Give yourself the best chance at success
Our members report passing their exams at 34% higher rates than the NCARB-published national average
ARE® Overall
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg.
84%
55%
Practice Management
(PcM)
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg
86%
51%
Project Management
(PjM)
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg.
89%
63%
Programming & Analysis (PA)
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg.
85%
50%
Project Planning & Design (PPD)
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg.
80%
45%
Project Dev. & Documentation (PDD)
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg.
88%
57%
Construction & Evaluation (CE)
Pass Rate
Black Spectacles
NCARB National Avg.
90%
66%
*Source: Black Spectacles rates are self-reported by members who use Black Spectacles materials to study for the ARE. National average pass rates are reported by NCARB on a yearly basis.
So, why are our scores so much higher?
We were the first to have all 6 divisions approved by NCARB, and we're constantly reviewing our material to make sure it stays in lockstep with their exam objectives. That's part of the key to our success—but there's a lot more where that comes from.
Created by architects, for architects
There's a lot that goes into getting your architecture license—but unless you've been there before, you might not know where to even begin.
We've been there before. Now we're here to help you get there, too. When you study with Black Spectacles, you get:
Expert reviews on everything we do
All our content, from videos to flashcard definitions, is created and reviewed by educators, learning experts, and licensed architects to make sure it's aligned with NCARB's objectives and accruate.
Practice exams that feel like the real thing
Go into exam day having practiced on tests that look and feel just like the real ARE exam. Our questions and tools are built to mimic the ARE, so you can focus on the content, not the format.
Resources to support you beyond the ARE
There's more to success than exam scores. Our community and library of other resources give you the tools and knowledge you'll need to succeed not just on exam day, but also on all the days that follow.