How many questions are on the Texas real estate exam?

The Texas real estate licensing exam has 135 total questions: 85 on the national portion (80 scored + 5 unscored pretest) and 50 on the state portion (40 scored + 10 unscored pretest). The unscored pretest questions are not identified and do not affect your score — they are used by Pearson VUE to evaluate potential future questions.

What is the passing score on the Texas real estate exam?

The passing requirement is 70% on each portion — 56 correct answers on the national portion (out of 80 scored questions) and 21 correct answers on the state portion (out of 40 scored questions). Both portions are graded independently and you must pass each one separately. Your score report will show whether you passed or failed each portion and your performance by content area.

How long does it take to get a Texas real estate license?

The timeline varies depending on how quickly you complete your 180 hours of pre-license education, how long TREC takes to process your application, and when you schedule your exam. Most candidates complete the process in three to six months. Some accelerated programs allow candidates to finish their education hours in as little as eight weeks if they study full-time.

What happens if I fail the Texas real estate exam?

If you fail one or both portions, you may retake the failed portion(s) — see our complete retake guide for exactly what to do next. After three failed attempts on either portion, TREC requires you to complete an additional 30 hours of qualifying real estate education for that portion before you can register for a fourth attempt. Your score report will identify which content areas need improvement — use it to target your preparation before retaking rather than restudying everything equally.

Texas Real Estate Exam 2026 — Complete Guide for First-Time Candidates

TL;DR

The Texas real estate licensing exam has two separately scored portions — national (80 questions) and state (40 questions). You need 56/80 on the national and 21/40 on the state to pass each independently. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE and covers 6 core topic areas on the national portion and Texas-specific law on the state portion.

What Is the Texas Real Estate Licensing Exam?

The Texas real estate licensing exam is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). It is a two-part exam: a national portion covering general real estate principles and a state portion covering Texas-specific law, TREC rules, and the Texas Real Estate License Act (TRELA). You must pass both portions to receive your license.

The exam is computer-based and administered at Pearson VUE test centers across Texas. You can schedule your exam after completing the required pre-license education hours and submitting your application to TREC. Most candidates choose to sit for both portions on the same day, though you may take them separately.

Exam Structure at a Glance

National portion: 85 questions total — 80 scored plus 5 unscored pretest items (pretest questions look identical to scored questions but do not count toward your result)
State portion: 40 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions
Time allowed: 150 minutes for the national portion; 90 minutes for the state portion
Passing score: 70% on each portion — 56 correct on the national (out of 80 scored) and 21 correct on the state (out of 40 scored). Both portions must be passed independently
Calculator: A hand-held financial or business calculator (battery or solar powered, no alpha characters) is permitted
Retakes: If you fail one or both portions, you may retake the failed portion(s), subject to TREC's eligibility rules and attempt limits

What Topics Are Tested?

The national portion covers topics that apply across all U.S. states: property ownership and land use, contracts, finance, valuation, math, fair housing, and agency. The state portion covers content specific to Texas: TRELA, TREC rules, Texas agency and intermediary law, Texas contract forms, selected provisions of the Texas Property Code, and Texas homestead and community property rules.

The Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Salesperson Candidate Handbook contains the official content outline with the specific topics and their relative weights. Reviewing the handbook before you begin studying is the single most efficient use of your first study session — it tells you exactly what will and will not be tested.

How Do You Qualify to Take the Exam?

Before you can sit for the Texas real estate licensing exam, you must meet the full license requirements and complete the following steps:

Complete 180 hours of pre-license education — TREC requires six specific courses totaling 180 hours: Principles of Real Estate I (30 hrs), Principles of Real Estate II (30 hrs), Law of Agency (30 hrs), Law of Contracts (30 hrs), Promulgated Contract Forms (30 hrs), and Real Estate Finance (30 hrs)
Submit a license application to TREC — apply online through the TREC website and pay the application fee. TREC will review your application and, if approved, send you an eligibility notice
Complete fingerprinting and background check — required before your license can be issued, though you can sit for the exam before this is complete
Schedule your exam through Pearson VUE — once TREC approves your application, you will receive a notification to schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE test center

What Should You Expect on Exam Day?

Arrive at the Pearson VUE test center at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment — our exam day guide covers exactly what to expect at check-in and during the exam. Bring two forms of valid ID — the primary ID must be government-issued with a photo and signature. You will not be permitted to bring personal items into the testing room: no phones, notes, food, or drinks.

The exam is delivered on a computer. Questions are multiple choice with four answer choices. You can flag questions to review later within each portion. Your score report is available immediately after you complete the exam — if you pass, you will see a passing notification. If you do not pass, your score report will show your performance in each content area so you know where to focus before retaking.

How Hard Is the Texas Real Estate Exam?

The Texas real estate exam has a reputation for being challenging, and many candidates find it harder than expected. Many first-time candidates are surprised by the depth of the state portion — particularly the Texas-specific agency and intermediary rules, TRELA provisions, and contract law questions that differ from what is covered in most national prep courses.

The candidates who pass on their first attempt share a common pattern: they study the official content outline, practice with questions that match the actual exam format, and spend focused time on Texas-specific content — our step-by-step study guide shows exactly how to structure that preparation. The Math section and the Contracts section are consistently the highest-fail areas on the national and state portions respectively.

How Ardelia Prepares You for the Texas Real Estate Exam

Ardelia is built specifically for the Texas real estate licensing exam. The question bank covers all topics on both the national and state portions, with questions written to match the format, difficulty, and phrasing of actual exam questions. Every question includes a full explanation of why the correct answer is right and why each wrong answer is wrong.

The adaptive engine tracks your performance across every topic and automatically routes more questions to your weakest areas. If you are strong on Fair Housing but weak on Texas intermediary law, your study sessions rebalance automatically — so every minute you spend practicing is targeted at the areas most likely to affect your score.

Start with the free diagnostic to see exactly where you stand before you begin studying. The diagnostic identifies your current strengths and weaknesses across all exam topics and generates a personalized study plan based on your results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Texas real estate exam?: The Texas real estate licensing exam has 135 total questions: 85 on the national portion (80 scored + 5 unscored pretest) and 50 on the state portion (40 scored + 10 unscored pretest). The unscored pretest questions are not identified and do not affect your score — they are used by Pearson VUE to evaluate potential future questions.
What is the passing score on the Texas real estate exam?: The passing requirement is 70% on each portion — 56 correct answers on the national portion (out of 80 scored questions) and 21 correct answers on the state portion (out of 40 scored questions). Both portions are graded independently and you must pass each one separately. Your score report will show whether you passed or failed each portion and your performance by content area.
How long does it take to get a Texas real estate license?: The timeline varies depending on how quickly you complete your 180 hours of pre-license education, how long TREC takes to process your application, and when you schedule your exam. Most candidates complete the process in three to six months. Some accelerated programs allow candidates to finish their education hours in as little as eight weeks if they study full-time.
What happens if I fail the Texas real estate exam?: If you fail one or both portions, you may retake the failed portion(s) — see our complete retake guide for exactly what to do next. After three failed attempts on either portion, TREC requires you to complete an additional 30 hours of qualifying real estate education for that portion before you can register for a fourth attempt. Your score report will identify which content areas need improvement — use it to target your preparation before retaking rather than restudying everything equally.

Source: Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Salesperson Candidate Handbook · Texas Real Estate Commission (trec.texas.gov)