For Construction Administration, I really recommend looking at as many real world documents as possible. Studying construction details? Check out your offices standard detail library. Studying certificates for payment? Find some examples online or see if you can look at any from a past project. There are also excellent videos on Youtube that go into how to fill out or create each of these documents or drawings, like this one below on the G702.
Question
Scorpion Commercial Group, along with their architect, Samsu Sola, has published an Advertisement for Bids in the Santa Fe Daily newspaper (see image below). They are advertising for open bidding a new commercial project located in Santa Fe, for a mixed use office building. Find at least 3 important pieces of information that are missing from the advertisement below:
Answer
The important information that is missing from this advertisement is:
Project Name and Location
Architect name and address
Project description including: type, size, construction materials and systems
Where bidding documents may be obtained or viewed
Amount of required bid deposit
Type and amount of bid bonds
Reference: Ballast: 49-3,4 Advertising for Bids
If you got all 6, well done! Let me know how many you got right in the comments. For more practice questions like this, feel free to check out the Practice Questions tab in the main menu. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my free PjM one page study guide, dropping on the 30th of August 2020. As always, happy studying!
After my recent ARE exam fail, I had a solid pity party for a few hours, then decided it would be more productive to write down what I have learned from my first failure.
Never Assume You Have Time Just Because You’re Moving Quickly
In the first half of the exam I was moving fast and doing good, I completed all of my multiple choice exams, and hit pause before going off to my break. I thought I had plenty of time. Fast forward to the end of the exam, with seconds left and still a few unanswered case study questions which I eventually just had to guess at. Time management is KEY to this exam. Don’t make my mistakes, make sure that getting through the test as a whole is your main priority and never think that you have it under control just because you made it through the multiple choice questions quickly.
Don’t Cram What You Don’t Know
Again, in studying for the exams, it is the same as taking the exams, time management is KEY. In the days before your exams, you’re going to be dealing with a lot of emotions and anxiety, don’t make this worse by trying to cram in a bunch of material you have never even looked at before. It will make you feel worse because:
You’ll feel like you don’t know anything, even if you’re really strong on other topics
You will get frustrated at your inability to retain this brand new information
You’re dealing with exam nerves, and if you do badly on practice tests on the new material, your confidence will be shot
Make sure, well before you’re scheduled to take your exams, you’re making sure that all the topics that are going to be included in the test are a part of your study plan. Be intentional about what you’re reading, not just trying to read as much as possible. This guide on test-taking skills has a lot of helpful tips on getting prepared in advance.
Reinforce Your Weaknesses
While I wouldn’t recommend cramming new material right before an exam, I would recommend checking the information that you know that you are not performing well on. There’s a difference between trying to learn all the details of ADA clearances in one day, and having a look at your previous notes on contract documents. One involves completely learning new concepts, the other is just brushing up on what you already know.
I would say working on your weaknesses is especially important AFTER you’ve failed the exam as well. The study materials that got you a poor result may not give you success the next time around, so make sure that you are making changes to your methods or resources based off of what your previous exam was aksing you. This is part of the reason why the ARE’s are called “the most expensive practice exam you’ll ever take”. Failing is part of the process, and learning from the fails is part of the process too.
One thing I’ve done is to look at multiple posts of people who have passed each specific exam, and tried to change my method based on the different content that they used. You can find passing stories on the ARE Facebook group or in the NCARB ARE 5.0 Community.
Don’t be afraid to write your own questions
In my recent exam failure, I was very frustrated with some of the practice question providers, since I felt like they failed to cover some of the very technical and graphic aspects of that exam. I was also mad at NCARB for failing to properly specify the resources that were needed to pass that exam. However, being mad at external forces won’t bring me any closer to passing the ARE.
So my recommendation is, if you feel like the questions you’re seeing on the exam are not matching the materials you are studying, feel free to write your own questions. There is literally nothing stopping you, as long as you are not copying the questions that you’ve seen in your previous ARE exams. These questions can be at whatever level of difficulty you feel comfortable with, but I have the following tips:
Use the source material. If you’re writing a question on contracts, use the actual contract to write the question based on what you’ve literally read in the contract, not what Ballast, Pluralsight or Hyperfine wrote about it. This is because a lot of study resources summarize instead of writing the actual articles, which may cause you to remember the phrasing or intent clearly later on.
Write why the answers are correct and why they’re wrong. This will force you to explain exactly why you’ve chosen that answer, and helps cement the concept, not just the specific answer.
Share your questions! Not only does this help other people who are studying, but this also allows them to let you know if your answers are wrong and why. If people have further questions. You can share in your personal study group, which you can join through the NCARB ARE Community, in the ARE Facebook group, or with your architecture mentor, and see if they can work through the correct answer based on their professional experience.
Mini Quiz from RMSM Studio on Construction Manager Project Delivery Methods
I haven’t had any experience in the past with working with Construction Managers, so I feel like I really had to go the extra mile to understand all the differences and roles & responsibilities in the different CM project delivery methods. I’ve created some very handy charts to help explain the differences between CMa and CMc, I may release it later when I’m less overwhelmed.
I’m also trying to get back into the habit of regular note taking instead of being so focused on watching the explanatory videos. I was really inspired by this video I watched today by Jorge Herrera on quick study tips. I’ll probably be buying an assortment of notebooks and binders for my path forward, and take advantage of some of these back to school sales.
Question 01
Joanne Bowman is the manager of a government branch looking to expand in the near future. She is looking for a high-quality design, with low risk. Which project delivery methods would you, as her architect, recommend to her? (Select two)
Design-Bid-Build
Construction Manager as Advisor
Construction Manager as Constructor
Integrated Project Delivery
Question 02
While on the construction site, the Project Architect Maryam Lanoir notices a defect in the work. Since this project is a Construction Manager as Advisor project delivery method, what should be her next steps?
Instruct the superintendent to correct the deficiency, as per the contract drawings
Notify the Owner
Notify the Contractor
Notify the Construction manager
All of the above
Question 03
Jessica Trevi is an architect providing construction administration services on a Construction Manager as Advisor project. What is not a joint service that she provides?
Certifying applications for payment
Preparing change orders
Reviewing RFIs
Rejecting work
Question 01
CORRECT ANSWERS
Construction Manager as Constructor
Integrated Project Delivery
Both CMc and IPD are preferred in projects with high building quality standards, and where owners want to reduce their risk.
inCORRECT ANSWERS
Construction Manager as Adviser is a preferred choice for reducing project risk, but it is not always used for high building quality. Design-bid-build, is known for being low cost, which also can create low quality, as well as being high risk.
For reference, read Ballast Chapter 3.
Question 02
While on the construction site, the Project Architect Maryam Lanoir notices a defect in the work. Since this project is a Construction Manager as Advisor project delivery method, what should be her next steps?
Notify the Owner
Notify the Contractor
Notify the Construction Manager
With CMa projects, it is the architect’s responsibility to notify the Owner and the Construction Manager of any observed defects and deficiencies. See A232 – Article 4.2.2
The architect is not able to issue instructions to the superintendent. According to A232 – Article 3.9.1, it is only communications, not instructions that can be given to the superintendent.
Question 03
Jessica Trevi is an architect providing construction administration services on a Construction Manager as Advisor project. What is not a joint service that she provides?
Preparing change orders
CORRECT ANSWER
Preparing change orders or construction change directives is not a joint service provided the architect in construction administration.
Certifying applications for payment, RFI review and rejecting work is something that is done by both the CM and architect in a CMa project delivery.
I hope you like this mini quiz. Let me know how you did in the comments, or on the RMSM Studio Facebook page.
All of my recent practice questions are now available in one place, on the Practice Questions page in the top menu.
Mini Quiz from RMSM Studio on the Management of Risk For Architects
Risk Management is one of the key concepts in all stages of design. This is because whenever you are creating a building, you must always assume some risk. This is an essential concept for both Practice Management and Project Management. In the Wiley AHPP Guide for the Project Management (PjM) Exam, under the Risk Management chapter, they just say “All”. It’s that important. I hope you enjoy this mini quiz and as always, let me know how you did in the comments.
Question 01
Which types of firms will some underwriters have hesitation insuring?
Those with low deductibles
Those that don’t provide construction administration services
Those with a high number of inexperienced employees
Those using the AIA contract document suite
Question 02
Jay York, Esq. is an attorney who has been hired by Jasmine Board Architects. They have been hired to review their proposed insurance policies. Which of the following policy’s should Jay mark for further review with Jasmine Board Architects?
Indemnification for those not party to the Agreement
Client indemnity to architect for misuse of the architect’s drawings
Defending the Owner against third-party claims
Mutual indemnities between architects and consultants
All of the above
Question 03
Select all problematic words from the advertisement below created by Diedre Lock Associates:
Question 01
Those that don’t provide construction administration services
There is a high number of claims that arise when an architect only provides pre-construction services, as they are not there to defend themselves or their drawings.
Incorrect Answers
Those with low deductibles – Deductibles with another insurer would not affect another company’s coverage.
Those with a high number of inexperienced employees – As long as there are staff available that are qualified to complete the projects on hand, the number of inexperienced employees is irrelevant.
Those using the AIA contract document suite – Using a the standard AIA contract documents means that an insurer specializing in construction would be more likely to insure you, due to the industry’s familiarity with them.
Question 02
Policies that should be reviewed, due to being unmanageable risks, are:
Indemnification for those not party to the Agreement
Client indemnity to architect for misuse of the architect’s drawings
Defending the Owner against third-party claims
Incorrect Answers
Mutual indemnities between architects and consultants is actually a beneficial policy for an architect’s agreement. Study B101 8.4 for a good model of policies.
Question 03
The problematic words in this advertisement were:
Ensure
Best
100% Completion
All
Assured
Thorough
Best
Guaranteed
I hope you like this mini quiz. Let me know how you did in the comments, or on the RMSM Studio Facebook page.
If you’re studying for Practice Management, feel free to check out my other Mini Quiz on the AIA A201 Document and my post on passing the PcM Exam. I have also created a one-page study guide based on the methods I used to pass PcM on the first try.
If you’re studying for Construction & Evaluation or Project Management, check out my Mini Quiz on the AIA C401 Contract.
All of my recent practice questions are also available for you to scroll through below, or on the specific page I’ve created for them at the top of the website:
As I continue to study for ARE 5.0 Project Management, one of the areas I struggle with the most is Quality Management, but not for the reason you might think. For me, a lot of the concepts seem so obvious that it’s difficult for me to retain. So I’ll be reading it, agreeing with everything it says, but not retaining any specifics. So I’ve been trying to work on that in ways that will stay in my memory. Videos like the one below, and other tools are great visual aids to help me retain those details.
Practice Problem: Quality Management
Which of these items are not elements of a Quality Management (QM) in Construction Procurement?
Effective In-House Procurement Protocol
Beneficial Support Resources
Constant Monitoring and Documentation
Document Access and Control
Correct Answer
Document Access and Control is an Element of Quality Management in Construction Administration.
Wrong Answers
All of these items are Elements of Quality Management in Construction Procurement:
Effective In-House Procurement Protocol
Beneficial Support Resources
Constant Monitoring and Documentation
For reference for this question, check out AHPP Chapter 12.4.
Let me know how you did on this question, and make sure to follow RMSM Studios on Facebook and Instagram!
ARE 5.0 Project Management (PjM) Practice Question on firm utilization rates.
Utilization Rates are an important part of how firms track the hours spent on direct versus indirect labor, and are considered one of the 7 Key Financial Performance Indicators for architecture firms. I created this practice problem using the concept and real ways that it might change over time. Hyperfine is a great resource for practice questions and examples on both practice and project management concepts, as part of their Financial Formulas Workbook and their ARE 5.0 Courses.
Here’s a video of them going through a set of utilization rate questions.
Practice Question: Utilization Rates
The image below shows the salaries and utilization rates for the previous year for SKY Architects.
The salaries and utilization rates for this year are expected to be exactly the same, with the following changes:
Baboucar will be on paid paternity leave for 3 months
Yandeh will only be working part-time to pursue her graduate degree in historic presentation. Her utilization rate will be cut in half.
With these changes in mind, calculate the following:
Estimated annual direct labor budget
Yandeh R.’s estimated annual direct labor hours
Correct Answers
Question 01
In order to calculate the estimated annual budget we first need to calculate the direct labor budget for each member of staff:
Samuel: $170,000 * 0.5 = $85,000
Jeoffrey: $60,000 * 0 = $0
Yandeh: $90,500 salary, utilization rate = 0.8 * 0.5 = 0.4, so Yandeh’s direct salary this year will be $90,500 * 0.4 = $36,200
Fatou:$90,500 * 0.9 = $81,450
Baboucar: $70,000 salary, but he will only be working for 9 months out of 12, so we calculate 9/12 of his salary or 75%. So $70,000 * 0.75 = $52,500. With a consistent utilization rate of 0.9, his direct salary is $52,500 * 0.9 = $47,250
If we add up all of these direct salaries, we get $249,900.
Question 02
In order to calculate Yandeh’s estimated direct labor hours, we first need to determine hours per year. The number of hours in a year is 2080. Her current utilization rate is 80% but with her new graduate program, her utilization rate is reduced to 40% for this year.
So we would calculate 2080 hours * 0.4 = 832 direct labor hours this year.
Let me know how you did on this question, and make sure to follow RMSM Studios on Facebook and Instagram! Feel free to look through my blog for additional PjM Practice Questions and Mini Quizzes. You can search by tags, or by categories. If you have any questions, or you want to tell me how you did, leave a comment on the blog or on my Facebook page.
ARE 5.0 Practice question from RMSM Studio on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, which is celebrating its 30 year anniversary!
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Try your hand at this practice problem I created today based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which had its 30th anniversary this week! Though this is something we study as a mandatory code to be enforced in architecture and the ARE specifically, it’s still important to remember the impact this legislation has on the lives of people everyday. You can also check out these great videos from Archicorner as a study reference for ADA design. Here’s a great video from them on the differences between ADA and Building Code Accessibility.
Here’s an additional great article from ArchDaily, which provides a simple guide to using ADA standards.
Practice Problem: ADA
The ADA prevents discrimination based on which of the following:
Discrimination based on gender, for employers with 15+ employees
Discrimination based on disability, regardless of employer size
Discrimination based on age, for employers with 20+ employees
Discrimination based on disbility, for employers with 15+ employees
Correct Answer
Discrimination based on disability, for employers with 15+ employees.
Wrong Answers
The Civil Right Act, Title VII prevents discrimination based on gender, race color, religion, national origin and sexual orientation for employers with 15+ employees.
ADA prevents discrimination based on disability specifically for employers with 15+ employees.
ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment Act) prevents discrimination based on age.
Let me know how you did on this question, and make sure to follow RMSM Studios on Facebook and Instagram! For more practice questions you can check out my mini quizzes, or some of the awesome practice exams created by Designer Hacks (which I just used today, got a 77% lol) and the Walking the ARE Practice Exams. As always, happy studying!
Mini Quiz from RMSM Studio on the Project Planning and Management
I’ve created these questions based on the Ballast Review Manual, which you can find for on Amazon, or search for a used version in the ARE Facebook Group. The Ballast Review Manual comes very highly recommended for multiple ARE exams, and you can check out the Young Architect website for a 15% off discount from PPI2Pass.
Question 01
Within the Critical Path Method (CPM), which items are denoted by a solid arrow?
Dummies
Tasks
The Critical Path
Dependencies
Question 02
Which elements form part of the project work plan? (Select all that apply)
Allocation of time and fees
Staff Required
Instruments of service
Milestones
Contingencies
Consultant work and fees
Question 03
Architects should consider the follow issues when assembling a project team, except for: (Select one)
Billing Rates
Project Size and Complexity
Personalities
Contractor Experience
Question 04
What is the typical fee percentage for Design Development?
15%
20%
30%
40%
Question 01
Within the Critical Path Method (CPM), which items are denoted by a solid arrow?
Tasks
Dummies are represented by dashed arrows, as opposed to the heavy dashed arrows which show the Critical Path. Dummies are another name for Dependencies.
Ballast, page 4-6
Question 02
Which elements form part of the project work plan? (Select all that apply)
Allocation of time and fees
Staff Required
Milestones
Consultant work and fees
Though the project can be broken down into phases and individual tasks, the instruments of service themselves are not an element of the project work plan.
Although time and fees allocated to the project can both include contingencies, contingencies themselves are not an element of the project work plan.
Ballast, page 4-8
Question 03
Architects should consider the follow issues when assembling a project team, except for: (Select one)
Contractor Experience
Architects do not make the selection for contractors, though contractors can be a part of the overall project team.
Ballast, page 4-4
Question 04
What is the typical fee percentage for Design Development?
20%
On a typical design-bid-build project, the fee percentages are as follows:
Schematic Design: 15%
Design Development: 20%
Construction Documentation: 40%
Bidding: 5%
Contract Administration: 20%
Ballast, page 4-9
I hope you like this mini quiz. Let me know how you did in the comments, or on the RMSM Studio Facebook page. If you got none of them right, it’s time to hit the books!
If you’re studying for Project Management, feel free to check out my other Mini Quiz on the A201, and if you’re studying for Construction & Evaluation, check out my Mini Quiz on C401.
Mini Quiz from RMSM Studio on the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional COnduct 2018
I’ve created these questions based on the 2018 AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which you can find for free here. This is a very short, easy to read document, but very important to professional practice.
Question 01
Which Ethical Standards fall under Canon VI: Obligations to the Environment?
Alternative energy sources
Building materials
Indoor Air Quality
None of the Above
Question 02
Penalties imposed by the National Ethics Council include: (Select all that apply)
Censure, with appeal
Admonition, with appeal
Litigation, with appeal
Suspension of membership, with appeal
Termination of membership, without appeal
Question 03
An architect wants to file a claim against another architect using Rule 4.101 of the Code of Ethics. What actions must they take?
Consult their legal counsel
Ensure proof of violation of one other rule
Consult their insurance company
Ensure proof of fraud based on an independent finding of a violation of the law
Question 04
What Canon does this statement fall within:
Members shall continually seek to raise the standards of aesthetic excellence, architectural education, research, training, and practice.
Canon II: Obligations to the Public
Canon I: General Obligations
Canon V: Obligations to Colleagues
Canon IV: Obligations to the Profession
Question 01
Which Ethical Standard fall under Canon VI: Obligations to the Environment?
Building materials
All other answers are not ethical standards under Canon VI: Obligations to the Environment.
Question 02
Penalties imposed by the National Ethics Council include: (Select all that apply)
Censure, with appeal
Admonition, with appeal
Suspension of membership, with appeal
Litigation is not a penalty imposed by the Natinoal Ethics Council. All penalties allow for appeal procedures, so “Termination of membership, without appeal” is incorrect.
Question 03
An architect wants to file a claim against another architect using Rule 4.101 of the Code of Ethics. What actions must they take?
Ensure proof of violation of one other rule
Under Canon IV: Obligations to the Profession: “Enforcement of Rule 4.101 refers to and supports enforcement of other Rules. A violation of Rule 4.101 cannot be established without proof of a pertinent violation of at least one other Rule.”
Question 04
What Canon does this statement fall within:
Members shall continually seek to raise the standards of aesthetic excellence, architectural education, research, training, and practice.
Canon I: General Obligations
I hope you like this mini quiz. Let me know how you did in the comments, or on the RMSM Studio Facebook page. If you’re studying for Practice Management, feel free to check out my other Mini Quiz on the A201 and my post on passing the PcM Exam, and if you’re studying for Construction & Evaluation, check out my Mini Quiz on C401.
A 4 question quiz on the General Conditions of the Contract for Construction. The answers are provided after the questions. The A201 contract is available as a free download from the AIA website, and I’m currently studying it in preparation for my upcoming Project Management (PjM) and Construction & Evaluation (CE) Exam. It is listed within the ARE 5.0 Reference Matrix as a study material for PjM. Good luck studying, and if you have any questions, let me know in the comments!
Question 01
When does the Owner not have to share information about their financial arrangements for the Work?
Prior to the commencement of the work
When the Owner fails to make payments as per the contract documents
When a change in the work materially changes the contract sum
When the Architect issues a Certificate for Payment
Question 02
A Modification is all of the following, except for a: (Choose 1)
Construction Change Directive
Written Order for a minor change in work issued by the Owner
Change Order
Written Amendment to the Contract signed by both parties
Question 03
The Contractor shall immediately suspend any operations if they encounter the following conditions, except for:
(Choose 1)
Wetlands
Archaeological Sites
Burial Markers
Contract Documents in violation of applicable laws
Question 04
Select all items provided and paid for by the Contractor:
Sales Tax
Approvals for Occupancy
Temporary facilities not incorporated in the work
Utilities
Equipment and Machinery
Transportation
Question 01
When does the Owner not have to share information about their financial arrangements for the Work?
Correct Answers
When the Architect issues a Certificate for Payment
Incorrect Answers
Prior to the commencement of the work – Article 2.2.1 Prior to commencement of work and upon written request of the contractor, the owner shall furnish to the contractor evidence that the owner has made financial arrangements
When the Owner fails to make payments as per the contract documents & When a change in the work materially changes the contract sum – See Article 2.2.2
Question 02
A Modification is all of the following, except for a: (Choose 1)
Correct Answer
Written Order for a minor change in work issued by the Owner – Owners do not issue minor changes in work, those are issue by the Architect
Incorrect Answers
Construction Change Directive, Change Order, and a Written Amendment to the Contract signed by both parties: are all listed under Article 1.1.1 as Modifications.
Question 03
The Contractor shall immediately suspend any operations if they encounter the following conditions, except for:
Correct Answer
contract documents in violation of applicable laws – Article 3.2.3 The Contractor is not required to suspend work upon discovery of a nonconformity of the Contract Documents, only required to promptly report to the Architect
Incorrect Answers
According to Article 3.7.5 if the COntractor discovers any of these conditions, they shall immediately suspend operations:
Wetlands
Archaeological sites
Burial markers
Question 04
Select all items provided and paid for by the Contractor:
Correct Answer
Sales Tax – Article 3.6 Taxes
Temporary facilities not incorporated in the work – Article 3.4.1
Utilities – Article 3.4.1
Equipment and Machinery – Article 3.4.1
Transportation – Article 3.4.1
Incorrect Answers
All other items are to be provided by the Contractor.
Approvals for Occupancy – Provided by the owner as per Article 2.3.1
Thanks for taking part in my quiz, let me know how you did in the comments! You can also check out my mini quiz for C401 or check out my reviews for other practice exam providers.
RMSM Studio 