Becoming an architect is truly a dream job. With a median average salary of $93,000 and a career that seamlessly blends art and science, architecture is a brilliant field for creatives and pragmatists alike.
Like anything worth pursuing, however, you’ll have to work hard to reach your goal. In this case, that means passing all six divisions of the Architect Registration Exam®… and let’s be honest, these exams are nothing to sneeze at, with pass rates as low as 50% in 2023.
The easiest way to boost your chances to pass? Buying the best ARE® prep course for you.
But with so many options, how do you choose? Luckily for you, I’m a little obsessed with exam prep. I’ve studied countless ARE prep courses, and in this article, I’ll walk you through my top picks. We’ll talk pricing, features, quality, and guarantees to help you select your perfect course.
Top 5 ARE Review Courses
- Best Overall: School of PE
- Best Live Courses: PPI2Pass
- Best for Visual Learners: Amber Book
- Most Practice Materials: Black Spectacles
- Best Accountability: Young Architect
Course Comparison
| Prep Provider |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
| Price | $240-$1,990 | $45-$495 | $255 | $149-$274 | $1,200-$2,400 |
| Discount |  | |  | | |
| Access Length | 1-12 Months | 1-12 Months | One Month | One Month | Access Until You Pass All Exams |
| Guarantees | | | | | |
| Delivery Type | On-Demand | Live Online and On-Demand | On-Demand, Short 1-on-1s | On-Demand, Virtual Workshops | On-Demand, Weekly Coaching |
1. School of PE: Best Overall
Since 2004, the School of PE has helped tens of thousands of professionals earn certifications worldwide. With an average student pass rate of 93% and a pass guarantee on its courses, it’s clear that the School of PE is a prep provider you can trust.
Their ARE 5.0 study materials are no exception to that standard of trust and excellence… but why don’t you judge that for yourself? Let’s take a look!
Course Features
What all are you getting in School of PE’s ARE 5.0 Ultimate Bundle? Let’s take a look:
- 12-month or monthly subscription options
- 24/7 student support
- Submit questions directly to instructors
- On-demand lecture video series
- Instructor-prepared course notes
- Personalized study plan
- Bank of practice questions
Course Discounts
Why spend more on your ARE prep course when you don’t have to? With our School of PE discount codes, you can save on your purchase!
Save Up to $300 on School of PE PE Courses
Save Up to $300 on School of PE FE Courses
Pros
- Stellar Support: Whether you need clarity on your coursework from your instructors or you’re having 3 AM tech issues, SoPE has the resources to help you thrive, including 24/7 support.
- Star Instruction: The instructors are integrated throughout the learning process via on-demand video lectures, Q&A messages, and even instructor-prepared course notes.
- Flexible Payment Models: Not every student needs a year’s worth of study materials. Save money via a monthly subscription, or use a payment plan for a year’s access to the complete bundle.
- Money-Back Pass Guarantee: School of PE puts their money where their mouth is thanks to their money-back pass guarantee. Simply follow the terms and get a full refund if you fail.
- Personalized Study Plan: Overwhelmed and unsure of where to start? Take a quick quiz and SoPE will create your perfect study schedule to help you make the most of your time.
Cons
- Lacks Live Learning: If you learn best from live classes and real-time instructor interaction, you may want to pick an alternative prep course.
- Wide Variety of Instructors: Having a lot of instructors can be good or bad, but it may feel jarring, and the quality wavers a bit in the mix.
Reviews
Here’s a review from a successful PE course taker:
“I just finished SoPE and felt pretty well prepared and luckily passed on my first attempt. I also skipped videos on topics I felt pretty good on like geometrics and geotechnical material. Their test bank was really helpful especially for the depth portion of the water resources and environmental.”
Another had this to say, acknowledging they joined at the worst time and still had a phenomenal experience:
“I took SoPE at it’s worse. Right as they transitioned from p&p to cbt. The lectures weren’t up to date for the new references and handbook, but the course prepared me so well. I had been out of school for 8 years and felt so prepared it was crazy. I felt so much better than I expected after being out of school so long.”
Bottom Line
Whether you’re drawn to School of PE’s top-notch student support, pass guarantee, monthly subscription model, or 93% pass rate, there’s a lot to love. It’s the combination of these reasons that makes SOPE a safe bet (and smart investment!) for aspiring architects looking to level up their ARE 5.0 study materials.
2. PPI: Best Live Courses
PPI2Pass has helped all manner of professionals pass their licensing exams since 1975, and that track record is clear in their high-quality materials. So clear, in fact, that Kaplan (a giant in the education space!) partnered with them to create an ARE powerhouse.
PPI2Pass is a rare Architect’s Registration Exam prep provider that offers live classes. When you add a pass guarantee and a great question bank on top, you’re in store for a phenomenal learning experience.
Course Features
Wondering what you get with PPI? Here’s an overview:
- Live online lectures (14 two-hour-long sessions)
- Instructor support
- Pass guarantee
- Customizable study calendar
- Digital flashcards
- Question bank with custom quiz options
- Two full-length practice exams
- Diagnostic exams
- Syllabus and homework assignments
- Testing tips and tricks
Course Discounts
Spend less on PPI with our promo codes, whether you want every live online package or just one $45 learning hub bundle.
Pros
- Live Classes: PPI2Pass is one of the only ARE prep options with live classes. Not only are they available, but they’re truly phenomenal for students who prefer a live, interactive environment.
- Proven Track Record: PPI has been a presence in the prep industry for over 50 years, and partnering with Kaplan only strengthened their quality and study materials.
- Pass Guarantee: In the exam review space, there’s nothing that instills more confidence and trust than a pass guarantee. Stop fretting about passing and get back to focused preparation.
- Structured Study: From their syllabus and homework assignments to their learning path interface, you’ll never have to waste time guessing what to work on next.
Cons
- No Ultimate Bundle: Unlike competitors, you can’t buy a bundle with all 6 divisions included. You have to cobble each course together, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
- Not Cheap: With all 6 live online course bundles, you’re looking at a total of around $3,000. However, the live courses are well worth the steeper price tag!
Reviews
Here are a few glowing PPI reviews:
“The PPI test questions/practice exams are very similar to how the questions are asked in the ARE. I mainly used their materials and passed each exam the first time.”
“(The best resource to pass the ARE 5.0 is) PPI2PASS by Kaplan. If you’re bad at reading and listening to seminars, I don’t think there’s a better resource. Lots of flash cards, sample questions, and full length practice exams. And all of the questions have explanations for why the right answer was the right answer and why the wrong answers were wrong. Also, the feedback engine is great, it will give you insight into where you have weaknesses in your knowledge so you can study those areas more. I credit them for my passing at all. It’s a monthly subscription so it can rack up quickly, but if you’re serious about passing, it’s worth it.”
Bottom Line
PPI2Pass is one of my favorite options for aspiring architects. If learning online is tough for you, PPI’s live online classes give you the opportunity to ask all of your burning questions and get instant live feedback from your instructor. Plus, thanks to their pass guarantee, you stop the study stress, get focused, and earn some well-deserved exam-day swagger.
3. Amber Book: Best for Visual Learners
Amber Book is a solid choice for ARE test prep, especially if you enjoy using videos, diagrams, and graphics to uplevel your skills. AB also features pass rates 20-30% higher than the national average, depending on the division.
With 50+ hours of fun, engaging video content and all the practice materials you could ever need, Amber Book is a reliable choice for passing the ARE exams.
Course Features
Amber Book doesn’t offer as wide a variety of resources compared to the competition; however, they still offer solid, high-quality options, such as:
- 50+ hours of illustrated/animated video lectures
- 500+ practice questions
- 800+ digital flashcards
- Weekly study sessions
- 20-minute 1-on-1 chats with architecture experts
- Practice exams
Pros
- Excellent Videos: If seeing concepts illustrated helps you learn, you will love Amber Book’s videos (save for one flaw in the Cons section below).
- Simple Monthly Flexibility: Amber Book doesn’t offer any standalone packages or a variety of subscription options. There’s just a single, flat fee to subscribe that you can cancel at any time.
- Try Before You Buy: AB offers an ARE course preview to candidates who want to get a feel for the resources before they invest.
- Prep to Pass: With pass rates 20-30% higher than the national average, you can arrive to the testing center on exam day cool, calm, and collected.
Cons
- No Package Variety: Where some students may appreciate Amber Book’s straightforward pricing model, others may be turned off by the inability to customize their experience.
- Lack of Features: Amber Book doesn’t offer live classes or a pass guarantee, both of which are major selling points that are noticeably absent.
- Mouth Sounds: If you have misophonia (that disgust and anger when you hear people eating), this is just not the choice for you. The narrator has a nice voice, but the wet lip smacking is horrendous.
Reviews
Here are some reviews from Amber Book students, though as you’ll see, they’re a little more mixed:
“I just passed all my exams. Definitely go for amber book. You learn so much.”
“I went thru the amber book and felt pretty confident with the material. Took PCM and failed so i am trying to reevaluate. A lot of the content didn’t seem relevant.”
Bottom Line
Amber Book offers an acceptable review course, but if you’re a visual learner, you can up that “acceptable” rating to “awesome.” However, their additional study tools, like their digital flashcards and practice questions, are no slouch, either. Ultimately, though it isn’t the best option, AB is a reasonable choice for future architects.
4. Black Spectacles: Most Practice Materials
Black Spectacles is lower on the list due to their lack of live classes, expensive premium tier, and bare-bones study materials. However, if you’re passionate about practice, you’ll appreciate the large volume of flashcards and questions. And don’t forget that oh-so-important pass guarantee, which helps cover retake fees if you fail.
Black Spectacles offers pass rates similar to Amber Book, often 20-30% higher than the national average. However, the price to pass can add up fast, and students may end up paying more than they bargained for with substantial monthly subscription fees.
Course Features
Black Spectacles’ subscriptions offer a decent number of resources, including:
- A blend of animated and “live-action” video lectures
- 1,400+ digital flashcards
- 2,000+ practice questions
- Practice exams
- Two types of quizzes
- Weekly virtual workshops with live Q&A
Pros
- Weekly Virtual Workshops: Black Spectacles’ weekly workshops with live Q&A allow students to connect with their peers and get clarity on tricky exam concepts.
- Lots to Offer: With over 1,400 flashcards and 2,000 questions to practice with, you’re getting access to plenty of learning opportunities in your subscription.
- Guaranteed to Succeed: With Black Spectacles’ Pass the ARE Guarantee, if you’re an Expert subscriber who fails your exam, consider your retake paid for!
Cons
- Expensive Expert Tier: If you want access to the weekly workshops and the pass guarantee (two of the three pros), you’ll need to pay a steep $329 per month. Competitors charge ~$250 monthly.
- Bare Bones: Though there are a lot of flashcards and practice questions, Black Spectacles doesn’t give much in the way of bonuses and additional tools.
Reviews
Reviews for Black Spectacles are a little less thrilling, mainly due to the lack of comprehensive materials:
“You need to read the recommended source materials in conjunction to have a chance. Very useful test prep subscription but nowhere near enough alone, not sure why they continue to pretend like it is when it most clearly is not.”
“Eh. They’re overly priced and their content is mediocre at best. There are a lot of much better resources out there for a lot less.”
Bottom Line
Black Spectacles probably isn’t the best choice for most candidates due to expensive pricing and a minimal number of materials to work with. However, I do appreciate their virtual workshops, pass guarantee, and an impressive number of practice materials, hence their inclusion in this list.
5. Young Architect: Best Accountability
Some courses only offer subscriptions, and some offer a blend of on-demand and live. Young Architect offers just one ARE prep resource: the ARE Boot Camp Coaching Program. The boot camp is expensive, but it may be worth the investment for candidates who value personalized coaching, peer interaction, and structured guidance.
The ARE Boot Camp is divided into two parts:
- Pro Practice: For candidates beginning their ARE exam journey
- Covers: Practice Management (PcM), Project Management (PjM), Construction and Evaluation (CE)
- Technical: For candidates in the second half of their exams
- Covers: Project Planning and Design (PPD), Project Development and Documentation (PDD)
- Requirements: Pass PcM, PjM, CE; study and take Programming and Analysis (PA)
Course Features
Young Architect offers the following in their ARE Boot Camp:
- Small groups of 12-14 participants per cohort
- 10-week structured experience
- Detailed, in-depth curriculum and syllabus
- Weekly coaching meetings
- Online study groups
- Note: Additional study materials will need to be purchased separately
Pros
- Personalized Coaching: If you crave 1-on-1 support in your study sessions, this could be a good choice, as there’s no shortage of bespoke teaching.
- Community Collaboration: Study better with others? You might appreciate Young Architect’s online study group and the ability to improve alongside your peers.
- Hard Deadlines and Accountability: If you struggle to self-motivate, the boot camp’s hard deadlines will help keep you accountable.
Cons
- Negative Reviews: Like no other course on this list, the Boot Camp, FB group, and even the owner have been described negatively, though I can’t personally vouch for any of this.
- Split Experience: Rather than getting access to everything at once, you’ll have to spend $1,200 twice ($2,400 total) to access both halves of the Boot Camp.
- Study Materials Not Included: “Campers” are provided with a list of resources they have to purchase alongside their investment, adding more money to an already pricey experience.
Reviews
Young Architect reviews are also mixed, but there’s an emphasis on the importance of a community and timelines. Meanwhile, discussions about the actual materials and instruction is much less positive.
“I myself do not recommend the Young Architect study materials (when I bought their stuff they only had Pro Practice portion of ARE) – they claim it’s the live discussion from study sessions and thus easier to study and not so dry, but it ends up being a waste of your time. You do not need to listen to a few people arguing for half an hour what’s the difference between change order and construction change directive, you just need someone to explain to you once and for all.”
“I like that the Young Architect Boot Camp keeps you accountable to a schedule or I would just never get anything done.”
Bottom Line
Young Architect’s ARE Boot Camp isn’t for most aspiring architects. The high price, lack of included materials, and negative perception surrounding the moral integrity of the course are offputting factors. However, there are also some really positive reviews, making it clear that it’s the right course for the right people.
Conclusion
Ultimately, if you want the best there is, I cannot recommend School of PE highly enough, closely followed by PPI. From their flexibility and personalization to stellar study materials and a pass guarantee, School of PE is an outstanding option for any aspiring architect.
Meanwhile, if you’re into live classes, take a look at Kaplan’s company, PPI. Stellar live instruction and a pass guarantee? You’re gonna love it.
Whichever prep course you choose, I know that if you put in the time and effort, you’ll have the results you’re after. Best of luck in your architectural career!
FAQs
The ARE exam is challenging, with an average pass rate of about 50–70%, depending on the division. Success depends on preparation, understanding of concepts, and time management during the test.
To pass the ARE 5.0, focus on consistent studying, using quality prep materials, and practicing with realistic exam questions. A solid study schedule and an understanding of key concepts are crucial.
The ARE 5.0 consists of six exams, each covering a specific area of architecture, such as practice management, project management, and construction evaluation.
You can fail each division of the ARE up to three times in a 12-month period, with no overall limit to the number of attempts.
On average, it takes candidates about two to three years to pass all six divisions of the ARE, but this varies based on individual schedules, skill/knowledge levels, and study habits.
