About ARE 4.0: Structural Systems
The Structural Systems division of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) is administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB).
The ARE requires the identification and incorporation of general structural and lateral forces principles in the design and construction of buildings.
The table below shows the format and number of questions for the ARE 4.0 Structural System Division:
The ARE requires the identification and incorporation of general structural and lateral forces principles in the design and construction of buildings.
The table below shows the format and number of questions for the ARE 4.0 Structural System Division:
1.) Multiple Choice
- The percentages of questions given from each topic are:
GEneral structures 50-54 percent of scored items
A. Principles
Apply general structural principles to building design
and construction.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate the structural loads and conditions that
affect building design through use of engineering principles and
functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate building structural systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of structural design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
general structural design.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze the impact of structural decisions on the
construction process.
2. Construction Materials
Apply knowledge of the properties of materials
that affect their structural characteristics.
C. Codes & Regulations
Incorporate building codes, specialty codes, and
other regulatory requirements in the design of
general structural systems.
1. Government and Regulatory Requirements
Assess and apply building codes and other regulations
that affect structural systems.
Apply general structural principles to building design
and construction.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate the structural loads and conditions that
affect building design through use of engineering principles and
functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate building structural systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of structural design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
general structural design.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze the impact of structural decisions on the
construction process.
2. Construction Materials
Apply knowledge of the properties of materials
that affect their structural characteristics.
C. Codes & Regulations
Incorporate building codes, specialty codes, and
other regulatory requirements in the design of
general structural systems.
1. Government and Regulatory Requirements
Assess and apply building codes and other regulations
that affect structural systems.
Seismic forces 18-22 percent of scored items
A. Principles
Apply seismic forces principles to building design
and construction.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate seismic loads and conditions that
affect building design through use of engineering principles
and functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate seismic load resisting systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of seismic load design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
seismic forces design.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze construction details and non-structural elements
relative to their resistance to seismic forces.
2. Construction Materials
Consider construction materials relative to their
resistance to seismic forces.
C. Codes & Regulations
Incorporate building codes, specialty codes, and other
regulatory requirements related to seismic forces.
1. Government and Regulatory Requirements
Assess and apply building codes and regulations with respect
to the design of structures for resistance to seismic forces.
Apply seismic forces principles to building design
and construction.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate seismic loads and conditions that
affect building design through use of engineering principles
and functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate seismic load resisting systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of seismic load design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
seismic forces design.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze construction details and non-structural elements
relative to their resistance to seismic forces.
2. Construction Materials
Consider construction materials relative to their
resistance to seismic forces.
C. Codes & Regulations
Incorporate building codes, specialty codes, and other
regulatory requirements related to seismic forces.
1. Government and Regulatory Requirements
Assess and apply building codes and regulations with respect
to the design of structures for resistance to seismic forces.
wind forces 18-22 percent of scored items
A. Principles
Apply lateral forces principles to the design and
construction of buildings to resist wind forces.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate wind loads and conditions that
affect building design through use of engineering principles
and functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate wind load resisting systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of wind load design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
wind forces.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze construction details and non-structural elements
relative to their resistance to wind forces
2. Construction Materials
Consider construction materials relative to their resistance to
wind forces.
C. Codes & Regulations
Incorporate building codes and other regulatory
requirements related to wind forces.
1. Government and Regulatory Requirements
Assess and apply building codes and regulations with respect to
the design of structures for resistance to wind forces.
Apply lateral forces principles to the design and
construction of buildings to resist wind forces.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate wind loads and conditions that
affect building design through use of engineering principles
and functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate wind load resisting systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of wind load design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
wind forces.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze construction details and non-structural elements
relative to their resistance to wind forces
2. Construction Materials
Consider construction materials relative to their resistance to
wind forces.
C. Codes & Regulations
Incorporate building codes and other regulatory
requirements related to wind forces.
1. Government and Regulatory Requirements
Assess and apply building codes and regulations with respect to
the design of structures for resistance to wind forces.
lateral forces 7-9 percent of scored items
A. Principles
Apply lateral forces principles to the design and
construction of buildings.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate lateral loads and conditions that affect
building design through use of engineering principles and
functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate lateral load resisting systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of lateral load design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
lateral forces.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze construction details and non-structural elements
relative to their resistance to lateral forces.
2. Construction Materials
Consider construction materials relative to their resistance to
lateral forces.
Apply lateral forces principles to the design and
construction of buildings.
1. Building Design
Analyze and investigate lateral loads and conditions that affect
building design through use of engineering principles and
functional requirements.
2. Building Systems and their Integration
Determine appropriate lateral load resisting systems
and components.
3. Implications of Design Decisions
Evaluate the impact of lateral load design decisions on other
building design issues.
B. Materials & Technology
Analyze the implications of design decisions in the selection
of systems, materials, and construction details related to
lateral forces.
1. Construction Details and Constructability
Analyze construction details and non-structural elements
relative to their resistance to lateral forces.
2. Construction Materials
Consider construction materials relative to their resistance to
lateral forces.
2.) Structural Layout Vignette
The following design methods have been used for the test questions:
- Design a schematic framing plan for a one-story building with a multi-level roof.
The following design methods have been used for the test questions:
- For wood structures, Allowable Stress Design Method
- For steel structures, Load and Resistance Factor Design Method
- For concrete structures, Strength Design Method