Along with changes to the division structure and test format, the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) 5.0 also features a refined score report, with four levels of descriptive feedback for failed divisions. Extending ARE 4.0’s three-level score reports, ARE 5.0’s score reports provide an additional level of feedback to give you more information as you prepare to retest. As you test, refer to this convenient guide to better understand the new score reports.
Pass or Fail
All score reports are clearly labeled pass or fail along the top of the first page. On passing score reports, the division's expiration date—five years after the date of your exam—is also noted. Reports include a verification link should anyone need to confirm the authenticity of your score. All of your rolling clock information is provided on the lower half of the first page. Learn more about the NCARB rolling clock.
Division Content and Descriptive Feedback
The content areas assessed in the division are described on the top half of the second page. On failing score reports, these descriptions correspond with the descriptive feedback chart provided at the bottom half of the second page. Descriptive feedback is not provided on passing score reports for several reasons— most importantly because the exam is designed to assess your knowledge and skills, not to be used as a teaching tool.
If you failed, use the descriptive feedback to guide your preparation for your retest. It’s a good idea to focus more of your studies on the content areas marked as Level 3 or 4.
The levels as described at the end of a failing score report are:
Level 1: Performance at this level exceeds the minimum performance necessary to demonstrate competency.
Level 2: Performance at this level meets the minimum performance necessary to demonstrate competency.
Level 3: Performance at this level does NOT meet the minimum performance necessary to demonstrate competency.
Level 4: Performance at this level is far below meeting the minimum performance necessary to demonstrate competency.
A pass/fail decision on ARE 5.0 is determined by the total number of items answered correctly; however, performance in the content areas with the larger percentage of content will have the greatest impact on a score.
Questions? Leave them in the comments below!
Comments
41 comments
I was hoping to pass CE after previously failing it just a few months ago (but not by a lot according to previous score reports). My new exam report completely flabergasted me with lower scores than I have ever received on CE. This doesn't make any sense with what I felt during the exam and I'm seriously considering paying the money to Review and Contest my exam. (If there is something obvious I am doing wrong- or clicking tolerance I keep messing up, I want to know, so I don't keep failing this exam). Has anyone gone through the Review process of an exam and can speak to being satisfied with that decision? And if I proceed with this choice, NCARB, what does this mean for the next time I take the exam?
I'm awaiting a proctors on Prometrics, going on now for 50 minutes. Anxiety and frustration is creeping in. What happens if I exit? Will it be counted against me? How long am I supposed to wait? If I have to retake it because no one (proctor) joined or failed it due to my increasing stress anxiety and frustration, will I have to pay again?
Hi Edmundo,
Please reach out to NCARB Customer Service for support with your online exam. We do not provide live tech support on this Community.
Would that be possible that you get all four sections at level 2. But still fail at the exam? I just did my PCM yesterday, and my report is exactly the same as the example shown above (all level 2). But in reality, it's a FAIL. I am a bit confused.
Hi Ni,
No, it is not possible to get all Level 2 scores and still fail an exam. The example above contains two Level 3 scores and represents a failing score report. If you pass an exam, you will not receive section level feedback.
If you have concerns about your score report, I recommend reaching out to NCARB Customer Service for assistance.
Does anyone know if scoring level 1 for content areas 4 & 5, level 2 for the larger content area 1 and level 3 for remaining content 2 and 3 areas compare to the announced cut score of 57-62% of PDD could equal a pass? I already emailed NCARB on my thoughts of my score possibly being a pass and hoping for a positive response. Wondering if anyone had similar experience. Although score came out level 3 of the last two content areas, I finished feeling I hit most of those questions and feel no way I would have missed all those questions. I feel I would have gotten at least 10% or more of those correct, which in total would likely meet the cut score of 57-62%. So I’m Wondering could there be a computer scoring kink like if my drag and drop bubble or points were correct but didn’t get picked up because of slight detail bubble misalignment Or any other reason like clicking on a note per instructions but maybe the computer scoring could be scanning for the detail area instead of the note?
Hi Melissa,
Scoring on the ARE goes through extensive quality control testing and ongoing analysis for potential anomalies. If you are concerned about the accuracy of your score report, you can request a Score Verification. Please contact NCARB's Customer Service team with any additional questions regarding your performance on the exam.
How long should I wait to hear back from NCARB on my matter? I emailed twice and no response..
Hi Carolina,
I will reach out to our Customer Relations team directly regarding your inquiry.
Hi NCARB and all,
I took PcM yesterday for the first time, and received my failing Score Report.
I had previously taken CE and PjM, and successfully passed on my first attempts.
*Side note: The example score report shown above is misleading - on the 1st page that it is a "PASS", but the 2nd page gives a feedback/breakdown section, which would not be provided if it was a "PASS" attempt...
Regarding my PcM exam yesterday, I received "Level 2" in Areas 1 & 2, and "Level 3" in Areas 2 & 4. So in all (by percentages), I "passed" the middle 2 Areas, but "failed" the largest and smallest 2 Areas. Likely somewhere just north of 50% overall.
Can anyone let me know if this would be worth a Score Verification, and/or what the % required on this Practice Management PcM exam is?
Also, I wish we did not have to wait a full 2 months to retake. I feel as though I could pass this next week after re-tackling the lower result Areas.
As a follow up to my previous comment, I did find a % breakdown for each division.
Source: https://www.ncarb.org/blog/what-score-do-you-need-to-pass-the-are
How Many Questions Do I Need Correct to Pass?
Each division of the ARE measures different content knowledge areas. The difference in knowledge areas and the relative difficulty of the questions that make up that content area vary between divisions; therefore, expectations around how many questions you will need to answer correctly also changes from division to division.
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