BArch Bachelor of Architecture Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BArch Bachelor of Architecture facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. From 1899 until 1929, what building was the largest man-made structure on the planet? → Eiffel Tower
2. Which masonry unit is hollow, lightweight, and most commonly used for load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls in US commercial construction? → Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
3. What does the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) metric measure for a building? → Energy consumed per square foot of floor area per year (kBtu/sf/yr)
4. Which connection type in steel construction allows beam ends to rotate freely, transmitting shear but no moment? → Simple (pinned) connection
5. Who in America is credited with developing the modern skyscraper? → Louis Sullivan
6. In design studio terminology, what is a 'charrette'? → An intensive, collaborative design sprint with stakeholders to develop solutions quickly
7. Which scale is most commonly used for site plans in architectural design practice in the US? → 1" = 20'-0" or 1" = 40'-0"
8. In a one-point perspective drawing, where do all receding horizontal lines converge? → One central vanishing point located on the horizon line
9. Which roofing membrane system consists of multiple layers of bitumen-saturated felts bonded with hot asphalt or coal tar? → Built-up roofing (BUR)
10. In reinforced concrete design, what is the purpose of stirrups? → To resist diagonal tension (shear) and confine the core
11. of the Masterformat, Division 7. → Thermal moisture protection
12. In the AIA standard service model, during which project phase are construction documents (CDs) produced? → Construction Documents phase (Phase 4 of 5 basic services)
13. What is the primary purpose of an urban heat island mitigation strategy using high-albedo paving materials? → Reflect solar radiation to reduce surface temperatures in urban areas
14. In site analysis, what does a 'topographic survey' provide? → Contour lines showing the elevation and grade of the existing land surface
15. In which structural system do loads follow a path of shell action rather than discrete beams and columns? → Thin-shell / folded plate structure
16. What is the standard architectural drawing scale for floor plans on construction documents? → 1/4" = 1'-0"
17. Which software platform is most widely used for parametric BIM modeling in contemporary US architectural practice? → Revit
18. Which passive solar design strategy uses thermal mass to absorb heat during the day and release it at night? → Indirect gain (Trombe wall)
19. In timber framing, what is the purpose of a king post truss? → To provide a central vertical member suspending the tie beam
20. In sustainable site design, what is a bioswale primarily used for? → Filter and slow stormwater runoff using vegetation and soil
21. Which insulation material has the highest R-value per inch and is commonly used where space is limited? → Closed-cell spray polyurethane foam (ccSPF)
22. What is a 'view corridor' easement typically used to protect in urban design regulations? → Sight lines to significant landmarks, waterfronts, or natural features from public spaces
23. In architectural rendering, what is 'ambient occlusion'? → The simulation of soft shadows appearing in crevices and where surfaces meet closely
24. What is the term for a drawing of an exterior from an architectural perspective? → Elevation
25. Which foundation type is most appropriate when a building's loads must be transferred through weak surface soils to deeper, stronger strata? → Deep pile foundation
26. What are the names of the ornamented tiles that occasionally cover a whole building's wall in Portugal, Spain, and the territories they colonized? → Azulejos
27. Which roofing system is most appropriate for a low-slope (flat) commercial roof in the US? → Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply membrane
28. What is the primary purpose of a 'Certificate of Occupancy' (CO) issued by the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)? → Certify that the building complies with applicable codes and is safe for occupancy
29. What is 'platform framing' (also called 'western framing') in wood light-frame construction? → A system where each story is framed on top of the completed platform of the floor below
30. In HVAC design, what does the term 'psychrometric chart' help engineers determine? → Properties of air-water vapor mixtures including temperature, humidity, and enthalpy