How to Study For the Real Estate Exam
Now that you’ve decided to get your California real estate license (and maybe you’ve even chosen a great program like one of Allied’s online self-paced or livestream programs to help you do it), it’s time to figure out how to study for the real estate exam so you can pass with a score of 70% or higher.
Fortunately, if you want to know how to study for the real estate exam, Allied Real Estate School has plenty of resources.
From some of the best real estate practice exams to real estate test tips, all of Allied’s pre-licensing programs include extra support so you can pass your real estate exam the first time.
In fact, at Allied Real Estate School, we’re so confident you’ll pass that if you don’t receive a score of 70% or higher on your first try, you don’t pay for your pre-licensing course material.
Sounds doable, doesn’t it?
So if you want to know how to study for the real estate exam, here are a few answers to some of the most common questions new pre-licensing students have when they’re getting started.
1. How Do I Start Studying for Real Estate?
Great question! When you’re learning how to study for the real estate exam, you’ll want to start by simply focusing on your real estate exam prep course material. Yes, it’s really that simple!
The reason is because your course material is specifically designed to reflect the California real estate exam questions, so it’s not necessary to overthink the material or look too far outside of what your pre-licensing program provides — especially if you’ve opted for one of Allied’s California Fast Track Premium or Fast Track Premium Plus Programs that offer extra study materials.
In addition to using resources like Allied’s digital real estate exam flash cards and our “Exam Cram” video, one of the best ways to absorb the material in your pre-licensing program is to take advantage of the included real estate practice exams.
These help you get comfortable with the material you’ll see on the actual exam, and will help you identify any areas where you need some extra practice.
Even better, your practice exams will help you get familiar with exam questions posed in a variety of ways so you’ll start to know the material inside and out. Plus, seeing the questions with different wording in each practice exam will prepare you for any curve balls you may encounter on the real test.
2. What Are Some of the Questions on the Real Estate Exam?
At this point you might be wondering, “Is the real estate test hard?”
The good news is, the answer depends on you: if you use the course and study materials you’re given and practice regularly, it should be fairly easy to pass your exam with a score of 70% or higher.
The material you’ll see on the real estate exam ranges from legal questions to working out the math on commissions. You’ll also need to be familiar with real estate terminology, which is where Allied’s eBook Dictionary and Digital Exam Flash Cards come in handy.
Overall, categories include:
- Property Ownership and Land Use Controls and Regulations
- Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties
- Property Valuation and Financial Analysis
- Financing
- Transfer of Property
- Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures (includes Specialty Areas)
- Contracts
While it’s helpful to know which topics are covered on the test, keep in mind that reading every word of the exam is just as important as knowing the material. The way questions are phrased on the test can change the context of what they’re asking, so it’s helpful to look out for words like “always” or “never” in all your questions, or choices like “all” or “none” in the answers.
The best approach is to take your time, read each question and answer carefully, and be mindful of every word. You’ll have three hours and fifteen minutes to complete your 150-question exam, which should be plenty of time if you’re an Allied student who has taken full advantage of our study resources.
3. How Long Should I Prepare for the Real Estate Exam?
Besides 135 hours of real estate coursework you’re required to take, the amount of time you’ll want to prepare for the real estate exam is mostly a personal decision.
Many people know whether or not they’re skilled test takers, so if you know you’ll need extra time to study, it’s okay to wait a little longer between your completed coursework and taking your exam so you can get extra help or spend more time with your provided study materials.
In fact, there’s no deadline on when you must apply for your California real estate exam after you complete your coursework.
However, even though there’s no formal deadline to consider, you may want to establish your own personal deadline for when you’ll apply for the exam and take your test — so you don’t forget any of the material you just learned.
4. How Many Times Can I Take the Real Estate Exam?
Fortunately, most Allied students don’t need to worry about this question because they pass their real estate exam on the first try.
But in the event you don’t pass the exam the first time you take it, California allows aspiring licensees to take the test an unlimited number of times for up to two years after their original application date.
The downside is that those who opt to take the exam again will need to pay another $60 to cover the exam fee.
However, when you consider the opportunities available to licensed California real estate agents, it makes sense to keep trying until you pass!
Why Allied Real Estate School Offers the Best Way to Study For Your Real Estate Test
No matter how you like to learn, Allied can help.
Our California packages offer formats that fit your learning style, your schedule, and your study preferences.
Even if you choose a self-paced package, you’ll still have access to lots of live support and our experienced instructors who can help you if you have questions or need more guidance.
In addition, Allied offers a California Real Estate Exam Prep program. You can purchase this separately or as a part of your pre-licensing package. The Exam Prep platform was created to help you pass your real estate licensing exam on the first try. And each year, we help tens of thousands of aspiring real estate professionals pass their exams.
What’s Included in Exam Prep:
- Progress Exams. Ten California practice exams to check your knowledge.
- Final Exams. Two national and three state final exams to prepare you for your licensing exam. You can view a breakdown of your results by the topics you will encounter on the state licensing exam.
- Custom Exams. Create your own exams based on topics where you want more help.
- Digital Flashcards. Create decks of flashcards to review key terms and definitions by topic.