Free ARE PPD Practice Exam (Project Planning & Design)
Code, systems, assemblies and design-integration questions with case studies, every answer explained.
A south-facing classroom wing in a mixed climate needs summer shading but winter sun. Which strategy best meets both goals?
123 original PPD questions · 7 case studies · 48% of attempts passed in 2025
PPD practice questions by section
NCARB divides Project Planning & Design into 5 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.
Environmental Conditions & Context (10–16%)
About 13 of 100 questions · 3 objectives
Building placement, sustainable design strategies and neighborhood context
Codes & Regulations (16–22%)
About 19 of 100 questions · 3 objectives
Zoning and environmental rules, building code, egress and accessibility, and coordinating several codes
Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies (19–25%)
About 22 of 100 questions · 4 objectives
MEP, structural and special systems, and materials and assemblies
Project Integration of Program & Systems (32–38%)
About 35 of 100 questions · 4 objectives
Building configuration, integrating systems, program and environmental conditions into the design
Project Costs & Budgeting (8–14%)
About 11 of 100 questions · 3 objectives
Design alternatives, cost estimates and design changes to meet the budget
Case studies
20 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.
7 free drills in PPD; each drill’s first attempt is free.
Ready for the full exam?
100 questions on the real 4 hr 5 min 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 PPD exam at a glance
Project Planning & Design covers schematic design and design development: siting the building, zoning and code compliance, structural, MEP and special systems, materials and assemblies, integrating program and systems, and cost. Facts below are from NCARB’s ARE 5.0 Guidelines effective October 1, 2026, and its website.
- Questions
- 100 items: 91 scored and 9 unscored pretest items you cannot identify
- Time
- 4 hr 5 min of testing time and 45 minutes of optional break time, in a 5 hr appointment
- Case studies
- Up to 9 case studies with up to 20 questions, after the standalone questions
- Question types
- Multiple choice, check-all-that-apply and hotspot; one point each, no partial credit
- Passing score
- NCARB: 65–71% 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: 50% · 2024: 47% · 2025: 48%
- Sections
- Environmental Conditions & Context 10–16%; Codes & Regulations 16–22%; Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies 19–25%; Project Integration of Program & Systems 32–38%; Project Costs & Budgeting 8–14%
What PPD tests
- Project Integration of Program & Systems is the largest section (32–38%): building configuration, where to put the core, shafts and mechanical rooms, how program, structure and daylight shape the plan.
- Building Systems, Materials, & Assemblies (19–25%) asks you to choose structural systems, HVAC types, plumbing and electrical approaches, acoustics and fire protection, and wall and roof assemblies that meet the program, code and budget.
- Codes & Regulations (16–22%) applies zoning and the building code to the design: occupant load, exits, travel distance, fire-resistance ratings and accessible routes.
- Environmental Conditions & Context (10–16%) and Project Costs & Budgeting (8–14%) cover orientation, passive strategies, neighborhood fit, cost estimates and design changes to meet a budget.
Our practice exam draws questions per section inside NCARB’s expected counts and ends with 6 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 PPD exam?
Project Planning & Design has 100 items: 91 scored and 9 unscored pretest items. You get 4 hours 5 minutes of testing time and 45 minutes of optional break time, in a 5-hour appointment. The division includes up to 9 case studies with up to 20 case study items.
What score do you need to pass PPD?
NCARB says you need to answer between 65 and 71 percent of the scored items correctly to pass Project Planning & Design. 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 PPD 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?
100 questions on the real 4 hr 5 min 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.