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200+ Free IL Real Estate Practice Questions

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Which Illinois state agency is responsible for issuing and regulating real estate licenses?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: IL Real Estate Exam

56%

First-Time Pass Rate

IDFPR 2024

120 Q

Exam Questions

IDFPR/PSI

90 hrs

Pre-License Education

IDFPR

75%

Passing Score

IDFPR

$58

Exam Fee

PSI

10%/25%

Cook County Assessment

Residential/Commercial

Illinois calls all licensees 'brokers' (no salesperson license) and has a 56% first-time pass rate. The exam requires 90 hours of pre-license education, 120 questions in 3 hours, and 75% to pass. IL is unique for its attorney-closing requirement, 5 business day attorney review period, Cook County classification system (10% residential vs 25% commercial), and high Chicago transfer taxes ($7.50/$500).

Sample IL Real Estate Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IL Real Estate exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Illinois state agency is responsible for issuing and regulating real estate licenses?
A.Illinois Real Estate Commission
B.Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
C.Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
D.Illinois Secretary of State
Explanation: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is the state agency that issues, renews, and regulates real estate licenses in Illinois. There is no standalone Illinois Real Estate Commission. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Secretary of State handle other state functions unrelated to real estate licensing.
2Under the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454), what is the entry-level license called for someone who wants to sell real estate?
A.Salesperson license
B.Broker license
C.Associate broker license
D.Real estate agent license
Explanation: Illinois eliminated the 'salesperson' designation and calls its entry-level real estate license a 'broker' license under the Real Estate License Act of 2000. Unlike most other states that use the term salesperson, Illinois uses broker as the starting license category. There is no associate broker or real estate agent license classification in Illinois.
3How many hours of pre-license education does Illinois require to obtain a broker license?
A.45 hours
B.75 hours
C.90 hours
D.120 hours
Explanation: Illinois requires 90 hours of approved pre-license education to qualify for a broker license. This 90-hour course covers topics including real estate law, contracts, agency, financing, and Illinois-specific regulations. 45 hours is the requirement for a managing broker upgrade course, 75 hours is the pre-license requirement in some other states, and 120 refers to the number of exam questions, not education hours.
4What is the format of the Illinois real estate broker licensing exam?
A.150 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours, 70% passing score
B.120 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours, 75% passing score
C.100 multiple-choice questions, 2.5 hours, 75% passing score
D.80 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours, 80% passing score
Explanation: The Illinois broker exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions with a 3-hour time limit and requires a 75% passing score. The exam includes both a national portion and an Illinois-specific state portion. The other answer choices reflect exam formats from other states or are fabricated and do not match the IDFPR requirements.
5Within the first renewal period, how many hours of post-license education must a new Illinois broker complete?
A.15 hours
B.24 hours
C.30 hours
D.45 hours
Explanation: A newly licensed Illinois broker must complete 30 hours of post-license education before the first license renewal. This requirement is in addition to any continuing education hours and is designed to provide practical knowledge to new licensees. 24 hours is the regular CE requirement for subsequent renewals, 15 hours is not a recognized requirement, and 45 hours relates to the managing broker course.
6How often must an Illinois real estate broker renew their license, and how many continuing education hours are required?
A.Every year, 12 hours including core curriculum
B.Every 2 years, 24 hours including core curriculum
C.Every 2 years, 30 hours including core curriculum
D.Every 4 years, 48 hours including core curriculum
Explanation: Illinois brokers must renew their license every 2 years and complete 24 hours of continuing education, which must include the required core curriculum topics designated by IDFPR. Annual renewal is not used in Illinois, 30 hours is the post-license requirement for new licensees, and a 4-year renewal cycle does not apply to Illinois real estate licenses.
7To become a managing broker in Illinois, a broker must have held an active license for at least how many years and complete what additional education?
A.1 year of experience and 30-hour managing broker course
B.2 years of experience and 45-hour managing broker course
C.3 years of experience and 60-hour managing broker course
D.5 years of experience and 90-hour managing broker course
Explanation: Illinois requires a managing broker to have at least 2 years of active licensure as a broker and to complete a 45-hour managing broker course approved by IDFPR. The managing broker is responsible for supervising all licensees within the office. The other combinations of experience years and course hours do not match the statutory requirements under the Illinois Real Estate License Act.
8What are the three license categories under the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000?
A.Salesperson, broker, and managing broker
B.Broker, managing broker, and leasing agent
C.Associate, broker, and supervising broker
D.Trainee, salesperson, and broker
Explanation: Illinois recognizes three license categories: broker, managing broker, and leasing agent. Unlike most states, Illinois does not use the salesperson designation; the entry-level license is called broker. The leasing agent license has a limited scope focused on residential leasing. Salesperson, associate, trainee, and supervising broker are not license categories recognized under Illinois law.
9How many hours of pre-license education are required for an Illinois leasing agent license?
A.10 hours
B.15 hours
C.20 hours
D.30 hours
Explanation: An Illinois leasing agent license requires 20 hours of approved pre-license education. The leasing agent license has a limited scope and only allows the licensee to assist with residential leasing activities, not sales. It is a popular option for apartment leasing professionals. The other hour amounts do not match the IDFPR requirement for leasing agents.
10Under Illinois law, which broker is responsible for maintaining trust accounts and supervising all licensees in an office?
A.Any licensed broker in the office
B.The sponsoring broker only
C.The managing broker
D.The office administrator
Explanation: The managing broker in Illinois is responsible for maintaining trust accounts and supervising all licensees affiliated with the office. This includes overseeing escrow deposits, ensuring compliance with the License Act, and approving advertising. A regular broker cannot perform these supervisory duties, the sponsoring broker is the entity/company, and an office administrator is not a licensed role with such authority.

About the IL Real Estate Exam

The Illinois real estate broker exam covers IDFPR licensing (IL uses 'broker' instead of 'salesperson'), the Real Estate License Act of 2000, attorney review closings, designated agency, Cook County assessment classifications, transfer taxes, and the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Questions

120 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

$58 (IDFPR / PSI)

IL Real Estate Exam Content Outline

25%

IDFPR & Licensing

IDFPR licensing, 90-hour pre-license, broker vs managing broker, leasing agent license

25%

IL Contracts & Agency

Attorney review (5 days), designated agency, dual agency, multi-board contracts

20%

IL Property Tax

33.33% assessment, Cook County classifications, equalization factor, transfer taxes

20%

IL Disclosures

Residential disclosure act, radon, IL Human Rights Act, environmental hazards

10%

IL Special Topics

Land trusts, judicial foreclosure, RLTO, condo 22.1 disclosure, mechanic's liens

How to Pass the IL Real Estate Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 75%
  • Exam length: 120 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: $58

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

IL Real Estate Study Tips from Top Performers

1Know the difference: broker (standard licensee) vs managing broker (supervises office)
2Master Cook County assessment: 10% residential, 25% commercial + equalization factor
3Understand attorney review period: 5 business days, attorneys can modify/disapprove
4Learn Chicago transfer tax ($7.50/$500) vs state ($0.50/$500) vs county ($0.25/$500)
5Study land trusts — unique to IL, trustee holds title, beneficiary controls property

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Illinois use 'broker' instead of 'salesperson'?

Illinois eliminated the salesperson license category in 2011 under the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (as amended). All licensees are now called 'brokers.' A 'managing broker' is the equivalent of what other states call a 'designated broker' — they supervise other brokers in the office.

How hard is the Illinois real estate exam?

The IL exam has a 56% first-time pass rate with 120 questions in 3 hours, requiring 75% to pass. Illinois-specific topics like the License Act of 2000, Cook County assessment system, and attorney review period are heavily tested.

What is the attorney review period in Illinois?

Illinois customarily uses a 5 business day attorney review period after contract execution. During this time, either party's attorney can modify or disapprove the contract. This is not statutory but is included in standard multi-board contract forms.

How do Cook County property taxes work?

Cook County uses a classification system: residential property is assessed at 10% of market value, commercial at 25%. An equalization factor (multiplier) adjusts for assessment level differences. Cook County also has a higher General Homestead Exemption ($10,000 vs $6,000 elsewhere in IL).