Taking any test can be stressful, especially one that impacts your career. If you’re considering becoming a real estate broker in North Carolina, you must take and pass the real estate exam to get your license. If it’s been a while since you’ve sat for an exam or are not a fan of exams, don’t let it deter you from pursuing your career goals.
In this article, we’ll go over what to expect on the real estate exam, how to study for it, and some test-taking tips to help you pass with flying colors.
Key Takeaways
- The North Carolina real estate exam is challenging, so effective study and preparation are essential.
- Focus on exam prep materials, practice exams, and understanding key mathematical formulas to identify and improve weak areas.
- Studying with fellow students can enhance learning, provide accountability, and cover more material effectively.
- To stay calm and focused, ensure a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast on exam day. Avoid last-minute cramming.
- Carefully read each question, pay attention to details, and ensure answers are correctly placed to avoid simple mistakes that can impact results.
Here are five tips for passing your North Carolina real estate exam.
Understanding the North Carolina Real Estate Exam
To pass the real estate license exam, you must understand its background and structure. Here are some basic facts regarding the North Carolina real estate exam:
- The North Carolina Real Estate Broker License Exam (aka “the real estate exam” or “real estate license exam”) was created by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission to evaluate real estate license applicants on their knowledge of real estate laws and practices.
- License applicants must pass the real estate exam to receive their broker’s license.
- Pearson VUE, a professional testing service, administers the exam.
- Tests are taken on a computer provided at the testing center.
Structure of the exam
The North Carolina Real Estate Broker License Exam consists of two portions: a national portion and a state portion. You will have 2.5 hours to complete the national portion of the exam and two hours to complete the state portion. Each question is a multiple-choice with four possible answer options. There is no written or verbal portion of the exam.
Topics covered in the exam
The topics covered in the exam will be covered in your pre-licensing course as outlined in the North Carolina real estate pre-licensing course syllabus.
The national portion of the exam covers the following topics:
- Real property (9 questions)
- Ownership (8)
- Valuation (11)
- Contracts and agency (16)
- Real estate practice (14)
- Property disclosures (8)
- Financing (7)
- Real estate math (7)
Total questions: 80
The state portion of the exam covers the following topics:
- Licensure (3)
- Agency (16)
- Supervision/Compensation (4)
- Brokerage practice (12)
- Taxes/Insurance (4)
- Contracts/Closing (7)
- Landlord/Tenant (3)
- Other North Carolina laws (11)
Total questions: 60
Additionally, each portion has five pretest questions that will appear randomly in the exam. These questions will not count towards your score, but they will be indistinguishable from the other scored questions, so it is important to take each question seriously.
Pass/fail criteria
To pass the real estate exam, you must score at least 75% on the state and national portions. If you fail one of the portions, you only have to retake the failed portion over again.
Preparing for the Exam
Now that you understand what will be on the exam, you need to learn how to prepare for the exam properly. In this section, we’ll go over how your pre-licensing course will help prepare you for what will be on the real estate exam and how to start studying for the exam.
Importance of taking a pre-licensing course
Not only is taking a pre-licensing course required for licensure, but it also helps prepare you for the material covered in the real estate exam. Additionally, you must pass a course exam at the end of your pre-licensing course to complete the education requirement. Preparing for the course exam will also help prepare you for the real estate license exam.
You can complete your pre-licensing education in three formats: in-person, livestream, or self-paced, online. Which format you choose depends on your schedule flexibility and learning preferences. No matter which format you select, it’s essential to digest the material so that you understand the concepts thoroughly. You should contact your instructor for guidance if you have any questions about the material.
Superior School of Real Estate has more distinguished real estate instructors than any other North Carolina real estate school, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands regarding your real estate education.
Recommended study schedules and timelines
The “Superior Plan” outlines each step of the real estate license process, including suggested study timelines for preparing for the real estate exam. In this plan, you’ll notice that study times, such as instructor office hours, are scheduled throughout the course timeline, not just at the end of your pre-licensing course.
Rather than cramming for the exam the night before, you should space out your studying throughout your pre-licensing course, as you are more likely to retain what you have learned. Then, after your course is finished, you can review any topic(s) you may have needed help with instead of trying to relearn all the course material in a short amount of time.
Creating a study plan
The best way to study is with a plan. Create a calendar of the dates and times you plan to dedicate to studying and which topics you will cover for each study session. Be sure to note if you will be studying with a group versus alone, where you will be studying, and which study tools (i.e., flashcards, class notes, test prep program, etc.) you will need. Don’t forget to add instructor office hours to your study schedule!
Study Tips and Resources
Once you have a study plan, it’s time to start studying. This section will review some essential study tips and resources to help you maximize each study session.
Effective study techniques (e.g., active recall, spaced repetition)
When it comes to studying, everyone might have different techniques that work best for their learning preference. Some prefer using flashcards to memorize definitions (i.e., spaced repetition); others may find that quizzing yourself by writing a list of questions and then answering those questions works best (i.e., active recall). If you’re unsure which study technique works best for you, it is best to try various methods and see which ones are the most effective in helping you retain information.
Recommended textbooks and study guides
Your pre-licensing education will provide the textbooks and study guides (such as the Guide to Passing the PSI Real Estate Exam) needed to complete the course. You should use these materials to help you learn the course material as you go through the course.
Online resources and practice exams
One of the best ways to prepare for the real estate exam is to take practice exams. This will help you understand how questions are structured and their difficulty level. Taking a practice exam also lets you see which topics need more practice.
Superior School of Real Estate offers practice exams in each pre-licensing education package. However, some students take advantage of additional test prep resources such as the CompuCram North Carolina Test Prep program and/or an 8-hour Livestream Crammer Session led by a Superior School instructor. These additional resources may be included depending on the pre-licensing package you select.
Study groups and forums
Another resource you could take advantage of is study groups or forums. You can either form or join a study group with other students in your pre-licensing course or find one online, such as on Facebook or Reddit. Joining a study group or forum is a great way to stay motivated, ask your peers questions, and potentially get advice from people who have already taken the exam.
Test-taking Strategies
While understanding the exam material is essential to passing the real estate exam, you must also understand some basic test-taking strategies.
Tips for multiple-choice questions
Since all the questions on the North Carolina real estate broker license exam will be multiple choice, it will be helpful to understand some strategies for answering multiple-choice questions. One strategy is to eliminate the wrong answers before selecting the correct answer. This will help ensure you read and consider each option carefully.
Another strategy is to read the question, formulate your answer in your head, and then select the answer option most similar to the one you created. This way, you won’t be influenced by answers that may sound correct but are, in fact, false. Your course instructor will have additional tips and strategies to tackle these types of questions.
Remember: Since you need to answer each question on the exam, even if you’re not sure of an answer to a question, take your most educated guess and move on to the next question. Do not leave a question blank!
Time management during the exam
As stated previously, you will have 2.5 hours to complete the national portion of the exam (80 questions plus five pretest questions) and two hours to complete the state portion (60 questions plus five pretest questions). That comes out to about 1.5 minutes per question for the national portion and a little less than two minutes per question for the state portion. Thus, you need to manage your time wisely while taking the exam.
If you are stuck on a question, you can “mark” it for review and move on to the next question. The tutorial you take at the start of the exam will show you how to navigate through the testing program, including revisiting marked questions.
How to handle difficult questions
You will probably encounter a difficult question at some point in the exam. Don’t panic, and don’t spend too much time on it if you still have questions left to answer. Each question is worth one point, no matter the difficulty level, so give each question enough time. If you spend too much time on one question, mark it for review later and return to it after you have had a chance to answer all the questions.
If you are still trying to figure out the answer when it comes time to review it again, use the testing techniques you learned in class. For instance, try to eliminate as many options you know are wrong and then select the best answer. Remember: Don’t leave any questions blank.
Techniques for reducing test anxiety
If you are anxious about the test, many people find breathing exercises beneficial. Others find that shaking their hands or jumping up and down helps get out the “jitters.” Additionally, you don’t want to overdo it on the caffeine since it could increase your feelings of anxiety. However, the best way to reduce your test anxiety is to study for the exam using practice tests to help you understand the actual exam’s length and difficulty.
Managing Exam Day
After adequately preparing for the real estate exam, it’s time to prove what you know. Here’s what to expect on exam day.
What to bring to the exam center
Anything you bring to the exam center (such as a purse, wallet, or water bottle) must be stored in a locker while you are taking the exam. You cannot bring anything into the exam room except for a calculator. If you need to leave the exam room, you must raise your hand to get the administrator’s permission. Be advised that the clock will not stop if you leave to take a break. Thus, you will want to visit the bathroom before you start your exam and limit the number and duration of any breaks you take to a minimum.
Tips for a healthy and productive exam day
Getting enough sleep the night before exam day is critical. You may feel the urge to study all night, but it is much better to get to bed at a decent hour to get a full night’s sleep. You’ll also want to wake up at an appropriate hour to avoid rushing to the exam center on time. You must arrive at least 30 minutes before your exam to check in and bring a government-issued ID.
Additionally, you should have a nutritious breakfast on exam day so you have the fuel to get through the 4.5-hour exam. You may want to bring snacks to eat in between the national and state portions of the exam to refuel yourself. Avoid overly sugary drinks or food, which may cause your energy to crash during the exam.
Importance of a positive mindset
Finally, going into exam day with a positive mindset is critical. Studies have shown that believing in yourself and your ability to pass the test helps your exam performance. It’s okay to be nervous. After all, you’ve worked very hard to get to this point, so it’s completely normal to have some anxiety. Just take a deep breath, focus on the question at hand, and if you don’t pass, you can always retake the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the exam challenging?
The pass rate for the North Carolina real estate exam in 2024 is 39%, so it’s fair to say the exam is quite difficult. However, passing on the first attempt is more than possible with adequate preparation and a positive mindset.
How much does the exam cost?
The Pearson VUE exam fee is $60 for both portions of the exam and $50 for a single exam portion.
How much time should one spend studying for the exam?
This varies from person to person. For instance, if you score highly on practice exams, you may only need to study a little. However, if you can’t get a passing score on practice exams, you may need to spend more time exploring the topics you had difficulty with.
Rather than seeing the real estate exam as a hurdle to getting your license, you can see it as an opportunity to digest what you’ve learned and show off your real estate knowledge. A thirst for knowledge and a positive attitude will help you go far, not just on the exam but throughout your real estate career.
