Which pre-exam activity constitutes a security violation?

• A. Participating in an official prep session.
• B. Seeking or obtaining ARE questions or other content prior to an exam.
• C. Reviewing approved study materials.
• D. Arriving early to the testing center.

Answer: (B)

Security around ARE content is strictly enforced. Attempting to seek or obtain ARE questions or other content before you take the exam crosses a line and counts as a security violation because it exposes unreleased items and breaches confidentiality. This undermines fairness, since some candidates would have access to material others do not, and it violates NCARB’s test-security policies.

In contrast, participating in an official prep session is permitted, as it uses sanctioned material. Reviewing approved study materials is also allowed, and arriving early to the testing center is simply a normal check-in procedure.