I was contacted by a forum user for clarification on the number of structural questions requiring equations. Rather than reply privately, I'll say this here for anyone to read. I won't go into detail of how many structural questions I remember from the test. I don't know how NCARB would view giving out specifics of how many questions there are of a particular type on the test. I'd rather not risk getting in trouble with them, nor would I want to risk getting Coach and his forum in trouble by posting anything here.
That being said, I don't have to tell you what I remember from my test. Simply look at the ARE 5.0 Handbook. 31%-37% of the PDD exam is covering "Integration of Building Materials & Systems." You know there are 120 questions on this exam. That's roughly 37-45 questions on this topic (NCARB even gives you this in the handbook so you don't have to calculate what number of 120 is 31-37%). Those questions cover a range of 6 different objectives. Only one of those objectives asks you to "determine the size of structural systems to meet project goals." Assuming an equal distribution of questions on the 6 objectives, you range from roughly 6-8 questions on each objective. There could be more or less if the distribution is not equal among the 6 objectives, but that should give you a general idea of how many questions there might be of a particular topic on the exam.
Also, consider that the objective might met by other means than simply calculating sizes of structural systems. The objective reads (emphasis my own), "You will need to be able to identify and develop structural systems,
including calculating the size of some structural components based on the system type, system requirements, programmatic requirements, and other factors." So sizing structural systems is a major part of it, but there might be questions fulfilling the purpose of the objective, to identify and develop structural systems, that don't require any specific equations to calculate maximum shear or moments and size a structural member based on that at all. Sample Item 1 for PDD in the handbook is an example of how a question can fulfill this objective without requiring you to use a complicated equation to answer the question. So assuming 6-8 questions on structural systems, maybe only a few of them require any type of significant calculation.
Finally, even if I did tell you exactly how many questions I can remember, that doesn't mean your exam would be the same. Or that you might not need a simple equation that isn't provided because it was one that I remembered easily. With the server crash yesterday NCARB has indicated* that candidates that weren't able to complete their test would be given a chance to retake it,
and it will be a completely different test. This means that there are multiple versions of each exam, so your test might not be the same one I took. That's the benefit of a proper cut score; you can get a different test than me, potentially easier or harder, but the overall effect is that we are both deemed to be competent by meeting the cut score set for our respective tests.**
My advice: Become familiar with the resources that NCARB provides so you know how to use them. Don't bother trying to memorize them, but know where they are and how to access them on the test. Use the demonstration exam that NCARB provides. This is what you needed to do to pass the vignettes in 4.0--you had to practice using the software. Practice using the resources in 5.0 through the demo exam. Yes, I realize there aren't any sample questions on the demo exam that you would need to use the equations on that NCARB provides. Make up your own questions, or use questions from other sample exams by other publishers and use the resources NCARB gives you through the exam so you are used to them on test day.
*
https://are5community.ncarb.org/hc/en-us/community/posts/115000239028/comments/115000655527 - link to Jared's post where he explained that candidates will get a different test.
**
http://archinect.com/arch-ellipsis/are-5-0-cut-scores - link to blog post where the author explains the cut score process better than I've seen elsewhere. Last paragraphs showing example 10 question tests illustrate that different tests can have different cut scores based on question difficulty.