RISD Hometest preparation is one of the most misunderstood parts of applying to Rhode Island School of Design — yet it can determine your admission outcome as much as your portfolio. If you’re applying to Rhode Island School of Design, understanding the Hometest thoroughly is essential: it’s a mandatory component for most BFA programs, it directly tests your observational drawing skills under time constraints, and it is evaluated independently from your portfolio by RISD faculty. This post explains exactly what the RISD Hometest is, what it’s looking for, and how to prepare for it effectively.
What Is the RISD Hometest?
The RISD Hometest is a timed, at-home drawing assignment that requires applicants to draw two specific subjects within a set time limit, under specific conditions. Unlike the Parsons Challenge (which is a conceptual development exercise), the RISD Hometest is primarily a test of observational drawing ability — your capacity to look carefully at the world and record what you see with skill, accuracy, and visual intelligence.
Current RISD Hometest format (as of the most recent admissions cycle):
- Assignment 1: Draw your hand(s) holding an object of your choice
- Assignment 2: Draw the space in front of you — a room, environment, or scene from direct observation
- Time limit: 1 hour per drawing (2 hours total)
- Media: Pencil only (unless otherwise specified)
- Submission: Scanned or photographed and submitted digitally through the application portal
Always verify the current year’s specific requirements directly on RISD’s admissions website, as the prompts can be updated annually.
Why Does RISD Require the Hometest?
RISD uses the Hometest to evaluate something that a portfolio cannot reliably show: how a student draws from direct observation under time pressure, without the ability to select their strongest work.
A portfolio is curated — it presents the best of what a student has made over months or years. The Hometest is not curated. It tests what you can do on a given day, in a given hour, looking at what’s in front of you.
This matters to RISD because observational drawing is the foundation of all the programs it offers — architecture, industrial design, illustration, painting, furniture design, graphic design. The ability to look carefully and record accurately is a fundamental skill that RISD values across all disciplines, regardless of major.
What RISD Is Looking For in the Hometest
RISD faculty evaluate Hometests with these priorities:
Careful observation. Does the drawing show that the student actually looked at the subject — its proportions, its shadows, its texture, its spatial relationships — rather than drawing from memory or symbol?
Structural understanding. Does the student grasp the three-dimensional form of what they’re drawing? Does the hand holding the object show understanding of anatomy and gesture? Does the spatial drawing show understanding of perspective and depth?
Visual intelligence. Does the drawing make interesting compositional choices? Is there evidence of the student thinking about what to include, what to emphasize, and how to use the page?
Confidence and commitment. Are the marks made with intention? Is the drawing complete and engaged, or tentative and incomplete?
Technically perfect drawings are not required. What is required is evidence that the student truly looked and drew from observation with genuine engagement.
How to Prepare for the RISD Hometest
1. Practice observational drawing regularly and consistently. The most important preparation is simply drawing from life, frequently. Draw your hand in different positions. Draw your room, your desk, your window, your kitchen. Draw objects with complex forms. The more hours you spend drawing from direct observation before the Hometest, the more natural and confident the process will feel under time pressure.
2. Practice timed drawing specifically. Sit down with a timer set for one hour and complete a full observational drawing within that time. Practice managing the time — spending appropriately on blocking in proportions, developing the middle tones, and refining specific areas. Many students have never drawn with a hard time limit; practicing this before the Hometest reduces anxiety significantly.
3. Study hand-drawing specifically. The hand holding an object is a perennial RISD Hometest prompt. Drawing hands is notoriously difficult — proportions, gesture, and the complexity of fingers and knuckles trip up many students. Spend dedicated time drawing your own hand in many different positions and grips before the Hometest.
4. Practice spatial drawing (perspective and environment). The second prompt requires drawing the space in front of you. Review basic one-point and two-point perspective construction, practice drawing rooms and environments with attention to recession and proportion, and get comfortable representing three-dimensional space on a flat page.
5. Use pencil only. The Hometest specifies pencil. Practice your pencil technique — line quality, shading through hatching and blending, tonal range from light to dark. Know how your pencil handles and how to use it to convey form convincingly.
The Day of the Hometest
When you sit down to complete the Hometest:
- Set up your drawing materials and your subjects before starting the timer
- Choose your object for the first prompt thoughtfully — something with interesting form that you can hold naturally
- Spend the first few minutes blocking in proportions lightly before committing to stronger lines
- Work across the whole drawing rather than finishing one area before moving to another
- Use your remaining time to strengthen values, sharpen specific areas, and refine the overall composition
- Scan or photograph your completed drawing carefully — good documentation of a strong drawing is important; poor documentation of a strong drawing is a waste
A Note for Korean Students
Korean art education, particularly 입시 preparation, develops strong technical drawing skills — often including extensive figure drawing, still life work, and spatial composition. This foundation is directly relevant to the RISD Hometest.
However, Korean exam drawing often prioritizes high technical finish and replication of specific formulas over genuine observational engagement. RISD evaluators are looking for drawings that show real looking — drawings that capture the specific, imperfect, particular reality of what was in front of the student, not idealized or formula-based renderings.
The most important adjustment for Korean students: draw what’s actually there, with all its imperfection and specificity, rather than what you think a “correct” drawing should look like. Observational authenticity matters more than technical perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RISD Hometest required for all programs? The Hometest is required for most BFA programs at RISD. Check the specific requirements for your program on RISD’s admissions page, as requirements can vary slightly by major.
Can I redo the Hometest if I’m not happy with my drawings? No — you submit the drawings you complete during your timed session. You cannot redo the assignment. This is intentional: the Hometest is designed to capture what you can do in the moment, not a curated best-of selection.
Is there a specific size requirement for the drawings? RISD provides specific size and format guidelines on the Hometest submission page. Follow these exactly. Drawings that don’t meet size requirements may not be reviewed.
What should I use for the Hometest if I don’t have good drawing paper? Use the best quality drawing paper you have available. Smooth or slightly textured drawing paper is appropriate for pencil work. The quality of your marks matters more than the specific paper, but avoid very rough or very slick surfaces.
How much does the Hometest affect admissions decisions? RISD evaluates the Hometest as a distinct component of your application, reviewed independently by faculty. It is a significant factor — not the only factor, but not a minor one either. A portfolio that shows creative work alongside a Hometest that shows strong observational drawing ability creates a compelling complete application.
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