There’s equal opportunity for those who want to become real estate agents. However, in order to legally become licensed, you must pass a series of steps and criteria. The most difficult of these steps is a pair of real estate exams – state and national. And if it’s been a while since you’ve been in school, you might need a refresher on how to study, prepare, and take a test of this magnitude.
5 Tips That Will Have You Passing With Flying Colors
Every state has its own specific exams and unique requirements, but the concepts of exam preparation and test taking tactics remain true across the board. Here are some tips that have helped thousands of real estate agents pass their exams over the years:
1. Know the Requirements
Every real estate exam has specific requirements. Make sure you’re familiar with the rules ahead of time so that you know how to study. You can find information on the test format, required score, the length of each section, how long you have to take the exam, etc. on your state’s real estate commission website.
2. Use All Available Resources
There are ample resources available to you – make sure you use them in preparation for taking the real estate exams. This includes:
- Real estate prep courses. Every state has its own licensing exam prep courses. In the state of Georgia, for example, you need to take a 75-hour course – which can be completed online. While the thought of taking an extensive course might initially seem overwhelming, view it as a learning opportunity. These courses have all of the information you need to excel. Use the curriculum wisely!
- Practice exams. You’ll find a variety of practice exams and mock tests online. (And you should get a couple of them with your prep course.) These exams not only gauge how well you know the material, but they also help you get comfortable with the exam’s format and pace.
- Learn from others. Speak with real estate agents you know or connect with some on social media. Ask them about their experience and collect as many pointers as you can.
3. Study Ahead of Time
You can’t start studying for your test 72 hours before exam day and expect to do well. Cramming a bunch of knowledge into your head in such a short period of time is not a good idea. You need to study ahead of time.
Ideally, you should spend an hour per day studying for at least two or three weeks prior to your exam day. And as the exam gets closer, you’ll want to gradually increase the amount of time you’re studying.
4. Use These Exam Tactics
Real estate exams – both state and national – are designed to test your proficiency and knowledge of key topics and concepts. They are not designed to trip you up. Rely on your preparation and don’t overthink things. Here are a few other helpful tactics:
- Read the entire question before answering.
- Read all answers before choosing an option.
- Work backwards to eliminate answers that you know to be false.
- Go through the exam and answer all of the easiest questions first. Then go back and fill in any of the more difficult ones that you’re unsure of.
- Unless you’re 100 percent sure you’ve found a mistake, don’t go back through and change answers. You’re statistically more likely to get an answer wrong if you change it after the fact.
5. Be Smart on Exam Day
Be smart about how you handle exam day. This starts with going to bed at a decent hour the night before the exam. Aim to get at least eight or nine hours of sleep. Go to bed early enough so that you can wake up early and ease into the day. The last thing you want is to feel rushed.
Eat a solid breakfast, but don’t stuff yourself. Something fresh and hardy will help give you the energy you need to focus.
Arrive at the exam center with plenty of time to spare. The last thing you want is to feel rushed. There’s nothing wrong with being early. You can always wait in your car for an extra 20 or 30 minutes if necessary.
Bring everything you need, including a photo ID and any other required forms.
Put in the Hard Work Now
Studying for your real estate exam probably isn’t your definition of fun, but it’s an important and necessary step required in becoming a real estate professional. By studying now and treating this as a learning opportunity, you can lay the groundwork for a successful career as a real estate agent. Are you ready to put in the work?
