TASC Housing and Design study plan

Define each stage of the family life cycle and list the housing needs and space demands typical of each stage

Compare how household composition, income, and age of children shift housing priorities across at least four life-cycle stages

Build a personal glossary of 20 housing-needs terms (e.g., affordability burden, crowding, accessibility) with your own definitions

Explain how housing decisions reflect values, culture, and life-cycle transitions in short written examples

Analyze how needs versus wants shape housing choice and identify trade-offs buyers and renters commonly face

Apply a decision-making process (identify criteria, weight them, compare options) to two contrasting household scenarios

Interpret basic housing affordability measures such as the 30-percent-of-income guideline and compute them for sample households

Distinguish among rental, ownership, cooperative, and shared-housing arrangements by rights and responsibilities

Identify the consumer protections and documents involved in a housing transaction, such as leases, disclosures, and inspection reports

Evaluate the roles of real estate agents, lenders, inspectors, and attorneys in the selection process

Assess how location factors (commute, schools, services, zoning) affect long-term housing satisfaction and resale value

Practice comparing listings by extracting and normalizing key facts into a comparison sheet

Define the elements of design (line, form, space, texture, color, pattern) and identify each in real interiors

Explain the principles of design (balance, rhythm, emphasis, proportion, scale, unity) and diagnose which principle a room succeeds or fails at

Apply color theory including hue, value, intensity, and common harmony schemes to select palettes for two rooms

Describe how light, both natural and artificial, alters perceived color and form

Convert design principles into layout choices by explaining how balance and proportion influence furniture placement

Draft a scaled floor plan for a studio or one-bedroom unit using standard furniture dimensions

Calculate circulation clearances and apply minimum path-width rules to a proposed layout

Identify the three functional zones (living, working, sleeping) and show how to define them without walls

Solve at least three common layout problems, such as a windowless bedroom, a narrow galley kitchen, or a dual-purpose living space

Plan storage and organization by estimating needed volume and locating built-in versus freestanding options

Adapt a plan for accessibility and aging in place using universal-design features

Compare open-plan and compartmentalized layouts by trade-offs in flexibility, acoustics, and privacy

Classify common materials and finishes by durability, cost, maintenance, and appropriate use (flooring, countertops, wall finishes, upholstery)

Match furnishing scale and material to room function and household composition, including children and pets

Evaluate textile and finish performance using terms like abrasion resistance and cleanability without relying on brand claims

Estimate a simple materials budget for one room and compare two finish options

Identify major home safety hazards (falls, burns, poisoning, electrical, fire) and the design or maintenance fixes for each

Explain routine maintenance schedules and how deferred maintenance affects cost and safety

Apply sustainability concepts such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and material reuse to housing choices

Integrate all six domains in a timed mixed review and correct every missed item