NCARB has announced the launch of a suite of free practice exams for ARE candidates. The full-length, fully-scored tests have been created for each of the six divisions which comprise the ARE exam.

"The availability of high-quality, free practice exams will help ensure equitable access to exam preparation materials, leading to a more equitable experience for diverse candidates,” said NCARB CEO Michael Armstrong upon the initiative’s announcement.

Questions within the practice exams were developed using the same method as the real ARE, and can be taken in two modes. A test mode mimics the experience of the real exam with a score report afterwards, while a practice mode provides the correct answer and supporting notes for each item as the candidate proceeds through the test.

The resource was launched in response to findings from the NCARB/NOMA Baseline on Belonging study, which found that many ARE candidates struggle with the financial burden of the exams. As we reported last year, 74% of exam candidates cite income as a factor impacting ARE exam affordability, with only 26% of test-takers confident in their ability to afford the exam.

The free practice exams form part of a suite of new features added to the ARE system following the platform's migration to a new vendor, PSI. Candidates are now offered free exam rescheduling, the ability to cancel exams without forfeiting the entire appointment cost, and score reports with detailed feedback on failed divisions.

News of the reforms comes as NCARB/NOMA studies continue to find disparities among candidates within education and licensure. In April, the organizations found that African American women are significantly less supported in architecture schools, while in September 2021, the organizations found that people of color and older candidates were less likely to pass the ARE.

Separately, NCARB announced last week that a deal is being finalized with the UK’s Architects Registration Board, which will see mutual recognition of licensure between the two countries, simplifying the path to architects seeking to use qualifications in one country to attain a license to practice in the other.