Top 15 Real Estate Exam Tips for Passing the First Time

Taking the real estate licensing exam can seem overwhelming. Failing the exam can be costly, but passing it can change your life. These real estate exam tips can help tip the scales in your favor and increase your odds of success come exam day.

There are several things you can do to ensure your success on the real estate exam. The goal is and always will be for you to take the exam with confidence.

With that said, we’ve put together the best real estate exam tips in this article to help you ace this exam and start a fantastic career.

6 Real Estate Exam Tips for Studying

1. Use Real Estate Practice Exams

Haven’t you ever heard the age-old saying, “practice makes perfect?’ Well, it’s true! The number one tip might seem obvious, but it’s definitely the best way to prepare yourself for the exam.

Real estate practice exams are the closest you can get to the real thing. The best way to use practice exams is to treat them like the real deal. Turn off any distractions, time yourself, and focus up!

It’s also not a bad idea to mark which questions you got wrong so afterward; you can go back and study that specific chapter.

While we’re partial, we believe our free practice real estate exam is the best out there. Try it out yourself, and feel free to tell us what you think!

2. Study Your Real Estate Terms and Vocab

By far, the most significant chunk of the real estate license exam is the vocabulary. The key concepts and words you have to study are essential for obtaining your real estate license, so it’s crucial you learn and become familiarized with them.

Utilizing note cards, a cheat sheet, or just reviewing them daily can help immensely. Here is a full list of the top 225 real estate terms & definitions.

3. Practice Your Real Estate Math

Regardless of what state you are taking your real estate exam in, there will be real estate math. It’s a fact; real estate math is on every single real estate exam.

Some test takers are afraid of real estate math problems, and it’s understandable; math can be challenging! Often students say real estate math is their weakness, but imagine if you could turn that weakness into a strength. You’ll be so much better off on the exam, and have an edge when you actually have to use math as an agent.

Luckily we have a full guide on real estate math to help you, plus a real estate math practice exam with tons of real estate math problems. Don’t worry; with our help, you can be a real estate math expert in no time.

4. Build Your Own Real Estate Cheat Sheet

Everyone is different; some people are good at vocab; others are not. One of the best study hacks is to create a list of your weaknesses.

While studying, find these weaknesses and put them into cheat sheet form. So maybe it’s real estate laws, or perhaps it’s real estate math; either way, write it down. Bring your cheat sheet with you everywhere, to the laundromat, to the doctor’s office, everywhere!

We even suggest bringing your cheat sheet with you on exam day. That way, while you are waiting, you can get a last-minute review in.

5. Ask a Real Estate Agent or Broker for Help

Every state, county, and town has different rules and regulations. For the state portion of the exam, it’s not a bad idea to ask a local agent or broker for advice. “Ask, and you shall receive!” they say. Sometimes asking another agent for help can unlock a door to connections and more. Heck, they might even have some old real estate books they want to get rid of lying around too.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your boundaries and ask a real estate agent for help.

6. Use a Real Estate Exam Prep Course

If you want unlimited access to real estate practice exams, advice from the pros, and more… prep courses are the way to go! While we are a tad bit biased, our real estate exam prep course is the best. Our courses are comprehensive, filled with tons of videos covering everything about the exam, and have authentic real estate practice exams so you can prepare for the big day.

The great thing about real estate exam prep courses is the materials are refined. If you have already completed pre-licensing, I’m sure you feel a little bit overwhelmed. Hours, and hours, of materials, and guess what? Most of that (while important to know) won’t be on the exam. It’s true; that’s why prep courses are great. Real estate prep courses are refined and focus on one thing, making sure you pass the exam.

3 Real Estate Exam Tips for the Day of

1. Get Your Affairs in Order

Find out where the exam is and when it is, so you can arrive early. Have your car filled up with gas. Basically, get all the preparation you can do done beforehand. Make sure exam day is just exam day.

Don’t forget your real estate exam registration documents, a calculator if you need one, and of course, any proper I.D. For more on what you need to bring come exam day, here is an article on real estate requirements by state.

2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep the Night Before

Being well-rested is an easy yet simple step that can put you ahead. It’s true; scientists even link a good night’s sleep to higher test scores. So no late-night partying, or late-night movie marathons! Dedicate your last night to some last-minute studying and then a nice night’s sleep.

Make sure to get 8-9 hours of sleep before exam day for the best results.

3. Have a Nice Breakfast

Never take an exam on an empty stomach. Nothing is worse than feeling hungry, so don’t add that to the list of things already on your mind come exam day. If you don’t feel like cooking, that’s fine; run through the drive-through and have something before. The important thing is you eat. Eating before the exam will give you energy and help you focus.

For a full list of great foods to eat come exam day, read this performance-enhancing food guide.

6 Real Estate Exam Tips for the Exam Itself

1. Answer the Questions That Are Easy First

First and foremost, go through the entire exam and answer the questions that are easy, and you are confident in. If you are good at math, start with math. If you are good at real estate law, start with that. This will boost your confidence and get your exam off to a great start.

2. Skip Questions You Don’t Know

There is no shame in skipping answers as long as you remember to come back to them. Don’t waste time on a question that seems overly complicated. If you are bad at math, skip the math questions until the very end.

Remember the exam is timed, so make sure to maximize your time and work efficiently. This strategy is great because often, the answer to a question you skipped may be revealed later on.

3. Read the Questions and Answers Thoroughly

While going through the exam, look at the questions and specifically the answers first. Don’t react unless you are 100% sure you know the answer. Look for specific keywords and phrases you remember from studying. If you use a real estate practice exam to study, you’ll notice exactly what I am talking about.

4. Eliminate Wrong Answers

Sometimes you have to work backward, and that’s okay. If you see something you know for a fact is wrong, remove it from the playing field. This will increase your odds of getting it correct. If you are taking the exam on paper, do not be afraid to cross an answer off the page. If you can eliminate two answers, you then have a 50% chance of getting the question correct. I like those odds!

5. Stick With Your Gut Feeling

Once you’ve answered an exam question, don’t change your answer! Never go back and change any of the answers. Any questions you are sure about, stick with them. Stay confident and trust yourself.

6. If All Else Fails – Guess

There is no shame in guessing. Often you might surprise yourself and guess correctly. Here’s the deal, the exam is multiple choice. There are four answers, which means statistically, you have a 25% chance of getting your guess right. If you use the elimination method from earlier, you could even increase your odds significantly. Don’t be afraid to guess; remember, there is no penalty for guessing.