PRC ALE study plan

Build a single-page timeline of architectural periods from antiquity to contemporary practice, listing three signature works and two defining characteristics for each period

Write plain-language definitions, in your own words, for eight core theory concepts (Vitruvian triad, functionalism, organic architecture, critical regionalism, phenomenology, tectonics, postmodernism, sustainability) and give one built example of each

Map the scope of the National Building Code, its IRR, and the referral codes onto a one-page matrix showing which code governs which design decision

Answer 40 self-written history and theory questions closed-book and log every miss into an error log

Solve ten site-planning and zoning computations covering setbacks, building footprint, floor-area ratio, impervious surface, and parking supply, showing every step

Compute dead and live loads for a two-storey residential framing plan taken from a simple span diagram you draw yourself

Derive the stability and determinacy conditions for beams, trusses, and frames, and classify ten sample structures as stable, unstable, determinate, or indeterminate

Justify structural system selection for five building types by comparing span, load path, and occupancy demand

Draw shear and bending-moment diagrams from scratch for simply supported, cantilever, and overhanging beams under three loading cases

Size one reinforced-concrete beam and one steel beam for a given span and load, and state the governing limit state in each case

Compare timber, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete on span range, behavior, fire performance, and relative cost

Explain the seismic load path from roof to foundation and list the ductility detailing requirements that keep that path continuous

Produce a complete site analysis for a hypothetical sloped urban lot covering topography, orientation, solar path, prevailing wind, drainage, access, and views

Develop a schematic design for a small mixed-use building that satisfies a stated program plus setback, egress, and accessibility requirements

Diagram circulation, egress travel distance, and accessible route compliance on your schematic plan and annotate every code-driven decision

Re-test the week 1 history and theory error log cold and clear every entry

Complete two timed design-and-site-planning vignettes in 90 minutes each, balancing program, code, and site constraints

Build a materials comparison chart covering concrete, masonry, steel, timber, and glass on strength, durability, workmanship, and typical application

Detail five standard construction assemblies (wall section, floor slab, roof, waterproofing, and stair) at a scale that shows every layer and joint

Identify and correct ten common detailing errors planted in your own earlier drawings

Sequence a full construction process from excavation to finishes and match each stage to its inspection and testing requirement

Summarize the architect's obligations under the professional practice framework: licensing, the architect's seal, contracts, and scope of services

Draft a fee computation for a sample project using the documented schedule of professional fees and show the basis for each line

Outline the architect's liability, code of ethics, and disciplinary exposure in a one-page brief

Resolve five professional-practice scenarios (conflict of interest, unauthorized practice, contract dispute, change order, project abandonment) in writing with the governing rule cited by name

Re-solve the ten planning computations from week 2 under exam time pressure and compare results against your earlier work

Consolidate all error logs into a single ranked list of your twenty weakest concepts

Drill the twenty weakest concepts to a point where you can teach each one aloud in under two minutes

Sit two full-length timed mock exams covering all six domains under exam conditions with no notes

Review every missed item down to the underlying rule or principle rather than the specific answer

Rebuild the one-page summary sheet for each domain from memory and check it against your notes

Finalize exam-day logistics: allowed references, calculator, timing plan per section, and rest schedule