7 Study Tips for Passing Your Real Estate Exam

Doing well on your real estate exam is the first step to getting your career going. If you are like some of our students, this can be a daunting thing especially if you’ve been out of school for a while.

It doesn’t have to be.

What’s important is that you understand the information necessary to pass the real estate exam. To help relieve some frustration and improve your chances of success, consider these study tips.

1. Review What’s on the Exam

Take a few minutes to review what’s on the actual real estate exam. If you were a student of ours, this is outlined for you in your Principles book. Merely having a basic understanding of what’s on the exam can calm a lot of fears for students.

The state publishes a percentage breakdown of topics that are tested and our real estate exam preparation website is tailored so the questions are in the same ratio that the government exam is. This way there are no surprises on test day.

2. Create Digital or Physical Notes for Key Concepts

As you are reviewing your notes from your pre-license coursework, consider creating notecards or flashcards with key concepts. Write them in a question format with the answer on the back. There are flashcard apps you can use as well if you want to have access to studying on your phone.

Also, it’s been proven that the act of physically writing things down can go a long way to help retain information.

3. Read Your Notes

If you haven’t done so yet, read through all of the materials you’ve been assigned. Create notes on topics that relate to your real estate exam. It’s a good idea to create notes for topics you are unsure about or very specific elements such as vocabulary terms or other more broad real estate concepts.

As you do, remember how important it is to retain this information. It’s not just about the exam, but it is applicable for day-to-day work as an agent. For example, if there’s a topic that is complex to you, look for a real-life example of how this would apply to your career or the work you do. That way, you’ll better understand what to expect.

4. Don’t Reach Out to Practicing Agents

I would avoid having long drawn out conversations with other real estate agents. Most of the time, they will say things like “Don’t worry what’s on the real estate exam, you won’t use any of that stuff anyway.” The constant repetition of how academic and impractical the concepts tested are can actually discourage some of our students from properly preparing and studying.

While it is true that the real estate exam contains a broad set of topics, all of which are not applicable to every deal, it’s still important to stay focused on the goal of actually passing the real estate exam.

If you can’t help yourself, make sure you talk to agents that support you in making key decisions and learning how to navigate complex topics. These agents can give you insight into real-life applications of the material you’re learning. They can also put your mind at ease.

5. Take Several Practice Real Estate Exams

It’s important to have state-specific real estate license practice exams available to you. You can find them on our website. Luckily for you, our system is modern and up to date to ensure they include the most recent updates to the real estate test itself.

Focusing on our real estate practice exams can point out areas where you need to focus a bit more on your studies. Refrain from taking them one after another. Instead, use them as you study to see areas you should focus on going forward.

6. Understand How To Take Tests

While the material you need to pass the real estate license exam is critically important to know, it’s also helpful to have some test-taking skills, especially if you haven’t dealt with high-pressure tests recently. Consider these strategies:

• Read every word slowly in every question. Sometimes, you’ll miss words such as “if” or “all” – and that can change the answer.

• Don’t rush through the test. Take your time to read the data and analyze it from a strategic view.

• Breathe through your test. If you find yourself overwhelmed or under too much pressure, that’s when you know you need to close your eyes, breathe in deeply, and calm your heart rate.

• Make sure you sleep well in the week leading up to your exam. Don’t binge the night before as that can limit your cognitive capacity later on.

• Arrive on time for your test. Get a good idea of the layout of the area. You want to feel comfortable.

• If you don’t know the answer to a question right away, skip it. You can go back to it later. Don’t put too much time into a single question.

• Don’t rush through the exam. Make sure you take your time and focus.

If you’re really struggling with test-taking itself, do a few practice exams in a formal environment, such as in a library or office space. This can help give you some peace of mind.

7. Stay Positive and Upbeat

Passing your real estate exam is a step towards starting a new career. It is a lot of work – and that can seem like a big mountain to climb. However, focus on the big picture. This is a career that you are going to love. The more hands-on experience you have, the better your outcome will be.

Practicing for your real estate exam can be a very eye-opening experience. This is what you’ll soon be an expert in, helping others to achieve their goals of property ownership.

Love,

Kartik