Understanding preconstruction activities is essential for ARE candidates preparing for the Construction & Evaluation (CE) exam. This comprehensive guide breaks down CE Section 1, explaining the architect’s changing roles during preconstruction, contractor selection criteria, and cost control measures that define this critical phase between design completion and construction start.
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Understanding the ARE Structure
The Architect Registration Exam (ARE) is organized hierarchically, divided into different divisions or exams. Each exam is further broken down into sections, and each section contains multiple objectives. This structure is important because when NCARB provides feedback on exam performance, they typically identify failures at the section level—like “Section 1″—not at the specific objective level.
One crucial insight for effective exam preparation: if you’re not studying at NCARB’s objectives and getting clear about the scope of the test, you’re not actually studying for the architect exam. These objectives and sections are the framework NCARB uses when writing questions, making them the most important information for your preparation.
If you’re preparing for the ARE exams, our ARE 101 course Membership provides comprehensive materials organized by these sections and objectives.
Construction & Evaluation Exam Overview
According to NCARB, the Construction & Evaluation exam
“will assess objectives related to construction contract administration and post-occupancy evaluations of projects.
This division will focus on issues related to bidding and negotiation processes, support of the construction process, and evaluation of completed projects.
Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of and abilities in construction contract execution, construction support services (including construction observation and shop drawing or submittal review), payment request processing, and project closeout.
In addition, candidates must also demonstrate an understanding and abilities in project evaluation of integrated building systems and their performance.”
The CE exam is divided into four sections:
- Section 1: Pre-construction Activities
- Section 2: Construction Observation
- Section 3: Administrative Procedures and Protocols
- Section 4: Project Closeout and Evaluation
Essentially, CE covers what happens after the design is complete. The drawings and designs are finished, and now you’re dealing with bidding, procurement, starting construction, reaching substantial completion, what happens after substantial completion, and post-occupancy follow-up.
The CE exam focuses on seeing that the design is being executed and implemented properly. It emphasizes responsibilities and quality control, marking your transition from designer to project advocate and owner’s representative. It tests your understanding of real-world applications with construction documentation and your ability to manage the project’s execution.
Your role becomes ensuring the contractor is building what was designed and specified in the documents, documenting the decisions, changes, and progress throughout the entire project, and evaluating the building’s performance after construction to verify it meets the owner’s needs.
Construction documents are like recipes—except if you forget an ingredient, it costs a hundred thousand dollars to fix!
Section 1: Preconstruction Activities Overview
NCARB defines Section 1 as follows:
“In this section, you’ll focus on the construction planning and activities that occur prior to the start of construction.”
Section 1 covers that sweet spot between when the design is complete but before construction actually begins. It sets the foundation for the project’s success. The decisions made during preconstruction significantly affect the schedule, outcome, and execution of the contract.
Preconstruction is when roles, relationships, responsibilities, and expectations are established between everyone on the project team—from the architect to the client, owner, subcontractors, and consultants. This phase defines contractual obligations before construction begins and represents the last opportunity to control costs before the shovels hit the ground.
How does this translate to studying for the CE exam?
Section 1 tests your understanding of planning and decision-making before construction begins. It comprises 17-23% of the CE division and consists of three objectives:
- Objective 1.1: Understanding the architect’s various roles depending on delivery methods
- Objective 1.2: Evaluating and selecting the right contractors for the project
- Objective 1.3: Implementing cost control measures
Key topics across these objectives include project delivery methods, bid package preparation, procurement, contractor evaluation, cost control strategies, contract management, and the architect’s role during preconstruction. For targeted preparation on these topics, our CE 101 course breaks down all objectives in this critical exam division.
OBJECTIVE 1.1 (8-12%) Interpret the architect’s roles and responsibilities during preconstruction based on delivery method
NCARB states:
“Understanding the key elements of bidding is an important aspect of preconstruction activities. This includes the required bidding documents, typical procedures for distributing documents and the pre-bid meeting, prequalification of bidders, selection of the contractor, and applicable standard AIA documents. The architect’s responsibilities for each of these may vary depending on the project delivery type.”
Project delivery methods represent a recurring topic that appears throughout all three pro-practice exams—PCM, PJM, and CE. Understanding these methods is crucial because they fundamentally change how everyone works together on a project.
This objective tests your understanding of responsibilities across different delivery methods—whether using design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager, integrated project delivery, or bridging. Each method shifts how parties are contractually tied together and changes the architect’s specific duties during preconstruction.
Key concepts include:
- Bidding documents preparation: Creating invitation to bids, instructions to bidders, bid forms, supplementary instructions, and addenda
- Managing the bid process: Conducting pre-bid meetings, organizing site visits, addressing questions from bidders, overseeing bid opening, and evaluating submissions
- Understanding different loyalties based on employer and contractual relationships
- Procurement methods and how they affect the architect’s role
- AIA documents for different delivery methods and their implications. Our AIA Contracts 101 course covers these documents in depth, explaining how they apply to various delivery methods
- Division 1 specifications in construction documents and what they include
- When, how, and why to use addenda during the bidding process
- How different project delivery methods accommodate special construction requirements
- Different types of specifications and how they affect the bidding process
The architect’s responsibilities are like a game of hot potato—they change hands depending on which delivery method you choose!
OBJECTIVE 1.2 (3-7%) Analyze criteria for selecting contractors
According to NCARB:
“You will need to be able to establish the criteria for reviewing contractors’ bids, including accuracy and completeness. Based on these criteria, you will then need to evaluate contractors’ bids and compare contractors’ qualifications to each other.”
This objective focuses on choosing a contractor and evaluating bids. It tests your understanding of whether bids are responsive and bidders are responsible. You’ll need to know different contractor selection methods—whether using low bid, best value, or qualification-based selection.
Key concepts include:
- Contractor qualifications: Can they obtain Construction bonds? Do they have relevant experience? What’s their past performance record? What’s their safety record? What’s their current workload capacity?
- Bid evaluation: Is the math on the bids accurate? Did they complete all required paperwork appropriately? Are they in compliance with requirements?
- Public vs. private projects: Different rules apply regarding selection and documentation requirements
- Pre-qualification of contractors before bidding
- Calculating the lowest bidder when multiple alternates are involved
- Selecting the right bidder from all returned bids based on qualifications and price
- Different pricing methods for bidding (lump sum, cost per square foot, unit pricing)
- Identifying which contractors best match the specific project requirements
On private projects, there’s often flexibility in contractor selection, and the lowest bid isn’t always the default choice. By contrast, public projects using public funding typically require selecting the lowest bidder by default, and contractors may need to be bonded. Understanding these differences between public and private clients is crucial for the exam.
OBJECTIVE 1.3 (3-7%) Analyze aspects of the contract or design to adjust project costs
NCARB describes this objective as follows:
“You must evaluate and prioritize opportunities to reduce the project cost, scope, quality, or schedule. This will include consideration of the contractual implications of the changes, sustainability and life cycle cost goals, and the impact on project design and overall budget.”
The first key concept is value engineering—a systematic approach to providing necessary functions at a lower cost. Importantly, value engineering is not just chopping scope out of a project; it’s methodically adding value while reducing costs. It’s about maintaining quality, evaluating function, and making cost adjustments without compromising materials or design intent.
This objective also tests your understanding of contract mechanisms to control costs:
- Using alternates and allowances
- Creating a menu of opportunities to control costs
- Understanding the balance between controlling costs and complicating the bidding process
- Preventing scope creep
- Considering lifecycle costs (how changes affect long-term expenses)
- Proper budget planning including contingency funds
Lifecycle costs are like buying shoes—that cheap pair might look good in the store, but six months later, you’re paying for new insoles, replacements, and possibly a podiatrist!
Additional key concepts include:
- Understanding contractual implications of design changes
- Cost control through different delivery methods
- Implementing value engineering strategies when bids exceed budget
- Using allowances to address undefined elements in documentation
- Understanding unit pricing for potential quantity changes
The value engineering and cost-saving efforts happen before construction begins, not during construction when change orders come into play. This process occurs before bidding, as architects and the design team identify potential savings or alternatives to help meet budget requirements.
Common Mistakes in Section One
Here are some common pitfalls when studying for Section One:
- Not getting clear about the different delivery methods and how roles, relationships, and responsibilities change
- Not understanding the public bid process
- Thinking that value engineering is just cost cutting
- Not understanding contractual obligations when bids exceed the budget
- Believing that the architect makes the final contractor selection (when in reality, we’re assisting the owner)
- Overlooking ethical responsibilities during bidding
- Assuming that public and private projects follow the same procurement rules
- Not properly understanding lifecycle costs
- Not understanding how addenda work
- Confusing basic services versus additional services versus supplemental services
In real-life practice, clients trust architects to make their vision come true on budget. Even when scope creep occurs, architects must balance design aspirations with financial realities. As licensed professionals, architects serve as curators of the project, seeing it through from start to finish as close to budget as possible.
Effective Study Strategies for CE Section 1
To effectively prepare for Section One of the CE exam, focus on these key strategies:
- Know your contracts – NCARB lists all the relevant contracts in the guidelines
- Understand project delivery methods inside and out
- Study real construction documentation from your office
- Look at actual bidding folders from your coworkers’ projects
- Read the Project Delivery Practice Guide from CSI (Construction Specifications Institute)
- Learn about construction specifications and how they relate to the bidding process
The Project Delivery Practice Guide deserves special mention—specification writers do an excellent job explaining preconstruction and the entire construction admin process. This resource offers a fresh perspective since it’s not written specifically by or for architects.
Remember that effective studying is not just about memorizing facts but understanding concepts. Identify gaps in your knowledge and do targeted research to fill those gaps. Instead of relying solely on prep companies, take an active approach by researching specific topics like “how do alternates work in construction documents.”
Conclusion
Section One is a crucial part of the CE Exam. The architect’s role changes significantly with different delivery methods, so understanding these variations is essential. Become proficient in contractor selection processes and cost management strategies, and know your AIA documents related to contractor selection.
Decisions made during preconstruction have a major impact on the entire project. Your role transitions from designer to advisor during this phase, setting the tone for the construction process that follows.
Focus on understanding roles and relationships rather than memorizing isolated facts. NCARB is more interested in testing your comprehension of concepts than your ability to recite specific timelines or procedures. CE may be challenging, but with proper preparation, you’ll be ready to tackle these preconstruction topics successfully.
Ready to master CE Section 1 and the entire Construction & Evaluation exam? Join hundreds of successful candidates in our ARE Boot Camp, an online study group for structured guidance and accountability, or access our self-paced CE 101 course for comprehensive study materials.
