Free Real Estate Exam (national portion) practice test (10 questions)
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Question 1A seller removes a built-in dishwasher before closing without mentioning it in the purchase contract. The dishwasher is best classified as:
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Answer: B — A fixture, which normally transfers with the real property.
An item permanently attached to and adapted to the home, such as a built-in dishwasher, is a fixture and is part of the real property unless the contract says otherwise. Trade fixtures belong to a business tenant, and emblements are annual crops.
Checked against: National outline I.A.1 Fixtures, trade fixtures, emblements
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Question 2Two sisters own a lake cabin as joint tenants. One sister dies with a will leaving everything to her son. Who owns the cabin?
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Answer: D — The surviving sister alone.
Joint tenancy carries the right of survivorship: when one joint tenant dies, her interest passes automatically to the surviving joint tenant and cannot be left by will.
Checked against: National outline II.A.1 Forms of ownership
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Question 3A buyer will not pay more for a home than the cost of buying an equally desirable home nearby. Which principle of value is this?
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Answer: D — Substitution.
The principle of substitution says a buyer will pay no more for a property than the cost of acquiring an equally desirable substitute. It is the basis of the sales comparison approach.
Checked against: National outline III.A.3 Principles of value
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Question 4A seller and buyer shake hands on the sale of a house for $280,000, but nothing is put in writing. The seller later backs out. The agreement is most likely:
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Answer: A — Unenforceable, because contracts to sell real estate must be in writing.
Under the Statute of Frauds, contracts for the sale of real estate must be in writing and signed to be enforceable in court. The oral agreement is not void, but neither party can enforce it.
Checked against: National outline IV.C.6 Statute of Frauds
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Question 5A seller tells his listing agent he would accept $20,000 less than the list price. A buyer asks the agent what the seller's bottom line is. The agent should:
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Answer: B — Refuse to disclose it, because the agent owes the seller confidentiality.
A listing agent owes the seller fiduciary duties, including confidentiality and loyalty. Revealing the seller's lowest acceptable price would breach those duties.
Checked against: National outline IV.G Licensee obligations to parties of a transaction
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Question 6Which of these is NOT a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act?
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Answer: D — Marital status.
The federal Fair Housing Act protects race, color, religion, sex, handicap (disability), familial status and national origin. Marital status is not on the federal list, although some state and local laws add it.
Checked against: 24 CFR 100.50(b)
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Question 7The federal lead-based paint disclosure rule applies to the sale of most housing built:
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Answer: A — Before 1978.
The rule covers 'target housing', meaning housing built before 1978, with exceptions such as most 0-bedroom units and housing for the elderly or disabled unless a child under 6 lives there or is expected to.
Checked against: 40 CFR 745.103 Definitions, target housing
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Question 8Under the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule, when must a lender deliver or mail the Loan Estimate for most mortgage loans?
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Answer: A — Not later than the third business day after receiving the consumer's application.
The creditor must deliver or place the Loan Estimate in the mail not later than the third business day after receiving the consumer's application.
Checked against: 12 CFR 1026.19(e)(1)(iii)
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Question 9A home sells for $350,000 with a 6% commission split equally between the listing and selling brokers. The listing salesperson receives 60% of her broker's share. How much does she receive?
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Answer: A — $6,300.
Total commission = $350,000 x 0.06 = $21,000. Listing broker's half = $10,500. Salesperson's 60% = $10,500 x 0.60 = $6,300.
Checked against: National outline VIII.C Commission/compensation
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Question 10A rectangular lot measures 330 feet by 660 feet. How many acres is it?
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Answer: B — 5 acres.
330 x 660 = 217,800 square feet. One acre = 43,560 square feet (a number you must memorize), so 217,800 / 43,560 = 5 acres.
Checked against: National outline VIII.A.2 Acreage total; Notes on math calculations
Official passing standard: Set by each state. Examples: Texas requires 56 correct on the 80-item national portion and 28 on the 40-item state portion; California 70% of 150 questions; Florida 75 points out of 100.
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Real Estate Exam (national portion) format
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions and Property Use | 11 | — |
| Forms of Ownership, Transfer and Recording of Title | 9 | — |
| Property Value and Appraisal | 11 | — |
| Real Estate Contracts and Agency | 16 | — |
| Real Estate Practice | 10 | — |
| Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues | 9 | — |
| Financing and Settlement | 7 | — |
| Real Estate Math Calculations | 7 | — |
| Real Estate Exam (national portion) | Official rule |
|---|---|
| National portion (Pearson VUE) | 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions that look exactly like scored ones, so answer every question source |
| Topic weights (80 scored items) | Property characteristics and land use 11 · ownership and title 9 · value and appraisal 11 · contracts and agency 16 · real estate practice 10 · disclosures and environmental issues 9 · financing and settlement 7 · math 7 source |
| Question levels | Every item is classed as knowledge (recall a fact), application (use it in a situation) or analysis (examine a fact pattern and decide); each topic has a set mix source |
| Math you must memorize | 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile are not given at the test center. For prorations, the question says whether to use a 360- or 365-day year and who owns the day of closing. source |
| State portion | Separate and different in every state. Example: Texas sales agent state portion = 40 scored items plus 10 pretest items source |
| Texas (Pearson VUE) | Sales agent exam: 4 hours for the national and state portions together; pass with 56 correct on the 80 scored national items and 28 correct on the 40 scored state items source |
| California (state-written exam) | Salesperson: 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours; pass with at least 70% correct. California's exam is not split into a national and a state portion. source |
| Florida (sales associate) | 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 and a half hours, closed book, 19 content areas; pass with 75 points or more out of 100 source |
| Georgia (PSI) | PSI national portion (its own outline, by percentage: contracts 19%, agency 13%, practice 12%…) plus a Georgia salesperson supplement of 52 items: state laws and rules 16, real estate practice in Georgia 21, finance and closing 15. Exam fee $175. source |
| Passing score | Set by each state and often required on each portion separately; your state's candidate handbook is the reference source |
Checked on the official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before test day.
Practice by section
Real property, legal descriptions and land use practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
Ownership, transfer and title practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
Property value and appraisal practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
Contracts and agency practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
Real estate practice and fair housing questions
5 free questions with explanations
Disclosures and environmental issues practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
Financing and settlement practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
Real estate math practice questions
5 free questions with explanations
What the real estate license exam is
To work as a real estate salesperson (called a sales agent or sales associate in some states), you complete your state's pre-licensing education and then pass the state licensing exam. Each state's real estate commission or department decides the format. Most states contract with a testing company, mainly Pearson VUE or PSI, and the exam then has two parts:
- a national (general) portion on real estate principles and federal law, the same topics everywhere;
- a state portion on your state's license law, rules and practices.
A few states write their own exam instead. California is the best-known example: the California Department of Real Estate gives salesperson candidates 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, and 70% correct is needed to pass.
Our free test and practice pack cover the national portion. They follow the outline Pearson VUE publishes for salesperson exams. The version we follow is marked effective March 1, 2025 in Pearson VUE's published outlines. Your state's own law portion is not included.
Format of the national portion (Pearson VUE)
Pearson VUE's national/general content outline for salespersons states that the national portion has 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions. The pretest items look exactly like scored ones, so answer every question. The 80 scored items are spread like this:
| Topic | Scored items |
|---|---|
| Real property characteristics, legal descriptions and property use | 11 |
| Forms of ownership, transfer and recording of title | 9 |
| Property value and appraisal | 11 |
| Real estate contracts and agency | 16 |
| Real estate practice (listings, fair housing, risk management) | 10 |
| Property disclosures and environmental issues | 9 |
| Financing and settlement | 7 |
| Real estate math calculations | 7 |
Each item is also classed as knowledge (recall a fact), application (use it in a situation) or analysis (examine a fact pattern and decide). Expect many short scenarios rather than plain definitions, especially in contracts and agency, the biggest topic.
The time limit and the passing score are not in the national outline: your state sets them. In Texas, for example, the sales agent exam has an 80-item national portion and a 40-item state portion (plus 10 pretest items). The Texas candidate handbook gives 4 hours for both portions and requires 56 correct answers on the national portion and 28 on the state portion.
Math: what to memorize
Pearson VUE warns that two conversions are not provided at the test center: 43,560 square feet in an acre and 5,280 feet in a mile. For prorations, the question itself tells you whether to use a 360-day or a 365-day year and whether the buyer or the seller owns the day of closing. Rounding follows standard rules.
The seven math items cover area and acreage, valuation (CMA, net operating income, capitalization rate, equity, assessed value and taxes), commissions, loan costs (interest, loan-to-value, points), settlement (down payment, PITI, net to seller, prorations, debits and credits, transfer tax), investment and property management. Our math page has worked examples of each kind.
Federal rules you need to know
The national portion tests federal law that applies in every state. The rules behind our questions are the primary texts:
- Fair Housing Act: seven protected classes (race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin), steering, blockbusting, discriminatory ads, reasonable modifications and accommodations, and the 55-and-older exemption (24 CFR Part 100).
- Lead-based paint disclosure for housing built before 1978: pamphlet, disclosure before the buyer is bound, a 10-day inspection opportunity, and 3-year record keeping (40 CFR 745 Subpart F).
- TRID: Loan Estimate within 3 business days of application, Closing Disclosure received 3 business days before consummation; Regulation Z advertising trigger terms (12 CFR 1026).
- RESPA ban on referral fees and kickbacks (12 CFR 1024.14), ECOA prohibited bases (12 CFR 1002.2) and PMI cancellation at 80% and automatic termination at 78% under the Homeowners Protection Act.
- Environmental topics: radon (the EPA recommends fixing homes at 4 pCi/L or more), asbestos, mold, underground tanks, brownfields, CERCLA and Superfund, flood zones and wetlands.
Examples from other states
| State | Who runs it | Format | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Department of Real Estate | 150 questions, 3 hours, single exam | 70% |
| Florida | Pearson VUE for the DBPR | 100 questions, 3.5 hours, closed book | 75 points out of 100 |
| Georgia | PSI for the Georgia Real Estate Commission | PSI national portion + Georgia supplement of 52 items | see your bulletin |
| Texas | Pearson VUE for TREC | 80 national + 40 state scored items, 4 hours in all | 56 of 80 and 28 of 40 |
Sources: California DRE, Florida candidate information booklet, PSI Georgia bulletin, Pearson VUE Texas outlines, Pearson VUE Texas candidate handbook.
Georgia candidates: PSI's national outline groups topics differently from Pearson VUE's (by percentage: contracts 19%, agency 13%, practice of real estate 12%, property ownership 10%, financing 10% and so on), but the subjects are the same. The Georgia bulletin lists a $175 exam fee. You cannot retest the same day: a candidate who fails on a Wednesday can call on Thursday and retest as soon as Friday, if seats are available.
How to prepare
- Finish your pre-licensing course first. It covers your state portion, which no national practice test can replace.
- Take the free test above, then the topic pages. Read every explanation, including for questions you got right.
- Work on contracts and agency. With 16 of 80 items, it is the largest topic, and most of it is scenarios: who is the client, which duty applies, when an offer becomes a contract.
- Practise the math by hand, without looking up the acre and mile conversions.
- Take full-length practice tests under realistic conditions, then review your weakest topics.
- Read your state's candidate handbook for the time limit, passing score, ID rules, fees and retake policy, which change from state to state.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the national portion of the real estate exam?
On Pearson VUE exams, the national (general) portion has 80 scored questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions. The pretest items look like the others, so answer them all. PSI states use their own national outline, and states that write their own exam, such as California, have a different format. Source
Do I need to memorize any numbers for the math questions?
Yes: Pearson VUE says 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile are not provided at the test center. For prorations, each question tells you whether to use 360 or 365 days and whether the closing day belongs to the buyer or the seller. Source
What score do I need to pass?
It depends on the state. California requires 70% of 150 questions for salespersons, Florida 75 points out of 100. In Texas the national and state portions are passed separately (56 of 80 and 28 of 40, according to Pearson VUE's Texas handbook). Check your state's candidate handbook. Source
Does this practice exam cover my state's laws?
No. Our questions cover the national portion: real estate principles and federal rules such as fair housing, lead-based paint disclosure, TILA, TRID, RESPA and ECOA. Your state portion tests your state's license law, which you learn in your state's pre-licensing course. Source
Is the California real estate exam split into national and state parts?
No. The California Department of Real Estate writes its own salesperson exam: 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, with 70% needed to pass. Its topics (property ownership, agency, valuation, financing, transfer, practice and disclosures, contracts) overlap the national topics. Source
Can I retake the exam in Georgia right away?
Not on the same day. PSI's Georgia bulletin says a candidate who fails on a Wednesday can call on Thursday and retest as soon as Friday, depending on space. Source
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Sources
- Pearson VUE — Real Estate National/General Content Outline for Salespersons (effective March 1, 2025), in Texas Real Estate Content Outlines #094401 — Pearson VUE (checked October 4, 2026)
- Pearson VUE — Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook #094400 (September 2026): time limit and passing scores — Pearson VUE (checked October 4, 2026)
- California DRE — Taking the Exam — California Department of Real Estate (checked October 4, 2026)
- California DRE — Salesperson Examination Content — California Department of Real Estate (checked October 4, 2026)
- Florida DBPR — Candidate Information Booklet, Real Estate Sales Associate Examination — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (checked October 4, 2026)
- PSI — Georgia Real Estate Commission Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services LLC (checked October 4, 2026)
- 24 CFR Part 100 — Discriminatory conduct under the Fair Housing Act (100.20, 100.50, 100.203, 100.204, 100.304, 100.305) — eCFR (checked October 4, 2026)
- 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F — Disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards upon sale or lease (745.103, 745.107, 745.110, 745.113) — eCFR (checked October 4, 2026)
- EPA — Health Risk of Radon — US Environmental Protection Agency (checked October 4, 2026)
- EPA — Superfund: CERCLA Overview — US Environmental Protection Agency (checked October 4, 2026)
- 12 CFR 1026 (Regulation Z) — 1026.19 (Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure timing) and 1026.24 (advertising) — eCFR (checked October 4, 2026)
- 12 CFR 1024.14 (Regulation X) — Prohibition against kickbacks and unearned fees — eCFR (checked October 4, 2026)
- 12 CFR 1002.2 (Regulation B) — Definitions, prohibited basis — eCFR (checked October 4, 2026)
- 12 U.S.C. 4901-4902 — Homeowners Protection Act (cancellation and termination of PMI) — US Government Publishing Office (checked October 4, 2026)
Pearson VUE and PSI are trademarks of their owners. passmock is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson VUE, PSI Services, any state real estate commission or department, or any real estate school. Our questions are original practice questions written from the official test description and study materials; they are not questions from the real test.
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