How hard is the California real estate exam?
About half of attempts pass: 53% of the 30,063 salesperson exams in the year to June 2026, and 51% in August 2026. You need 105 of 150 right in 3 hours.
53%
of California salesperson exams in the year to June 2026 were passes
| Fiscal year 2025-26 | 30,063 salesperson exams, 53% passed |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 2,662 exams, 51% passed |
| Score needed | 105 of 150 (70%) |
| Retakes | No limit for two years from your first application |
Where the 150 questions come from
The DRE weights its topics as below. Practice and disclosures carry a quarter of the marks.
| Area | Share of the exam |
|---|---|
| Practice of real estate and disclosures | About 25% |
| Laws of agency and fiduciary duties | About 17% |
| Property ownership and land use controls | About 15% |
| Valuation and financial analysis | About 14% |
| Contracts | About 12% |
| Financing | About 9% |
| Transfer of property | About 8% |
Would you pass in California?
20 questions in 25 minutes on California law, national principles and math, scored by part against the California line.
How to get past the hard parts
- Practice and disclosures is a quarter of the exam: learn every disclosure, who gives it and when.
- Agency is next, at about 17%: fiduciary duties, dual agency and the agency disclosure form.
- No calculator is allowed in the room, so practice the math by hand.
- The DRE does not tell passers their score, so aim well above 70% in practice.
Next step
Questions people ask
Is the California real estate exam hard?
About half of attempts fail. The DRE reports 30,063 salesperson exams in the fiscal year to June 2026, of which 53% passed.
What is the pass rate for the California real estate exam?
53% for fiscal year 2025-26 and 51% in August 2026, counting every attempt.
What score do you need to pass the California real estate exam?
70%, which is 105 of 150 questions.
How many times can you take the California real estate exam?
As many times as you like for two years from your original application, at $100 an attempt.