MArch Master of Architecture Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What is a zoning 'variance'? → An authorization to deviate from specific zoning requirements due to hardship
2. Which delivery method reduces owner risk by requiring the general contractor to provide a performance and payment bond? → Traditional Design-Bid-Build with bonding requirements
3. Practical research needs problem-solving → Applied Research
4. What is the smallest full-size bathroom? → 5'x8'
5. A maintenance-free coating system used to finish and topcoat wood flooring. → Polyurethane Floor Coating
6. Projects choose architects. → design competition
7. Which schedule of values document does a contractor submit at the start of a project to establish the basis for monthly payment applications? → Schedule of Values
8. Under US copyright law, who owns the copyright to architectural drawings created by an architect as an independent contractor for a client? → The architect, unless a written agreement transfers rights
9. What does the term 'urban heat island effect' describe? → Higher ambient temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas
10. In architectural design, what does 'program' or 'architectural program' refer to? → The list of spaces, their sizes, and functional requirements a building must fulfill
11. The concept of 'substantial completion' in construction contracts is best defined as: → When the project is sufficiently complete for its intended use
12. The Delphi method in architectural research involves: → Iterative anonymous expert surveys aimed at building consensus
13. In a typical architect-owner agreement, the architect's ownership of instruments of service (drawings, specifications) is retained by: → The architect, regardless of payment status
14. Which architect articulated the idea of the 'primitive hut' as the theoretical origin of all architecture in his 1753 'Essai sur l'Architecture'? → Abbé Laugier
15. Concrete Hollow Block (CHB) laying slang. → Asintada
16. In zoning regulations, what does the term 'setback' refer to? → The minimum required distance between a building and a property line or street
17. In masonry construction, what is the primary structural purpose of a steel lintel above a window or door opening? → To carry the masonry loads above the opening and transfer them to the jambs on either side
18. In Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), what is the typical recommended walking radius around a transit station? → 1/4 to 1/2 mile (400–800 m)
19. Which citation management practice is critical for maintaining academic integrity in a research thesis? → Consistently citing all sources using a recognized style such as Chicago or APA
20. Which service is "sound insulation treatment?" → Specialized Allied Services
21. What structural advantage does a triangulated truss offer over a solid beam of the same span and material volume? → Members in pure axial force (tension/compression) rather than bending
22. When an architect discovers a potentially dangerous code violation in a building during a project unrelated to that building, their ethical obligation is to: → Report the condition to the appropriate authority to protect public safety
23. The oldest inhabited city → DAMASCUS
24. NCARB's reciprocity program allows licensed architects to obtain licensure in additional states primarily through: → Submitting a certificate verifying their qualifications to the new state's licensing board
25. Thermal bridging in a wall assembly most commonly occurs at: → Structural studs, shelf angles, and fasteners that penetrate the insulation layer
26. Which urban design principle does the concept of 'eyes on the street,' coined by Jane Jacobs, primarily address? → Natural surveillance and public safety through active street frontages
27. During programming, a client's stated needs and wishes are called 'wants,' while their non-negotiable operational requirements are called: → Needs
28. Can a successful examinee be denied a Certificate of Registration if a lower court convicted them of a crime involving moral turpitude and they appealed? → Yes, the Board has the power to refuse issuance.
29. In the US, which rating system is most widely used to certify the sustainability and energy performance of new commercial and institutional buildings? → LEED
30. What's the biggest bedroom type? → Master