Free ARE Project Development and Documentation Practice Test
Work through 30 original, unofficial PDD questions with explanations, including two case studies. This shorter practice set isn't a full-length exam or a pass predictor.
Question 1 of 30
The equipment schedule requires a 30-inch-wide unobstructed removal path in front of AHU-2. The room plan shows a 34-inch aisle, but a cabinet projects 6 inches into that aisle. The cabinet can be moved without affecting another requirement. Which coordination finding is correct?
Show answer and explanation, Question 1
Answer: B. The usable width is 34 − 6 = 28 inches. That's 2 inches less than the equipment schedule requires. Moving the cabinet at least 2 inches farther out of the path restores the 30-inch minimum, and the coordinated plan has to show that usable space.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Ignores the cabinet's projection into the aisle. C: Gets the 28 inches right but accepts a width below the 30-inch requirement. D: Adds an obstruction to the available width instead of subtracting it.
Review takeaway: Check the space that's left after every component is coordinated, not a dimension from one drawing in isolation.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-11, equipment access and replacement routes. The 30-inch path and all dimensions are hypothetical project inputs, not a general code minimum.
Practice questions 2–22
Question 2 of 30
A replacement window with a nailing flange is going into a drained wall. Behind the cladding is a water-resistive barrier (WRB), the weather membrane that sheds water. The sill pan is already in and drains to the outside. The project's adopted installation procedure calls for flashing laps that carry water outward. Which layer order at the jambs and head is correct?
Show answer and explanation, Question 2
Answer: B. Water runs down the face of every layer, so each higher layer has to lap over the layer below it, like shingles. Jamb flashing goes over the side flanges first. Head flashing laps over the tops of the jamb flashing. Then the upper WRB flap comes down over the head flashing. Water that reaches any layer is carried to the outside face.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Both laps are reversed. Water running down the WRB gets behind the head flashing, and water on the head flashing gets behind the jamb flashing. C: Water on the upper WRB slides behind the head flashing, and the sides have no flashing at all. D: Jamb flashing over head flashing makes a reverse lap at each top corner, and a WRB that stops short leaves an open gap above the head.
Review takeaway: For this flashing/WRB assembly, lap each upper drainage layer over the lower one so water drains outward.
Source: DOE/PNNL Building America Solution Center, Window Replacement checklist, Installation Option 2. This item describes one flanged-window assembly. Always follow the selected product's own installation requirements.
Question 3 of 30
A concrete balcony slab runs straight through the insulated exterior wall into the heated building. The structural engineer has already evaluated a structural thermal-break connector for all relevant loads and drawn its anchorage. Which revision deals with the heat-loss path while keeping that evaluated load path?
Show answer and explanation, Question 3
Answer: C. A continuous slab is a thermal bridge. Concrete conducts heat far better than insulation, so heat flows out through the slab no matter how well the rest of the wall is insulated. The engineer-evaluated connector interrupts that path while still carrying the balcony. Lining it up with the surrounding insulation keeps the insulation layer unbroken.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Foam can't carry the balcony's loads. It removes the structural connection the engineer evaluated. B: The bridge stays exactly where it was. Insulation somewhere else doesn't interrupt it. D: A vapor retarder controls moisture diffusion, not heat conducted through concrete.
Review takeaway: Find the conductive path first. Insulation added elsewhere won't fix a bridge that's still there.
Source: DOE/PNNL, Reducing Thermal Bridging in Mass and Steel-Framed Multifamily Buildings, balcony connection discussion and Figures 24–27. No specific product, capacity, or energy saving is implied.
Question 4 of 30
Supply duct SD-3 must carry 1,800 cfm (cubic feet per minute). The project's mechanical criteria limit average air velocity to 900 fpm (feet per minute), and the ceiling space allows a maximum inside duct height of 12 inches after insulation and installation allowances. Use Q = V × A (airflow = velocity × area), with all values at the same duct conditions. Which inside duct size, height × width, is the smallest that meets both limits?
Show answer and explanation, Question 4
Answer: B. Required area = Q ÷ V = 1,800 ÷ 900 = 2.0 ft². One square foot is 144 in², so you need at least 2.0 × 144 = 288 in². A 12 × 24 duct gives exactly 288 in², stays at the 12-inch height limit, and moves air at 1,800 ÷ 2.0 = 900 fpm. That's right at the limit, not over it.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: 216 in² is 1.5 ft², so velocity is 1,800 ÷ 1.5 = 1,200 fpm. Too fast. C: The area works, but 14 inches is taller than the 12-inch limit. D: 360 in² meets both limits (velocity 720 fpm), but it's bigger than it needs to be. The question asks for the smallest.
Review takeaway: Convert units before you compare: square feet to square inches is × 144.
Source: NASA Glenn Research Center, Mass Flow Choking (continuity equation), conservation-of-mass paragraph and Equation #1. This checks only the two stated limits. Real duct design also looks at friction loss, noise, and fittings.
Question 5 of 30
A project needs a firestop system with a 2-hour F rating where an uninsulated nominal 4-inch steel pipe passes through a 6-inch concrete floor. The annular space (the gap around the pipe) is 3/4 inch. Assume every condition not shown in the table matches the project. Which record fits?
Fictional comparison data, not real installation listings
| Record | Assembly | Minimum floor thickness | Permitted penetrant | Annular space | F rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Concrete floor | 5 in | Steel pipe up to 4 in nominal | 1/2 to 1 in | 2 h |
| B | Gypsum wall | Not a floor system | Steel pipe up to 4 in nominal | 1/2 to 1 in | 2 h |
| C | Concrete floor | 5 in | Steel pipe up to 4 in nominal | 1/2 to 1 in | 1 h |
| D | Concrete floor | 5 in | PVC pipe only | 1/2 to 1 in | 2 h |
Show answer and explanation, Question 5
Answer: A. A tested firestop system applies only when the real conditions fall inside its tested limits: assembly type, assembly thickness, the penetrating item, the annular space, and the rating. Record A matches every one. The floor is concrete and at least 5 inches thick (the project has 6). The pipe is steel, up to 4-inch nominal. The 3/4-inch gap sits inside the 1/2- to 1-inch range. And the F rating is 2 hours.
Why the other choices are wrong: B: It's a wall system. The project penetration is through a floor. C: Everything matches except the rating. 1 hour is short of the required 2 hours. D: It covers plastic pipe only, not the steel pipe in the project.
Review takeaway: An hourly rating alone doesn't make a system fit. Every tested condition has to match.
Source: UL Solutions, Firestop and Joint Application Guide, §5(b), pp. 4–5, and XHEZ discussion, pp. 15–16.
Question 6 of 30
The structural engineer gives you a design bending moment of 18,000 lb·ft for a rectangular wood beam and a fully adjusted allowable bending stress of 1,500 psi (lb/in²). Shear, bearing, bracing, deflection, and connections have been checked separately. Using f_b = M ÷ S (bending stress = moment ÷ section modulus), which beam is the shallowest that works in bending? Sizes are actual dimensions, width × depth.
Show answer and explanation, Question 6
Answer: B. Match units first: 18,000 lb·ft × 12 in/ft = 216,000 lb·in. Required S = 216,000 ÷ 1,500 = 144 in³. The 6 × 12 beam has S = 6 × 12² ÷ 6 = 144 in³, so its bending stress is 216,000 ÷ 144 = 1,500 psi. That equals the allowable stress, which is acceptable.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Stress = 216,000 ÷ 100 = 2,160 psi, over the 1,500 psi allowable. C: Works in bending, but it's deeper than needed. D: Works in bending, but it's the deepest option.
Review takeaway: Convert lb·ft to lb·in before dividing by a section modulus in cubic inches.
Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook, Chapter 9, Straight Beam Stresses, Eq. 9–13, p. 9–7. Beam sizes and stresses are hypothetical exercise values, not nominal lumber or a span table.
Question 7 of 30
A recessed luminaire is scheduled in a ceiling whose face is at 9 ft 0 in above finished floor. An existing duct above has its underside at 9 ft 7 in. Neither the ceiling nor the duct can move. Measured up from the ceiling face, the scheduled luminaire needs a 6-inch housing plus 2 inches of clear space above it. A documented alternate needs a 4-inch housing plus the same 2 inches, uses compatible trim, and has been verified to give equivalent lighting performance. What should the team do?
Show answer and explanation, Question 7
Answer: C. Space available = 9 ft 7 in − 9 ft 0 in = 7 inches. The scheduled luminaire needs 6 + 2 = 8 inches, so it doesn't fit. The alternate needs 4 + 2 = 6 inches and fits with an inch to spare. Its performance is already verified, so specify it and update the schedule and ceiling detail so the documents agree.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: The ceiling height is fixed. B: Breaks the luminaire's own 2-inch clearance requirement. D: The duct is fixed.
Review takeaway: When two fixed elements leave too little room, change the part that's free to change, then update every document that describes it.
Source: VA Lighting Design Manual, §1.4.1, p. 1.3.
Question 8 of 30
The roof plan locates rooftop unit RTU-2, and the unit selection is final. The mechanical schedule gives its operating weight, support-point locations, and connections. But nobody has documented the structural support and anchorage, or how the curb ties into the roof membrane. Which three actions fill the missing coordination?
Check the three that apply.
Show answer and explanation, Question 8
Answer: A, B, C. Three coordination deliverables have to agree, and each correct choice addresses one. The structural engineer needs the unit's weight and where it bears (A). The support and anchorage design then has to be drawn (B). And the curb-to-roof waterproofing has to be detailed, because a curb that's structurally sound can still leak (C).
Why the other choices are wrong: D: Assumes a detail for a different, lighter unit works without checking. E: Leaves out the support-point geometry the structural design needs. F: An anchorage note says nothing about keeping water out at the curb.
Review takeaway: Coordinate equipment design inputs, support and anchorage details, and curb-to-roof waterproofing.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Tables 3-6 and 3-7. Operating weight isn't the only structural load that may apply. This item only asks about the missing information described.
Question 9 of 30
The coordination record shows the designated wall and roof air barriers (the layers meant to stop air leakage) and exactly three gaps: the wall membrane ends without connecting to the roof membrane; the window frame isn't sealed to the wall membrane; and an electrical conduit runs through a sleeve with an unsealed gap between conduit and sleeve. The sleeve itself is already sealed to the wall air barrier. Assume every transition material listed is compatible and handles the expected movement. Which three actions close the gaps?
Check the three that apply.
Show answer and explanation, Question 9
Answer: A, B, C. An air barrier only works if it's continuous. Each correct choice closes one of the three named gaps: wall-to-roof (A), window perimeter (B), and the conduit penetration (C).
Why the other choices are wrong: D: Unsealed cavity insulation does not close the three gaps in the designated air barrier. E: Coping joints aren't one of the named gaps, and the membrane gap stays open. F: Paint doesn't connect the designated layers.
Review takeaway: Trace the air barrier like a pencil line around the building. Every break in the line is a leak.
Source: UFGS 07 27 10, Building Air Barrier System, designer notes 1–3, 14, and 16–19, pp. 4–7. Air barrier, weather membrane, and vapor control are separate functions, even when one material does more than one.
Question 10 of 30
A renovation removes two existing luminaires and adds four new ones. A surveyed existing circuit runs through the work area and feeds fixtures beyond it; that circuit must stay in service. Right now the set has only a new-fixture plan. What added documentation best defines the full scope?
Show answer and explanation, Question 10
Answer: A. Renovation documents have to show three things: what comes out, what stays, and where new meets old. Choice A covers all three, including the circuit that must keep serving fixtures outside the work area.
Why the other choices are wrong: B: Shows removals but leaves the circuit that must stay in service undefined. C: Doesn't locate the boundary between existing and new work. D: Describes new products without showing how the renovation fits into what's already there.
Review takeaway: For renovation work, document removals, retained work, and connections. Leaving out any one invites a field guess.
Source: VA Lighting Design Manual, §§1.4.1–1.4.2, pp. 1.3–1.4; USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-7, pp. 34–35. This item is about design documents, not field procedures for working on energized systems.
Question 11 of 30
At a fixed utility crossing, the civil profile shows finished grade at 104.00 ft and the top of a protected utility at 101.00 ft. The project engineer requires at least 2.50 ft of cover. A landscape revision lowers finished grade to 103.00 ft; the utility doesn't move. Both elevations use the same vertical datum. Which review finding is correct?
Show answer and explanation, Question 11
Answer: B. Cover = finished grade − top of utility = 103.00 − 101.00 = 2.00 ft. The requirement is 2.50 ft, so the design is 0.50 ft short. The grading and utility documents have to be coordinated to fix that.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Uses the old grade of 104.00 ft. C: Lowering the grade reduces cover. It doesn't add to it. D: Swaps the remaining cover and the shortfall.
Review takeaway: Cover is measured from finished grade to the top of the utility, not its invert (the inside bottom of the pipe).
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-4. The 2.50-ft requirement is a hypothetical project criterion, not a national burial-depth rule.
Question 12 of 30
A roof-drainage revision raises the finished roof surface beside a curb from 100 ft 3 in to 100 ft 7 in. The project detail requires the curb top to sit at least 8 inches above that finished surface. The existing curb top is at 100 ft 11 in. What's the minimum corrected curb-top elevation?
Show answer and explanation, Question 12
Answer: C. New finished surface + 8 inches = 100 ft 7 in + 8 in = 101 ft 3 in. The existing curb at 100 ft 11 in now sits only 4 inches above the raised roof surface.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Keeps the old curb, which now leaves just 4 inches. B: Only 5 inches above the new surface. D: Adds 12 inches instead of 8. It works but isn't the minimum.
Review takeaway: When one surface moves, recheck every dimension measured from it.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-7. The 8-inch curb height is a hypothetical project requirement, not a universal code minimum.
Question 13 of 30
Partition W4 changes from 4-7/8 inches to 6-1/8 inches finished thickness. Door D14 in that wall keeps its location, leaf, swing, hardware, and fire rating. The current frame has a 4-7/8-inch throat (the frame depth that wraps the wall), so it won't fit; a compatible frame with a 6-1/8-inch throat has been selected. The existing head and jamb details at D14 show the old wall thickness and frame profile. Which three items need revising?
Check the three that apply.
Show answer and explanation, Question 13
Answer: A, B, D. The wall definition, the scheduled frame, and the detail where they meet all have to agree. The wall type changes (A), so the frame changes (B), so the head and jamb details that show how frame and wall fit together change too (D).
Why the other choices are wrong: C: The hardware didn't change. A thicker wall alone doesn't call for a new hardware set. E: Unrelated to the wall change. F: Unrelated to the wall change.
Review takeaway: Follow a change through every document that describes the same physical condition, and stop where the condition stops.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-7. The frame fit is a stated fact for this exercise, not a general throat-tolerance rule.
Question 14 of 30
Before bid issue, the team approves moving louver L3 to the next exterior bay. Its size and performance don't change. The drawing register shows the change affects architectural elevation A201, the mechanical duct route on M101, and the wall-opening detail reference on A501. The project's issue protocol requires coordinated revised drawings and a revision transmittal to the owner and design team. Which three actions are needed?
Check the three that apply.
Show answer and explanation, Question 14
Answer: A, B, C. A moved louver changes the architectural location and opening references (A), and the mechanical duct route and affected wall-opening detail reference (B). Then the change has to be communicated the way the project says (C). Revising drawings without telling anyone is only half the job.
Why the other choices are wrong: D: Performance wasn't part of the approved change. E: A presentation rendering alone does not revise the affected construction drawings. F: Hands a design decision to the contractor and leaves the drawings in conflict.
Review takeaway: For every approved change: find every sheet it touches, fix them together, then communicate it.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Tables 3-7 and 3-11, pp. 34–35 and 42. The issue protocol is supplied for this exercise; real projects follow their own contract procedures.
Question 15 of 30
A non-load-bearing 1-hour wall stops under a rated concrete floor. The structural detail requires the head-of-wall joint to handle 1/2 inch of vertical closure (the gap shrinking as the floor above deflects). The project requires a 1-hour joint system. The candidate systems below match the actual construction and joint width. Which one fits? (These are fictional records, not real listings.)
Show answer and explanation, Question 15
Answer: D. Two conditions have to be met separately: the hourly rating and the movement. Choice D has the 1-hour rating and handles up to 3/4 inch of closure, which covers the required 1/2 inch.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: A higher rating doesn't make up for a joint that wasn't tested to move. B: Rated, but handles only half the required movement. C: Handles the movement, but has no fire rating.
Review takeaway: Rating and movement are separate tests. A joint system has to pass both.
Source: UL Solutions, Firestop and Joint Application Guide, §5(a), pp. 4–5, and joint ratings, p. 8.
Question 16 of 30
A project manual is organized by MasterFormat. Each trade section lists the submittals it needs, but nothing in the manual sets the common procedures: how submittals are identified, routed, and scheduled. Which addition most directly closes that gap?
Show answer and explanation, Question 16
Answer: A. Division 01 holds general requirements that apply across the whole project, and submittal procedures are a classic example. The trade sections say what each trade must submit; the Division 01 section says how every submittal moves.
Why the other choices are wrong: B: Adds more submittal requirements but still no common process. C: Defines shorthand, not procedures. D: Gives a tracking format without the rules for using it.
Review takeaway: Trade sections say what to submit. Division 01 says how submittals work.
Source: UFGS 01 33 00, Submittal Procedures, cover and table of contents, p. 1; scope note, p. 4; §1.2.
Question 17 of 30
A flooring section already specifies the selected product and its performance criteria. The editor now needs to add substrate examination, surface preparation, and installation requirements. In a conventional three-part section, where do they belong?
Show answer and explanation, Question 17
Answer: C. The three-part format separates General (Part 1), Products (Part 2), and Execution (Part 3). Examination, preparation, and installation describe doing the work at the site, so they belong in Part 3.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Submittals cover information sent for review, not how the work is done. B: Part 2 defines the products themselves. D: Delivery, storage, and handling cover materials before installation.
Review takeaway: Part 1 = administration, Part 2 = what it is, Part 3 = how it goes in.
Source: UFS 1-300-02, UFGS Format Standard, Appendix A, Parts 2 and 3, pp. 26–30; Part 3 begins on p. 28 (PDF p. 33).
Question 18 of 30
The design team has chosen one exterior cladding system and set all its project values. But the specification is still an unedited guide section, with mutually exclusive choices, blanks, and internal notes to the editor. Which three edits turn it into a project specification?
Check the three that apply.
Show answer and explanation, Question 18
Answer: A, B, C. A guide section is a starting point. To make it a project specification you choose what applies (A), fill in the project's values (B), and strip the notes meant only for the editor (C).
Why the other choices are wrong: D: Bidders shouldn't be deciding design intent. E: Removes requirements the project needs. F: Duplicates the drawings and invites conflicts between documents.
Review takeaway: An issued spec should read as one project's decisions, not a menu.
Source: UFS 1-300-02, UFGS Format Standard, §2-2.2, p. 3; §2-3.6, p. 5.
Question 19 of 30
The drawings show a complete exterior air-barrier boundary, including roof transitions and window-perimeter connections. The draft specification covers only the field membrane and explicitly excludes all transition materials, and no other section picks them up. What's the right coordination step?
Show answer and explanation, Question 19
Answer: B. The drawings call for a continuous system, but nothing in the specification covers the parts that make it continuous. The fix is to bring the specification in line with the drawn system: transitions, compatibility, and who handles each interface.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: A product data sheet covers one material, not the system. C: Weakens the design to match an incomplete document. D: Incompatible transitions are exactly how air barriers fail.
Review takeaway: Specify the system the drawings show, not just its most visible material.
Source: UFGS 07 27 10, Building Air Barrier System, §1.4, p. 16, and designer notes, pp. 4–7; UFS 1-300-02, UFGS Format Standard, Appendix A.
Question 20 of 30
A new straight interior egress stair in a Group B building has level landings and no applicable exception. In one flight, the specified riser heights range from 6-1/2 inches to 7 inches. Under IBC 2021, the difference between the tallest and shortest riser in a flight can't exceed 3/8 inch. Which finding is correct?
Show answer and explanation, Question 20
Answer: C. Variation = 7 − 6-1/2 = 1/2 inch. That's more than the 3/8-inch limit, so the risers need to be made more uniform. Every riser can be within the height limits and the flight can still fail uniformity.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Meeting the maximum height is a separate check from uniformity. B: The rule compares extremes, not the average. D: The limit compares the tallest and shortest risers anywhere in the flight.
Review takeaway: Uniformity is about the spread within a flight. Compare the extremes.
Source: ICC, 2021 IBC Means of Egress (course publication), PDF p. 56, IBC 2021 §1011.5.4. This one check doesn't establish full stair compliance.
Question 21 of 30
A new accessible route under the 2010 ADA Standards has to rise 48 inches. Under those standards, a ramp's running slope can't be steeper than 1:12, a single ramp run can't rise more than 30 inches, and a landing where a ramp changes direction must be at least 60 × 60 inches. Widths, handrails, edge protection, and top and bottom landings are already compliant. All ramp-run lengths below are horizontal projections, excluding landings. Which arrangement works?
Show answer and explanation, Question 21
Answer: B. Each 24-ft run is 288 inches long and rises 24 inches: 24 ÷ 288 = 1:12, right at the limit. Each rise is under 30 inches, and the turning landing is the full 60 × 60 inches.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: The slope is 1:12, but one run can't rise more than 30 inches. C: 24 inches over 240 inches is 1:10, steeper than 1:12. D: The turning landing is smaller than 60 × 60 inches.
Review takeaway: Check ramps three ways: slope, rise per run, and landings. Landings also add length to the total footprint.
Source: U.S. Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards, Chapter 4, §§405.2, 405.6, 405.7.4; U.S. Access Board, Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards: Ramps and Curb Ramps, Slope and Cross Slope.
Question 22 of 30
An estimator prices gypsum board and labor for 120 linear feet of partition, 10 feet high, with one layer of board on each face and no openings. Board costs $0.80 per purchased square foot, and labor is $1.20 per net installed square foot. Add 10% waste to purchased board only. Leave out framing, finishes, tax, overhead, profit, and all other work. What's the correct board-plus-labor subtotal?
Show answer and explanation, Question 22
Answer: B. Net area = 120 × 10 × 2 faces = 2,400 ft². Board purchased = 2,400 × 1.10 = 2,640 ft², so board = 2,640 × $0.80 = $2,112. Labor = 2,400 × $1.20 = $2,880. Total = $2,112 + $2,880 = $4,992.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Leaves out the waste on board. C: Applies waste to labor too. D: Counts only one face of the wall.
Review takeaway: When you check an estimate, confirm each quantity's basis (net or purchased) before checking the unit price.
Source: UFS 3-740-05, Construction Cost Estimating, §§3-3–3-4, pp. 12–14. Rates and the waste factor are supplied exercise values, not market prices or standard allowances.
Case study 1: Branch library exterior-wall package
A branch library addition is about to issue coordinated bid documents. Use the two resources below for Questions 23–26. Each question stands on its own; no answer changes the resources. All project values, panel candidates, and sheet labels are fictional.
Resource A1: Drawing and design register
| Record | Information |
|---|---|
| Approved panel design | Insulated exterior panels span 8 feet between supports at the stated project design load. Maximum whole-panel U-factor: 0.040 Btu/(h·ft²·°F). Selected finish: F2. All candidate data in Resource A2 use the same basis. Other project requirements are already satisfied. |
| A201, north elevation | Panel P1 and louver L2 are tagged. The drawing sets location and overall opening size. |
| A501, wall section | Shows the panel, support, and weather-control layers, but not the louver's perimeter support, attachment, flashing, or layer transitions. Those requirements are already set in the approved design but haven't been drawn. They aren't detailed anywhere else. |
| A502, detail register | Detail 4: panel base. Detail 7: louver perimeter (reserved, not yet drawn). Detail 9: roof-edge metal. |
| A601, finish schedule | Owner-approved finish for exposed louver L2 is F2. This approval is final for the exercise; no later change exists. |
| Cross-reference | L2's perimeter-detail callout on A201 currently reads 9/A502. |
Resource A2: Panel candidates and specification extract
| Candidate | Whole-panel U-factor | Permitted span at stated load | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0.036 | 7 ft | F2 |
| B | 0.042 | 9 ft | F2 |
| C | 0.039 | 8 ft | F2 |
| D | 0.035 | 9 ft | F1 |
Specification extract: The louver section still requires exposed finish F1. All other louver requirements agree with the approved design. The panel data are comparison values for this exercise, not real product approvals. The team can still correct the bid package before it's issued.
Question 23 of 30
Using Resources A1 and A2, which panel candidate can be carried into the coordinated design?
Show answer and explanation, Question 23
Answer: C. The panel has to meet all three requirements at once: span at least 8 ft, U-factor no higher than 0.040, and finish F2. Candidate C spans 8 ft, has a U-factor of 0.039, and comes in F2.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Meets the U-factor and finish limits, but its 7-ft span is short of the 8-ft requirement. B: Spans 9 ft, but 0.042 is above the 0.040 limit. Higher U-factor means more heat loss. D: Best thermal value and span, but the finish is F1, not the approved F2.
Review takeaway: One standout number doesn't cancel a failed requirement. Screen every candidate against every criterion.
Source: UFS 1-300-02, UFGS Format Standard, Appendix A, §§2.1.1–2.1.2, p. 26 (PDF p. 31).
Question 24 of 30
Using Resource A1, which addition fills the missing construction information at louver L2?
Show answer and explanation, Question 24
Answer: B. The elevation already shows where the louver goes and how big it is. What's missing is how it meets the wall: support, attachment, flashing, and layer transitions. Perimeter sections are where that information lives.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Repeats information A201 already has. C: States the goal without showing how to achieve it. D: Describes the louver itself, not its connections to the wall.
Review takeaway: Ask what's actually missing: location, size, or the interface. Interfaces are shown in sections and details.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Tables 3-6 and 3-7; UFGS 07 27 10, Building Air Barrier System, designer notes on air-barrier continuity.
Question 25 of 30
Using Resource A1, once the missing louver detail is drawn, where should L2's perimeter callout on A201 point?
Show answer and explanation, Question 25
Answer: B. The register reserves Detail 7 on A502 for the louver perimeter. The callout currently reads 9/A502, which is the roof-edge metal detail, so it sends the reader to the wrong place.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Detail 4 is the panel base. C: Detail 9 is roof-edge metal. That's the current error. D: A601 is the finish schedule, not a construction detail.
Review takeaway: A correct callout and a drawn detail are two separate fixes. You need both before issue.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, §3–11 and Table 3-7, pp. 34–35.
Question 26 of 30
Using Resources A1 and A2, how should the team handle the louver finish conflict before issue?
Show answer and explanation, Question 26
Answer: C. The owner approved F2, and that approval sets the design intent. The specification is out of date, so it's the document to fix. Then check that A601 and any other references agree.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: No universal rule says specs always win. Here, the approval record decides. B: Leaves a design decision open in the bid documents. D: Overrides the owner's approval.
Review takeaway: When documents conflict before issue, go back to the approved decision and fix the document that drifted.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, §4–4(d)(1)–(2), pp. 54–55.
Case study 2: Public office addition entrance
A new public-office addition is designed under the 2010 ADA Standards. The team is checking the entry package and a paving alternate before issue. Use the two resources below for Questions 27–30. Each question stands on its own. Measurements and prices are hypothetical.
Resource B1: Entry geometry and drawing register
| Record | Information |
|---|---|
| Door D1 | Manual swinging door on an accessible route, front approach on the pull side, no applicable exception. Measured clear opening at 90 degrees: 34 inches. |
| A401, enlarged entry plan | Pull-side clear depth perpendicular to the doorway: 60 inches. A fixed bench leaves only 12 inches clear beyond the latch side. These are measured usable clearances. |
| Scope of the door check | Other door conditions are already compliant. The questions check this approach's maneuvering space only. |
| A101, general plan | Door location and wall geometry. The bench appears only on A401. |
| A601, door schedule | D1 leaf, frame, and hardware. Not affected by a bench-only change. |
| C101, site plan | Exterior levels and drainage. Not affected by a bench-only change. |
| Project issue protocol | Revise affected drawings, identify the revision, and transmit it to the owner and affected design-team members. Keep the prior issue record. |
Resource B2: Review criteria and paving proposal
Door criteria (2010 ADA Standards, paraphrased): A front approach on the pull side needs at least 60 inches of clear space perpendicular to the doorway and at least 18 inches beyond the latch side (Table 404.2.4.1). The minimum clear opening is 32 inches (§404.2.3).
| Pricing record | Value or rule |
|---|---|
| Existing base bid | $84,000 |
| Original paving already in that bid | 400 ft² × $24/ft² installed = $9,600 |
| Proposed alternate paving | Same 400 ft² × $28/ft² installed = $11,200 |
| Pricing rule for this exercise | Apply 10% markup to the net direct-cost change, after crediting the original paving being replaced. No other adjustment, tax, or markup. |
| Submitted proposal | Asks for a $12,320 addition, calculated as $11,200 × 1.10 with no credit for the original paving. |
Question 27 of 30
Using Resource B1: the general plan alone can't show whether the door and bench clearances work. What has to be in the final documents?
Show answer and explanation, Question 27
Answer: B. Maneuvering clearance is a plan relationship between the door, its swing, and nearby obstructions. An enlarged plan with real dimensions is the only option that lets someone check it.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: A leaf size says nothing about the space in front of the door. C: An elevation can't show the horizontal clearances that matter here. D: Leaves the design relationship undefined.
Review takeaway: If a reviewer can't check the required door and bench clearances from your documented dimensions, the drawings aren't done.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-7; U.S. Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards, Chapter 4, §404.2.4.
Question 28 of 30
Using Resources B1 and B2, which correction does door D1 need?
Show answer and explanation, Question 28
Answer: A. Check each criterion. Clear opening: 34 inches meets the 32-inch minimum. Perpendicular space: 60 inches meets the 60-inch minimum. Latch side: 12 inches is 6 short of the 18 inches a pull-side front approach needs. That's the only deficiency.
Why the other choices are wrong: B: 30 inches would fall below the 32-inch minimum. C: 48 inches would fall below the 60-inch minimum for this approach. D: Adding a closer does not reduce the 18-inch requirement for this front pull-side approach. The 12-inch extension applies to a front push-side approach with both a closer and a latch.
Review takeaway: Match the approach and swing side to the right row of the table before you check numbers.
Source: U.S. Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards, Chapter 4, §404.2.3 and Table 404.2.4.1, including footnote 1.
Question 29 of 30
Using Resource B1, consider this question on its own: an approved change moves the fixed bench 6 inches farther from D1's latch side. The wall, door, frame, hardware, levels, and drainage don't change. Which two actions are needed?
Check the two that apply.
Show answer and explanation, Question 29
Answer: A, B. Only the bench moves, and the bench appears only on A401. So revise A401 (A) and send the revision out the way the protocol requires (B).
Why the other choices are wrong: C: The door isn't changing. D: Levels and drainage aren't changing. E: The wall isn't changing. F: The protocol says to keep the prior issue record.
Review takeaway: Revise what changed, communicate it, and leave everything else alone.
Source: USACE ER 1110-345-700, Design Analysis, Drawings, Specifications, and Minimum Submittal Requirements, Table 3-7, pp. 34–35. The revision and transmittal requirements come from Resource B1's hypothetical project issue protocol.
Question 30 of 30
Using Resource B2, what's the correct addition to the base bid for the paving alternate?
Show answer and explanation, Question 30
Answer: C. The original paving is already in the base bid, so the proposal should only price the difference. Net direct change = $11,200 − $9,600 = $1,600. Markup = 10% × $1,600 = $160. Addition = $1,760, for a revised total of $84,000 + $1,760 = $85,760.
Why the other choices are wrong: A: Charges for the new paving with no credit for the old. The owner would pay for paving twice. B: Correct net change, but leaves out the 10% markup. D: The original paving amount plus markup, not the change.
Review takeaway: Before checking the math on an alternate, check what's already in the base bid.
Source: UFS 3-740-05, Construction Cost Estimating, §17-4.2, Changed Work, p. 75 (PDF p. 88). The markup rule is a hypothetical pricing instruction, not a standard pricing rule.
Review your answers
Score one point per question. A check-all-that-apply question counts only if you picked exactly the right set, with nothing missing and nothing extra. Skipped questions count as wrong, so a full attempt is always out of 30. That's the same one-point, no-partial-credit rule NCARB uses on the real exam (ARE 5.0 Guidelines, p. 40).
Answer key
| Question | Answer | Content area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 2 | B | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 3 | C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 4 | B | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 5 | A | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 6 | B | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 7 | C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 8 | A, B, C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 9 | A, B, C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 10 | A | Construction Documentation |
| 11 | B | Construction Documentation |
| 12 | C | Construction Documentation |
| 13 | A, B, D | Construction Documentation |
| 14 | A, B, C | Construction Documentation |
| 15 | D | Construction Documentation |
| 16 | A | Project Manual & Specifications |
| 17 | C | Project Manual & Specifications |
| 18 | A, B, C | Project Manual & Specifications |
| 19 | B | Project Manual & Specifications |
| 20 | C | Codes & Regulations |
| 21 | B | Codes & Regulations |
| 22 | B | Construction Cost Estimates |
| 23 | C | Integration of Building Materials & Systems |
| 24 | B | Construction Documentation |
| 25 | B | Construction Documentation |
| 26 | C | Project Manual & Specifications |
| 27 | B | Construction Documentation |
| 28 | A | Codes & Regulations |
| 29 | A, B | Construction Documentation |
| 30 | C | Construction Cost Estimates |
Your results by content area
| Content area | Questions | Your score |
|---|---|---|
| Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 1–9, 23 | ___ of 10 |
| Construction Documentation | 10–15, 24, 25, 27, 29 | ___ of 10 |
| Project Manual & Specifications | 16–19, 26 | ___ of 5 |
| Codes & Regulations | 20, 21, 28 | ___ of 3 |
| Construction Cost Estimates | 22, 30 | ___ of 2 |
| Total | ___ of 30 |
Your total describes these 30 questions only. There's no official conversion, passing line, or scaled score behind it. The small areas are small on purpose, because they're small on the real exam too. One miss out of two cost questions tells you which estimate mistake to review, not how ready you are.
Turn a miss into a review task
A miss is only useful if you can say exactly why your choice failed. For each one, fill in a row like this:
| Question | What I missed | Why my choice failed | Source to revisit | The rule in one sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (example) | Duct sizing | Compared square feet to square inches | NASA continuity equation | Required area = airflow ÷ velocity, then × 144 for square inches |
| Blank row label | ||||
| Blank row label |
Then pick the practice that matches the kind of miss:
- Coordination misses (Questions 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 24, 29): sketch the interface and list every drawing or spec section that describes it. Check whether you fixed one document and forgot its partner.
- Dimension and elevation misses (Questions 11, 12, 20, 21, 28): redraw the relationship with every number labeled, and write down what each measurement is taken from.
- Calculation misses (Questions 4, 6, 22): rework the problem with units written on every line.
- Specification misses (Questions 16–19, 26): name which part or division the requirement belongs in, and which document carries the approved decision.
- Estimate misses (Questions 22, 30): list what's already in the base price before you check any math.
What this PDD practice test covers
The set follows NCARB's five PDD content areas, weighted close to the typical ranges NCARB publishes for each area (NCARB PDD page).
| Content area | NCARB typical range | Questions here | Share of this set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 31–37% | 10 | 33.3% |
| Construction Documentation | 32–38% | 10 | 33.3% |
| Project Manual & Specifications | 12–18% | 5 | 16.7% |
| Codes & Regulations | 8–14% | 3 | 10.0% |
| Construction Cost Estimates | 2–8% | 2 | 6.7% |
| Total | 30 | 100% |
Every one of the 17 current PDD objectives shows up at least once. But 30 questions can't cover each objective in depth, and we don't claim to match official difficulty. All project details, product data, and prices in the questions are made up for practice. Real code rules are named when a question uses one.
The real exam uses three question formats: multiple choice, check-all-that-apply, and hotspot, where you click a spot on a drawing (NCARB question types). This set uses the first two, with every exhibit written out as text or tables.
Want to time yourself? Give yourself about 75 minutes. That's PDD's 245 minutes of testing time scaled to 30 questions (245 ÷ 100 × 30 = 73.5), rounded up. It's a pacing target we chose, not an NCARB rule, and it doesn't simulate the endurance of a full appointment.
How the current PDD exam works
| Fact | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Exam and owner | ARE 5.0, developed by NCARB and delivered through PSI, at test centers or online-proctored |
| Items | 100: 91 scored items and 9 unscored pretest items you can't identify |
| Testing time | 4 hours 5 minutes |
| Break time | Up to 45 minutes, taken all at once or split |
| Total appointment | 5 hours, including 10 minutes of intro and exit screens |
| Scoring | One point per item, no partial credit, no penalty for wrong answers; blanks count as wrong |
| Result | Pass or fail against the division's cut score, across the whole division rather than section by section |
| Formats | Multiple choice, check-all-that-apply, and hotspot; these formats also appear in case studies |
Sources: ARE 5.0 Guidelines, October 2026 edition, pp. 8, 11, 22, 40, and 99; NCARB PDD page; NCARB: How ARE 5.0 is Scored, Item Scoring (pretest identification).
The 5-hour appointment is longer than the testing time because it includes your break allowance and the intro and exit screens. One detail worth knowing before test day: after you take a break, every item you've already viewed locks, including ones you marked for review (Guidelines, p. 22). Plan breaks for points where you're done with what's behind you.
Case studies give you a set of project resources, like drawings, tables, and requirements, and then several questions that draw on them. Each case question is scored on its own; getting one wrong doesn't change the next (NCARB question types).
PDD or PPD: which practice do you need?
PDD is about developing a design into detailed documentation: integrating building systems, choosing materials and assemblies, and producing coordinated drawings and specifications (NCARB PDD). Project Planning & Design (PPD) sits earlier, focused on preliminary site and building design and weighing design alternatives (NCARB PPD). The topics overlap, but if your questions start with "here's the design, now detail or check it," you're in PDD territory.
Use NCARB's free full-length PDD practice exam
This page is independent practice. NCARB also offers a free, full-length PDD practice exam built with the same number of items, objectives, format, and tools as the real division (NCARB practice exams). It's the closest thing to a dress rehearsal, so it's worth taking before your appointment.
- With active exam eligibility: sign in to your NCARB Record, open the Exams tab, and go to Additional Resources.
- Without active eligibility: sign in to your NCARB Record and choose Practice the ARE.
You can take it in test mode, which mimics exam conditions, or practice mode, which shows correct answers and rationales as you go. Both end with a results page listing every item, your percentage by section, and the rationales.
NCARB also posts PDF versions meant for supervisors and mentors. The PDFs leave out the case-study resources, so the full exam inside your NCARB Record is the better way to practice those questions.
Open NCARB's free PDD practice-exam instructions
Sources and verification
Exam facts
- ARE 5.0 Guidelines, October 2026 edition, effective October 1, 2026: division structure (p. 8), delivery (p. 11), breaks (p. 22), scoring (p. 40), PDD division details (p. 99), exam-reference code editions (p. 115)
- NCARB: Project Development & Documentation: division details, content areas, typical ranges, objectives
- NCARB: ARE 5.0 Question Types: item formats and case studies
- NCARB: Free ARE 5.0 Practice Exams: access, modes, and PDF limits
- NCARB: How ARE 5.0 is Scored (March 14, 2020), Item Scoring: why pretest items cannot be identified; current rules come from the Guidelines above
- NCARB: Project Planning & Design: PPD division description
Teaching references used in the explanations
- USACE ER 1110-345-700 (2026): drawing coordination, equipment access, schedules, and details
- UFGS 07 27 10, Building Air Barrier System: air-barrier continuity and transitions
- DOE/PNNL Window Replacement checklist: flashing and WRB lapping
- DOE/PNNL, Reducing Thermal Bridging: balcony slab thermal breaks
- UL Solutions Firestop and Joint Application Guide: matching tested system conditions; joint movement versus rating
- VA Lighting Design Manual (2022): luminaire and ceiling coordination
- UFS 1-300-02, UFGS Format Standard (2025): editing guide specifications; three-part section structure
- UFGS 01 33 00, Submittal Procedures: Division 01 submittal procedures
- UFS 3-740-05, Construction Cost Estimating (2026): quantity and cost transparency
- 2010 ADA Standards, Chapter 4: door maneuvering clearances and ramps
- U.S. Access Board, Ramps and Curb Ramps guide: horizontal run in the slope calculation
- ICC, 2021 IBC Means of Egress: stair riser uniformity, §1011.5.4
- NASA Glenn, Mass Flow Choking: continuity equation behind Q = V × A
- USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 9 (2021): bending stress and section modulus
Several teaching references are federal agency documents. We use them for the design principles they explain, not their agency-specific procurement or approval rules. Code questions use the editions NCARB lists as exam references, which may differ from what your local jurisdiction has adopted.
How Castleport develops and checks study material
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team.
Exam facts and source references last verified: October 13, 2026. We checked NCARB's current Guidelines and PDD pages for the division scope, format, timing, and scoring, and the linked references for the principles used in the explanations. Every calculation was reworked from the stated inputs.
Independence: Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We're not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by NCARB or any architectural licensing board. Exam and division names are used to identify the subjects discussed; trademarks belong to their respective owners. These practice questions are original and unofficial. They aren't actual exam questions.