The California Real Estate Pre
It can play an important role in preparing for the licensing exam. Use the schools which provide preparation materials, in addition to the course curriculum. Practice exams are a particularly effective tool to help you prepare. They will help you become familiar with common exam questions, consolidate the material you have learned in your courses, and brush up on your test-taking skills.
How Much Does It Cost To Take The California Real Estate Exam
The candidate must pay a $60 fee for a salesperson examination fee. If scheduling your appointment online, you must pay the total amount via credit card when scheduling the exam.
You can take the California salesperson exam as many times as you need to pass. Each attempt costs $60. Rescheduling your first exam costs $15. Subsequent rescheduled exams cost an additional $30.
How Does Paid Online Lead Generation Work
Paid lead generation means taking advantage of direct online advertising. You can do this through paid Facebook, Instagram, Google, or LinkedIn ads to pay for leads. You can also pay for online leads through real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and others.
The upside to paid advertising? If you do it correctly and have a big enough budget, youll be able to start generating leads fairly quickly.
If youre running a paid lead generation campaign outside of paid real estate search portals, youll typically offer a free valuable resource called a lead magnet in exchange for your prospects email address. Lead magnets can be anything from a local real estate market report to a free home valuation tool.
Since you likely wont close a client the minute they opt into your lead magnet, youll need to also invest in email marketing to nurture the leads you bring in to learn more about them and let them learn more about you and what you can offer.
You can choose to outsource this if its okay with your brokerage, or you can automate most of these emails so you can set and forget your nurture campaigns.
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How Does A Brokerage Work
A brokerage is like a real estate agents home base. Some of the largest real estate brokerages provide agents with everything from mentorship to done for you marketing materials, while your smaller local broker may not provide as much marketing materials, but may have a solid reputation and a more personal connection to their community that you can leverage as you get started.
Since the brokerage or broker provides the office, marketing materials, and training, real estate agents must share their commission with their broker or brokerage. This is called a commission split, and its something youll either negotiate when you get started with your brokerage, or youll be offered their standard commission split for real estate agents who are new to their team.
Once you get some experience under your belt, your broker will usually increase your commission split.
So, now that you know some of the basics about what a real estate broker is and how the broker-agent relationship can work, its time to find out how to choose a real estate brokerage to work for and get answers to some of the most important questions that will help inform your decision.
How Many Times Can I Take The Real Estate Exam

Fortunately, most Allied students dont need to worry about this question because they pass their real estate exam on the first try.
But in the event you dont pass the exam the first time you take it, California allows aspiring licensees to take the test an unlimited number of times for up to two years after their original application date.
The downside is that those who opt to take the exam again will need to pay another $60 to cover the exam fee.
However, when you consider the opportunities available to licensed California real estate agents, it makes sense to keep trying until you pass!
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What Score Do I Need To Pass
The salesperson exam consists of 150 questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 70% of the questions.
The Broker exam consists of 200 questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 75% of the questions.
The examination is for qualification only, so examinees who pass are not informed of their final score. Examinees are only notified of their actual scores and the percentages in each category only if they do not pass. Those who do not receive a passing grade may apply to re-take the examination using the eLicensing online system or their Examination Result Notice .
Hardest Real Estate Exam
There is no one hardest real estate exam. Different states have different exams, and the difficulty of the exam depends on the person taking it. Some people find the exams to be very difficult, while others find them to be manageable.
The state exam for obtaining a real estate license is required for both a real estate broker and an agent. A total of only half of people who pass the state licensing exam pass. You must first take a real estate licensing course prior to taking the exam. As a practice, you can assess your level of readiness for the real estate salesperson exam. In most states, online real estate school is a good option as you prepare for your license exam. Take note of the questions that pique your interest and focus your attention on those. Adequate sleep and a healthy diet will go a long way toward keeping you healthy as you prepare for the real estate exam.
There is no need to be concerned about your states pass rate or the details of your pre-license education. Youre also free to accept the worst that can happen if you dont pass. The real estate exam is administered at three main test centers. When you pass the test, you will be able to schedule a test at one of these locations. The general real estate section is a state-specific portion of the exam. It is usually expected that you will spend between 90 and three and a half hours on both sections.
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Benefits Of Working For A Virtual Real Estate Brokerage
The option to work with a virtual real estate brokerage is still fairly new, but many agents who have opted to take the leap into this new territory are enjoying plenty of benefits for doing so.
One of the most significant benefits is the higher commission split. Typically, commission splits are based on the brokerages overhead to sponsor their agents. So if a brokerage is paying for office rent, supplies, administrative costs, company advertising, and other expenses for running a brick-and-mortar business on top of providing training and marketing materials to their agents, it makes sense that they would ask real estate agents to pitch in a bit more from their commission to cover the larger costs.
On the other hand, virtual real estate brokerages dont have to worry about that hefty overhead because they dont provide a brick-and-mortar office for their agents. That means agents get to keep more of what they make.
Another advantage is that because there are less overhead costs, some virtual brokerages may offer healthcare and retirement benefits.
Chapter : How To Study For The California Real Estate Exam
Now that youve decided to get your California real estate license , its time to figure out how to study for the real estate exam so you can pass with a score of 70% or higher.
Fortunately, if you want to know how to study for the real estate exam, Allied Real Estate School has plenty of resources.
From some of the best real estate practice exams to real estate test tips, all of Allieds pre-licensing programs include extra support so you can pass your real estate exam the first time.
In fact, at Allied Real Estate School, were so confident youll pass that if you dont receive a score of 70% or higher on your first try, you dont pay for your pre-licensing course material.
Sounds doable, doesnt it?
So if you want to know how to study for the real estate exam, here are a few answers to some of the most common questions new pre-licensing students have when theyre getting started.
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How Hard Is The California Real Estate Exam
Californians are rushing to get real estate licenses, however, their exams did not go so well according to the Department of Real Estate. The issuance of new salesperson licenses in FY 20202021 decreased by 7.3 percent compared to FY 2018-2019 .
CalBRE does not establish a minimum or maximum percentage passing rate, according to its Real Estate Bulletin Spring 2016. Rather, the examinations given and the applicants successes on those examinations set the rates of passage. During fiscal years 2012/2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, CalBREs examination statistics show an average range of between 42-45 percent passage rate for broker examinees, and an average range of between 49-60 percent pass rate for salesperson examinees.
The California Real Estate License Exam can be challenging, but it isnt something students should be intimidated by! We strongly urge students to consider our Prep Course . It is extremely helpful to know where to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam! Our One Day Live prep course provides many valuable tips, prepares you to take and successfully pass the Exam. If you enrolled in our complete pre-license package , it is included! In addition, you can re-take the live prep course as many times as you need.
We wish you the best of luck, not only on the State Exam, but for your future success in the real estate profession. For more information of our courses, visit
How Allied Real Estate School Can Help New Real Estate Agents Start Selling
If you need help generating leads, Allied Real Estate School’s continuing education courses teach you how to grow your real estate knowledge so you can feel confident offering your expertise to attract the right leads.
For instance, Allied offers courses in Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, and Sales Comparison Techniques so you can offer prospects useful information on your blog, social media, paid advertising, and in-person conversations.
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Pass Or Dont Pay Guarantee
With our more hands-on course options that do include extra resources and instruction, we offer a Pass Or Dont Pay guarantee.
Our prized instructors have almost 80 years of combined real estate experience and deliver lots of extra live support. So, we believe if you study, use the materials we give you, and take advantage of your instructors experience, youll be able to pass the test on your first try.
And if not? We dont believe you should pay. Were able to make that bold promise because weve helped millions of students through our accredited online courses pass the real estate exam on their very first try.
Get Additional Help On The Real Estate Exam

The best way to study is often with guided help. Real estate exam prep gives you practice real estate exams that you can take as much time as you want. Real estate crash courses are also cram sessions that help you learn test-taking tips, concepts, terms, and other helpful material to get you ready for the exam.
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Failing To Follow A Study Plan
Yeah yeah, I know you dont like to study. In fact, you probably came to real estate school because your friends told you that they heard from their cousin who heard it from their dog that it was really easy. Well, here is a news flash it isnt that easy.
You have probably heard the phrase nothing worth doing in life is easy, well thats because generally it is true. Real estate is an excellent career, sustainable, and the industry has done a lot for a lot of people.
It is also true that the barriers to entry are relatively low compared to most other industries as well. However, if you think getting through the real estate exam is just like passing high school P.E. class you may have another thing coming!
Create a plan, follow the plan, and dont deviate from what works. Or better yet, follow a plan from test preparation experts who know exactly what it takes to pass your real estate exam and pass it the first time. Dont reinvent or even break the wheel, follow a proven system with confidence.
Dont reinvent or even break the wheel, follow a proven system with confidence.
Successfully Pass The California Real Estate Licensing Exam With A Score Of At Least 70%
In California, the real estate licensing exam includes 150 questions youll need to answer within 3 hours and 15 minutes, with a score of at least 70%. Luckily for Allied Real Estate School students, we have a “pass or don’t pay” guarantee so if you don’t pass the exam, you’ll get a full refund, no questions asked.
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Where Do You Take The California Real Estate Exam
Students must take their salesperson exams at a designated testing center. Candidates register for the exam online by visiting the CA.gov website, .
There are various testing locations you can choose. The areas available are Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Diego.
File Your Salesperson Application
Once youve completed the pre-licensing course, you need to file your Salesperson Application.
You can opt for the Salesperson Examination Application or a combined Salesperson Examination and License Application.
We recommend you file the latter since it reduces processing time.
Youll also have to pay a $60 application fee.
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Obtain Sponsorship From A Licensed California Broker
In May 2020 alone, California saw over 93,000 registered brokers, which means there are plenty of brokers to choose from. Choosing the right broker is mostly a personal choice since youll be working closely with them.
Some questions youll want to consider as you choose a broker:
- What kind of culture do I want to work in?
- What kind of commission split am I looking for?
- Do I want to work for a franchise or an independent broker?
- What niche do I want to serve?
- What kind of support and mentoring am I looking for in a broker or brokerage?
Having clear answers to these questions before you pass your exam is important. As a new agent, youll need a brokers help with networking, marketing, and learning how to navigate deals.
In fact, its smart for pre-licensing students to start making connections with potential brokers before they pass their real estate licensing exam so they can start selling as soon as their real estate license application is approved by the state.
Choose A Sponsoring Broker
To begin your new career, you must be sponsored by an active California real estate broker. Its important to find a good fit when picking a Broker to work with and its a key factor to becoming a successful California real estate agent.
Here are some questions to consider when searching for the right Broker:
If you arent sure how to find the right Sponsoring Broker to work with as you launch your California real estate career, Agent Start can help. While taking Pre-Licensing courses with The CE Shop, you will be given the option to enroll in Agent Start, which aims to help connect you with our Broker partners in your state that are looking for new agents.
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Real Estate Exam Pass Rates Vary By State And Specific Test
All real estate tests have one commonality: many test candidates flunk on their first try. According to the Texas Real Estate Commission , the total pass percentage on the states realty tests was just 58.94 percent during the last two years. The states real estate test pass rate is barely 43%, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation . Californias pass percentage is similarly about 42 percent nationwide.
Only 17,396 individuals cleared the California realty test and became certified salespeople, despite taking 41,249 examinations. This translates to a pass percentage of 42 percent of examines, which is the lowest in the last five years.
Complete 135 Hours Of Pre

The state required education courses for a California real estate license are a combination of the following:
- Real Estate Principles
- Real Estate Practice
- 45 credit hours in an additional elective course as approved by the California Department of Real Estate.
This is particularly important, as California requires you to take pre-licensing training from an approved course provider before you can even think about sitting for the exam. Note that the required number of training hours will vary wildly depending on the state. In California, for example, you need to take 135 hours to meet this criteria. That number might be different if you were taking courses in another state.
In California you have the option of taking this pre-licensing education both in-person and by way of real estate courses online.
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