Architecture Registration Exams Story: Emily Khalid

Welcome to the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) experience stories series! This series is to share experiences, timelines and advice of professionals that have completed their AREs. We know it can be a daunting task to get started and overwhelming on the number of resources out there. We hope you find this information helpful in organizing how you proceed through your exams. Good Luck!

This is the experience, timeline, and advice from:

Emily Khalid is a Philadelphia-based architect with 9+ years of experience working with buildings that are old, new, and everything in between. She currently is a Lead Architect at WSP, where she specializes in transportation and civic architecture across the public and private sectors. She is co-host of the Open Plan Podcast, where she is passionate about creating accessible education, licensure, and career content for architecture professionals. She was selected for the Emerging Leaders in Transportation 2023-2024 cohort, is a mentor for the Women in Transportation Student Chapter, and has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Temple University, Tyler School of Art and Architecture.

Through the avenues of her podcast and mentorship in the industry, Emily is passionate about fostering a supportive community that brings transparency to the demanding journey of becoming a licensed Architect.

“One of my tips to fit study time into your schedule is to figure out what time of day works best for you to focus.”

July 25, 2020	In Person	PcM	PASS
October 28, 2020	In Person	PjM	PASS
November 17, 2020	In Person	CE	FAIL
March 11, 2021	In Person	CE	PASS
June 26, 2021	In Person	P&A	FAIL
June 28, 2021	In Person	PPD	FAIL

I took a break after these last two fails. I was trying to study for the ARE’s, plan a wedding, pack up for a move from Atlanta to Philadelphia, and balance stressful work deadlines at the same time. While I think there’s no “perfect” time to take the ARE’s, I decided to take a break and focus on wrapping up wedding planning and our upcoming move. It was a hectic summer!

I picked up studying again in the fall, feeling refreshed with a new sense of determination. I changed my study strategy to take as many Practice Exams as possible starting two weeks before the test – I found this to be a huge factor in me passing the remaining exams.

January 31, 2022	In Person	P&A	PASS
May 16, 2022	In Person	PPD	PASS
August 8, 2022	In Person	PDD	PASS

Often people don’t know where to start, do you have any advice for those looking to start their exams -or- how did you start?

I graduated with my Master of Architecture degree in 2020 amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic. I faced a challenging job market where several firms I was in talks with had to quickly put hiring freezes in place.

With job prospects uncertain, I decided to focus my energy on studying for the ARE’s. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew that investing in my professional development would pay off in the long run. I balanced study sessions with job applications, and eventually was able to pass a few that summer before starting my full-time position that fall.

When getting started, I highly recommend taking the Professional Practice tests (PcM, PjM, CE) first before the technical exams (PA, PPD, PDD). I found this order the easiest to study for in terms of content.

What type of study materials did you use? Any particular ones that you’d recommend?

I recommend using Amber Book (do not skip over the flashcards!), Hyperfine, and Black Spectacles practice exams.

Also, Open Plan Podcasts ARE episodes are a great place to start! 😊

How did you fit study time into your schedule? Was there anything in particular that worked well for you?

One of my tips to fit study time into your schedule is to figure out what time of day works best for you to focus. I’m a bit of a night owl, so the best time for me to study was after dinner. On the other hand, I had friends studying who were early birds and preferred studying before work. It varies per person!

I also used the pomodoro method (25 minutes on, 5-minute break, repeat) and found that to be a gamechanger in productivity and being tempted by distractions. Finally, have study content on your phone (I love Quizlet flashcards) so you can pan through material while waiting for appointments, hanging out on the couch, etc.

Do you have any other advice for someone studying for their exams?

To reinforce study material and keep it interesting, I recommend doing a combination of study methods. I switched off reading material, watching videos, and listening to audio from different sources. I feel like this really helped the content sink in.

Next, make time to take practice exams at least 2 weeks before the test. The more the better! I found taking practice exams and studying problems you got wrong to be the best form of studying.

Finally, still make time for your mental and physical health through the process. It makes the time studying way more productive if you don’t feel like you’re missing out on life!

We hope that this information helps you through your ARE journey, setting goals, and giving you some insight on how to get started.

Thank you again to Emily Khalid for sharing your story!

Edited by

Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, CSI, LSSBB