The Texas Real Estate Exam is an important step for anyone wanting to become a licensed real estate agent in the state of Texas. This exam must be passed in order to obtain your real estate license. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the Texas real estate exam including exam format, content outline, study materials and tips for passing the exam.
Exam Format
The Texas Real Estate Exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in 3 hours. The exam is administered on a computer at approved testing centers across the state. It covers topics related to real estate principles, practices, and law in Texas. To pass the exam, you need to correctly answer at least 125 questions out of the 180 questions for a passing score of 70%. The exam format allows ample time for test takers to carefully read and answer each question while also providing several optional short breaks during the testing period to help refresh and re-focus. Exam questions are randomly pulled from the Texas Real Estate Commission’s large bank of potential questions, so no two exams are exactly the same. The computer interface clearly displays the time remaining as well as your current question number and status. At the end of the testing period, your final score will be immediately available to view on-screen and you will also receive notification of whether you passed or failed.
Exam Content
The Texas Real Estate Commission publishes a detailed content outline that breaks down the exam topics into different sections and indicates how many questions will be from each section. The main sections covered include contracts (with approximately 30 questions), financing (20 questions), property law (40 questions), valuation and appraisal (30 questions), property taxation (15 questions), the practice of real estate (30 questions), and Texas regulation (15 questions). Questions will assess your knowledge of things like specific contract clauses, the different types of loans and mortgages available, land descriptions using metes and bounds as well as lot and block systems, the three approaches to appraisal, applicable property tax rates and exemptions, agency relationships and fiduciary duties, and the rules and regulations of the Texas Real Estate Commission governing licensing and practice standards. Having a strong understanding of each section in the content outline, including reviewing relevant state-specific laws, terminology, and concepts, is crucial for knowing what to focus your studying on in order to be well-prepared to pass the exam.
Study Materials
There are several official and unofficial materials available to help study for the exam. The Texas Real Estate License Candidate Information Guide provides the official content outline and testing policies directly from TREC. Textbooks approved by TREC comprehensively cover all topics in the outline. Online practice exams and mobile apps allow testing knowledge and memorizing important facts. Review courses from real estate schools help teach and prepare for the various content areas. Using a variety of study materials is recommended to learn in different ways and ensure all topics are adequately reviewed.
Tips to Pass the Exam
Starting to study early, creating a study schedule, taking practice exams, using flashcards, asking instructors questions, getting proper rest, pacing yourself during the exam, trusting your instincts, and not getting discouraged from failing are all important tips for passing the Texas Real Estate Exam. Giving yourself plenty of time to study using different methods and approaching the actual exam with confidence can help achieve that passing score.
Conclusion
Passing the Texas Real Estate Exam opens the door to becoming a licensed real estate agent in the state. With appropriate exam preparation using the study materials and applying effective study tips, test takers will be in a good position to pass on the first attempt. While not passing the first time is common, staying positive and determined to learn from the experience will lead to eventual success. Mastering the content outlined by Texas real estate courses is key.