Looking for a 100% FREE California real estate practice exam?
Well, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve read the ENTIRE California Real Estate reference book, then created practice quizzes based on the information.
So if you don’t want to go over those long, boring pdfs…
… or if you want to review before taking the California real estate exam, then have it below!
Real Estate Practice Exam for California
This practice exam consists of 23 sections with each section corresponding to a specific chapter in the guide. It includes most of the chapters in the guidebook except chapters 2, 3, 25, 26, & 27.
There are a total of 513 questions, subdivided into sets of 20 questions. Most of the questions are based on the text with a few application questions. If you can answer most of the questions correctly, then the likelihood of passing your real estate license exam is significantly high.
So without further adieu, let’s dive into it!
Chapter 1 – The California Department of Real Estate
Chapter 4 – Property
Chapter 5 – Title to Real Property
Chapter 6 – Transfer of Interest in Real Property
Chapter 7 – Principal Instruments of Transfer
Chapter 8 – Escrow
Chapter 9 – Landlord and Tenant
Chapter 10 – Agency
Chapter 11 – Impact of the Penal Code and Other Statutes
Chapter 12 – Real Estate Finance
Chapter 13 – Non-Mortgage Alternatives to Real Estate Financing
Chapter 14 – Real Estate Syndicates and Investment Trusts
Chapter 15 – Appraisal and Valuation
Chapter 16 – Taxation and Assessments
Chapter 17 – Subdivisions and Other Public Controls
Chapter 18 – Planning, Zoning, and Redevelopment
Chapter 19 – Brokerage
Chapter 20 – Contact Provisions and Disclosures in a Residential Real Estate Transaction
Chapter 21 – Trust Funds
Chapter 22 – Property Management
Chapter 23 – Developers of Lands and Buildings
Chapter 24 – Business Opportunities
Bonus – Miscallenous Questions
How to Get Your Real Estate License in California
Before you even decide to become a real estate agent in California, you have to make sure you comply with these requirements first:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You are a California resident (if you aren’t, you can read about out-of-state applicants here)
- You must have a clean criminal record (Failure to disclose any violation may result to denial of a license)
There are six major steps you have to take to get your California real estate license.
To become a real estate agent, you have to:
- Finish a 135-hour pre-licensing course required by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE).
- Pass the course final exam.
- Get a background check.
- Submit a Real Estate Licensing Application to the DRE.
- Schedule for and take the California Real Estate License Exam.
- Find a real estate broker.
Getting a license requires a lot of hard work but if you find a great California online real estate school, it could help make the process easier.
Real estate schools can provide educational and interactive courses that aren’t a bore to go through.
Some of them can even help you apply for the state exam!
Check out our list of the best California online real estate schools to help you decide which one to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Your Real Estate License in California
Now that you’ve been given a quick rundown of how to get a California real estate license, let’s answer questions you might have about the whole process.
Can You Get Your California Real Estate License Online?
Absolutely!
Getting a California real estate license online is possible.
It’s even possible for every other state.
For California, all you have to do is make sure to complete the DRE requirements.
This includes finishing a 135-hour pre-licensing course.
Most online real estate schools let you finish these courses at your own pace.
You can even do them anywhere you like as long as you’ve downloaded the materials on your gadgets.
But if an online class isn’t a good fit for you, you can also opt for traditional in-person courses.
(Take it from us though, online is always better.)
What are the Requirements for Getting a California Real Estate License Online?
The DRE requires aspiring agents to complete a state-approved 135-hour pre-licensing course.
These are divided into three college-level real estate courses at 45 hours each.
The topics to be covered include:
- California Real Estate Principles
- California Real Estate Practice
- California Legal Aspects of Real Estate
Do your best to study to ace the final exam that follows each course.
Scoring at least 60% or higher makes sure you pass and gets you closer to your goal of getting that real estate license.
Once you pass all course final exams, you’ll receive your real estate course certification.
After that, you’re ready to take the California Real Estate License Exam.
Can You Take the California Real Estate License Exam Online?
Unfortunately, you can’t.
The exam has to be done at one of the DRE Exam Centers generally administered in areas like Fresno, San Diego, Los Angles vicinity, Oakland, and Sacramento.
These exam centers offer exams either in paper or pencil or in an electronic format.
If it’s the latter, you get to find out your exam results right after taking the exam but if it’s the former, the results might take a few hours to days.
To choose a specific exam date and site, all you have to do is go to the eLicensing online system.
How Do You Apply to Get Scheduled For the California Real Estate License Exam?
Like we said earlier, you’ll have to choose an exam date and a testing center so you can take the state exam.
But before you get to do that, DRE requires those getting a license to apply for the state licensing exam.
Don’t worry, the process is easy.
First, make sure you pass all of the DRE requirements — finishing the 135-hour pre-licensing course, a brief background check, and getting fingerprinted — before applying through their website.
Incomplete requirements mean you risk getting your license delayed.
Alternatively, you can also ask for help from your online real estate school if you’re a bit lost in the whole process.
Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to apply for the California Real Estate Licensing exam online:
- Make sure you’ve gathered all the necessary documents for the application.
- Create a user profile on the eLicensing online system and select Online Exam License Application.
- Select the salesperson exam application from the options menu.
- Answer all the required questions and upload all the required documents in the “Files to upload” portion.
- Certify that all your information is correct and all the documents have been uploaded.
- Pay the examination fee of $60.
After that, all you have to do is wait until your application is processed.
Only once you’ve passed the processing can you begin to choose an exam date and location on the eLicensing online system.
How Many Questions are on the California Real Estate Exam?
There will be 150 multiple choice questions on the California Real Estate License Exam and you have to finish it within three hours.
Aim to get 105 correct answers to reach the minimum passing score of 70%.
If you score lower, that means you failed and you’ll have to retake the exam.
But don’t be nervous — you got this!
You can go back to our Real Estate Practice Exam questions above and quiz yourself until you’re confident.
What Happens If You Fail the Exam?
First off, it’s not the end of the world.
Many people fail their California Real Estate License Exam but they choose to retake it until they find success.
You can do that too.
Once you get notified that you failed, you can immediately apply to retake the exam.
You can retake it as many times as you need to!
It’s basically the same procedure as the first time: Re-apply through the eLicensing Online System or, this time, use your exam results to file an Examination Result Notice.
It’s important that you only re-apply once you’ve been notified of your failure.
Otherwise, without the results, your exam might get flagged, your test results withheld, and you’ll get charged an additional fee.
And speaking of fees, unfortunately, re-taking the exam also means you’ll have to pay the $60 fee again.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in California?
We’re going to be honest with you, getting a real estate license could get pricey not just in California but in other states too.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll have to spend to get a California real estate license:
| Estimated fee | |
| California pre-licensing courses (depending on the real estate online school) | $99 – $949 |
| Licensing application fee | $245 |
| Examination fee | $60 |
| Fingerprinting and background check | $49 |
| Continuing Education fee | $60+ |
| Renewal fee | $245 – $367 |
| Estimated total | $752 – $1,730 |
*Rates via California Department of Real Estate
The estimated total is a pretty big number and that could be a challenge especially if you’re strapped for cash.
What’s the bright side?
Signing up for online courses means you have the freedom to control your time.
These courses let you study whenever and wherever you want letting you dictate your pace.
Plus, most online real estate schools also offer individual courses so you don’t have to shell out the full amount in one go.
That also means you don’t have to pay for all the courses up front and then pay for the state exam application and license application fees in the same month.
You can space it out if you need to so everything stays within your budget.
How Long Will It Take to Get a California Real Estate License?
It could take you anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks to get your California Real Estate License.
The timing depends on a number of factors such as how quickly you finish your pre-licensing courses and how fast the DRE can process your application.
Here’s an estimated time frame on how long it could take you to finish each step in getting a real estate license:
- Completing required pre-licensing courses – 7+ weeks
- Application processing – 4-9 weeks
- Scheduling and taking the exam – 1 week
In conclusion, the whole procedure will take time and dedication.
But if you stick to your schedule, you’ll be getting your license in no time.
Is the Real Estate Exam in California Difficult?
According to state education providers, the California pass rate average is 50%.
That means half of the people taking the exam with you might not end up getting their licenses.
The California state exam does have quite a reputation for being difficult to ace but it’s not impossible.
It depends on you.
Before you panic, remember that being prepared is key.
Did you do your best to study and actually retain information?
135 hours of pre-licensing courses might seem like information overload but there are a number of ways you can prepare for it.
For example, you can take notes as you study and review them every week.
You can also try a California real estate exam prep from an online real estate school.
Or you can keep coming back to our Real Estate Practice Exam above until you know it by heart.
These will help make sure you’re prepared for all 150 of those questions during the state exam.
What are Some Great Tips for Studying for the California Real Estate License Exam?
Like with any important test we take, it’s normal to get nervous about it.
After all, the California Real Estate Exam is a difficult one to pass but it’s not impossible.
As long as you do these tips, you’ll be alright:
- Create a study schedule and stick to it.
- Take notes and keep testing yourself throughout your studies.
- Join study groups where you’ll find fellow aspiring real estate agents.
- Look for a real estate mentor.
- Don’t overstudy!
- Get plenty of rest for a better physical condition.
If you do your best, there’s no doubt your efforts will pay off.
Are There Math Questions in the Exam?
According to some examinees, there are math questions on the California Real Estate Exam.
But they only take up about two to three questions (yay!).
While we don’t know the exact questions, we can guess that the math part involves calculating interest in a loan or the square foot of a property.
The number of math questions can also change over time depending on what the DRE chooses to include in the exam.
Some recent exam takers even said that they encountered no math questions at all.
So as long as you know the basics, you don’t have to sweat it!
And no, you can’t bring a calculator to the exam room.
What are the Best California Online Real Estate Schools That Offer Exam Prep?
We mentioned exam prep earlier and you might be wondering what that is and how to enroll for one.
It’s basically an informative test preparation course complete with lots of practice questions that try to mimic the state exam.
Some exam prep packages also offer access to live online webinars, flashcards, exam crammer series, and other tools to help you.
If you’ve got the money for it, we suggest you go for an exam prep course — it’s going to pay off in the long run when you pass that exam!
Here are our top 5 schools that offer the best exam prep for the California Real Estate Exam:
| Real estate online school | Price | Exam Prep |
| AceableAgent | $299 | Their “Ace the Exam” package offers a combination of the 135-hour pre-licensing courses and a Deluxe Real Estate Exam Prep. It gives you 1,300+ unique practice test questions. |
| Colibri Real Estate | ($229) | The Exam Prep Master offers practice tests, flashcards, and audio playback that covers commonly missed exam topics. |
| The CE Shop | $125 | The Exam Prep Edge lets students undergo an initial assessment and gives them a tailored exam prep based on areas they need to concentrate in. |
| PrepAgent | $119 | Get exam prep videos, audio lessons, interactive flashcards, live webinars, national and state-specific questions, and more. |
| Kaplan Real Estate Education | $199 | The exam prep is filled with practice exams based on topics and subtopics that will appear on the state exam. There are even individual courses available such as “Real Estate Math OnDemand Course,” and “California Real Estate Salesperson Drill and Practice QBank.” |
Choose any from this list and you’ll be fully equipped to take on that state exam!
What Can You Do With a California Real Estate Exam?
Once you pass the California Real Estate Exam, you can pursue a number of different careers.
The most common answer is to be a sales agent, someone who acts on behalf of a broker or a client.
But you can also explore other career opportunities such as:
- Real estate broker
- Leasing agent
- Showing agent
- Buyer’s agent
- Property manager
- Real estate consultant
- Sales specialist
- Sales assistant
- Sales associate
..and more!
There are a number of opportunities you can take with a California real estate license and that’s what makes it a worth-it investment.
How Long is a California Estate License Good For?
A real estate license in California is valid for only four years and should be renewed before the expiry date listed on the license.
As a reminder, the DRE will send a notice 60 days before the license expires.
But you don’t have to wait for that reminder!
Those who are renewing are required to finish a 45-hour renewal course or Continuing Education.
Before your license expires, you can go ahead and enroll in an online real estate school that offers Continuing Education.
If you’re having a tough time choosing, we created a guide for the best real estate continuing education in California.
It’s got every information you need to pick the online school that’s a perfect fit for you.
And when it’s time to renew your license, enter the information needed for renewal at the DRE eLicensing online system.
Make sure you renew on time so you’ll only pay $245.
Otherwise, late renewals are charged $367.
I’m Licensed in California and I Want to Get Licensed in Another State. How Can I do That?
It would be awesome to have a real estate license you can use for all states but unfortunately, that doesn’t exist.
Licenses vary from state to state.
Your license in California can only be used in California.
If you want to get licensed in another state, you would have to comply with that state’s requirements.
While holding multiple real estate licenses is possible, it could be time-consuming for you.
Usually, just like in California, you’ll have to finish courses and pass an exam before you get licensed.
To make things easier for you, you can check out our guide for real estate agent license requirements for all states here.