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State real estate commissions, with exams delivered by Pearson VUE or PSI

Real Estate Broker License Examination — National (General) Portion

The national half of the broker license exam: the same principles as the salesperson exam, tested deeper, plus supervision, trust funds and property management.

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Starting out? Real Estate Salesperson — National Portion → · Adding insurance? Property Insurance Producer →

PortionsNational (general) portion + a separate state portion — this page covers the national portion only
QuestionsPearson VUE: 80 scored + 5 pretest · PSI: 75 scored items worth 80 points, including multi-point scenario items, + 5–10 experimental items
TimeSet by your state: about 120 minutes (e.g. PSI Ohio) to 150 minutes (e.g. Pearson VUE Texas) for the national portion
FormatComputer-based multiple choice; PSI broker scenarios can have up to eight options scored 0, 1 or 2 points
WherePearson VUE or PSI test centers, depending on the state
Who sits itUsually licensed salespersons with the state's required years of experience and broker pre-licensing education
PassingSet by each state, often about 75% (e.g. 60 of 80 in Texas, 75% in Ohio); some states report scaled scores

About the exam

The broker exam covers the same real estate principles as the salesperson exam, but it tests them at a higher level. More items ask you to apply or analyze, not just recall a definition, and they're written from the point of view of the broker who runs the office. Pearson VUE's national broker outline uses the same eight sections as its salesperson outline (80 scored items), with more weight on real estate practice and math. PSI's national broker outline adds broker supervision, licensee relationships, and property management trust accounts and reporting. PSI's broker portion also includes scenario items with more than four options, each worth up to two points.

This page covers only the national portion. Your state's broker portion is a separate test on license law, trust account rules, office and branch requirements and discipline, which vary by state. Study your state's outline for that part. Experience and education requirements to sit for the broker exam also vary by state.

Every practice item is original and written to the topics both vendors publish. Items are four-option multiple choice. They use federal law and widely taught conventions, and they say 'in most states' wherever the practice varies. They are not recalled exam questions.

How we track your progress

Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:

  1. Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
  2. Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
  3. DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
  4. ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
  5. Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.

The exam blueprint

Pearson VUE National Real Estate Content Outline (effective April 1, 2025) and PSI national broker content outline (as published in the Ohio candidate bulletin revised July 1, 2026) — 80 national-portion items across 10 areas mapping the Pearson VUE (8 sections) and PSI (11 areas) broker outlines — contracts and brokerage management are the largest; weights are QuizMe estimates; state portion not covered. Tap a domain to see its topics.

1 Property characteristics, legal descriptions and ownership about 10% (est.) of the exam
Fixtures versus personal property in contract disputesMetes and bounds, lot and block, and rectangular survey descriptionsFreehold and leasehold estates; types of leasesConcurrent ownership and rights of survivorshipCommon-interest ownership: condominiums, cooperatives, PUDsOwnership by trusts, estates and business entitiesAir, surface, subsurface and water rights

24 practice questions in this domain so far

2 Land use controls and encumbrances about 6% (est.) of the exam
Police power, eminent domain, taxation and escheatZoning, variances, conditional use and nonconforming useDeed restrictions, CC&Rs and association governanceEasements, licenses and encroachmentsLien types, priority and effect on marketable title

15 practice questions in this domain so far

3 Property value, appraisal and market analysis about 10% (est.) of the exam
Principles of value and market cyclesAppraisal process and federal appraisal oversightSales comparison approach and reconciling adjustmentsCost approach and accrued depreciationIncome approach, NOI, capitalization and GRM/GIMCMAs, broker price opinions and pricing advice to clients

24 practice questions in this domain so far

4 Real estate contracts about 15% (est.) of the exam
Contract validity, enforceability and the Statute of FraudsOffers, counteroffers, multiple offers and notice of acceptanceContingencies and how they are satisfied or waivedEarnest money disputes and liquidated damagesOptions, installment contracts, lease-purchase and assignmentLeases: gross, net, percentage and ground leasesBreach, remedies, rescission and termination

36 practice questions in this domain so far

5 Agency and brokerage relationships about 12% (est.) of the exam
Creating, disclosing and terminating agencyFiduciary duties and duties to customersListing and buyer representation agreementsDual and designated agency and conflicts of interest (in most states)Compensation agreements and cooperation between brokeragesVicarious liability for affiliated licenseesPowers of attorney and assignment of authority

30 practice questions in this domain so far

6 Brokerage management, fair housing and property management about 15% (est.) of the exam
Broker supervision of licensees and office policiesIndependent contractor versus employee statusTrust and escrow funds: deposits, disbursement and comminglingFederal fair housing, ADA and advertising complianceAntitrust compliance: commissions, boycotts and market allocationDo-Not-Call, privacy and social media advertisingRisk management: E&O and general liability insuranceProperty management agreements, landlord and tenant funds and reportingTenant screening, maintenance, rent setting and evictions basics

36 practice questions in this domain so far

7 Property disclosures and environmental issues about 9% (est.) of the exam
Material facts, latent defects and seller disclosuresRed flags and the broker's duty to investigateLead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housingCERCLA liability, brownfields and environmental site assessmentsRadon, asbestos, mold, USTs and groundwater contaminationFlood zones, wetlands and flood insurance

21 practice questions in this domain so far

8 Financing and federal lending laws about 9% (est.) of the exam
Notes, mortgages, deeds of trust and mortgage clausesConventional and government loans; LTV and mortgage insuranceSeller financing and land contractsTruth in Lending, Regulation Z advertising and TRIDRESPA Section 8 kickbacks and affiliated business arrangementsECOA and fair lendingMortgage fraud and predatory lending red flags

21 practice questions in this domain so far

9 Transfer of title, recording and closing about 6% (est.) of the exam
Deed types and the elements of a valid deedRecording, notice and chain of titleTitle insurance and curing title defectsSettlement procedures and the parties at closingForeclosure, short sale and probate transfers

15 practice questions in this domain so far

10 Real estate math about 8% (est.) of the exam
Commission and multi-party commission splitsProrations and closing statement debits and creditsSeller's net and buyer's cash to closeLoan-to-value, points and amortizationNOI, cap rate, GRM and investment returnArea, acreage and property tax calculations

18 practice questions in this domain so far

What you get when you access this exam

Free with your QuizMe account.

Broker-level questions aligned to both national outlines

Every question is tagged to one of 10 areas that map Pearson VUE's eight broker sections and PSI's eleven broker areas, with more application and analysis items than the salesperson bank.

Exam-critical hints

Reveal the principle that unlocks the question — the supervision duty, the trust-fund rule, the federal law or the math setup. Every answer comes with the full rationale and worked solution.

Adaptive testing

Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted by our estimate of how much each counts on the real exam, and get harder as you get stronger.

Timed practice exams

Full-length national-portion exams at a realistic pace — 80 questions in 2 hours — with a live pacing indicator and a full review.

Flashcards, case simulations and guides

100 flashcards for estates, deeds, agency, trust funds, loan terms, fair housing and math formulas, 6 case simulations where a brokerage handles a disputed deposit, a multiple-offer listing, an agent's advertising and a closing step by step, and 4 illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.

Progress for every blueprint area

Each area moves from Not started to Getting started, Developing, Proficient and Exam ready — so you know exactly what to study next.

Test at home or at a center

Meet your state's experience and broker education requirements, get approval to test if your state requires it, then schedule with Pearson VUE or PSI. Most states let you take the national and state portions together and retake only the portion you fail, within a time limit your state sets.

At a test center

  • The exam is computer-based at a Pearson VUE or PSI center, depending on your state.
  • Bring the photo ID your candidate handbook lists. The name must match your registration.
  • Silent, non-programmable calculators are allowed. Check your handbook for which models.
  • On PSI broker scenarios, pick the single best option. Partly right options can earn partial credit.

Before you book

  • Download your state's candidate handbook. It sets the time, the cut score and the retake rules.
  • Document your licensed experience and broker courses before you apply.
  • Read your state's broker content outline for the state portion. This page doesn't cover it.
  • Find out how long a passing score stays valid before you must apply for the license.

Exam-day game plan

How to walk in ready — and how to pace 80 national-portion questions in 2 hours.

Pacing checkpoints

Hit these and you finish with time to revisit your flagged questions. Our timed practice exams run at this same pace.

20questions0:30
40questions1:00
60questions1:30
80questions2:00

The week before

  • Take one full-length timed practice exam 3–5 days out, then rest.
  • Spend your last sessions on the heaviest areas — contracts, brokerage management and agency — plus anything still below Proficient.
  • Rework every math type from a blank page: multi-party commission splits, prorations, seller's net, cap rate, GRM and LTV.
  • Walk through what a broker must do when an earnest money deposit is disputed and when an agent's ad breaks fair housing rules.

Exam morning

  • Eat a real breakfast. Combined broker sittings can run four hours or more.
  • Arrive 30 minutes early with the ID your handbook lists and your approved calculator.
  • Use the restroom right before you start.

During the exam

  • Answer as the supervising broker. The best answer usually protects the client, the public and the brokerage, in that order.
  • Watch for 'in most states' and federal-law wording. Answer the national portion with general principles, not your state's rules.
  • On long scenarios, read the question at the end first, then pull only the facts you need.
  • Flag long math items and come back to them after the quick ones.
  • Some questions are unscored and you can't tell which ones, so give every item your best.

Keep your head

  • A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the stem.
  • You're measured against a fixed passing standard, not other test-takers.
  • Change an answer only when you find a real reason in the stem.

License renewal / CE varies by state

  • Passing the exam doesn't license you yet. You apply to your state commission, and many states require a separate license for each office or branch.
  • License terms, renewal fees and continuing education hours are set by each state.
  • Many states require brokers to complete broker-management or supervision CE in addition to core topics.
  • Check your state real estate commission for current renewal and CE requirements.

Official sources and further reading

Ready to start?

240 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.

Enroll free

Real estate broker licenses are issued by individual state real estate commissions. Pearson VUE and PSI are trademarks of their owners. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by any state real estate commission, Pearson VUE, PSI or ARELLO. Our practice items are original. They are not recalled exam questions. They use a four-option format, while PSI's real broker exam also includes multi-point scenario items. This page covers the national (general) portion only. The state portion, which tests your state's license law, trust account and office rules, is separate and not covered. Time limits, cut scores, fees and eligibility vary by state and change, so always check your state's current candidate handbook. Our 10-area weights are QuizMe estimates averaged from the Pearson VUE and PSI national broker outlines.