Structural Systems ARE Mock Exam (SS of Architect Registration Exam): ARE Overview, Exam Prep Tips, Multiple-Choice Questions and Graphic Vignettes, Solutions and Explanations

I bought this book along with the Construction Documents, Site Planning and Design and Building Systems sections. If you're looking for a study guide then this is not the right thing for you. If you're looking for another practice test just to familiarize yourself with the format of the actual exam then this does a very good job! the wording of the questions is very similar to what NCARB uses and it also has very in depth explanations in the answer key. I suggest taking this practice exam before any studying so you can pinpoint exactly what your weak points are and make more efficient use of your study time rather than trying to read every resource under the sun. It won't teach you the material but it's a good addition to your overall study package. The only thing I don't quite understand is why the price recently increased. These books cover the ARE 4.0 exams but ARE 5.0 was recently launched which groups all the material into different exam sections. If you already started the 4.0 process you can continue in 4.0 for a few more years but I would have thought it caused the price of 4.0 study materials to go down in price by now.

I think it's a good book, but docked it a star because I think it's overpriced. The practice exam was worth the purchase because it was a refreshing change from the Kaplan ones, however I didn't think the vignette information was useful. There was one or two typos I found in the practice exam, but that's a far cry from the billion in the Kaplan books. As for the vignette portion, I guess I was looking for more tips and tricks and explainations to the answer. The step by step process of how to draw it is probably useful to someone taking their first ARE and unfamiliar with the program, but for someone who's on their 6th, it was pretty useless to me. The book also seemed to be more set up as an electronic version with active links, which I found odd in the hardcopy. Lastly, I was kind of hoping this book would provide some sort of summary of material - almost like cliff notes since our largest resource is Kaplan and Ballast, but it really was just the exam and vignette.All of that said, I do think the practice exam was excellent if you're looking for more questions and a larger variety.

50$ for this? It's too expensive for its contents. First 50 pages is about explanation about what is ARE, what is IDP? or something and last 38pages are about advertising about his other books or something. Of 180pages.....Building Code Illustrated, which icludes wonderful diagram and sketches and excellent description about wide range of isses, written by Francis D. K. Ching, is less than 45$. ARE candidate should know many ARE related materials are so expensive. Many so called reliable publishers have failed in bring out good study materials. Balast and Kaplan are boring....super dry....with little or no diagram or drawing and super expensive and not even correct. However good he or she is at reading, he can not but say at least one time...."What the hell this guy is talking about" Accordingly, many of those who have completed and passed ARE have come to think "Whay if we publish and sell them my self. Don't you think it will make some momey?" They sell their materials cheaper than Ballast or something but it's still expensive enough for their effort and time spent to make the materilas. We need to think about how much time and effort did Francis D. K. Ching spend for his books. That's why I got angry about Gang Chen's book.

Highly recommend by many coworkers and people who passed the exam.It is well organized study book

Gang Chen does a great job every time. I have purchased many of his books to help me study for the ARE. He does a very fantastic job of tricking you with how he words the questions and teaching you to SLOW DOWN when you read the practice questions. These books are well written and i hightly recommend Gang Chen to everyone!

I've used Gang Chen's books for CD's and BD&C and now I'm using this for the SS exam. the step by step vignette instructions are invaluable and the multiple choice is a great supplement to go along with your reading. I recommend this book and all of the ARE mock exams to anyone in the process of taking the exams.

Worth the money if you are panicked about this exam as I was.

I passed my exam. I read through this three times. Great information.