How To Prepare for Your California Real Estate Exam

Becoming a real estate agent within the Bear Flag State involves taking the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) salesperson Licensing Exam. Passing the licensing exam is not difficult if you are armed with the correct information. So I’ll take you through what you’re required to do before writing the Exam, how the Exam is structured, and the best way to prepare for your California real estate exams. Keep on reading!

How Difficult Is the Exam?

To be eligible for the California real estate exam, you must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. This implies that a certain level of intellectual ability must be expected from candidates. However, that does not mean the Exam is challenging. With the right study tools, relevant information, and a reasonable amount of practice, you can ace the exam on your first try.

Things You Need to Do Before Writing Your California Real Estate Exam

You have to take several steps before you are eligible to take your California licensing exam and become a real estate agent in the State of California. These criteria were put in place by the California Department of Real Estate, and they include:

You must be at least 18 years old
You must have a high school diploma or its equivalent
You must either be a California resident or apply for an out-of-state license
Complete 135 hours of California Real Estate pre-licensing classes
Pass the final exams in your pre-licensing real estate courses
Submit to a criminal background check
Schedule your Real Estate Sales Associate Examination
Pass the California Real Estate Sales Associate Examination

How To Prepare for Your California Licensing Exam

Preparing for your real estate licensing exam requires you to follow all the proper steps. Here are a few tips on how to most effectively prepare for the Exam and significantly increase your chances of success.

Complete 135 Hours of Real Estate Pre-Licensing Courses

The next step is to complete 135 hours of California DRE-approved real estate pre-licensing courses. This course covers the fundamental theories and practical concepts you will need to know as a practicing real estate agent in California.

This includes

Real Estate Principles (45 hours)
Real Estate Practice (45 hours)

Any one of the following 45-hour classes:

Real Estate Appraisal
Property Management
Real Estate Finance
Real Estate Economics
Legal Aspects of Real Estate
Real Estate Office Administration
General Accounting
Business Law, Escrows
Mortgage Loan Brokering and Lending
Computer Applications in Real Estate
Common Interest Developments

These courses can be taken as physical classes supported by online resources or as online classes depending on your preference. The duration of a solely online pre-licensing program depends on your schedule and how quickly you can grasp the material. Still, you must complete the program within one year of registration.

These classes will be anchored by experienced real estate professionals at approved schools. The tuition for these classes may be between $100-$400. These courses may seem a bit confusing initially since you are learning an entirely new set of languages and concepts. However, with time and dedication, you’ll quickly adapt and gain a deeper understanding of the California real estate industry.

Once you have completed the courses, you have to pass the final examination with at least a score of 70%. Once you have passed this, you will be presented with a Certificate of Completion for that course. When applying for your license, you must submit a copy of this certificate to be eligible.

You are allowed two attempts to pass each course. If you fail the exam, you may sit for it again within a year of registering for the course. If you fail again, you will be required to retake the entire system before being eligible to retake the course final exam.

Choose Valid Studying Materials

The California Department of Real Estate administers the licensing exam. They provide a candidate handbook and a course outline to help candidates prepare for the Exam. You can access the California DRE real estate license exam handbook here for information concerning the course outline, the registration procedure, examination centers near you, and more.

There are also dozens of study material and updated preparatory questions that candidates can easily download or purchase from various sources online. These study tools also include interactive quizzes and short video content covering key areas that usually appear in the Exam. Using prep tools can help give you a massive boost in confidence when taking the real estate exam.

Check out this study tool to help you pass the exam: Prep Agent

Develop a Unique Studying Technique

Everybody has their unique studying technique. Some people are visual learners, while others prefer text material. Others are more Exam with rote memorization, while some people would rather understand general concepts than go too deeply into specifics.

Another good piece of advice is to form study groups with other candidates. Not only does this help you cover the material more quickly, but discussing the topics enables you to internalize the information better. Cue cards timed prep quizzes, and constant revision goes a long way.

The truth is that the best studying techniques typically involve multiple approaches. No matter your group, ensure you find what works for you and stick to it. The aim is to master the course material. Nobody is particularly interested in how you managed to achieve that.

What to Do on the Day of the Exam

The California real estate salesperson exam is taken at approved centers within and outside the state. It is a computer-based test. A piece of good peace advice is to ensure you get to the exam venue at least 30 minutes before the designated time. Not only does this give you some freedom in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, but it also helps you stay calm by not having to rush and allows you ample time for registration.

You are expected to present certain items and identification materials to the examination venue. The identification materials are usually a valid form of photo identification, a proper photo ID issued within the past 5 years.

The only acceptable forms of photo identification include a current state-issued driver’s license or DMV identification card, a U.S. passport or a passport issued by a foreign government, and a U.S. Military identification card.

Remember, stay calm. Start with the easy questions before attempting the harder ones. Avoid any form of cheating or suspicious activity. The computer offers a tutorial using sample questions, so take the time to familiarize yourself with the format.

Start the examination whenever you are ready. Most candidates finish well before the allotted time expires, so don’t worry too much about time. So if you have been studying with practice questions, you’ll have no problem. The Exam results are released immediately, so there’s no prolonged waiting period.

How Is the Exam Structured?

The California State salesperson exam is divided into two sections of multiple-choice questions, a national section and a state section. The total number of questions is 150 questions (with a state and national section) which are to be answered in 3 hours. A passing score of 70% is required in both sections.

Your score will be displayed immediately after the exams, and an official score report with your score and any other diagnostic information will be provided to you. The exam report will also be reported to the California Department of Real Estate.

You must pass both portions of the Exam before moving on to the next steps with your license. If you passed one section of the exam and failed the other you can retake only the section you failed. However, you must pass the section you failed within three months or you’ll have to rewrite both sections of the Exam.

General Tips for Answering Confusing Questions

Answers that contain words like ‘only,’ ‘never,’ and ‘always’ usually indicate wrong answers
Answers that contain words like ‘generally,’ ‘often,’ or ‘may’ usually indicate correct answers
Longer answers are usually more likely to be correct than shorter answers
Use the True/False method. This means trying to attach True/False to each answer

What Happens If You Fail the Exam?

You must pass both sections of the examination. If you failed to pass both sections, then you will be required to retake both parts of the Exam. If you passed one section of the exam and failed the other you can retake only the section you failed. However, you must pass the section you failed within three months or you’ll have to rewrite both sections of the Exam.

In Conclusion

Passing the California real estate exam is easy if you follow the right steps. Choose the right studying materials, revise your coursework, and practice using prep agents and practice questions. Most candidates pass on their second try even if they don’t make it on the first attempt.