The Examination for Architects in Canada is delivered in four three-hour sections over two consecutive days. Together they cover thirteen themes drawn from official references: CHOP, the NBC 2020, the CCDC contract suite, RAIC Document 6, and related sustainability and practice documents. This guide breaks down what each section covers, what's actually tested, and how to study for it.
Format at a glance
| Section | Duration | Day | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Design | 3 hours | Day 1, AM | Closed book |
| Section 2: NBC & NECB | 3 hours | Day 1, PM | Open book (NBC 2020, NECB 2020) |
| Section 3: Final Project (Construction) | 3 hours | Day 2, AM | Closed book |
| Section 4: Project & Practice | 3 hours | Day 2, PM | Closed book |
Section 1: Design
Section 1 covers the early phases of a project, when the architect is translating client needs into a buildable design. It's the most familiar territory for candidates with strong studio backgrounds, but it's broader than studio thinking; it includes cost, programming, and site analysis as much as design itself.
Themes covered:
- Theme 1: Programming
- Theme 2: Site & Environmental Analysis
- Theme 3: Engineering Systems
- Theme 4: Cost Management
- Theme 6: Schematic Design
- Theme 7: Design Development
Most-tested topics: feasibility studies, cost estimating methodologies (Class A/B/C/D), site analysis factors (regulatory, physical, cultural), engineering system coordination, the difference between programming and feasibility, and the standard five phases of architectural service per RAIC Document 6.
Study priority: CHOP Chapters 6.1–6.3, Building Construction Illustrated for engineering systems, the Hanscomb Yardstick or RSMeans for cost data exercises.
Section 2: National Building Code & Energy Compliance
This is the open-book section. You bring the NBC 2020 and the NECB 2020 in hard copy. Section 2 tests your ability to navigate the code under time pressure, not your ability to recall it from memory. You'll be asked questions like "what is the maximum permitted unprotected opening percentage given this limiting distance," and your job is to find the answer in the code in under a minute.
Themes covered:
- Theme 5: National Building Code (and NECB)
Most-tested topics: Building classification (Group A through G occupancies, construction types), spatial separation (3.2.3), exits and travel distance (3.4), accessibility (3.8), firestopping (3.1.11), Part 9 small buildings, and NECB compliance paths (prescriptive vs trade-off).
Study priority: The code itself, drilled with timed practice. Read our guide to tabbing the NBC 2020 . It covers the exact tabs, colour system, and lookup drills used by candidates who passed Section 2 on their first attempt.
All 13 themes, organized for fast study
The Issued for Interns ExAC Study Guide covers every theme above, cross-referenced to the official sources. Built specifically around the 4-section structure of the exam.
Get the ExAC Study Guide ($200 CAD)Section 3: Final Project (Construction)
Section 3 tests your knowledge of how buildings actually get built: materials, assemblies, processes, and the construction documents that govern them. It's the section closest to the work most interns have actually done, but the breadth surprises candidates: it covers everything from earthwork to roofing to specifications.
Themes covered:
- Theme 8: Construction Principles, Materials & Properties, Construction Processes, Documents & Specifications
Most-tested topics: material properties (concrete, steel, masonry, wood), envelope assemblies, MasterFormat divisions, specification structure (Part 1/Part 2/Part 3 breakdown), construction sequencing, and shop drawing review.
Study priority: Building Construction Illustrated is the single best resource. CHOP Chapter 6.4 covers construction documents and specifications.
Section 4: Project & Practice
Section 4 is the section most candidates rate as the hardest. It covers the contractual and business side of practice: bidding, contracts, contract administration, professional liability, and office management. Multiple answer options can feel correct because the questions test judgment under nuanced circumstances.
Themes covered:
- Theme 9: Bidding, Delivery Methods & Contracts
- Theme 10: Construction Phase: Office Functions
- Theme 11: Construction Phase: Field Functions
- Theme 12: Management of Project & Business/Practice
- Theme 13: Sustainable Design Literacy
Most-tested topics: the CCDC suite (which contract for which delivery method), bonds (bid, performance, labour & material), CCDC 2 General Conditions (priority order, payment timelines, change orders vs change directives), Substantial Performance and holdback rules, RAIC Document 6 services, and the 15% over-budget re-tender rule.
Study priority: CCDC contracts (start with our CCDC cheat sheet), RAIC Document 6, CHOP Chapters 6.5–6.6.
How total study time should split
If you have 180 hours of total study time over 12 weeks (a realistic budget for a working intern), here's a defensible split:
| Section | Approximate share | Hours (of 180) |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1: Design | 20% | ~36 hours |
| Section 2: NBC & NECB | 30% | ~54 hours |
| Section 3: Construction | 20% | ~36 hours |
| Section 4: Project & Practice | 30% | ~54 hours |
Sections 2 and 4 take a heavier share because they're the lowest-pass sections historically, and because the volume of material genuinely warrants it.