Sharing the best tips to prepare yourself for the CA real estate exam.
If your goal is to become the next prospective agent or broker in your city, then the first step to getting your license is to pass the exam in your state.
The California real estate exam is challenging to the least but with the right preparation you can pass it on your first try. We are going to share some tips to make this happen for you.
Before we share our golden tips, let’s take a look at some quick FAQ’s.
How long do you have to wait to retake the California real estate exam?
- You must wait 2½ weeks (18 calendar days) before you can retake the exam. Also, the questions will be different from previous attempts on the exam.
How many times can I take the California real estate exam?
- There is no limitation on the number of times you may take the exam during the two-year period. Though, you simply have to reschedule your next exam attempt and pay the $60 exam fee.
How many questions are on the RE exam in California?
- The California real estate salespersons exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions with a 3-hour time limit. You must answer at least 70% (105 questions) of the questions correctly in order to pass the exam.
- As for the brokers exam (200 questions), 75% of the questions must be answered correctly in order to pass.
Where can I take the CA real estate exam?
- According to the California DRE website, examinations conducted in Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento and San Diego are currently offered in an electronic format. There are a couple of requirement to be mindful about, further information can be found on the California Department of Real Estates’ website.
Sources:
https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/TakingExam.html#time
https://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/salesperson_exam_only.html
https://www.dre.ca.gov/Licensees/Fees.html#examination
Now, let’s begin with the tips!
1. Take a pre-licensing course
This is a critical step before you embark on that test. A pre-licensing exam will help you learn the material on the exam as well as extremely useful tips to pass it and you will be more confident.
This will require you to pay for the course which can vary by different online services. A fee of usually $150 or below.
2. Take practice exams
This route is usually free with hundreds of resources on the internet and YouTube. Practice exams will show you examples of questions, which can take more than once going over 100’s of different questions.
Keep in mind there will be some math related questions and you should be ready to memorize some of those formulas.
3. Adapt good study & test taking habits
Some tips that can help you retain information include:
- Space out your studying; instead of saving your studying for before a test, briefly review material you learned once a week. This can help you retain the information long term
- Leave blank the questions you’re not sure about, then come back to review them once more.
- Work backwards by eliminating wrong answers, then choosing the best possible right answer. You’ve now increased your odds of getting it right from 0% to 40% or even 50%.
- Breathe while taking the test, because lack of oxygen will hinder your ability to remember what you’ve studied.
- Read the question and decide what it is asking, small words like “many” or “all” change the meaning of the question, and its answer, significantly.
Sources:
https://www.coursera.org/articles/study-habits
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/10-failsafe-test-taking-tips
https://www.kylehandy.com/blog/learn/
4. Self care is important
Days prior to the exam, make sure you start to adapt a good sleeping schedule as well as healthy eating habits. It’s crucial you are well rested the night before the test, as your mind will be more ready to retract information and your pass rate could increase than if you were to be sleep deprived.
5. Avoid cramming or studying the night before
Cramming is an ineffective study tactic. Trying to cram new material at the last minute does not allow your brain enough time to move information from your short-term memory bank to your long-term one. Remember the tip about spacing your studying sessions.
Leaving enough time for your long term memory to retain all that new information is going to help when you need it most, retrieving it the day of the exam so avoid studying the night before.
Sources:
https://blog.tesu.edu/7-mistakes-the-night-before/
What to expect after passing your exam
After you’ve passed your exam, it could take a couple weeks to obtain your actual DRE license. Until then, it is a good idea to start looking for a sponsoring broker that can help you further in developing your skills and knowledge.
A great sponsoring broker can bring brand recognition to your business and assist in finding clients to kick start your career as a real estate agent.
Best of luck!
– Town Square Real Estate
