Tips for Taking the Real Estate Exam (+ A Breakdown of Each State’s Exam Format!)
Want to become a real estate agent? First, you will need to take a real estate exam. The requirements vary from state to state. This article will break it down, so you are prepared for what’s ahead.
It will also provide valuable tips and tricks that ensure your success.
Tips for Taking the Real Estate Exam
1. Create a Study Schedule
Create a study schedule to ensure you review the content regularly without overdoing it.
2. Diversify Your Study Materials
The real estate exam covers several topics. Switch up the subjects you are studying to give yourself a fresh outlook. This strategy will also help you cover more ground.
3. Challenge Yourself
Test yourself regularly. Focus on subjects you are struggling with. Flashcards are a recommended study aid.
4. Use Acronyms
Make up acronyms and think of other fun ways to remember your study material.
5. Create a Study Group
A study group will make studying more interesting. It will also hold you accountable to your study schedule.
6. Get Tutoring
Getting help from a live person can make coursework easier to understand. Consider hiring a tutor for a crash course if you are struggling with a topic. A tutor may also be helpful if you have been taking online courses and need clarification.
7. Use Exam Prep
7. Use Exam PrepSome real estate schools offer prep courses that are specifically designed to get you ready for the exam. They are an added expense, but they just might pay off.
8. Get Ready for Exam Day
Prepare for exam day by getting plenty of rest the night before. Eat a healthy breakfast. Practice stress-reducing exercises so you don’t get overwhelmed.
9. Don’t Overthink It
Stress at exam time can make you overthink and try to outsmart the questions. If you find this happening, take a deep breath, and ground yourself. Trust the information you have in your head.
10. Practice Vocabulary
You will have a hard time passing the test if you aren’t familiar with real estate terminology. Go over the different types of contracts, ownership types, and fiduciary duties before you take the exam.
11. Study Real Estate Math
Real estate math will come up on about 20% of the questions. Be sure you are familiar with the following formulas:
- Area
- Acre
- Property tax rate
- 1 mill
- Commission Formula
- Simple interest
12. Understand Fair Housing
Several exam questions will relate to the Fair Housing Act. Study it carefully to ensure you are ready for your test.
13. Study in a Distraction-Free Environment
Study in an environment that is free of distractions. Shut off your devices before hitting the books.
14. Try the Pomodoro Technique
14. Try the Pomodoro TechniqueThe Pomodoro Technique involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and engaging in a hyper-focused study section. Once the 25 minutes are up, take a 5-minute break before you resume studying. This strategy will help you retain information without fatiguing your mind.
15. Make a Test Day Cheat Sheet
If permitted, create a cheat sheet that you can reference until you sit down to take your test. Put the important facts on one sheet of paper and study it until the exam begins. Doing so will keep the information fresh in your mind.
Tips for Actually Taking the Exam
1. Answer Easy Questions First
Every question on the test holds the same weight. Get the easy ones out of the way so you have time to focus on the hard ones. This strategy will minimize your risk of leaving questions out.
2. Eliminate Wrong Answers
2. Eliminate Wrong AnswersIf you are stuck on a question, eliminate the answers that you know are wrong first. Doing so will allow you to focus on answers that are likely to be correct. It will narrow down your options, so you make an educated choice.
3. Come Back to the Answers You Skipped
After completing the easy questions, come back to the answers you skipped. You will have time to concentrate on them before the test ends.
4. Look for Opposite Answer Choices
Multiple-choice questions may list two answers that are the opposite of one another. One of these is likely to be the correct answer.
5. Detailed Answers Tend to Be Correct
Answers may be wrong if only a portion of them is incorrect. For an answer to be correct, every part must be correct. As a result, correct answers tend to be longer and more detailed than incorrect answers.
6. Look Out for ‘Always’ and ‘Never’ Answers
Answers with extremes like ‘always’ and ‘never’ tend to be incorrect.
7. ‘Except ‘Answers Tend to Be Correct
7. ‘Except ‘Answers Tend to Be CorrectAnswers with the word ‘except’ tend to be more detailed and are more likely to be correct.
8. Read Questions Carefully
Some questions are made to mess up test takers who are moving quickly and aren’t reading carefully. Take your time to cut back on errors. Rephrase questions in your head to determine what’s being asked of you.
9. Don’t Choose Unfamiliar Answers
If there’s an answer that discusses a concept or includes wording you’ve never seen before, it’s probably incorrect.
Alabama
How Many Questions are on the Test? 140
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60 hours
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 210 minutes
Alaska
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 40
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Arizona
How Many Questions are on the Test? 180
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass: 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 300 minutes
Arkansas
How Many Questions are on the Test? 110
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 56/80 on the National Section and 21/40 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
California
How Many Questions are on the Test? 150
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 135
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Colorado
How Many Questions are on the Test? 154
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 60/80 on the National Section and 53/74 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 168
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 230 minutes
Connecticut
How Many Questions are on the Test? 110
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 56/80 on the National Section and 21/30 on the state section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 40
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 165 minutes
Delaware
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 56/80 on the National Section and 28/40 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 99
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Florida
How Many Questions are on the Test? 100
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 63
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 210 minutes
Georgia
How Many Questions are on the Test? 152
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 72%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 75
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Hawaii
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240
Idaho
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 120
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 150 minutes
Illinois
How Many Questions are on the Test? 140
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 75
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Indiana
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Iowa
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 56/80 on the National Section and 28/40 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Kansas
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 56/80 on the National Section and 21/30 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Kentucky
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 60/85 on the National Section and 38/50 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 96
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Louisiana
How Many Questions are on the Test? 135
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 56/80 on the National Section and 40/56 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Maine
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 55
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Maryland
How Many Questions are on the Test? 110
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 120 minutes
Massachusetts
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 40
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Michigan 
How Many Questions are on the Test? 115
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 40
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Minnesota
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Mississippi
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Missouri
How Many Questions are on the Test? 140
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 72
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Montana
How Many Questions are on the Test? 113
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 70
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Nebraska
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 66
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Nevada
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
New Hampshire
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 40
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 140 minutes
New Jersey
How Many Questions are on the Test? 110
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 75
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
New Mexico
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
New York
How Many Questions are on the Test? 75
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 75
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 90 minutes
North Carolina
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120 questions
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 71%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 75
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 210 minutes
North Dakota
How Many Questions are on the Test? 140
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70/100 on the National Section and 30/40 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Ohio
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120 questions
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 120
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Oklahoma
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Oregon
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 150
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 195 minutes
Pennsylvania
How Many Questions are on the Test? 125
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 75
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 180 minutes
Rhode Island
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 45
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
South Carolina
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 200 minutes
South Dakota
How Many Questions are on the Test? 168
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? The Angoff method is used to estimate the difficulty of each item on the examination for the minimally competent practitioner (MCP)
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 116
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 420 minutes
Tennessee
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Texas
How Many Questions are on the Test? 125
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 62%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 180
How Long do you Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Utah
How Many Questions are on the Test? 125
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 120
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 140 minutes
Vermont
How Many Questions are on the Test? 136
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? The Angoff method is used to estimate the difficulty of each item on the examination for the minimally competent practitioner (MCP)
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 40
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Virginia
How Many Questions are on the Test? 120
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 150 minutes
Washington
How Many Questions are on the Test? 130
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 210 minutes
Washington, D.C.
How Many Questions are on the Test? 110
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 60
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 210 minutes
West Virginia
How Many Questions are on the Test? 150
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 90
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 210 minutes
Wisconsin
How Many Questions are on the Test? 140
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 75%
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 72
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
Wyoming
How Many Questions are on the Test? 132
What Percentage Do You Need to Pass? 70/100 on the National Section and 24/32 on the State Section
How Many Hours is the Pre-Licensing Course? 54
How Long Do You Have to Complete the Test? 240 minutes
The information in this article provides valuable guidelines for what to expect on the real estate exam. Hopefully, you can utilize it to succeed on the test. We wish you luck in your endeavors.
Other resources: We have guides on the ins and outs of the topics you need to know to be a successful estate agent (like circle prospecting, real estate website builders, real estate lead generation companies, or a well designed real estate CRM). If you’re looking for more advanced topics like the best probate lead sellers, mortgage leads, real estate ads, building your own real estate lead generation website, which real estate marketing tools you’ll need, how to build a successful social media strategy, or even just real estate marketing ideas in general, you can try looking for a real estate mentor or an answering service that can help show you the way.
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