What happens when you realize an entire profession's exam prep is stuck in the photocopier era
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<h2>The Starting Point</h2>
The Philippine Architect Licensure Examination has historically had pass rates between 40-65%, though recent sittings have seen improvement — the January 2026 exam hit 82%. That's still thousands of architecture graduates who studied for five years, only to face a board exam with limited modern study tools.
Most reviewees rely on photocopied questionnaires passed down from previous batches, expensive review centers with fixed schedules, or random question compilations shared in Facebook groups. The content is often outdated, unverified, and disorganized.
I thought: what if there was a proper online platform? Something that actually works like modern study tools — with spaced repetition, progress tracking, and verified content.
That's how <a href="https://www.arkitekto.review">Arkitekto</a> started.
<h2>What Arkitekto Does</h2>
At its core, Arkitekto is an online review platform for the ALE. But "online reviewer" undersells what it actually takes to build one properly.
8,000+ practice questions covering all 3 ALE exam subjects: History, Theory &#x26; Professional Practice (30%), Utilities, Structural &#x26; Materials (30%), and Architectural Design &#x26; Site Planning (40%).
Spaced Repetition Review using the SM-2 algorithm. Questions you get right come back less frequently. Questions you get wrong come back sooner. Your study time goes where it matters most.
Mock Examinations that simulate the actual ALE format — timed, randomized, scored, with detailed results by subject area.
Progress Tracking with study streaks, subject mastery levels, performance analytics, and achievement badges. Because studying for a board exam is a marathon, not a sprint.
Study Groups and Discussions where reviewees can study together and discuss tricky questions. Preparing for the boards is isolating. It doesn't have to be.
<h2>The Tech Behind It</h2>
I built Arkitekto with Next.js 16 (App Router with React 19) and Supabase for the backend. The full stack:
<ul>
<li>Next.js 16 with Server Components and Server Actions for fast page loads</li>
<li>Supabase (PostgreSQL + Auth + Row Level Security) for the database and authentication</li>
<li>Tailwind CSS 4 with shadcn/ui components for a clean, consistent UI</li>
<li>Zustand for client state, React Query for server state</li>
<li>Lexical for rich-text bookmark notes</li>
<li>SM-2 algorithm for spaced repetition scheduling</li>
</ul>
The architecture is straightforward: server components fetch data, server actions handle mutations, and RLS policies ensure every user only sees their own data.
<h2>The Hard Part Wasn't the Code</h2>
Building the platform was the easy part. The hard part was content quality.
I started with 8,000+ questions and thought the database was ready. Then the reports started coming in. Wrong answer keys. Outdated building codes. Questions that didn't match the current PRBOA syllabus.
I ended up running 12 rounds of review across the entire question bank. Automated checks caught formatting issues and obvious errors. But every flagged question needed manual verification against authoritative sources — the National Building Code, RA 9266, the actual PRBOA syllabus.
The lesson was humbling: in education, one wrong answer destroys trust in the entire platform. You can have the most beautiful UI in the world, but if users find a single incorrect answer key, they question everything.
<h2>Spaced Repetition for Exam Prep</h2>
Implementing SM-2 for architecture exam questions was trickier than expected. The algorithm was designed for language learning — binary recall (you know the word or you don't). Architecture exam questions are different.
Missing a question about structural design doesn't necessarily mean you forgot the concept. You might have:
<ul>
<li>Misread the question</li>
<li>Confused similar building code sections</li>
<li>Known the concept but not the specific regulation number</li>
</ul>
I had to tune the ease factors and intervals to account for this. Getting a question wrong doesn't always mean "schedule it for tomorrow." Sometimes it means "show it again in 3 days with a different angle."
<h2>Row Level Security Changed How I Think</h2>
Using Supabase RLS was one of those decisions that felt like extra work upfront but paid off massively. Every table has policies that automatically scope queries to the authenticated user. No accidentally leaking someone else's study progress.
But it forces architectural decisions early. Every table needs a <code>user_id</code> column. Cross-user features like study group leaderboards need carefully designed database functions with <code>SECURITY DEFINER</code>.
The mental model shift: instead of "add auth checks in the API layer," it's "the database itself enforces access rules." Once you internalize that, the entire application becomes simpler.
<h2>Building for a Niche</h2>
Filipino architecture students preparing for the board exam is a small audience. But building for a niche turned out to be an advantage.
Every feature request comes with genuine context. Users tell you exactly what they need because the exam is real and the stakes are high. There's no ambiguity about what to build next — anything that helps them pass the exam.
The feedback loop is tight. The community is supportive. And feature prioritization is obvious because the goal is singular and clear: pass the ALE.
<h2>What's Next</h2>
Arkitekto is live and growing. The immediate focus is:
<ol>
<li>Continuing content verification — making every single question accurate and well-explained</li>
<li>More detailed analytics — helping users identify exactly which topics need more attention</li>
<li>Mobile experience improvements — many reviewees study during commutes</li>
</ol>
The bigger vision is to become the definitive study platform for the Philippine ALE. Not just a question bank, but a complete study companion that adapts to how each individual learns.
<h2>Try It</h2>
If you're preparing for the Architect Licensure Examination, or know someone who is, check out <a href="https://www.arkitekto.review">Arkitekto</a>. The free tier gives you access to practice questions so you can see if it works for your study style.
The board exam is hard enough. Your study tools shouldn't make it harder.