops technical assemblies and documentation. Use the official practice exams to identify gaps, then build a study schedule around your experience; a suggested 60–100-hour plan is an estimate, not an NCARB requirement or passing guarantee.