LARE Practice Test 2026 — Free LARE Exam Prep Questions
The L.A.R.E. is the four-section, computer-based licensing exam that landscape architects take across the United States and Canada. It covers site inventory and analysis, planning and design, construction documentation and administration, and grading, drainage and stormwater management. Our original scenario and calculation questions follow CLARB's current blueprint, and every answer choice is explained.
During construction of a riverfront trail, the owner wants 200 linear feet [61 m] of boardwalk railing added so that a section can open for a festival in three weeks. The owner and the contractor have not agreed on the price of the added work. Which instrument BEST allows the work to proceed now?
LARE format, scoring & key facts
Four independent computer-based sections, 3 hours each (3½ hours seat time), taken in any order at PSI test centers or by live online proctoring. Linear, not adaptive. An on-screen calculator and electronic whiteboard are provided; no reference materials are allowed, and any chart or formula needed is embedded in the item. Breaks are allowed, but the clock keeps running and previously viewed items are locked after a break. Graphic items are dimensioned in generic "units".
| Sections | Inventory, Analysis, and Project Management; Planning and Design; Construction Documentation and Administration; Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100, 95, 100 and 80 items (90, 85, 90 and 70 scored, plus 10 pretest each) |
| Time | 3 hours per section (3½ hours seat time) |
| Item types | Multiple choice, multiple response, hot spot and drag and place, all worth one point with no partial credit |
| Passing score | Scaled 650 on each section |
| Blueprint | Based on the 2022 job task analysis; in effect since the December 2023 administration and unchanged in 2026 |
| Tools | On-screen calculator and whiteboard; no references; charts and formulas embedded in the items |
| Windows | Three two-week windows a year (spring, summer, winter) |
| Results | About 4–6 weeks after the window closes |
| Official practice exams | $25 per section: 50 retired questions with explanations, 3 attempts |
Facts last verified Oct 18, 2026. Source: www.clarb.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy/take-the-exam/lareorientationguide.pdf. Always confirm details with CLARB before your exam.
When can you take the LARE?
Offered three times a year in two-week windows: Winter 2026 runs November 30 to December 16, 2026 (register by November 24); 2027 windows are March 29–April 14, July 26–August 11 and November 29–December 15.
What the LARE covers
Every PrepBanq LARE test mirrors the official domain weights.
Domain distribution
% of the exam| Content domain | Weight | ≈ Questions on exam | Our practice questions |
|---|---|---|---|
Inventory, Analysis, and Project Management90 scored items: Project Management 7%, Inventory and Data Collection 21%, Stakeholder Engagement Process 14%, Physical Analysis 39%, Contextual Analysis 19%. | 27% | ~90 | 40 questions → |
Planning and Design85 scored items: Stewardship and Design Principles 17%, Master Planning 33%, Schematic Design 28%, Design Development 22%. | 25% | ~84 | 38 questions → |
Construction Documentation and Administration90 scored items: Construction Plans and Details 50%, Construction Specifications and Bidding 20%, Construction Administration 30%. | 27% | ~90 | 40 questions → |
Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management70 scored items: Stormwater Management 39%, Grading and Earthwork 44%, Drainage Systems 17%. | 21% | ~70 | 32 questions → |
How to register for the LARE
Eligibility
Set by each jurisdiction. Most let graduates of LAAB/LAAC-accredited programs test right after graduation; others require board approval through your CLARB Record first. A CLARB Record is required for all candidates, and Canadian candidates must be members or interns of AALA, BCSLA, MALA or OALA.
Retake policy
A failed section can be retaken in a later exam window, usually as many times as needed, though some jurisdictions limit retakes. You keep credit for every section you pass.
Score release
Provisional pass/fail feedback appears on screen at the end of the exam. Official results are posted in your CLARB account about 4–6 weeks after the window closes; failing results include a scaled score and feedback by subdomain.
Credential renewal
Passed sections are kept. Once all four sections are passed, results are accepted by every CLARB member jurisdiction in the US and Canada.
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LARE FAQ
How many questions are on the LARE?
The LARE has 375 questions (335 of them scored) and you have 12 hours to finish. Question types: Four item types appear in every section: multiple choice (select one), multiple response ("choose 2", "choose 3" or "choose all that apply"; always two or more correct and never all), hot spot (click the most appropriate location on a plan) and drag and place (drag project elements, labels, spot elevations or contours onto a site). Every item is worth one point with no partial credit. Some items include a tabbed pop-up exhibit. Each section includes 10 unscored pretest items placed randomly..
How long is the LARE exam?
Testing time for the LARE is 12 hours.
What is the passing score for the LARE?
LARE passing standard: Scaled score of 650 on each section.
What is on the LARE?
The LARE covers Inventory, Analysis, and Project Management (about 27%), Planning and Design (about 25%), Construction Documentation and Administration (about 27%), Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management (about 21%).
Who administers the LARE?
The Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE) is administered by CLARB. Delivery: Four independent computer-based sections, 3 hours each (3½ hours seat time), taken in any order at PSI test centers or by live online proctoring. Linear, not adaptive. An on-screen calculator and electronic whiteboard are provided; no reference materials are allowed, and any chart or formula needed is embedded in the item. Breaks are allowed, but the clock keeps running and previously viewed items are locked after a break. Graphic items are dimensioned in generic "units".
Can you retake the LARE?
A failed section can be retaken in a later exam window, usually as many times as needed, though some jurisdictions limit retakes. You keep credit for every section you pass.
Is there a free LARE practice test?
Yes. PrepBanq has 15 free LARE practice tests with 150 exam-style questions in the real LARE formats, and every answer is explained. No credit card is needed.
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