What the Architecture (ALE) board exam covers, from PRC's documents: 3 subjects, 450 questions, topic weights, the design format, and what to bring.
Mariano Luiz King
Published November 5, 2026 ยท Updated November 9, 2026
The Architecture (ALE) board exam, officially the Architect Licensure Examination, has three subjects over two days: History and Theory of Architecture, Planning and Practice (30%), Utilities, Structural Conceptualization and Building Materials (30%), and Architectural Design and Site Planning (40%). PRC's Table of Specifications sets 450 questions in total. This post breaks down the topics in each subject and what the design day looks like.
Where this coverage comes from: Everything here comes from PRC's own documents, not forum posts. The schedule, weights, and allowed items are from PRC's program for the June 2026 exam. The topic weights and question counts are from the Board of Architecture's Table of Specifications (Resolution No. 05, s. 2011), which applies from the January 2012 exam onward. The topic lists are from the Board's published syllabi. Both of these are older documents, but they were the latest ones posted on PRC's site when I checked in November 2026.
A Table of Specifications (TOS) is the blueprint the Board writes questions from. It sets the topics and how many questions each subject gets.
As of the June 8 and 10, 2026 exam:
| Detail | What PRC says |
|---|---|
| Subjects | 3 |
| Questions | 450 total: 100, 150, and 200 per subject (from the 2011 TOS) |
| Day 1 (Monday) | History, Theory, Planning and Practice (8:00 AM to 1:00 PM), then Utilities, Structures and Materials (2:00 to 7:00 PM) |
| Day 2 (Wednesday) | Architectural Design and Site Planning (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM) |
| Calculators | One non-programmable calculator from PRC's approved list |
| To pass | 70% weighted average, with no subject below 50% (RA 9266) |
There's a rest day between the two exam days.
| Subject | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| History and Theory of Architecture, Principles of Planning and Architectural Practice | 30% | 100 |
| Utilities, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials and Technology | 30% | 150 |
| Architectural Design and Site Planning | 40% | 200 |
| Topic | Weight in your total grade |
|---|---|
| Principles of Planning | 9% |
| History of Architecture | 7.5% |
| Architectural Practice | 7.5% |
| Theory of Architecture | 6% |
Planning is the biggest topic in this subject at 9%, more than history or practice.
| Topic | Weight in your total grade |
|---|---|
| Building Materials and Technology | 12% |
| Utilities | 9% |
| Structural Conceptualization | 9% |
| Topic | Weight in your total grade |
|---|---|
| Compliances | 7% |
| Site Development Planning | 7% |
| Space Planning | 7% |
| Architectural Design | 7% |
| Structural Conceptualization | 6% |
| Architectural Interiors | 6% |
This subject isn't a single drafting plate anymore. Since 2009, the Board has used a non-drafting, multiple design problem format. You work through several design problems and answer questions about them.
The Compliances part, for example, asks you to identify which development controls apply under laws like the National Building Code (PD 1096), the Fire Code (RA 9514), and the Accessibility Law (BP 344). You may need to sketch or compute to get the answer.
The syllabus lists the building types the problems can cover: residential, commercial and business, industrial and agricultural, public and government, facilities like airports and power stations, and complex projects with several buildings on one site.
PRC's June 2026 program allows these on Day 2:
RA 9266 says you need a weighted general average of 70%, with no subject below 50%.
Because design is 40%, it moves your average the most. Here's an example:
| Subject | Your score | Weight | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| History, Theory, Planning and Practice | 66% | 30% | 19.8 |
| Utilities, Structures and Materials | 68% | 30% | 20.4 |
| Design and Site Planning | 75% | 40% | 30.0 |
| Weighted average | 70.2% |
That passes, even with two subjects under 70%.
If you don't pass, the retake rules are in what happens if you fail the board exam. Recent results are in board exam passing rates.
Design and Site Planning is 40% and runs a full 10 hours, so it deserves the most practice. Do timed design problems, not just reading. Inside it, Compliances rewards knowing the building laws well. That knowledge also helps in Architectural Practice on Day 1, so studying the codes pays off twice.
History and Theory of Architecture, Principles of Planning and Architectural Practice (30%), Utilities, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials and Technology (30%), and Architectural Design and Site Planning (40%).
450 based on the Board's 2011 Table of Specifications: 100, 150, and 200 per subject.
A weighted general average of 70%, with no subject below 50%, under RA 9266.
No. Since 2009, the Board has used a non-drafting format with multiple design problems. You can still bring scales, triangles, and sketching tools on design day.
The TOS names the National Building Code (PD 1096), the Fire Code (RA 9514), and the Accessibility Law (BP 344) in the design subject. Building laws also come up in Architectural Practice.
Ready to test yourself? Try the free Architecture board exam reviewer. I built prepPH, so I'm biased, but every question there comes with an explanation. For a study plan, read how to review for the PRC board exam. When you're ready to apply, see how to apply for the PRC board exam online (LERIS) and how much the PRC board exam costs. To plan your weeks, see how long to review for the ALE board exam, and to decide on a review center, see can you pass the ALE board exam with self-review?.
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