# ARE Live: PPD Mock Exam March 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Project Planning & Design\ **Tags:** are-live\ **Created:** [March 17, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746 "2026-03-17T18:05:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![patrickfinnigan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/patrickfinnigan/32/1634_2.png) [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/1 "2026-03-17T18:05:58Z")
Join Black Spectacles and architect Chris Hopstock on Wednesday, March 18th at noon CT for a deep dive into the Project Planning & Design (PPD) division with a mock practice exam on this episode of ARE Live! **[Click here to watch ARE Live.](https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/548577590782543450)** **[Click here to sign up for the next ARE Live episode for a PcM Mock Exam.](https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5575541455165002847)** Everyone who posts in this thread today will be eligible to win a free Black Spectacles t-shirt - so don’t hesitate to drop a friendly "Hello!”. ---
**Author:** ![patrickfinnigan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/patrickfinnigan/32/1634_2.png) [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/2 "2026-03-18T16:31:09Z")
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**Author:** ![patrickfinnigan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/patrickfinnigan/32/1634_2.png) [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/3 "2026-03-18T16:32:41Z")
Good morning from Los Angeles! ---
**Author:** ![jaimemaiden](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/25.png) [@jaimemaiden](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/jaimemaiden)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/4 "2026-03-18T16:55:55Z")
Good morning from Denver! ---
**Author:** ![hzhang](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/21.png) [@hzhang](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/hzhang)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/5 "2026-03-18T17:00:17Z")
Hello from Salt Lake City ---
**Author:** ![ankatayeva](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/2.png) [@ankatayeva](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/ankatayeva)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/6 "2026-03-18T17:00:31Z")
Hello from Atlanta! ---
**Author:** ![eweaver](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/4.png) [@eweaver](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/eweaver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/7 "2026-03-18T17:01:56Z")
Hello from Austin, TX! ---
**Author:** ![pjchadwell](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/15.png) [@pjchadwell](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/pjchadwell)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/8 "2026-03-18T17:02:08Z")
Hello from Boston. ---
**Author:** ![angelle.edwards](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/11.png) [@angelle.edwards](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/angelle.edwards)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/9 "2026-03-18T17:02:49Z")
Hello from New York City! ---
**Author:** ![justinpricewallace](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/10.png) [@justinpricewallace](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/justinpricewallace)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/10 "2026-03-18T17:04:14Z")
Studying for PPD in South Carolina. Hello! ---
**Author:** ![mmclean](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/10.png) [@mmclean](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mmclean)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/11 "2026-03-18T17:06:33Z")
Hi from Mark at MHK! ---
**Author:** ![eschmuck](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/4.png) [@eschmuck](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/eschmuck)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/12 "2026-03-18T17:07:13Z")
Hi from Naples, Florida! ---
**Author:** ![patrickfinnigan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/patrickfinnigan/32/1634_2.png) [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/13 "2026-03-18T17:07:22Z")
If you have any questions during ARE Live today, reply in this thread and I’ll bring them up to Chris! ---
**Author:** ![thomas.j.creedon](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/1.png) [@thomas.j.creedon](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/thomas.j.creedon)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/14 "2026-03-18T17:09:02Z")
Hi from Columbus, Ohio! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Saerhutchinson](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/3.png) [@Saerhutchinson](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/Saerhutchinson)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/15 "2026-03-18T17:10:31Z")
Hi from Estero, Florida. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![jcheng4231](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/24.png) [@jcheng4231](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/jcheng4231)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/16 "2026-03-18T17:20:49Z")
Regarding question 1, sorry if you had already answered it, but what phase would be a good time to determine structural systems and how is that different from things like value engineering that is said to be best done as early as possible? ---
**Author:** ![kinney.bresheena](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/26.png) [@kinney.bresheena](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kinney.bresheena)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/17 "2026-03-18T17:25:55Z")
Afternoon from Fort Myers, FL! Regarding question 2, choice B seems like it would be positive from a water runoff perspective. It would utlimately make less of an impact to the neighbors, then a less efficient building. ---
**Author:** ![mmclean](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/10.png) [@mmclean](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mmclean)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/18 "2026-03-18T17:30:28Z")
How do you make the assumption that the vault is open air. If closed then Mechanical would be needed and not plumbing. ---
**Author:** ![hzhang](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/21.png) [@hzhang](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/hzhang)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/19 "2026-03-18T17:31:13Z")
Question 3 will be a great example using reverse engineering strategy. Figuring it out what is wrong answer. ---
**Author:** ![mmclean](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/10.png) [@mmclean](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mmclean)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746/20 "2026-03-18T17:31:19Z")
if it was in a sidewalk would you need landscape consultant, and then a way to vent it with Mechanical. [Next page](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/are-live-ppd-mock-exam-march-2026/7746.md?page=2)