Obviously the most important factor in passing the state exam is knowing the material. However, don't lose sight of the goal: passing the test! Learning is great but you can't use what you've learned if you don't pass. Here are our top 10 tips for passing the real estate exam:

Do as many practice real estate exam questions as you can.

The test is multiple choice and you will perform MUCH better if you've been doing practice tests that mimic the real exam. Having studied just the material is usually not enough to pass!

Start by only answering questions that are extremely easy.

Go through the entire exam and only answer the questions that are extremely easy and you are fairly confident in your answer. This will give you a sense of progress and your subconscious will be thinking about the questions you skipped.

Look at the answers first.

While going through the exam, look at the answers first. You are looking for keywords and vocabulary terms that stand out. If you used a product like our real estate practice exams or real estate exam videos, this will be easier since we specifically tailored our content to train you on key terminology.

Do not choose an answer you have never heard of!

It's unlikely to be the correct answer if you have been studying the material.

Work backwards to the correct answer.

Eliminate obviously wrong answers and work backwards to the correct answer. You may be able to eliminate only one or two of the options. Even so, you've raised your odds of getting the correct answer from 25% to 50-75%. That's a big improvement!

Skip questions you don't know the answer to.

Don't waste time on a question you can't answer. Skip questions you don't know the answer to. For example, if math is difficult for you, skip the math problems until after you finish the rest of the exam. Occasionally, the answer to an earlier question is revealed in a later question.

Once you've answered a test question, don't change your answer.

As a general rule, once you've answered a test question, don't change your answer, even if you're unsure of the answer you selected. It has been statistically proven that you are much more likely to change an answer from correct to incorrect.

Don't be afraid to select the same answer letter several times in a row.

If you answered four consecutive questions as "A," don't assume that the next question's answer can't also be "A". This can and does happen!

Don't keep score as you progress through the real estate exam.

This might discourage you and affect your overall performance on the real estate salesperson or broker examination.

Don't compete with other applicants!

You're given plenty of time to complete the exam and you should use as much of it as you need. Don't worry if other examinees finish before you do. Many students who finish quickly fail.

When You Have to Guess...

Regardless of how thoroughly you prepare, there will be some questions on the Real Estate Exam that you don't know the answer to and can't make an educated guess. Follow these rules to increase your odds of guessing correctly:

1. If two of the test answer options are opposites, choose one of those two.
2. If two of the four test answers are almost identical, choose the longer one.
3. Pay attention to words like ALWAYS and NEVER. Few things in life are "always" or "never." Be suspicious of these answers.
4. The word "except" can turn a exam question around. When you see this word in either the question or one or more of the answers, make a mental note of it.
5. General terms such as "most," "some," and "usually" are more likely to be found in a correct answer.
6. Distrust exaggerated or complex exam answers.
7. If you've never heard of it before, don't select it.
8. Answer every question, even if you're guessing. Unanswered questions are marked wrong. There is no penalty for guessing.

Don't Forget...

It's easy to forget about the little things when you are worried about remembering all of the key terminology and concepts. Follow the following tips to reduce your stress and be mentally ready to take a multi-hour exam:

1. Don't lose or forget your real estate exam registration documents. Put your paperwork in an obvious place, such as the glove compartment of the car you'll be driving to the exam site.
2. Make sure you have the right type of calculator and that you understand how to use it. The calculator should be as simple as possible.
3. Fill your car with gas the day before the Real Estate exam. Avoid frantically looking for a service station just before you're scheduled to take the Real Estate exam.
4. Know where the exam site is. Go on a trial visit to the location, if necessary.
5. Get a good night's sleep the night before the exam.
6. Don't take the exam on an empty stomach.
7. Keep a miscellaneous fact sheet with any details that you have trouble remembering. For example, if you can't remember the number of feet in a mile, write it down on your fact sheet. But don't overdo it! Don't use more than one sheet of paper. Study your fact sheet right before entering the exam room so the information will be fresh in your mind when the test starts.

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