How many questions are on the Texas real estate exam?

The Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam has 125 questions total: 85 in the national section and 40 in the state section. Both sections are taken on the same day. You have 105 minutes for the national section and 45 minutes for the state section. You must score 70% on each section independently — passing one does not exempt you from retaking the other if you fail.

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

You must score 70% or higher on each section independently. For the national section, that means answering at least 60 out of 85 questions correctly. For the state section, that means answering at least 28 out of 40 questions correctly. Your scores are reported separately — you will see a pass or fail for each section immediately after completing the exam.

Which topics are most heavily tested on the Texas real estate exam?

Contracts and Agency are the two highest-weighted topics across both sections combined. In the national section, Contracts accounts for approximately 20% of questions and Agency approximately 14%. In the state section, Contracts and Agency/Brokerage each account for approximately 18–20%. Together these two areas represent roughly a third of your total exam score. Financing and Valuation are also high-weight areas requiring specific math knowledge.

Is the national section or the state section harder?

Most candidates find the state section harder, even though it has fewer questions. The Texas-specific rules — particularly the TREC promulgated contract forms, the IABS notice requirements, and the intermediary relationship rules — are unfamiliar to most candidates and tested with scenario-based questions that require precise knowledge of Texas law. The national section covers concepts that many candidates partially know from their pre-license coursework.

Can I take the national and state sections on different days?

No. Both sections are administered on the same day at the same Pearson VUE testing center appointment. You complete the national section first, then the state section in the same sitting. If you pass one section but fail the other, you only need to retake the failed section — but you must schedule a new appointment for the retake.

TX Blueprint Breakdown — What Topics Are Tested on the Texas Real Estate Exam

TL;DR

The Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam has two sections: a national section (85 questions, 105 minutes) and a state section (40 questions, 45 minutes). You must score 70% on each to pass. Contracts and Agency are the two highest-weighted topics. Both sections are taken on the same day at a Pearson VUE testing center.

The exam tests application of concepts, not memorization of definitions — questions present real scenarios and ask what a licensed agent should do.

How Is the Texas Real Estate Exam Structured?

The Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam is divided into two separate sections administered back-to-back at a Pearson VUE testing center. You must pass both sections with a score of 70% or higher — each section is graded independently. Passing one section does not exempt you from retaking the other if you fail. For a complete overview of the exam experience from start to finish, see our Texas real estate exam hub.

The exam is developed and scored by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). The blueprint — the official document describing what percentage of questions comes from each topic area — is published in the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Salesperson Candidate Handbook. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the blueprint before beginning exam prep.

National Section — 85 Questions, 105 Minutes

The national section tests real estate knowledge that applies across all U.S. states and is typically completed first. It has 85 questions and a 105-minute time limit. You need to answer at least 60 questions correctly to pass (70%). The questions are drawn from ten topic areas, each with an approximate percentage of the total exam.

Property Ownership (~9%): Types of ownership, forms of title, rights and restrictions on real property, land characteristics, and legal descriptions.
Land Use Controls and Regulations (~6%): Zoning, building codes, environmental regulations, eminent domain, and government controls on land use.
Valuation and Market Analysis (~8%): The three approaches to value (sales comparison, cost, income), appraisal principles, market conditions, and comparative market analysis.
Financing (~10–12%): Types of mortgages, mortgage math (LTV, DTI, points, APR), the lending process, FHA/VA/conventional loan programs, and RESPA/TRID requirements.
General Principles of Agency (~13–14%): Agency relationships, fiduciary duties, types of agency, disclosure requirements, and the duties owed to clients and customers. One of the highest-weighted topics on the national section.
Property Disclosures (~9%): Mandatory disclosure requirements, material facts, stigmatized properties, environmental hazards (lead, asbestos, radon), and property condition.
Contracts (~19–20%): Contract formation and validity, types of contracts, contract contingencies, offer and acceptance, breach and remedies. The highest-weighted topic on the national section by question volume.
Leasing and Property Management (~8%): Lease types, landlord-tenant law, property management duties, and lease termination.
Transfer of Title (~9%): Types of deeds, title insurance, closing procedures, settlement statements, and recording requirements.
Practice of Real Estate (~4%): License law concepts, advertising rules, antitrust, and professional standards.

State Section — 40 Questions, 45 Minutes

The state section tests Texas-specific real estate law and regulations. It has 40 questions and a 45-minute time limit. You need to answer at least 28 questions correctly to pass (70%). The state section is often where candidates struggle most — the Texas rules differ from national standards in important ways.

Commission Duties and Powers (~15%): TREC structure and authority, license requirements, disciplinary procedures, and commission rules.
Licensing Requirements (~15%): Salesperson and broker license requirements, education requirements, experience requirements, and renewal obligations.
Standards of Practice (~18%): TREC Rules of Conduct, duties to clients, advertising rules, and prohibited practices. One of the highest-weighted areas in the state section.
Agency/Brokerage (~18%): Texas-specific agency law, the Information About Brokerage Services (IABS) notice, intermediary relationships, and subagency.
Contracts (~20%): TREC promulgated contract forms, addenda, and amendment procedures. The highest-weighted topic in the state section — you must know the TREC forms specifically.
Financing (~8%): Texas-specific financing rules including the homestead exception and home equity loan restrictions.
Specialty Areas (~8%): New home sales, farm and ranch transactions, property management, and commercial real estate as they apply under Texas law.

Where Do Most Questions Come From?

Contracts — approximately 20% (highest weight across both sections)
Agency/Brokerage — approximately 13–18% (national + state combined)
Financing — approximately 10–12% (national section)
Standards of Practice — approximately 18% (state section)
All other topics — smaller portions per the blueprint

What Does the Blueprint Tell You About Where to Focus?

The two highest-weighted topics across the full exam are Contracts (national + state combined = ~25 questions) and Agency (national + state combined = ~19 questions). Together these two areas account for roughly a third of your total score. If you are short on study time, these two areas have the highest return. For the most effective study strategy based on the blueprint, see our complete study guide.

Math questions appear throughout the national section — primarily in Financing and Valuation. These are calculation questions that require you to know specific formulas. Candidates who avoid math during prep consistently underperform in these sections. A significant portion of questions involve calculations — many candidates benefit from dedicating focused study time to math.

How Hard Is the Exam Based on the Blueprint?

The exam is designed to test applied knowledge, not memorization. Most questions present a scenario and ask what a real estate agent should do in that situation — they are not definition recall questions. The Contracts and Agency sections in particular test your ability to apply rules to realistic client situations. For an honest assessment of the exam's difficulty and pass rates, see our difficulty guide.

How Do You Use the Blueprint to Build Your Study Plan?

A blueprint-weighted study plan means you spend more time on high-weight topics and less on low-weight ones. The candidate handbook provides the exact percentage weights — build your study schedule around those numbers, not around what feels comfortable or familiar. Our first-attempt pass guide covers how to structure your prep around the blueprint specifically. For the full candidate handbook breakdown, see our handbook summary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Texas real estate exam?: The Texas Real Estate Salesperson Exam has 125 questions total: 85 in the national section and 40 in the state section. Both sections are taken on the same day. You have 105 minutes for the national section and 45 minutes for the state section. You must score 70% on each section independently — passing one does not exempt you from retaking the other if you fail.
What is the passing score for the Texas real estate exam?: You must score 70% or higher on each section independently. For the national section, that means answering at least 60 out of 85 questions correctly. For the state section, that means answering at least 28 out of 40 questions correctly. Your scores are reported separately — you will see a pass or fail for each section immediately after completing the exam.
Which topics are most heavily tested on the Texas real estate exam?: Contracts and Agency are the two highest-weighted topics across both sections combined. In the national section, Contracts accounts for approximately 20% of questions and Agency approximately 14%. In the state section, Contracts and Agency/Brokerage each account for approximately 18–20%. Together these two areas represent roughly a third of your total exam score. Financing and Valuation are also high-weight areas requiring specific math knowledge.
Is the national section or the state section harder?: Most candidates find the state section harder, even though it has fewer questions. The Texas-specific rules — particularly the TREC promulgated contract forms, the IABS notice requirements, and the intermediary relationship rules — are unfamiliar to most candidates and tested with scenario-based questions that require precise knowledge of Texas law. The national section covers concepts that many candidates partially know from their pre-license coursework.
Can I take the national and state sections on different days?: No. Both sections are administered on the same day at the same Pearson VUE testing center appointment. You complete the national section first, then the state section in the same sitting. If you pass one section but fail the other, you only need to retake the failed section — but you must schedule a new appointment for the retake.

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