Real Estate Broker (National) Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The national real estate broker examination has 80 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions, in 150 minutes (Pearson VUE candidate handbook, content outline). Items are classified as knowledge, application and analysis, and the outline covers eight areas, led by Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.75%). States combine this national portion with a state-specific portion. This portal's practice mock has 80 questions.

Passing the broker examination is a required step toward a real estate broker license, which allows you to run a brokerage and supervise agents in the state.

Licensed salespeople upgrading to a broker license and candidates in states that use the Pearson VUE national broker portion. Check your state requirements.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

Retake rules and waiting periods are set by each state licensing authority; check your state real estate commission.

The passing score is set by each state licensing authority and is not published at the national level, so none is quoted here. Format: 80 scored multiple-choice items and 5 unscored pretest items in 150 minutes. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

The national real estate broker examination has 80 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions, in 150 minutes (Pearson VUE candidate handbook, content outline). Items are classified as knowledge, application and analysis, and the outline covers eight areas, led by Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.75%). States combine this national portion with a state-specific portion. This portal's practice mock has 80 questions. 80 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored pretest items · 150 minutes · passing score set by each state. The passing score is set by each state licensing authority and is not published at the national level, so none is quoted here.

• Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use12.5%
• Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title10%
• Property Value and Appraisal12.5%
• Real Estate Contracts and Agency18.8%
• Real Estate Practice15%
• Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues11.3%
• Financing and Settlement10%
• Real Estate Math Calculations10%

The content outline spreads questions across 8 areas: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use (12.5%); Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title (10.0%); Property Value and Appraisal (12.5%); Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.8%); Real Estate Practice (15.0%); Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues (11.3%); Financing and Settlement (10.0%); Real Estate Math Calculations (10.0%).

Eligibility, such as years of licensed experience and pre-licensing courses, is set by each state licensing authority. Confirm the rules for your state before you apply.

Fees are set by each state and its testing contract and were not confirmed here, so none is quoted. Ask your state commission for the exam, license and background-check costs.

This guide does not cover how long a passed exam stays valid; each state sets the window for applying for the license after passing.

Start with the heaviest areas of the content outline: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.8%); Real Estate Practice (15.0%); Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use (12.5%). Then work through the remaining areas, and finish with timed full-length practice runs of 80 questions in one sitting.

Content outlines, fees and passing standards change; this guide follows the materials listed under Verification as of October 2026. Check your state real estate commission and Pearson VUE before you register.