Real Estate Exam Strategies – Tricks and Techniques for Test Day

It’s been a while since you took a real estate exam and even longer since you had to prove your knowledge on a standardized computerized test. Getting familiar with the format and learning the tricks of the trade will help you feel more confident and comfortable on exam day.

Keeping your cool during the exam will have a major impact on your results. Here are some tips to help you get a head start:

Take Practice Tests

The best way to ensure you pass your real estate exam is to take as many practice tests as possible. Most pre-licensing courses will offer practice exams, but you can also find plenty of free test questions online.

Practice testing will help you familiarize yourself with the exam format, the questions, and how to answer them. It will also show you what areas you need to study more. If you are struggling with math, for example, it’s a good idea to focus on getting your mathematical formulas down, as this will be an essential skill once you’re licensed.

Make sure you read every question carefully, especially those that are multiple-choice. One misread word can change the entire meaning of the question. Luckily, most test makers understand that people miss words, so they often include an answer that would still be correct if that happened. Taking the time to read each question carefully can make all the difference on exam day.

Don’t Skip Questions

The real estate exam Massachusetts is a timed multiple-choice test. Although knowing the material is important, you must also be familiar with the testing format and the time constraints. This will help you feel more confident on test day and reduce any feelings of anxiety that may be present.

It’s important to answer every question on the exam, even if you aren’t sure of the correct answer. Questions left blank will be marked incorrect, and it’s better to have a shot at getting it right than missing out on a passing score because you skipped a few questions.

Often, the most difficult questions on the exam are related to state laws and regulations like fair housing laws and truth in advertising. To avoid missing these questions, it’s a good idea to take the practice exams very seriously and dedicate enough study time to those areas. This will allow you to cover the most ground and maximize your chances of passing on your first attempt.

Read the Questions Carefully

During real estate class and exam prep, it’s important to read each question carefully. Sometimes, the slightest change in wording can make a question more or less difficult. You can also improve your odds of selecting the correct answer by focusing on the vocabulary words in the questions.

On test day, get a good night’s sleep and eat well. This will boost your passing rate more than any amount of last-minute cramming.

Start with the easiest, shortest questions and save the more difficult ones for last. This strategy will help you conserve your mental energy and ensure you don’t skip a question you don’t know the answer to. If you must guess, work backward by eliminating the wrong answers and choosing your best guess. Remember that it’s better to select a correct answer from four options than a wrong one from two. Also, never change an answer once you’ve selected it. Studies have shown that you’re far more likely to switch a right answer to a wrong one than vice versa.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Real estate licensing exams can be challenging to prepare for, especially if it’s been years since you last took a test. Luckily, there are many ways to improve your chances of passing the exam on your first attempt.

Start by using exam prep resources specifically geared toward the real estate exam. Additionally, it’s important to talk to other real estate agents who have taken the exam and ask for their advice.

It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions on test day. It’s not uncommon to run into a question on the exam that you don’t understand. Guessing these types of questions doesn’t earn you a high number of points, but eliminating answer choices that you know are incorrect can bump up your expected score significantly. This is an important step, as it may make the difference between failing and passing the exam on your first try.