Hawaii Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

Passing this exam is the only way prospective applicants can qualify for a real estate license within the state.

Therefore, you need to pay extra attention to studying and preparing yourself for the exam complexities. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about and how to pass the Hawaii real estate exam, and then some.

Here’s a list of what you can expect to gain as you read on:  

• How to schedule the Hawaii real estate licensing exam 
• The requirements to register for the exam
• The cost of the exam
• Where you can take the exam 
• What is covered on the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam 
• Best tips on how to study for the exam 

How to Schedule the Hawaii Real Estate Licensing Exam

To schedule the Hawaii real estate exam, all aspiring candidates must first meet the following requirements: 

• You must be 18 years or above 
• You must be a US citizen or a qualified alien 
• You must have a social security number
• You must have a good reputation for honesty, financial integrity, truthfulness and fair dealing
• You must have completed 60 clock hours of pre-licensing education at an accredited real estate school in Hawaii, with proof
• You must complete an FBI criminal background check
• You must have a high school diploma or its equivalent from an accredited institution

According to point number 4 above, note that if you have a criminal background, it might be a bit difficult to get a real estate license in Hawaii. In cases like this, before you enroll for your pre-licensing education, you first have to complete a Request for Preliminary Decision Application. Submit this form, alongside supporting documentation that outlines the offenses you committed and a fee of $25 to the Hawaii Real Estate Branch (HREB). The commission will review your information and decide whether you qualify for licensing or not. 

These documents can either be mailed to: 

DCCA, PVL, Licensing Branch
P. O. Box 3469 or Honolulu, HI 96801 

Or hand-delivered to:

335 Merchant St., Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96813

If you meet all the requirements above, you can go on to schedule your exam by visiting the PSI website. There, you’ll be required to create an account, after which you’ll receive the Hawaii Candidate Information Bulletin. Log into your account and follow the prompts to schedule your exam in a testing center close to you.

Scheduling this exam will cost you an exam fee of $61, which you can pay on the website by making use of a debit or credit card. If you need any help during your registration, you can reach PSI at 855-579-4640. 

Where Do You Take the Hawaii Real Estate License Exam?

Candidates for the Hawaii real estate licensing exam are to take their exams at any of the designated PSI testing centers located around the state. These locations are as follows:

• Kapaa
• Honolulu
• Kahului - University Of Hawaii Maui College II
• Kailua Kona

Can You Take the Exam Online?

Yes, you can take the Hawaii real estate exam remotely if you do not wish to go to a physical testing center. This online exam will be remote proctored. Before registering for a remote exam, make sure to check the compatibility of your computer system by carrying out an Audio/Video Check, Webcam Check and System Check. 

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

Candidates are expected to bring the following items along on the day of their Hawaii real estate exams:

One form of identification matching the name you scheduled the examination with. This ID must contain the candidate's signature, photo, be valid and unexpired. Examples of acceptable IDs include:

• A U.S. government-issued driver’s license
• U.S. Dept. of State Driver’s License
• U.S. Learner’s Permit
• National or State Identification Card 
• Passport 
• Passport card 
• Green card
• Military ID (this will not be accepted for remote testing)
• An unexpired Hawaii School Completion Certificate OR an original Prelicensing Education Equivalency Certificate

What is on the Hawaii Real Estate Exam?

The Hawaii real estate exam is made up of two sections, namely: 

• The Uniform (General) portion, comprising questions based on national real estate principles and practices
• The state portion, comprising questions based on Hawaii laws, rules, and regulation 

Uniform (General) Portion 

Here are some topics you will come across in the Uniform portion, as well as the percentage of questions per topic:

• Property ownership: 8%
• Land use controls and regulations: 5%
• Valuation and market analysis: 7%
• Financing: 10%
• General principles of agency: 13%
• Property disclosure: 6%
• Contracts: 17%
• Leasing and property management: 3%
• Transfer of title: 8%
• Practice of real estate: 13%
• Real estate calculations: 10% 

State Portion 

Here are some topics you will come across in the state portion, as well as the number of questions per topic:

• Ascertaining and Disclosing Material Facts: 16%
• Types of Ownership: 8%
• Property Management: 8%
• Land Utilization: 6%
• Title and Conveyances: 12%
• Contracts: 10%
• Financing: 6%
• Escrow Process and Closing Statements: 6%
• Professional Practices and Conduct: 28%

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

Yes, there will be math on the Hawaii real estate licensing exam. These math questions will be found in the Uniform portion and will be related to basic math concepts like Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios, down payment/amount to be financed, discount points, and equity. Calculations on transactions questions will also be present, including property tax calculations, seller’s proceeds of sale, buyer funds needed at closing, commission splits, and prorations. 

Remember that these math problems could be challenging and time-consuming to answer. So, unless the answers are obvious, it is best to save these questions for later, while you go on to answer other questions. This way, you are able to maximize your time to answer more questions. 

Is the Hawaii Real Estate Exam Hard?

As can be expected of any professional licensing exam, the Hawaii real estate exam is not an easy one. In fact, it is described as one of the hardest state exams to pass in the US. The state portion of this exam is more difficult than the general portion, and many candidates have reported the former to be very challenging. 

Despite how difficult this exam can be, the fact remains it is not impossible to pass. To greatly increase your chances of passing, you must put as much effort as you can into preparing for the exam, both during and after the pre-licensing education.  

How Many Questions Are on the Hawaii Real Estate Exam?

The Hawaii real estate salesperson exam has a total of 130 questions, 80 of which are under the uniform portion, while the remaining 50 are under the state-specific portion. Candidates are given a total of 240 minutes (4 hours) to complete the exam, divided into 150 minutes for the uniform portion and 90 minutes for the state portion. 

Note that about 5-10 experimental questions may be added to a candidate's test. Although these questions will not be scored, candidates will have to answer them within the allocated examination time. These questions are used to evaluate the quality of the exam and develop future licensing examinations. 

The passing score for this exam is 70%, implying that you need to get at least 56 answers right on the uniform portion and 35 on the state portion. Once the exam is completed, your score will be displayed on the computer screen and a score report will be sent to your email.

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in Hawaii?

The passing rate for the Hawaii real estate exam is somewhere between 60% and 70% for first time takers. This implies that if 1,000 candidates sit for the exam yearly, between 600 and 700 will pass the exam. 

It is important to note that passing rates vary yearly, and may be influenced by factors such as exam difficulty level, exam content, and candidate’s preparation level. Therefore, to give yourself a better chance of passing, you must prepare for the exam thoroughly.  

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

You can retake the Hawaii real estate exam as many times as is needed to pass both sections, as long as it is done within 2 years of the date of the first examination. If you fail both sections, you will have to retake the entire exam. However, if you only fail one section, you only have to take the failed portion until you pass it. 

If you do not pass both sections within two years of your first attempt, you’ll be required to write the entire examination -both sections- again. You can retake the exam as early as 2 days after the last one, depending on space availability. Each retake will cost you an exam fee of $61. 

How to Pass the Hawaii Real Estate Exam

If you have your Hawaii real estate exam coming up soon, here are four effective study tools that you can adopt in your preparation to increase your chances of passing: 

Create a Study Schedule 

A study schedule is an effective way of dividing up your time when preparing for an exam, thus helping you to balance your study periods with other daily activities. Having a study schedule helps you to manage your time well so you don’t get lost in the distractions around you. 

Consider the following factors when drafting your study schedule: 

• Your current commitments
• Your learning style
• How much ground you have to cover for the exam
• How much time you have to prepare for the exam 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating a study schedule for your Hawaii real estate exam:

• Set your study time to periods of the day when you are less busy or distracted, such as early in the morning and late at night. We recommend studying for a little bit every night or at least every other night
• Create a scale of preference to rank the real estate topics you need to cover in order of difficulty and priority
• Input frequent breaks into your study schedule to prevent fatigue 

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

Acronyms and mnemonic devices are memory aids that break down complex information into simpler bits that are easier for the brain to process. Acronyms work by forming a word with the first letters of each word in a phrase, thereby making the phrase easier to remember, while mnemonic devices work by associating a piece of information with something that can be easily related to it.

An example of an acronym is FSBO which stands for For Sale By Owner. A good mnemonic device when trying to learn the types of residential properties would be “Sing To Children Daily”.

• SING for Single-family homes
• TO for Townhomes
• CHILDREN for Condos
• DAILY for Duplexes

Join a Study Group 

Joining a study group is another effective strategy when preparing for your Hawaii real estate exam. To form a stuffy group, look for people who are also preparing for the same exam and decide on specific days to meet every week. Doing this promotes a deeper understanding of what you’re learning and also increases your motivation to do better. 

Get Guided Help

To ensure that you get the best training possible, you should get our Hawaii real estate exam prep package. Our exam prep package has helped thousands of people pass their real estate exam and earn their license. This packages comes with:

• 1,500 Hawaii real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide

You can add real estate crash course videos. It's 8+ hours of video content that teaches you the concepts, vocabulary, historical events, and more. Led by our head instructor, Robert Rico, our crash course videos teaches you everything you need to know to pass on your first try.

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Hawaii

The Hawaii real estate exam is an important step in the process of becoming a licensed real estate professional in the state. Passing this exam requires careful preparation and a solid understanding of real estate concepts and practices. Therefore, to increase your chances of succeeding on this exam, follow the tips provided above.

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