Texas Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

From helping buyers find their dream home to helping sellers get top-dollar for their property, no day is the same as a Texas real estate agent. One of the final steps of becoming a Texas real estate agent is passing the Texas real estate licensing exam and officially getting your license. 

The process of applying, preparing and passing the Texas real estate exam can be stressful — but with the right tools and resources, you can understand what you need to ace the exam and get your license. 

If you’re preparing to take your Texas real estate exam, we’ll cover in this article:

• How to schedule your Texas real estate licensing exam 
• What you need to know for the test
• How difficult it is
• Study tips and tricks for passing the exam 

How to Schedule the Texas Real Estate Licensing Exam

After you’ve completed the 180 hours of Texas pre-licensing education requirement, you can start the process of scheduling your exam. 

The first step is to submit your official application to become a sales agent. You can do this online or apply by mail using a paper application. You’ll be required to pay a $185 application fee during this stage. As part of your application, you’ll have to submit your course completion documents to the Texas Real Estate Commission, proving that you’ve met the required number of hours and courses. 

Once you’ve gotten the approval from the Texas Real Estate Commission confirming your eligibility, you can officially schedule your real estate exam! Texas contracts with Pearson VUE, a third-party testing company, to administer its exams. You can go to their website or call Pearson VUE to schedule your exam. When you schedule your exam, you’ll be required to pay a $43 test registration fee. 

If you’ve received your letter of eligibility, you are also now allowed to schedule your fingerprint appointment. All Texas real estate agents must have their fingerprints on file with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and a background check will be performed. In order to complete this requirement, you’ll have to go in person to an IdentoGo by IDEMIA location. There are dozens of locations across the state that allow you to complete this process. 

Can You Take the Exam Online?

The Texas Real Estate Commission does not allow for the real estate licensing exam to be taken online. While you will take the exam on a computer, the test can only be taken in person at one of Pearson VUE’s test centers. 

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

Make sure you show up 30 minutes early to the test center so you can check in and get situated for the exam. 

It’s crucial to make sure you are equipped with the right forms of ID and materials so you can be admitted to the exam without any issues. You’ll need to bring two non-expired forms of identification that include your signature. One must be a primary government-issued and photo-bearing ID with a signature, while the other must just have your signature. Some examples of valid primary IDs include:

• Government-issued Driver’s License
• U.S. Department of State Driver’s License
• U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature)
• National/State/Country Identification Card
• Passport or Passport card
• Military ID
• Alien Registration Card
  

Your secondary ID can be a Social Security card or Credit Card. 

It’s also advised to bring a calculator for some of the math questions on the exam. The test center doesn’t provide calculators, so we recommend bringing a small handheld calculator. 

What is on the Texas Real Estate Exam?

The Texas Real Estate exam is composed of two sections — a national section that covers the knowledge and skills required to be a real estate agent and a Texas-specific state section that will cover all local laws and regulations that real estate agents should know. It’s important to prepare for both, as all examinees will be required to pass both to get their licenses. 

The national section is broken into 8 sections: 

• Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, And Property Use (9 questions)
• Forms Of Ownership, Transfer, And Recording Of Title (8 questions)
• Property Value And Appraisal  (11 questions)
• Real Estate Contracts And Agency (16 questions)
• Real Estate Practice (14 questions)
• Property Disclosures And Environmental Issues  (8 questions)
• Financing And Settlement (7 questions)
• Real Estate Math Calculations (7 questions)

For the state-specific section of the exam, you’ll be tested on: 

• Commission Duties And Powers (2 questions)
• Licensing (2 questions)
• Standards Of Conduct (7 questions)
• Agency/Brokerage (8 questions)

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

You’ll be asked around seven questions on the national portion of the licensing exam about math calculations that relate to real estate. Some common topics include property area calculation, how to calculate property value, settlement and closing costs, return on investment and more. 

You won’t be given any guidelines for conversion, so it’s important to remember some basic calculations like there are 43,560 square feet in an acre and 5,280 feet in a mile. Memorizing these formulas can ensure you can properly solve any calculations for those metrics. However, make sure to bring your own calculator, as they won’t have any at the test center for you to use.

Is the Texas Real Estate Exam Hard?

The Texas Real Estate Exam is designed to be challenging so that not just anyone can become a real estate agent. Since April 2021, 58% of test takers passed on the first try. This further proves that it’s important to take the time to study after you complete your education requirement so you don’t have to take the test more than once. 

Our guided exam prep courses will help you study for the Texas Real Estate exam, providing you with practice tests, vocabulary flashcards, and more so you have all the necessary resources to pass. 

How Many Questions Are on the Texas Real Estate Exam?

For the salesperson licensing exam in Texas, you’ll have 240 minutes, or four hours, to complete the full exam. The exam is broken into two timed parts for the state and national sections. The national section includes 85 questions, and you’ll have 150 minutes to complete it. For the Texas section of the exam, you’ll have to answer 40 questions within 90 minutes. 

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

Once you’ve submitted your exam, you’ll immediately be able to see if you passed or failed. In order to pass, students need to answer at least 70% of the questions correctly. That equals 56 questions correct on the national portion and 21 correct on the state portion. 

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

Don’t worry - you can schedule another exam session if you fail the exam. One reason to focus on passing the first time is that you’ll have to pay the $43 fee every time you take the exam. Also, if you fail, you won’t be able to schedule your retake at the test center and will have to wait 24 hours to schedule a re-examination. 

However, if you don’t pass your exam within three attempts, you must complete further education. If you fail one of the sections after three attempts, you must take 30 hours of classes. If you fail both parts, that number jumps up to 60 hours of education. 

One way to prevent this is closely reviewing the score report you get upon failing. This will include your specific numeric score and a diagnostic outline showing which part of the exam you failed. You won’t be able to see specific questions, but it can still help outline where you should spend more time studying before retaking the test.

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How to Pass the Texas Real Estate Exam

The one question everyone wants to know: “How do I pass the Texas real estate exam?” The answer? Preparation and commitment. Enrolling in a guided exam prep course is one way to elevate your studying and prepare for the exam. While your pre-licensing coursework will give you the foundation for the exam, a guided exam prep course can arm you with the helpful study tools and resources to pass the exam on the first try. 

Here are some tips and tricks we suggest for passing the exam. 

Create a Study Schedule

Consistency is key to setting yourself up for success and passing the Texas real estate exam. Try to create a study schedule several times a week and stick to it. With a specific routine in place, you’ll have the structure needed to set a dedicated time to study for the exam. 

While every night is ideal, studying every other night for several weeks can give you the time necessary to really learn and prepare for the exam. Even small 15 or 30-minute time blocks can make a huge difference in your study schedule. You'll appreciate taking the time to schedule and maintain a consistent exam prep routine in the future!

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

One study strategy that helps with memorization is acronyms or mnemonic devices. Try developing a phrase or acronym that relates back to a real estate vocabulary word or process. This strategy has been used in classrooms for decades and utilizes rhyming words or phrases to help your brain remember vocabulary words. A common example is the phrase Roy G. Biv to remember all the rainbow colors. Have fun with it, and create your own study phrase that is specific to you. 

Join a Study Group

There’s strength in numbers! While some people focus better by studying alone, joining a study group allows you to build connections with fellow students and learn new methods of studying and retaining information. You’ll be able to collaborate with others to discuss ideas and solve problems and have some extra accountability to get your studying done. 

Get Guided Help

The more support and resources you have access to, the better. One way to access additional study tools and preparation is through a real estate exam prep package. Unlike your pre-licensing educational classes, a guided prep course is specific to the test, giving you the study skills and information like practice tests that help you pass the exam.

With countless practice questions and study guides, our RE State Exam Prep for Texas gives you a sneak peek at what you might be tested on and outlines where your strengths and weaknesses are. 

Plus, the extra investment in a guided prep program can help you save money in the long run by minimizing the chances you have to take the exam more than once. 

You’ll get access to 

• Over 1,500 Texas real estate exam practice questions 
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations by real estate experts
• E-book study guide
• And so much more

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 Texas

Passing your exam is one of the last hurdles you’ll have to pass to become a Texas real estate agent. When you’re so close to the finish line, giving yourself the time and resources to prepare for your final licensing exam with the help of a guided prep course is essential. 

If you’re looking for a cost-effective, reputable and proven way to ace your exam, try our RE State Exam Prep program to study for your Texas real estate exam. Our pass guarantee helps you feel confident your investment will pay off. Ready to get started? Sign up today for our free 3-day trial to see how we can help.