You have probably seen the alerts about NCARB’s updates to the ARE 5.0 Handbook. If you haven’t - no need to panic! The objectives have not changed, nor has the content.
NCARB has stated the intention of this update is to give more information regarding what is on the exam today, not to stress you out or throw your studying off course.
They’ve updated descriptions with regard to two topic areas:
- Sustainability and resilience
- Assigned cognitive levels
More resources have been added to the Reference Matrix, all of which focus on sustainability and resilience. Additional information about Daylighting Handbook I, Framework for Design Excellence, Green Building Illustrated, and The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Sustainable Design can be found on page 178 of the handbook.
According to NCARB, On page 3, one additional ability was added to the Definition of Competence. Modifications to reflect the changes mentioned above (i.e., additional language to reference sustainability and resilience or cognitive levels) were added to the following objectives:
Practice Management: 1.1, 1.4, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.2
Project Management: 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4
Programming & Analysis: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7
Project Planning & Design: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Project Development & Documentation: 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2
Construction & Evaluation: 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2
Some good news as well - ARE 5.0 Guidelines have been updated to reflect Prometric’s new check in and out procedures, extending the flexible break to 25 minutes. With just under half an hour you could work on your 5k time, start a new podcast, call your mom, the possibilities are endless.
As always, happy studying!