ARE Project Development & Documentation (PDD) Exam Prep
Start your ARE Project Development and Documentation exam prep with 20 original, unofficial PDD questions across all five sections, each with a worked explanation.
ARE PDD practice questions
Question 1 (PDD-01)
The mechanical engineer's peak cooling load for a small office addition is 186,000 Btu/h. You need to reserve roof space for the rooftop unit and want the capacity in tons of refrigeration. What does that load equal?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 15.5 tons
One ton of refrigeration is 12,000 Btu/h, so 186,000 ÷ 12,000 = 15.5 tons. A divides by 15,000 instead. C is the right load in the wrong unit: 15.5 tons is about 54.5 kW. D divides by 10,000. The engineer still picks the actual unit; your job is to read the number correctly.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.2. Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.9, heat flow rate
Pick an answer, then open the explanation. Each one shows the rule and the trap. For check-all-that-apply items, you need every correct choice, just like the real exam.
Question 2 (PDD-02)
Floor beams span 24 ft between girders as simple spans and sit 10 ft on center. The floor spans one way to the beams, and the interior beam being checked has equal bays on both sides. The total uniform floor load (dead plus live, including self-weight) is 100 psf. What is the maximum bending moment in that beam?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. 72 kip-ft
Each beam picks up a 10-ft tributary width, so w = 100 psf × 10 ft = 1,000 lb/ft, or 1.0 kip/ft. For a simple span with a uniform load, M = wL²/8 = 1.0 × 24² ÷ 8 = 72 kip-ft at midspan. Each end reaction is wL/2 = 12 kips. B uses wL²/4. D uses wL²/2, the moment at the support of a cantilever. A uses wL²/16. These are service loads; the engineer of record designs with code load combinations.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.3. Source: American Wood Council, Design Aid No. 6, Figure 1, PDF p. 4
Question 3 (PDD-03)
People in a private office say they can hear conversations from the conference room next door through the shared wall. Assume gaps and flanking paths have been ruled out. Which revision most directly addresses transmission through the partition?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
STC (Sound Transmission Class) rates how well a wall or floor-ceiling assembly blocks airborne sound between spaces. That's the problem here. NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) rates how much a surface absorbs sound inside a room. It describes absorption within a room, not the wall's airborne-sound transmission rating. A, B, and C are all absorption fixes.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.4. Source: NIH Office of Research Facilities, "Sound Design Metrics," September 2019
Question 4 (PDD-04)
A plumbing pipe passes through a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated wall. The team will protect it with a through-penetration firestop system under 2021 IBC §714.4.1.2. What should the penetration detail require?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The IBC requires an approved through-penetration firestop system, tested to ASTM E814 or UL 1479, with an F rating at least equal to the wall's required fire-resistance rating. The F rating is how long the system holds back fire. The T rating limits temperature rise on the unexposed side. Under §714.5.1.2 it is required for floor through-penetration firestop systems unless an exception applies; it does not replace the wall's F-rating requirement, so B has it backwards. C skips the tested system. D invents a "half rating" rule.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.5. Source: 2021 IBC, §714.4.1.2, printed p. 7-21 / PDF p. 182
Mini case: Level 2 office ceiling stack (Questions 5 and 7)
For this simplified coordination check, floor elevations are at the tops of the slabs. No additional finish thicknesses or installation clearances are assumed.
PDD study resource table Item Dimension Floor-to-floor height 14'-0" (168 in) Structural depth, top of slab to bottom of deepest beam 30 in Finished ceiling height 9'-6" (114 in) above the floor Space recessed light fixtures need above the ceiling line (ceiling thickness included) 8 in Main supply duct Must cross under the deepest beam, directly above the fixture zone
Question 5 (PDD-05)
Using the mini case, what is the deepest the main duct, including insulation, can be where it crosses under the deepest beam?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. 16 in
Bottom of beam: 168 − 30 = 138 in above the floor. Top of the fixture zone: 114 + 8 = 122 in. Room for the duct in this simplified stack: 138 − 122 = 16 in. B forgets the fixtures (138 − 114). D forgets the beam (168 − 114 − 8). A subtracts the fixture zone twice. Do this stack check at every crossing before you trust a ceiling height.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.6. Basis: calculation from the mini case's dimensions.
Question 6 (PDD-06) · Check the two that apply
A cast-iron drain pipe penetrates a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor assembly and is protected with a through-penetration firestop system. The penetration is not inside a wall cavity, and none of the 2021 IBC §714.5.1.2 T-rating exceptions apply. Which two requirements apply to the firestop system?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B and E
For this floor penetration under §714.5.1.2, the firestop system needs an F rating and a T rating of at least 1 hour, and neither can be less than the rating of the floor it penetrates. Here that means 2 hours each. A and D stop at the 1-hour minimum and miss the "not less than the floor's rating" half of the rule. C would only be true under an exception, which the question rules out. F is a sound rating, not a fire rating.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.5. Source: 2021 IBC, §714.5.1.2, printed p. 7-22 / PDF p. 183
Question 7 (PDD-07)
Use the mini case again. Keep the 16-in duct and the 8-in fixture zone. The owner now wants a 10'-0" ceiling. Which single change makes that work?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
A 10'-0" ceiling needs the bottom of the beam at 120 + 8 + 16 = 144 in. Right now it's at 138 in, so you're 6 in short. Reducing the proposed structural depth to 24 in puts the bottom of the beam at 168 − 24 = 144 in. C only gets you to 142 in. B would free only 2 in, so you'd need 142 in and still have 138 in; it also violates the fixed 8-in fixture zone. A does not reduce that fixed zone. Shallower framing changes the structural design and cost, so the engineer has to confirm it. That trade between structure, ductwork, and ceiling height is the integration skill PDD tests.
Study link: section 1, objective 1.1. Basis: calculation from the mini case's dimensions.
Construction Documentation
Question 8 (PDD-08)
The project uses AIA A701-2018 Instructions to Bidders without changes. Bids are due in two weeks. You find that the door schedule shows the wrong fire-protection rating for six doors. How should the correction go out?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
Under AIA A701-2018, changes to or interpretations of the bidding documents are made by addendum. An addendum is a written or graphic document the architect issues to modify or interpret the bidding documents. B and C are tools for after the contract is signed, and they'd leave every bid priced on wrong information. D isn't written and may not reach every bidder.
Study link: section 2, objective 2.5. Source: AIA A701-2018 base clauses, §1.3 and §3.2.3, shown in the AIA/SCOSE comparative
Question 9 (PDD-09)
The contract uses unmodified AIA A201-2017. During construction you decide to shift a non-load-bearing partition 6 in to line up with a window mullion. The change is consistent with the intent of the contract documents, and the contractor confirms it won't affect cost or time. Which document can the architect issue alone to order this minor change?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
G710 is how the architect issues extra instructions, interpretations, or minor changes in the work under A201-2017 §7.4. A minor change must remain consistent with the intent of the contract documents and cannot adjust the contract sum or time. A change order records agreed changes, including any change to sum or time. A construction change directive is for changes the owner directs before everyone agrees on price or time. Addenda come before the contract.
Study link: section 2, objective 2.5. Sources: AIA, G710 instructions; AIA A201-2017 §7.4, unchanged base clause in the AIA/SCOSE comparative, printed p. 29; AIA, G701 summary
Question 10 (PDD-10)
The contract uses unmodified AIA A201-2017. Excavation uncovers an unrecorded storm line that has to be rerouted before footings can be poured. The owner authorizes the change within the general scope of the contract, but the owner and contractor haven't agreed on a price. What lets the work go ahead now?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
The architect prepares a construction change directive (CCD), and the owner and architect sign it. The contractor's agreement isn't needed for it to take effect. A CCD can direct work while cost or time is negotiated. Once everyone agrees, a change order usually follows. A needs an agreement that doesn't exist yet. C can't change cost or time. D comes before the contract.
Study link: section 2, objective 2.5. Sources: AIA, change orders vs. construction change directives; AIA, G701 summary
Question 11 (PDD-11) · Check the two that apply
Your firm follows the U.S. National CAD Standard v5 sheet-type convention reproduced in the cited guide. Which two sheet assignments are correct?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A and D
In this National CAD Standard convention, the digit after the discipline identifier is the sheet type: 1 plans, 2 elevations, 3 sections (including wall sections), 4 large-scale views (enlarged plans, elevations, and stair sections that aren't details), 5 details, 6 schedules and diagrams. Typical wall sections (B) belong on a 3-series sheet. Elevations (C) belong on 2-series. A reflected ceiling plan (E) is a plan, so it goes on 1-series. Building sections (F) go on 3-series.
Study link: section 2, objective 2.4. Source: City of Fort Wayne design standards, Chapter CADD4, Figure CADD4.12 (National CAD Standard v5 sheet types)
Question 12 (PDD-12)
Your plan for new construction shows a 30-in-deep cased opening (no door) between a lobby and a corridor on an accessible route. It's dimensioned at 34 in clear. Does that clear-width dimension meet the 2010 ADA Standards?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
Section 404 covers doors, doorways, and gates that are part of an accessible route. Ordinary door openings need 32 in clear, but an opening more than 24 in deep must give 36 in clear. A misses the depth rule. C misreads the scope, because doorways are covered. D borrows a number that isn't the opening rule.
Study links: documentation objective 2.1; direct ADA-check objective 4.2. Source: 2010 ADA Standards, §404.1 and §404.2.3 (36 CFR Part 1191, Appendix D)
Question 13 (PDD-13)
A new exterior accessible ramp has to rise 45 in from the parking area to the entry plaza. At the steepest running slope the 2010 ADA Standards allow, what are the minimum number of ramp runs and the minimum total horizontal run (landings not included)?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. 2 runs; 45 ft
The steepest running slope is 1:12, so 45 in × 12 = 540 in = 45 ft of horizontal run. Each run can rise no more than 30 in, so a 45-in rise needs at least 2 runs. You also need landings at the top and bottom of each run, and handrails, because each run rises more than 6 in. A ignores the 30-in limit per run. B uses a 1:10 slope. D uses 1:16 and adds a run you don't need.
Study links: documentation objective 2.2; direct ADA-check objective 4.2. Source: 2010 ADA Standards, §405.2, §405.6, §405.7, §405.8
Question 14 (PDD-14)
A new office building's accessible ramp must meet the 2010 ADA Standards. Your ramp handrail detail shows the top of the gripping surface 40 in above the ramp surface. What's the right correction?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
Handrail gripping surfaces must be at least 34 in and no more than 38 in above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces. For the ordinary office condition here, 42 in is the 2021 IBC minimum guard height, which applies to a different element. Where a drop-off needs a guard, detail both: the guard at least 42 in high and the handrail at 34 to 38 in.
Study links: documentation objective 2.3; direct ADA-check objective 4.2. Sources: 2010 ADA Standards, §505.4; 2021 IBC §1015.3, printed pp. 10-29–10-30 / PDF pp. 332–333
Project Manual & Specifications
Question 15 (PDD-15)
A note on a stair detail sheet says, "Submit shop drawings and engineering calculations for the steel stair." You're coordinating the drawings with the project manual, which uses the three-part format for this technical section. Where should this requirement live?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
In the three-part format, Part 1 (General) covers the administrative and procedural requirements for that section, and submittals are a procedural requirement. Part 2 describes the quality of the products. Part 3 covers preparation and how the products are installed. Leaving a procedural requirement only on a drawing (D) invites conflicts between the drawings and specs, and missed submittals.
Study link: section 3, objective 3.3. Source: WBDG SpecsIntact help, "Section Format"
Question 16 (PDD-16)
A public owner wants a low-slope roof membrane system that resists a stated wind uplift. The owner must accept bids from any manufacturer whose system meets it. Which specifying method states the required result without prescribing how to achieve it?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
A performance specification states the results required, not how to achieve them. A descriptive spec writes out product properties without brand names. A closed proprietary spec limits the choice to one or more named manufacturers or products and allows no unlisted equivalents. A reference standard spec points to standards from standards-setting organizations. In practice, performance specs often cite reference standards for how a result is tested.
Study link: section 3, objective 3.2. Sources: California High-Speed Rail Authority, TM 1.1.24, §3.3, specifying-method definitions, printed p. 12; CSI, "Proprietary Specifying 101"
Question 17 (PDD-17)
The project manual uses AIA A701-2018 Instructions to Bidders without changes. Bids are due on the 20th of the month. A manufacturer wants its curtain wall considered as a substitution. When is the latest the architect must receive the written request, and how is an approval communicated?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
Unmodified A701-2018 requires substitution requests to reach the architect at least 10 days before bids are due. With bids due on the 20th, that's the 10th. Approved substitutions are issued by addendum so every bidder prices the same documents. A tells only one bidder. B uses a tool for after the contract is signed. D is too late. Projects can modify these instructions, so always read the project's actual bidding requirements.
Study link: section 3, objective 3.1. Source: AIA A701-2018 base clauses, §3.3.2.1 and §3.3.4, shown unchanged in the AIA/SCOSE comparative, printed pp. 5–6
Codes & Regulations
Question 18 (PDD-18)
An open-sided mezzanine used as office space in a new office building needs a guard under the 2021 IBC. What minimum guard height should the detail show, measured from the adjacent walking surface?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
For this office condition, 2021 IBC §1015.3 requires guards at least 42 in high. Measure from the adjacent walking surface, from the line of the nosings on stairs, or from the ramp surface on ramps. B is an exception for certain dwelling units in R-2 and R-3 occupancies, not an office. A and C are the handrail-height range, and a handrail is not a guard.
Study link: section 4, objective 4.1. Source: 2021 IBC §1015.3, printed pp. 10-29–10-30 / PDF pp. 332–333
Question 19 (PDD-19)
A new wheelchair-accessible single-user toilet room for adults must meet the 2010 ADA Standards. No dimensional exceptions apply. Its detail shows:
- Water closet centerline 19 in from the side wall
- Side-wall grab bar 42 in long, starting 12 in from the rear wall
- Rear-wall grab bar 36 in long, extending 12 in from the water closet centerline toward the side wall and 24 in toward the open transfer side
Under the 2010 ADA Standards, which of these horizontal dimensions must change?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The water closet centerline must be 16 to 18 in from the side wall, so 19 in is too far. The side bar complies with the listed horizontal requirements: it is 42 in long, begins 12 in from the rear wall, and therefore extends 54 in from that wall. The rear bar also complies with the listed horizontal requirements: it is 36 in long, extending 12 in toward the side wall and 24 in toward the open transfer side.
Study link: section 4, objective 4.2. Source: 2010 ADA Standards, §604.2, §604.5.1, §604.5.2
Construction Cost Estimates
Question 20 (PDD-20)
A design change widens four windows from 4 ft × 5 ft to 5 ft × 5 ft. Nothing else changes. The estimator's agreed basis is:
| Cost item | Rate and quantity basis |
|---|---|
| Complete installed windows | $85 per square foot of opening |
| Cladding material | $8 per purchased square foot, with a 10% purchase allowance on material only |
| Cladding labor | $6 per net installed square foot |
Header redesign, markup, and all other costs are outside this check. What net change in direct cost should the estimate show?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. +$1,404
Added window area: 4 × (25 − 20) = 20 sq ft. Windows go up 20 × $85 = $1,700. The same 20 sq ft of cladding goes away. The material credit is 20 × 1.10 × $8 = $176, and the labor credit is 20 × $6 = $120. Net: $1,700 − $176 − $120 = +$1,404. A ignores both cladding credits. B leaves the 10% allowance off the material credit. C forgets the labor credit. Checking an estimate means applying its own stated basis consistently, not inventing a new one.
Study link: section 5, objective 5.1. Basis: calculation from the inputs given in the question.
Check your results
| Question | Answer | Study section | Related study objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.2 |
| 2 | C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.3 |
| 3 | D | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.4 |
| 4 | A | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.5 |
| 5 | C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.6 |
| 6 | B, E | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.5 |
| 7 | D | Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1.1 |
| 8 | A | Construction Documentation | 2.5 |
| 9 | C | Construction Documentation | 2.5 |
| 10 | B | Construction Documentation | 2.5 |
| 11 | A, D | Construction Documentation | 2.4 |
| 12 | B | Construction Documentation | 2.1; 4.2 (direct ADA check) |
| 13 | C | Construction Documentation | 2.2; 4.2 (direct ADA check) |
| 14 | D | Construction Documentation | 2.3; 4.2 (direct ADA check) |
| 15 | A | Project Manual & Specifications | 3.3 |
| 16 | B | Project Manual & Specifications | 3.2 |
| 17 | C | Project Manual & Specifications | 3.1 |
| 18 | D | Codes & Regulations | 4.1 |
| 19 | A | Codes & Regulations | 4.2 |
| 20 | D | Construction Cost Estimates | 5.1 |
The section and objective links are editorial study connections. Questions 12–14 use ADA checks in a documentation context; their direct code-check objective is 4.2. These links do not mean the set assesses every part of all 17 objectives.
Count a check-all-that-apply item as right only if you picked exactly the correct choices, which is how NCARB scores them. Count any question where you looked at the answer first as a miss.
Your total shows how you did on these 20 questions. It isn't a scaled score and doesn't predict an NCARB result, and these short section samples can't measure readiness reliably. Use your misses to pick what to study next. The error log below shows how.
Optional timed practice: Try a 49-minute target for the full set. That comes from 245 testing minutes × 20/100; it is an average-based study target, not evidence that these questions match an exam form's difficulty or reading load. Divide the time as you need rather than setting a limit on each question.
Where the PDD points are
About two-thirds of PDD comes from two sections: Integration of Building Materials & Systems and Construction Documentation. Specs, codes, and cost split the rest.
| NCARB section | Share of a typical form | What to drill |
|---|---|---|
| Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 31–37% | Load paths and beam math, MEP sizing basics, firestopping and acoustics, ceiling-stack coordination |
| Construction Documentation | 32–38% | Sheet organization, what goes on which drawing, accessible-route documentation, change documents |
| Project Manual & Specifications | 12–18% | Spec section format, specifying methods, bidding requirements, coordinating specs with drawings |
| Codes & Regulations | 8–14% | Detail-level IBC checks (guards, stairs, rated assemblies) and accessibility dimensions |
| Construction Cost Estimates | 2–8% | Checking an estimate's quantities and basis against the current design |
NCARB says these percentages describe a typical form and can shift slightly from form to form. Source: NCARB PDD page.
Is PDD mostly calculations? NCARB does not publish a calculation-only share. Construction Documentation plus Project Manual & Specifications make up 44–56% of a typical form, but section weights do not divide questions into calculation and non-calculation types. Know the formulas cold, and practice reading and coordinating drawings and specifications too.
The 17 PDD objectives
These are NCARB's objectives, numbered in the order NCARB lists them.
1. Integration of Building Materials & Systems
- 1.1 Analyze the integration of architectural systems and technologies to meet project goals
- 1.2 Determine the size of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and components to meet project goals
- 1.3 Determine the size of structural systems to meet project goals
- 1.4 Integrate specialty systems such as acoustics, lighting, fire suppression, conveying, security, and communications to meet project goals
- 1.5 Determine how to detail the integration of multiple building systems and technologies
- 1.6 Coordinate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and specialty systems and technologies
2. Construction Documentation
- 2.1 Determine appropriate documentation of building design
- 2.2 Determine appropriate documentation of site features
- 2.3 Determine appropriate documentation of detailed building drawings within individual architectural systems
- 2.4 Apply standards required to assemble a set of clear and coordinated construction documentation
- 2.5 Determine impact of project changes on documentation requirements and methods to communicate those changes to owner and design team
3. Project Manual & Specifications
- 3.1 Identify and prioritize components required to write, maintain, and refine project manual
- 3.2 Identify and prioritize components required to write, maintain, and refine project specifications
- 3.3 Coordinate specifications with construction documentation
4. Codes & Regulations
- 4.1 Determine adherence to building regulatory requirements (IBC) at detail level
- 4.2 Determine adherence with specialty regulatory requirements at the detail level
5. Construction Cost Estimates
- 5.1 Analyze construction cost estimates to confirm alignment with project design
PDD rules to practice
Which change document fits which moment
For the AIA documents used in these questions, start by asking: has the contract been signed, does the change affect cost or time, and is it consistent with the intent of the contract documents?
| Document | When | Who signs or issues it | Changes cost or time? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addendum | Before the contract, during bidding | Architect issues it to all bidders | Changes what bidders price |
| Architect's Supplemental Instructions (G710) | After the contract | Architect | No; minor changes must also remain consistent with the intent of the contract documents |
| Construction Change Directive (G714) | After the contract, before full agreement on the change | Owner and architect; the contractor's agreement isn't required | Any adjustment follows the contract's determination process |
| Change Order (G701) | After the contract, once everyone agrees | Owner, architect, and contractor | Any adjustment is agreed, including zero |
Short version: during bidding, use an addendum. For a minor change consistent with the contract documents' intent and with no adjustment to sum or time, use an ASI. For an agreed contract change, use a change order. If agreement is incomplete and the owner directs a change within the contract's general scope, use a CCD. Sources: A701-2018 base clauses §1.3 and §3.2.3, AIA/SCOSE comparative; A201-2017 base clauses §§7.2–7.4, AIA/SCOSE comparative; G710; G701; CO vs. CCD.
A change is rarely one sheet. When the window width changes in Question 20, the floor plan, elevations, window schedule, header information, and estimate all need to agree again. Make a habit of listing every affected document before you call a change done.
How a spec section is organized
In the three-part format used for technical specification sections:
- Part 1, General: administrative and procedural requirements for that section, such as submittals, quality assurance, and delivery
- Part 2, Products: the quality of the products and materials required
- Part 3, Execution: preparation, and how the Part 2 products are installed
Source: WBDG, "Section Format".
The four specifying methods are descriptive, performance, reference standard, and proprietary. A closed proprietary specification can name one or more manufacturers while excluding unlisted equivalents; limiting the choice to one manufacturer or product is sole-source specifying.
| Method | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Descriptive | Describes the product's properties without brand names | Membrane thickness, reinforcement, and seam type written out |
| Performance | States the result required, not how to get it | Roof system must resist a stated wind uplift |
| Reference standard | Points to a published standard from a standards organization | Material must comply with a named ASTM standard |
| Proprietary | Names manufacturers or products; an open specification permits proposed equivalents under its stated requirements | "Manufacturer X, Model Y, or approved equal" |
Sources: California High-Speed Rail Authority, TM 1.1.24, §3.3, specifying-method definitions; CSI, "Proprietary Specifying 101".
Under unmodified AIA A701-2018, substitution requests must reach the architect at least 10 days before bids are due, and approved substitutions go out by addendum (unchanged A701 base clauses §3.3.2.1 and §3.3.4 in the AIA/SCOSE comparative).
How a drawing set is organized
Under the National CAD Standard v5 convention shown in the cited guide, a sheet number like A-301 reads as discipline identifier, then sheet type, then sequence.
| Sheet-type digit | Contents |
|---|---|
| 0 | General: title sheet, symbols and legends, notes |
| 1 | Plans, including reflected ceiling plans |
| 2 | Elevations |
| 3 | Sections, including wall sections |
| 4 | Large-scale views: enlarged plans, elevations, and stair sections that aren't details |
| 5 | Details |
| 6 | Schedules and diagrams |
| 7–8 | User defined |
| 9 | 3D representations |
Source: City of Fort Wayne design standards, Chapter CADD4, Figure CADD4.12 (National CAD Standard v5).
Integration math to do without hesitating
- Cooling capacity: tons = Btu/h ÷ 12,000 (1 ton is about 3.517 kW). NIST SP 811, B.9
- Uniform load on a beam: w = floor load (psf) × tributary width (ft). For a simple span, each reaction = wL/2 and the maximum moment = wL²/8. AWC, Design Aid No. 6, Figure 1
- Ceiling stack: bottom of structure − (ceiling height + fixture zone) = space left for ducts and pipes crossing under the beam.
These are the architect's checks for size and fit. Engineers design the actual systems.
Fire and sound at the detail
- F rating: how long a firestop system holds back fire. T rating: limits temperature rise on the unexposed side.
- Wall through-penetration firestop systems: the F rating must be at least the wall's required fire-resistance rating.
- Floor through-penetration firestop systems under 2021 IBC §714.5.1.2: F and T ratings of at least 1 hour, and not less than the floor's rating, unless a code exception applies.
- STC rates how well an assembly blocks sound between rooms. NRC rates how much a surface absorbs sound inside a room. For direct sound transmission through a partition, as in Question 3, compare its STC rather than an absorptive finish's NRC.
Sources: 2021 IBC, §§714.4.1.2 and 714.5.1.2; NIH, "Sound Design Metrics".
Accessibility and guard dimensions worth memorizing
These are selected checks for the new-construction and adult-use conditions in the questions, not a complete accessibility checklist. The applicable provision and its exceptions still govern.
| Element | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Door opening clear width | 32 in minimum; for swinging doors, measured between the face of the door and the stop with the door open 90° | ADA §404.2.3 |
| Opening deeper than 24 in | 36 in minimum clear | ADA §404.2.3 |
| Front approach, pull side of a swinging door | 60 in minimum perpendicular to the doorway; clearance extends 18 in minimum beyond the latch side | ADA Table 404.2.4.1 |
| Ramp running slope | 1:12 maximum | ADA §405.2 |
| Ramp cross slope | 1:48 maximum | ADA §405.3 |
| Rise per ramp run | 30 in maximum | ADA §405.6 |
| Ramp handrails | Required when a run rises more than 6 in | ADA §405.8 |
| Handrail height | 34–38 in to the top of the gripping surface | ADA §505.4 |
| Adult wheelchair-accessible water closet centerline | 16–18 in from the side wall | ADA §604.2 |
| Side-wall grab bar | 42 in long minimum; starts no more than 12 in from the rear wall and extends at least 54 in from it | ADA §604.5.1 |
| Rear-wall grab bar | 36 in long minimum; extends at least 12 in from the centerline toward the side wall and 24 in toward the open transfer side | ADA §604.5.2 |
| Guard height for the ordinary office condition in Question 18 | 42 in minimum; other conditions have listed exceptions | 2021 IBC §1015.3 |
ADA values are from the 2010 ADA Standards, with Table 404.2.4.1 from the U.S. Access Board, Chapter 4. The guard rule is from 2021 IBC §1015.3. NCARB's Guidelines also list ICC A117.1-2017 among the exam references. A117.1 has its own dimensions, so don't mix its numbers into an ADA question.
Reading a cost estimate
Early in design, estimates are usually organized by building element: substructure, shell, interiors, services, and so on. That's the UNIFORMAT II approach. Later, detailed estimates follow products and trades, the way MasterFormat organizes specifications. NIST's UNIFORMAT II report explains that product-based estimates are slow and a poor fit for early design, while elemental estimates support cost analysis from programming through construction documents. Source: NISTIR 6389, pp. 1, 23–24, 46.
When you check someone else's estimate, apply its own rules in its own order. Here's a worked example.
Worked example: The budget for the same construction scope and allowances is $6,000,000. The design development estimate shows $5,200,000 in direct cost. The estimate's rules add a 10% design contingency to direct cost, then 4% escalation on direct cost plus contingency.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Add contingency | $5,200,000 × 1.10 | $5,720,000 |
| Add escalation | $5,720,000 × 1.04 | $5,948,800 |
| Compare to budget | $6,000,000 − $5,948,800 | $51,200 under budget |
Adding the percentages together (14% of $5,200,000) gives $5,928,000, which is $20,800 low because it skips escalation on the contingency. A margin this thin at design development is a signal to look now at which systems are driving cost.
Eight-week PDD study plan
This plan assumes about 8 hours a week (four 1-hour sessions and one 4-hour block) and a PDD appointment about eight weeks out. For week 7, use one protected 5-hour rehearsal block, including breaks, and three 1-hour review sessions. It's a starting point, not an NCARB requirement or a guarantee. Move time toward whatever you can't yet explain, but keep all five sections in rotation.
| Week | Focus | What to do | What you should have at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baseline | Take the 20 questions above untimed. Read the 17 objectives. Start your error log. | A score by section and one next task for each miss |
| 2 | Construction Documentation I | Sheet organization, what goes on plans vs. sections vs. details, accessible-route documentation. Mark up a real CD set for coordination problems. If you don't have a project set you may use for study, sketch the ceiling-stack mini case, label every height, mark the conflict caused by Question 7's ceiling change, and list the drawings that would need updating. | A list of coordination problems you found |
| 3 | Construction Documentation II | Addenda, ASIs, CCDs, and change orders. Trace one change through every sheet and spec section it touches. | A revision log for one change |
| 4 | Integration I | Load paths and beam formulas; MEP sizing basics; the ceiling-stack check at several crossings. | A one-page formula sheet you can work from memory |
| 5 | Integration II | Firestopping, acoustics, lighting, fire suppression, conveying. Study where systems meet at a detail. | Annotated sketches of three detail intersections |
| 6 | Specs and codes | Spec section format, specifying methods, bidding requirements; detail-level IBC checks and accessibility dimensions. | A drawing-to-spec check for one assembly and a dimension sheet |
| 7 | Full-length rehearsal | Block 5 hours for NCARB's free PDD practice exam in test mode. Use your breaks the way you plan to on test day. Then research every miss in its source. | Official practice results and a ranked fix list |
| 8 | Repair and cost | Re-drill your weakest section. Practice estimate checks. Retake this page's questions with the optional 49-minute target. Use familiar items to explain the method, not to estimate how you would score on unseen questions. | Short list of what's still shaky, and a plan for the final days |
How to adapt it
- Only about 4 hours a week? Spread each week over two calendar weeks, but keep the week 7 rehearsal as one protected 5-hour block, including breaks.
- Exam sooner? Let your error log choose the topics, and protect time for the full-length rehearsal.
- Just finished PPD? Reuse your systems and codes notes, but still do the documentation, spec, and change-management work. PDD tests whether you can put that knowledge into coordinated documents.
- Retaking PDD? Start from the section performance on your NCARB score report and your error log. Change what you do (find the evidence, explain the detail), not just how many times you reread.
Turn misses into your next study task
Log every question you missed, plus any you got right without being sure why. Write down the evidence that settles the answer, then pick one small task that practices the same skill.
| Question | What happened | Why | Evidence that settles it | Next task |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Q20 | Picked B (+$1,420) | Left the 10% allowance off the material credit | The estimate's basis puts the allowance on cladding material only | Recalculate the net revision cost and explain the $16 difference |
| Your entry |
| If the reason was... | Do this next |
|---|---|
| Didn't know the rule | Read the cited source, then explain the rule out loud without notes |
| Couldn't find the information | Find the sheet, table, or section again and write down how you got there |
| Misread the question | Rewrite the question as what's given, what's asked, and what's excluded |
| Math or units | Redo it with units on every line |
| Missed an affected document | List every sheet and spec section the condition touches |
| Ran out of time | Practice a short timed set and note what slowed you down |
When you retry, hide the explanation and say why your answer is right before you check. Remembering the letter isn't the same as knowing the rule.
Use NCARB's free PDD practice exam
NCARB offers one free, full-length practice exam for each division, PDD included. Once you're logged in to your NCARB Record:
- With active exam eligibility: Exams tab → Additional Resources → Practice Exam Dashboard
- Without active eligibility: Quick Links → Practice the ARE
Test mode mirrors many conditions of a real appointment. Practice mode lets you explore the tools and shows correct answers with rationales. Both end with a results page showing your section percentages. NCARB also posts PDF versions, but they leave out the case-study resources, so they aren't the full experience. Source: NCARB, free ARE 5.0 practice exams.
For case-study items: read what the question asks first. Then find the resource or resources you need, locate the entry, check units and conditions, and decide. You don't need to read every resource top to bottom before you start.
Before any break, finish what you've seen. When you start a break, every item you've already viewed locks, including unanswered and flagged ones, and you can't go back to them (ARE 5.0 Guidelines, pp. 22 and 33).
PDD exam facts and test-day rules
| Fact | PDD |
|---|---|
| Items | 100 (91 scored, 9 unscored pretest items you can't identify) |
| Testing time | 4 hr 5 min |
| Break time | 45 min, used at once or split |
| Total appointment | 5 hr, including 10 minutes of intro and exit screens |
| Response types | Multiple choice (3–4 options), check-all-that-apply (6 options), and hotspot; used in standalone and case-study questions |
| Case studies | Up to 9 case studies with up to 20 case-study items in total; each case study uses 1–2 resources |
| Scoring | Pass/fail on the whole division; each scored item is worth 1 point, no partial credit, no penalty for guessing |
| Results | Provisional feedback when you finish; official score report in 7–10 calendar days |
| Fee | $263 per attempt |
| Rescheduling and cancellation | Up to 3 reschedules per scheduled seat: free 31+ days out, $75 at 15–30 days, $150 at 7–14 days. Cancellation costs $200 at least 7 days out. Neither is allowed less than 7 days before the appointment. |
| Retakes | At least 60 days after your last attempt; no more than 3 total attempts at the same division in any 12 months, including the initial attempt |
| Delivery | PSI test centers or PSI online proctoring |
| 2025 pass rate | 54% (all first-time and repeat candidates) |
Answer every item. Unanswered items count as wrong, and wrong answers cost nothing extra.
Exam reference editions. NCARB's Guidelines list the code and standard editions the exam uses, including the 2021 IBC, ICC A117.1-2017, and the 2010 ADA Standards. Those are exam references, not the codes adopted for every real project.
Testing online. Since June 1, 2026, online-proctored candidates need an original-equipment-manufacturer (OEM) Windows device, not a Mac running Windows, plus a smartphone as a second camera. You also have to complete a PSI test run before each online division and whenever your technical or environmental setup changes. Sources: ARE 5.0 Guidelines, pp. 25–30; NCARB, online proctoring updates.
Sources for this table: NCARB PDD page; ARE 5.0 Guidelines, effective October 1, 2026 (pp. 8, 11–14, 22, 25–30, 33, 37–41, 51, 60, 99, 115); ARE 5.0 question types; NCARB fees; rescheduling policy update, October 1, 2026; ARE 5.0 pass rates.
Common questions
Should I study PPD and PDD together? You can. They share ground. PPD focuses on preliminary design of sites and buildings, with sections on codes and on building systems, materials, and assemblies. PDD takes those decisions into coordinated details, drawings, and specifications. If you study them back to back, reuse your systems and codes notes, but still give PDD's documentation and spec work its own time.
How hard is PDD? NCARB reported a 54% PDD pass rate for 2025, including first-time and repeat test-takers (NCARB pass rates). It's also long: 100 items in 4 hours 5 minutes works out to about 2½ minutes per item, including case-study reading.
What changed in 2026? On April 27, 2026, NCARB adjusted 12 of its 91 exam objective statements, none of them in PDD. The description under PDD objective 5.1 was clarified: candidates evaluate estimates prepared by others. Case studies now use fewer resources and fewer items each, while the total number of case-study items per division stayed about the same. Item counts and testing time didn't change. The current Guidelines took effect October 1, 2026, along with the new rescheduling rules. Sources: NCARB, April 2026 ARE updates; NCARB blog, updated Guidelines.
What if I fail PDD? A failing score report includes a scaled score and your performance by section. You can retest after at least 60 days, with a limit of 3 total attempts at the same division in any 12-month period, including the initial attempt. A score verification costs $100 and must be requested within 60 days of the test administration. Source: ARE 5.0 Guidelines, pp. 38–41.
Can I talk about what I saw on the exam? Only in general terms. You can discuss general content and study strategy. Sharing specific questions or case-study details breaks the ARE Candidate Agreement (Guidelines, pp. 43–45).
More free ARE prep
- ARE Project Management (PjM) exam prep
- ARE Practice Management (PcM) exam prep
- Free ARE Project Management practice test
- Free ARE Practice Management practice test
Sources
NCARB exam facts
- NCARB, ARE: Project Development & Documentation: items, timing, sections, objectives
- NCARB, ARE 5.0 Guidelines, effective October 1, 2026: division table (p. 8), scheduling and fees policy (pp. 11–14), breaks (pp. 22, 33), online proctoring (pp. 25–30), scoring (pp. 37–40), retakes (p. 41), exam security (pp. 43–45), unidentifiable pretest items (p. 51), case studies (p. 60), PDD division (p. 99), code and standard editions (p. 115)
- NCARB, ARE 5.0 question types
- NCARB, free ARE 5.0 practice exams
- NCARB, fees
- NCARB, rescheduling policy update (October 1, 2026)
- NCARB, ARE 5.0 pass rates
- NCARB, April 27, 2026 ARE updates and blog: updated Guidelines
- NCARB, online proctoring updates (June 1, 2026)
- NCARB, ARE: Project Planning & Design
Teaching sources
- 2010 ADA Standards (36 CFR Part 1191, Appendix D, eCFR) and U.S. Access Board, Chapter 4
- ICC, 2021 International Building Code, §1015.3, printed pp. 10-29–10-30
- ICC, 2021 International Building Code, §§714.4.1.2 and 714.5.1.2, printed pp. 7-21–7-22
- NIH Office of Research Facilities, "Sound Design Metrics" (September 2019)
- NIST SP 811, Appendix B.9
- American Wood Council, Design Aid No. 6: Beam Formulas with Shear and Moment Diagrams, Figure 1
- WBDG SpecsIntact, "Section Format"
- California High-Speed Rail Authority, TM 1.1.24, §3.3, specifying-method definitions and CSI, "Proprietary Specifying 101"
- AIA A701-2018 base provisions in the AIA/SCOSE comparative: §§1.3, 3.2.3, 3.3.2.1, and 3.3.4; the cited base rules are distinct from the marked state changes
- AIA Contract Documents: A201-2017 base provisions §§7.2–7.4 in the AIA/SCOSE comparative, G710 instructions, G701 summary, change orders vs. CCDs
- City of Fort Wayne design standards, Chapter CADD4 (National CAD Standard v5 sheet types)
- NIST, UNIFORMAT II Elemental Classification (NISTIR 6389)
Last verified: Exam facts and cited provisions last verified October 13, 2026 (Asia/Manila).
How we made this page: The Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team wrote this page with AI assistance. We checked the exam facts against NCARB's current pages and the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, checked each teaching rule against the source linked beside it, and re-ran every calculation. A licensed architect has not reviewed it. If you spot an error, tell us through our corrections page.
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team
Castleport Test Prep is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). ARE and other exam names are used only to identify the exams; trademarks belong to their respective owners. The practice questions on this page are original and are not official ARE items.