Free Practice Questions for CA Real Estate
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Key Facts: CA Real Estate Exam
64%
First-Time Pass Rate (FY 2023/24)
DRE 2024 Sunset Review
150 Q
Exam Questions
CA DRE
135 hrs
Pre-License Education
CA DRE
419,901
CA Real Estate Licensees (Sept 2026)
CA DRE statistics
$63,800
Median Agent Income
CAR 2025
$100
Exam Fee
CA DRE
First-time California real estate salesperson candidates passed at 64% in FY 2023/24, and retakes average about 20% (DRE 2024 Sunset Review Report). The exam requires 135 hours of pre-license education (3 courses), a 150-question exam in 3 hours, and a 70% passing score. California has about 420,000 real estate licensees (DRE, September 2026) and median agent income of $63,800 (CAR 2025). The DRE administers the exam itself at five state exam sites (Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, La Palma, San Diego), not at third-party vendor centers.
Sample CA Real Estate Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CA Real Estate exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 311+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which California state agency is responsible for issuing real estate licenses?
2How many hours of pre-license education does California require before a candidate can take the salesperson exam?
3Which three courses make up the required 135-hour California pre-license education for a salesperson?
4What is the format of the California real estate salesperson licensing exam?
5How often must a California real estate license be renewed?
6How many hours of continuing education must a California real estate licensee complete for license renewal?
7A California real estate salesperson wants to upgrade to a broker license. Which of the following is a key additional requirement beyond the salesperson license?
8Under California law, within how many business days must a broker deposit trust funds received on behalf of a principal into a trust account or neutral escrow?
9What type of license may the California DRE issue to a licensee who has been subject to disciplinary action?
10Which of the following is TRUE regarding California real estate broker supervision responsibilities?
About the CA Real Estate Exam
The California real estate salesperson exam covers both national real estate concepts and California-specific laws including DRE licensing requirements, Proposition 13 property taxes, Transfer Disclosure Statements (TDS), the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and FEHA fair housing protections.
Exam sponsor: CA Department of Real Estate (DRE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
150 questions
Time Limit
3 hours
Passing Score
70%
Reported exam pass rate: 64%. first-time salesperson pass rate, FY 2023/24 (DRE 2024 Sunset Review Report; 63.1% four-year average) This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Official sources
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Property Ownership and Land Use Controls and Regulations
Classes and characteristics of property, encumbrances, types of ownership, property descriptions, government rights in land, public and private controls, environmental hazards, water rights, and special categories of land.
Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties
Nature and creation of agency, agency agreements, duties to principals and to non-client third parties, disclosure of agency or other interest, termination of agency, and commissions and fees.
Property Valuation and Financial Analysis
Value, methods of estimating value, and financial analysis.
Financing
General concepts, types and sources of loans, government programs, mortgages, deeds of trust and notes, financing and credit laws, loan brokerage, and loan originators.
Transfer of Property
Title insurance, deeds, escrow, tax aspects, special processes, transfer through court supervision, and types of vesting.
Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures (Includes Specialty Areas)
Trust accounts, fair housing, advertising, record keeping, supervision, DRE jurisdiction and discipline, licensing and continuing education, the Recovery Fund, property management, the Transfer Disclosure Statement, natural hazard and material-fact disclosures.
Contracts
General contract law, listing and buyer broker agreements, offers and purchase contracts, promissory notes and securities, purchase and lease options, and advance fees.
Preparing for the CA Real Estate Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70%
- Exam length: 150 questions
- Time limit: 3 hours
- Exam / certification fees: $100 Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 311 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CA Real Estate: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the California real estate exam?
DRE's 2024 Sunset Review Report gives a 64% pass rate for first-time salesperson candidates in FY 2023/24 (63.1% over four years) and about 20% for retakes. The exam has 150 questions in 3 hours, requiring a 70% score (105 correct). Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures, which includes the TDS and natural hazard disclosures, is the largest area at about 25%.
What are the California pre-license education requirements?
California requires 135 hours of approved pre-license education: Real Estate Principles (45 hours), Real Estate Practice (45 hours), and one elective course (45 hours). Courses can be taken at colleges, private schools, or online. There is no experience requirement for the salesperson license.
What California-specific topics are on the exam?
Key CA-specific topics include: DRE licensing and regulations, Proposition 13 property taxes, Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD), Unruh Civil Rights Act, FEHA fair housing, Mello-Roos special taxes, C.A.R. purchase agreements, escrow procedures, and trust fund requirements.
What is the difference between the CA and national real estate exam?
California uses a single 150-question exam that combines national and state-specific content (unlike states with separate national/state portions). DRE's outline divides it into seven areas, from Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures (about 25%) to Transfer of Property (about 8%), rather than separate national and state sections. The CA exam is administered by the DRE itself at its five state exam sites, not by third-party vendors like PSI or Pearson VUE as most states use.
How long should I study for the CA real estate exam?
Plan for 80-120 hours (OEP estimate) of study over 6-10 weeks after completing your 135 hours of pre-license education. Weight your study by DRE's outline: Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures is about 25% and Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties about 17%. Complete at least 500 practice questions and aim for 85%+ on practice tests before scheduling.