Free ARE CE Practice Exam (Construction & Evaluation)
Bidding, site observation, submittal and payment questions with case studies, every answer explained.
Which document records the date of substantial completion and the responsibilities of owner and contractor for security, utilities and insurance?
96 original CE questions · 6 case studies · 61% of attempts passed in 2025
CE practice questions by section
NCARB divides Construction & Evaluation into 4 sections and sets each one’s share of the exam. Every section has a free ten-question drill with an explanation after each answer, and the case study drill gives you three scenarios with ten questions.
Preconstruction Activities (17–23%)
About 15 of 75 questions · 3 objectives
Bidding and negotiation, contractor selection and cost adjustments before construction
Construction Observation (32–38%)
About 26 of 75 questions · 3 objectives
The architect’s role on site, conformance with documents and codes, and construction progress
Administrative Procedures & Protocols (32–38%)
About 26 of 75 questions · 4 objectives
RFIs and supplemental instructions, submittals, applications for payment and nonconforming work
Project Closeout & Evaluation (7–13%)
About 8 of 75 questions · 2 objectives
Substantial and final completion, closeout documents and building performance evaluation
Case studies
16 questions in our practice exam
A project scenario with one or two resources such as contracts, budgets, schedules, code or zoning excerpts and drawings, followed by three or four questions.
Mixed CE drill
Ten questions from all 4 sections
A quick check across the whole division before you sit the timed practice exam.
6 free drills in CE; each drill’s first attempt is free.
Ready for the full exam?
75 questions on the real 3 hr clock, standalone questions then case studies, with check-all-that-apply items, a score by section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillThe CE exam at a glance
Construction & Evaluation covers bidding and construction: advising the owner on bids and contractor selection, site observation, RFIs, submittals, change orders, applications for payment, nonconforming work, and closeout and post-occupancy evaluation. Facts below are from NCARB’s ARE 5.0 Guidelines effective October 1, 2026, and its website.
- Questions
- 75 items: 68 scored and 7 unscored pretest items you cannot identify
- Time
- 3 hr of testing time and 30 minutes of optional break time, in a 3 hr 40 min appointment
- Case studies
- Up to 7 case studies with up to 16 questions, after the standalone questions
- Question types
- Multiple choice, check-all-that-apply and hotspot; one point each, no partial credit
- Passing score
- NCARB: 58–66% of scored items correct, depending on the form
- Fee and retakes
- US$263 per attempt; retake after 60 days, at most three attempts in 12 months
- Pass rate
- 2023: 65% · 2024: 61% · 2025: 61%
- Sections
- Preconstruction Activities 17–23%; Construction Observation 32–38%; Administrative Procedures & Protocols 32–38%; Project Closeout & Evaluation 7–13%
What CE tests
- Construction Observation (32–38%) and Administrative Procedures & Protocols (32–38%) carry most of the division: what the architect does and does not do on site under AIA A201, RFIs, ASIs, construction change directives, change orders, submittal review and certifying payment.
- Preconstruction Activities (17–23%) covers addenda, bid evaluation, alternates, contractor qualifications and adjusting cost before award.
- Project Closeout & Evaluation (7–13%) covers substantial completion, punch lists, final payment, warranties, record documents and post-occupancy evaluation.
Our practice exam draws questions per section inside NCARB’s expected counts and ends with 5 case studies. It does not include hotspot items, and it scores every question, including the share that would be unscored pretest items on the real exam.
Common questions
How many questions are on the CE exam?
Construction & Evaluation has 75 items: 68 scored and 7 unscored pretest items. You get 3 hours of testing time and 30 minutes of optional break time, in a 3 hour 40 minute appointment. The division includes up to 7 case studies with up to 16 case study items.
What score do you need to pass CE?
NCARB says you need to answer between 58 and 66 percent of the scored items correctly to pass Construction & Evaluation. The exact cut score depends on the form you get, because forms differ slightly in difficulty. Every item is worth one point, with no partial credit and no penalty for a wrong answer. Pass or fail depends on your total across the division, not on any one section.
Can I retake CE if I fail?
You can retake a failed division 60 days after your previous attempt of that division, and take the same division no more than three times in any 12 months. Each attempt costs US$263. A failing score report shows your relative strengths and weaknesses by section on page two.
Are these real ARE questions?
No. NCARB keeps its exam content confidential, and candidates agree not to share it. Every question and case study here is original, written to the objectives NCARB publishes in the ARE 5.0 Guidelines, with an explanation and a reference for each answer.
Ready for exam day?
75 questions on the real 3 hr clock, standalone questions then case studies, with check-all-that-apply items, a score by section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillThe other ARE divisions
One ARE pass covers every division’s practice exam and drills.
Format, scoring, fees and pass rates checked November 2026: NCARB: ARE 5.0 Guidelines (effective October 1, 2026) · NCARB: ARE 5.0 question types · NCARB: What score do you need to pass the ARE? (updated June 2025) · NCARB: ARE 5.0 pass rates · NCARB: fees.
ARE® and Architect Registration Examination® are registered marks of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Game Assessment Prep is an independent practice site, not affiliated with or endorsed by NCARB. Every question and case study is original, written to the published ARE 5.0 objectives; none is an ARE question, a recalled question or taken from NCARB’s practice exams.