Arch LunchboxA modular approach for the most efficient and convenient ARE® study guide
Arch Lunchbox modules break each ARE® 5.0 division into focused study cards: the concepts, contract clauses, formulas, and diagrams you actually get tested on, each capped with an exam-style practice question.
A consistent study structure for all six divisions.
Each ARE® 5.0 division is organized into numbered modules by NCARB® section. Topics range from the AIA contract family in PcM to codes and systems integration in PPD. Study the modules in order, take a quiz after each section, and track your confidence as you go.
Content is maintained against NCARB®’s current ARE® 5.0 specifications, including the exam objective and case-study changes effective April 27, 2026.
Practice Management
Ethics, firm operations, standard of care, insurance, finance formulas, delivery methods & the AIA contract family.
Project Management
Schedules, fees and work planning, contracts in action, project team coordination, and quality control.
Programming & Analysis
Programming, site analysis, zoning & entitlements, climate-responsive design, project financing, and building codes.
Project Planning & Design
Schematic design thinking: codes, systems integration, and design logic.
Project Development & Documentation
Detailing, specifications, and the documents that make buildings real.
Construction & Evaluation
Preconstruction, bidding, construction administration, payments, closeout, and building systems evaluation.
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Runs in your browser. No install. Progress saved to your account and synced across your devices.
- All six divisions, live today
- 629 modules
- 1,400+ exam-style questions
- 520+ diagrams
- Timed section quizzes
- Private confidence tracking and notes
Prefer to work one on one?
Brian is a licensed architect and ARE® tutor who works with a small number of candidates each week. Sessions focus on the division and topics you’re studying. Bring questions or modules you want to review, and you’ll leave with a specific study plan.
Focused modules with the detail you need.
Each module explains why the topic matters, the rules you need for the exam, mistakes candidates often make, and a practice question to check your understanding.
Rich study cards
Each card brings together the key rules, comparison tables, AIA clause references, formulas, and common mistakes for one exam topic.
Exam-style questions
Every module ends with an ARE®-style question: pick an answer, reveal the logic, and learn why the wrong options are wrong.
Diagrams for complex topics
Original diagrams make complex concepts easier to understand—from contract relationships and timelines to building systems and environmental design.
Section quizzes
Take a timed quiz after each NCARB® section to see what you understand and what needs another review.
Confidence tracking
Rate every module low / medium / high, filter to what's weak, and add your own notes, all saved privately to your account and synced across devices.
Sized for a lunch break
Each module is a few minutes of focused reading, not a chapter. Start one on your phone between meetings and pick it up on a laptop that night.
Summary
Key points
Common misconception
Practice question
Pick an answer to check yourself ↑
What students say about tutoring.
What candidates say after working with Brian:
Brian has been incredible help throughout my ARE® journey and helped me pass my second exam with just three weeks of working with him. He is exceptionally versed in the subjects of the built environment and contracts.
It has been exactly what I needed for not only good information, but him making sure I am digesting and fully understanding the context we go over. Along with that, he is extremely well organized and thorough.
He’s intuitive enough to pick up on your weaknesses and come up with great strategies to improve on them. If you are studying for the architects exam, he’s absolutely the tutor you want to have.
Individual results vary.
Start with the division you’re studying now.
Choose a division and open the first module. Each card focuses on a specific ARE® topic, with explanations, diagrams, common mistakes, and a practice question. Create a free Starter account to get started and save your progress as you study.