Real Estate Salesperson — National Exam
Free practice for the real-estate salesperson licensing exam — the NATIONAL portion (uniform across states), with Chinese & Spanish explanations and an English-term glossary. The real exam is in English; some states separately offer a Spanish-language administration.
📋 What to Bring
- ✓
Two valid IDs (one government photo ID)
Most test centers (PSI / Pearson VUE) require a primary photo ID plus a second ID; names must match your registration.
- ✓
Exam confirmation + fee paid
Register and pay through your state's testing vendor; bring your confirmation number.
- ✓
Proof of pre-license course completion
Most states require a state-set number of pre-license course hours before you can sit the exam.
📅 How to Schedule
- 1
Complete your state's pre-license course
Course-hour requirements vary by state (e.g. ~60–180 hours). Finish it and keep your certificate.
- 2
Register with your state's exam vendor
Most states use PSI or Pearson VUE (a few use AMP/state-run, e.g. California's DRE). Confirm which one your state uses.
- 3
Pass both the National and State portions
Many states score the National and State portions separately and you must pass BOTH; some states give one combined exam. Confirm your state's structure.
💡 Test Day Tips
- •Agency is the most-tested area: memorize the fiduciary duties (OLD CAR — Obedience, Loyalty, Disclosure, Confidentiality, Accounting, Reasonable care). Confidentiality survives the closing.
- •Fair Housing: the federal protected classes are race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability — NOT age or marital status. Exemptions never permit racial discrimination.
- •Master the math conventions: 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft; 1 point = 1% of the LOAN; commission = price × rate; net-to-seller = (net + costs) ÷ (1 − rate); cap rate = NOI ÷ value.
- •Contracts: the Statute of Frauds requires real-estate sale contracts to be in writing. Know void vs voidable vs unenforceable, and the listing types (exclusive right-to-sell vs exclusive agency vs open vs net).
- •Disclosures: the federal lead-based-paint rule applies to homes built before 1978 (disclose known hazards + give the EPA pamphlet + 10-day inspection window). CERCLA liability is strict, joint-and-several, and retroactive.
- •The real exam is in English. Use the Chinese/Spanish explanations here to understand the concepts and learn the English terms — your state exam will use the English terminology.
📚 Study Handbook
All practice questions are based on the sections below. Click any to read the official source.
🎯 Practice by Topic
General Principles of Agency
Creation and termination of agency, agency types (single/dual/designated), fiduciary duties (OLD CAR), client vs customer, agency disclosure, and licensee obligations.
Practice of Real Estate
Brokerage operations, trust-account handling, Fair Housing, advertising rules, antitrust, MLS, property management, and risk management.
Property Ownership
Real vs. personal property, fixtures, the bundle of rights, freehold and leasehold estates, concurrent ownership, common-interest ownership, rights, and liens.
Contracts
Contract classifications and essential elements, performance and remedies, listing and buyer-broker agreements, purchase contracts, contingencies, options, and installment contracts.
Valuation and Market Analysis
Concept of value, economic principles, the three approaches to value (sales comparison, cost, income), depreciation, the appraisal process, CMA and BPO, and valuation math.
Financing
Mortgage theory & instruments, loan types and programs, PMI/LTV, points & interest, primary vs. secondary markets, foreclosure, and federal financing regulations (TILA/Reg Z, TRID, RESPA, ECOA).
Property Disclosures
Material-defect & condition disclosure duties, latent defects, lead-based paint (pre-1978), environmental hazards, flood zones, and CERCLA liability.
Real Estate Calculations
Area & measurement, commission and net-to-seller, finance math (LTV, points, per-diem interest, PITI), proration, property & transfer taxes, and investment math (ROI, cap rate, GRM). Every item shows a step-by-step solution.
Transfer of Title
Deed elements and types, voluntary and involuntary alienation, recording and notice, chain of title, marketable title, title insurance, and the escrow/closing process.
Land Use Controls and Regulations
Police power and zoning, master plans and subdivision regulation, the four government powers (PETE) incl. eminent domain and taxation, and private controls (CC&Rs, easements, deed restrictions).
🔗 Official Resources
Find Your State Real Estate Commission (ARELLO) ↗
Directory of every US state's real-estate licensing regulator — your authority for the STATE portion and licensing rules.
Pearson VUE (testing vendor) ↗
Testing vendor used by many states — search your state's real-estate program to register, schedule, and find the candidate handbook.
PSI Exams — Real Estate ↗
The other major testing vendor — register and download your state's content outline.
HUD — Fair Housing ↗
The federal Fair Housing authority — protected classes, prohibited practices, and how to file a complaint.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Real Estate Salesperson — National Exam test, and how many do I need to pass?
The Real Estate Salesperson — National Exam knowledge test has 80 questions. You must answer 60 correctly (75%) to pass.
How many questions can you miss on the Real Estate Salesperson — National Exam test?
You can miss up to 20 of the 80 questions and still pass.
What should I bring to the Real Estate Salesperson — National Exam test?
Two valid IDs (one government photo ID) — Most test centers (PSI / Pearson VUE) require a primary photo ID plus a second ID; names must match your registration. Exam confirmation + fee paid — Register and pay through your state's testing vendor; bring your confirmation number. Proof of pre-license course completion — Most states require a state-set number of pre-license course hours before you can sit the exam.
How do I schedule and take the Real Estate Salesperson — National Exam test?
1. Complete your state's pre-license course: Course-hour requirements vary by state (e.g. ~60–180 hours). Finish it and keep your certificate. 2. Register with your state's exam vendor: Most states use PSI or Pearson VUE (a few use AMP/state-run, e.g. California's DRE). Confirm which one your state uses. 3. Pass both the National and State portions: Many states score the National and State portions separately and you must pass BOTH; some states give one combined exam. Confirm your state's structure.