OAA Admission Exam study plan

Map the full Domain 1 and Domain 3 topic outline into a personal checklist with confidence ratings (1-5) for each subtopic

Define the architect's standard of care and differentiate it from a guarantee of perfect results, writing a one-paragraph contrast in your own words

List the typical phases of architectural service delivery and match each to the deliverables and decisions made at its close

Identify the primary regulatory instruments (codes, standards, referenced documents) that govern a project and note how each is adopted or enforced

Compare the major project delivery models (design-bid-build, design-build, construction management) on risk allocation, schedule, and cost certainty

Sequence the typical owner-architect agreement obligations from schematic design through construction contract administration

Explain professional ethics duties around competence, conflict of interest, and honest representation of credentials with two original scenarios each

Draft a plain-language summary of architect liability exposure and the role of professional liability insurance

Trace how a model building code is adopted, amended, and enforced at the local level, including the role of the authority having jurisdiction

Classify occupancy groups and construction types and apply them to three invented building scenarios

Compute basic egress requirements (occupant load, exit width, travel distance) for two hypothetical floor plans using stated assumptions

Distinguish prescriptive from performance compliance paths and note when each is appropriate

Apply fire-resistance and separation requirements to a hypothetical mixed-occupancy building and justify each rating chosen

Explain accessibility requirements for accessible routes, clear floor space, and reach ranges using dimensional reasoning

Describe how structural, mechanical, and electrical systems interact with code-driven life-safety requirements

Summarize the permit and inspection sequence from application through certificate of occupancy

Compare structural system families (frame, load-bearing wall, long-span) on span capability, lateral resistance, and coordination implications

Explain heat, air, and moisture movement through building enclosures and identify the control layers in an assembly

Describe the function and coordination requirements of primary mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in a mid-size commercial building

Evaluate how building system selection affects energy performance, first cost, and life-cycle cost

Sequence the construction document set and identify the coordination responsibilities of each consultant

Differentiate the roles and authority of the owner, architect, contractor, and construction manager during construction

Explain the submittal, request-for-information, and change-order workflows, including typical response timeframes and documentation

Describe how sustainable design targets and commissioning requirements are carried into specifications

Analyze the standard contract documents for payment, retainage, substantial completion, and final acceptance provisions

Interpret the architect's certification and site-visit duties and distinguish them from supervision or warranty of the contractor's work

Outline claim and dispute resolution paths from negotiation through mediation and arbitration

Prepare for schedule and cost control questions by explaining critical-path logic, float, and earned-value basics

Re-test every flagged low-confidence item from weeks 1-7 and resolve or re-flag each one

Complete two full timed practice sets spanning all four domains and score them by domain

Diagnose remaining weak areas from practice results and write a targeted final-review list

Rehearse concise explanations of the ten most commonly confused concept pairs across domains