The NEC architecture syllabus (code AArc) has 10 chapters and 60 sub-sections. It is different from the engineering syllabi because a large part is about Nepali architectural heritage, history and theory, and design studio knowledge. It still includes structures, surveying, estimating and building science, plus the project planning chapter that all branches share.
NEC published the syllabus with a model question set in November 2025. The model set has 100 multiple choice questions of one mark each, and it is longer than most other branches' sets, so read it fully before you plan. This page explains every chapter, where marks are easy to lose and how to plan six weeks of revision.
New to the licence exam? Start with the NEC licence exam guide for eligibility and the application steps. For other branches, see the NEC syllabus list for all 41 branches.
NEC Architecture exam pattern at a glance
| Item | What NEC has published |
|---|---|
| Question type | Multiple choice, four options |
| Questions in the 2025 model set | 100 questions of 1 mark each (100 x 1 = 100) |
| Syllabus size | 10 chapters, 6 sub-sections each, 60 sub-sections in all |
| Earlier pattern (exams up to 2023) | 60 one-mark and 20 two-mark questions, 2 hours, pass at 50 marks, no negative marking |
| Where to confirm | The exam notice for your session on the NEC notices page |
With 100 questions spread over 60 sub-sections, there is no safe topic to skip. If you leave out a whole chapter, you give up marks you cannot win back elsewhere.
NEC Architecture syllabus: chapter-by-chapter breakdown
The syllabus describes chapter 1 as Nepalese architectural context, chapter 2 as materials, construction technology and services, and chapters 3 to 5 as history, theory and design. Chapters 6 to 9 cover engineering aspects, planning, site work and professional practice, and chapter 10 is the common project planning chapter.
| Chapter and what it covers | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| 1. Architectural Context in Nepal Licchavi, Malla, Shah and Rana periods, temple and settlement typologies, vernacular houses, World Heritage Sites, zoning and bylaws, building typologies and tenure | Temple types and their features, heritage site list and conservation rules, FAR, ground coverage, setback and right of way. |
| 2. Building Materials, Construction and Services stone, brick, timber and metals, walls and openings, foundations, concrete and steel work, damp and fire prevention, MEP basics | Foundation types, damp proofing, fire safety by design and finishes. |
| 3. Architectural History and Theories ancient and medieval western architecture, eastern architecture, modern and post-modern movements, master architects, contemporary architects, Nepali modern architecture | Match architects to buildings and ideas. Keep a table of architect, movement, key work. |
| 4. Architecture Design I (basic studio) principles of composition, projections, drawing types, basic design process, CAD basics, small projects | Composition principles, projection types and what each drawing shows. |
| 5. Architecture Design II (advanced studio) detailed drawings, advanced design process, rendering software, municipal drawing sets, construction details, complex projects | What a municipal drawing set must contain, and universal design ideas. |
| 6. Engineering Aspects and Building Science structural basics, steel and RCC design basics, surveying and estimating, climatology, lighting and acoustics, passive design for Nepal's climate zones | Sun path and shading angles, illumination and reverberation basics, area and volume methods. |
| 7. Settlement Planning planning theories, urbanisation and planning practice in Nepal, demography, land development and land pooling, urban design, planning law | Planning models (Geddes, Howard, Perry, Mumford), Nepal's planning hierarchy and land pooling. |
| 8. Site Works and Landscaping site analysis, soil and topography, site data synthesis, hard and soft landscape, open spaces, landscape typologies | Contours and grading, site analysis factors, landscape elements. |
| 9. Architects, Society and Policies architecture and society, the profession, sociological aspects, business types, regulatory controls, property valuation | The acts and codes listed in 9.5, and valuation as per Nepal Rastra Bank guidelines in 9.6. |
| 10. Project Planning, Design and Implementation drawings, engineering economics, CPM and PERT, project management, professional practice, NEC Act | Common to all branches. Practise NPV and CPM. |
Chapter 10 is the same in every NEC syllabus. Its six sub-sections are:
- 10.1 Engineering drawings: drawing sheets, scales, orthographic and isometric views, sections.
- 10.2 Engineering economics: cash flow, interest and time value of money, payback, NPV, IRR, MARR, depreciation and tax in Nepal.
- 10.3 Project planning and scheduling: project life cycle, bar charts, CPM and PERT, resource levelling and smoothing.
- 10.4 Project management: risk, project financing, tendering and contract management.
- 10.5 Professional practice: ethics, society and environment, occupational health and safety, role of the Nepal Engineers' Association.
- 10.6 Regulatory body: the Nepal Engineering Council Act and Regulations.
You can practise this chapter with the project management and engineering economics MCQ set.
Where to focus your time
- Chapter 1 and chapter 3 are memory-heavy. Make comparison tables instead of reading notes again and again: period, typology, material, example.
- Regulations appear in several chapters. Bylaws in 1.5, planning legislation in 7.6 and regulatory controls in 9.5 overlap. Study them together so the terms stick.
- Do not drop the engineering chapter. Chapter 6 asks for structures, surveying, estimating, climatology, lighting and acoustics. Simple numericals here are good marks for architects who practise them.
- Design chapters are tested as theory. In an MCQ exam, chapters 4 and 5 become questions about principles, drawing conventions and municipal drawing requirements.
Six-week study plan for the NEC Architecture exam
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Read the official syllabus and the full model set. Rate every sub-section. |
| Week 2 | Chapter 1 and chapter 3 with comparison tables. |
| Week 3 | Chapters 2 and 6 (materials, construction and building science). |
| Week 4 | Chapters 4, 5 and 8 (design and site). |
| Week 5 | Chapters 7, 9 and 10 (planning, practice and project management). |
| Week 6 | Model set under timing, then two more full papers. |
Two to three hours a day is enough for most graduates who finished the degree recently. If you have been out of study for a few years, stretch the plan to eight or ten weeks. For general and civil practice questions, the site's engineering MCQ practice tool tracks your weak topics.
How this syllabus relates to other branches
Architecture shares chapter 10 with every engineering branch. For the building permit side of chapter 5, see the site's guide on the naksa pass process, and the NEC syllabus list for all branches for the other files.
Common mistakes
- Reading history as stories. MCQs ask for matches: architect to building, period to temple style, movement to idea.
- Treating bylaws as one city's rules. Learn the terms (FAR, ground coverage, setback, ROW, light plane) and how they are measured.
- Skipping the engineering chapter.
- Not reading the model set, which is longer than in most branches and shows the question style clearly.
Frequently asked questions
Does NEC have a separate exam for architecture?
Yes. Architecture has its own NEC syllabus (AArc) and its own model question set. The structure is the same as the engineering branches: 10 chapters with six sub-sections each.
How many questions are in the NEC architecture exam?
The model set published in November 2025 has 100 one-mark multiple choice questions. Earlier sessions used 60 one-mark and 20 two-mark questions, so check the notice for your exam.
What Nepal-specific topics are in the architecture syllabus?
Chapter 1 covers Nepali architecture from the Licchavi to Rana periods, traditional typologies, vernacular houses, World Heritage Sites and bylaws. Chapter 7 covers planning practice in Nepal, and chapter 9 lists Nepali acts, codes and valuation guidelines.
Where can I download the NEC architecture syllabus PDF?
On the NEC notices page under "Syllabus / Model Questions". The downloads section below links directly to the syllabus and model question files.
Download the official NEC Architecture PDFs
- NEC Architecture syllabus (PDF, nec.gov.np)
- NEC Architecture model questions (PDF, nec.gov.np)
- NEC notices page (filter by "Syllabus / Model Questions")
The files are hosted by the Nepal Engineering Council. If a link stops working, NEC has probably uploaded a new version, so open the notices page and look for the latest file.
Last checked October 2026 against the syllabus and model question files on nec.gov.np. NEC can change the pattern, fees and dates for any session, so read the official notice before you apply. This page is general study guidance, not an official NEC document.
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