27 of the top 50 architecture firms in the United States use Black Spectacles as a test prep resource for their staff.
We are the only NCARB approved online test prep materials for all 6 divisions of the ARE 5.0.
How it works:
Firm memberships are available for as few as 2 testing candidates with a minimum of a 1-year commitment. Pricing is based on shared "seats" that can be used by any member of your team.
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Save Money
By sharing seats, the average firm can save 60 - 80% compared to purchasing individual memberships for their staff. For example, a firm with 10 active test candidates can usually share 4-5 seats for concurrent studying.
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High Pass Rates
Candidates who use Black Spectacles report much higher ARE 5.0 pass rates than NCARB’s national averages for every division. View our pass rates.
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Easy to Use
Easily check on the progress of your staff, and enable them to study on desktop or mobile devices with a built-in dashboard that helps them track their individual progress.
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Money-Back Guarantee
We guarantee you’ll be satisfied with Black Spectacles or you can cancel and receive your investment back within 90 days! View our guarantee details.
Black Spectacles is tailored to our specific firm size, to my departmental budget, and truly to the needs of this company. This was very refreshing. I found that Black Spectacles listened to the needs we had and were able to come up with a solution that benefited both parties.
Kim Aguilar Gregor
Manager of library + Archival Services, GGLO
What's included:
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video lectures
Candidates get a comprehensive lesson with full outlines and explanations of core topics in each division, led by veteran architect Mike Newman, one of the most engaging and informative instructors in the business. Black Spectacles offers over 120 hours of video lectures, all built in alignment with NCARB’s exam objectives.
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practice exams
Our practice exams simulate the look, feel and time constraints of the real exams and include 3 distinct forms to practice with, so there aren't any surprises on test day. We use the same process as NCARB to design our ARE® practice questions, which are developed and vetted by leading learning designers and test question experts.
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digital flashcards
Hundreds of built-in flashcards allow candidates to memorize relevant content, words, and objectives with each card linking to a video lecture for further explanation. In tracking progress, candidates can shuffle the deck, mark flashcards as mastered, and create their own.
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virtual workshops
Your staff will get hand-on experience with key concepts in live-streamed workshops guided by licensed architects. Our virtual workshops focus on the top topics that testing candidates struggle with the most, and offer a unique opportunity to participate in group exercises, get one-on-one help, and have questions answered on the spot.