State Practice Exam
Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam
40 questions covering Illinois real estate licensing topics with detailed explanations.
Question 1 of 40
Within how long must a licensee notify the Department of a change of residence address?
This practice test prepares you for the Illinois Real Estate Broker exam. The page includes a 140-question practice test, detailed eligibility requirements, a breakdown of exam topics, updated 2025 real estate laws, and preparation resources. Begin the Practice Exam below to assess your current knowledge.
Who is eligible to take the Illinois Real Estate Broker license exam?
To qualify for the Illinois Broker license exam, candidates must meet education and legal requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Complete 75 hours of pre-license education.
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Be sponsored by a managing broker in order to practice.
What’s on the Illinois Real Estate Broker exam?
The Illinois Real Estate exam consists of 140 scored multiple-choice questions—100 for the national section and 40 for the Illinois state-specific section. Each portion tests your understanding of foundational real estate concepts, agency and contract law, fair housing, and Illinois-specific licensing statutes and practice rules. The national section evaluates general practice, while the state portion covers Illinois law, license requirements, and disciplinary procedures.
Illinois Real Estate exam topics
The table below are major licensing topics you’ll need to study:
National Section
| Topic | Subtopics | Number of Questions |
| Property Ownership | Property types, land descriptions, encumbrances, forms of ownership | 10 |
| Land Use Controls and Regulations | Government rights, private controls, zoning, restrictions | 5 |
| Valuation and Market Analysis | Appraisal process, estimating value, CMA | 8 |
| Financing | Loan types, underwriting, mortgage clauses, government loans | 10 |
| Contracts | General law, elements, purchase & lease contracts, offers | 19 |
| Agency Relationships | Agency creation, fiduciary duties, disclosures | 13 |
| Property Disclosures | Property condition, environmental issues, material facts | 7 |
| Property Management | Duties, landlord-tenant law, ADA, leasing | 3 |
| Transfer of Title | Deeds, title insurance, closing process, transfer tax | 6 |
| Practice of Real Estate | Fair housing, antitrust, advertising, due diligence, confidentiality | 12 |
| Real Estate Calculations | Math, proration, commissions, investment, tax, property management | 7 |
| Total | 100 |
Illinois State Section
| Topic | Subtopics | Number of Questions (approximate) |
| Licensing Requirements | License types, exemptions, eligibility, renewal, education, sponsor | 10 |
| Laws and Rules Regulating Practice | Purpose, advertising, broker relations, commissions, recordkeeping | 20 |
| Disclosures | Agency, property disclosures, stigmatized property | 10 |
| Total | 40 |
What is the exam passing score?
A minimum score of 75% is required on both exam sections to pass the Illinois Broker exam. You must correctly answer at least 75 out of 100 on the national portion and 30 out of 40 on the state portion. Scores below these thresholds indicate how close the candidate came to passing, not the total correct answers.
What 2025 Illinois Real Estate Laws should you know for the Broker exam?
In 2025, Illinois’s key changes in real estate laws include a new mandate for written brokerage agreements, stricter compensation disclosure requirements, increased continuing education in fair housing, and an endorsement path for out-of-state licenses. These updates are all reflected in the exam content, particularly under agency, license law, and disclosure topics.
| Name of the Law or Rule | Brief Description | 2025 Status | Exam Relevance |
| Written Brokerage Agreement Rule | Requires all brokerage agreements to be in writing before services begin. | Written agreements now mandatory for both exclusive and non-exclusive relationships. | Agency Relationships, License Law |
| Compensation Disclosure Rule | Brokers must disclose all compensation paid to themselves and others to clients. | Full written disclosure is now required by law. | Disclosure, License Law |
| Continuing Education (CE) | Mandatory hours of ongoing education for license renewal. | Core CE increased from 4 to 6 hours, with 2 hours in fair housing. | License Requirements, Fair Housing |
| Out-of-State License Endorsement | Allows out-of-state agents to become licensed in Illinois. | Endorsement pathway replaces reciprocity; must pass Illinois law exam. | License Requirements |
| Fine Payment Deadline | Period allowed for licensees to pay fines issued by the state. | Shortened from 60 days to 30 days. | License Law, Disciplinary Actions |
How to prepare for the exam?
Raising your pass rate depends on understanding exam details, using expert-endorsed study resources, and following a stepwise, targeted preparation plan.
Understanding Illinois broker exam details
Understanding the Illinois Real Estate exam structure and requirements is key to your success. Here is information you need to know:
- Time allotted: 4 hours (total)
- Exam format: Computer-based
- Exam fee: $58
- Licensing authority: PSI
- Where to take the exam: Test centers in Chicago, Schaumburg, Skokie, Springfield, Rockford, Champaign, Carbondale, Chicago Heights, Galesburg, Oak Forest, Niles.
Learning from preparation resources
- Modern Real Estate Practice (Galaty, Allaway, Kyle, Williams): Comprehensive national content and practice tests.
- Mastering Real Estate Math (Evans): National real estate calculations and test strategies.
- The Language of Real Estate (Reilly & Spodek): Definitions, Illinois law, and exam terminology.
- PSI Illinois Candidate Handbook: Official content outline, eligibility, exam rules, and procedures.
Free practice test platforms
- Realtylicenseprep practice tests: offer national and 50-state exam simulations that mirror real test conditions and question types.
Other resources
- Video tutorials: explain complex topics step-by-step.
- Flashcards: effective for memorizing key terms and legal definitions.
- Joining a study group: provides discussion-based learning.
Follow study strategy
A structured study plan improves content retention and builds confidence under real exam timing. You can begin with core topics, then refine your approach based on past performance. The table below is a sample of 8‑week study plan:
| Week | Focus | Activities |
| 1 - 2 | Ownership & agency | Read outline, watch topic videos, flashcards |
| 3 - 4 | Valuation, financing, contracts | Practice questions + review wrong answers |
| 5 | Disclosures & ethics | Deep dive into cases & laws |
| 6 | Practice exams | Timed mock tests |
| 7 | Review weak areas | Re-study low-scoring sections |
| 8 | Final exam simulation | Full test practice under timed conditions |
Weak area analysis
- Review your score breakdown weekly.
- Focus additional study on areas below 70%.
- Review incorrect answers to understand mistakes deeply.
Mastering Real Estate math
There will be a fewmath questions in the national section of the Illinois Real Estate exam. These questions focus on practical real estate calculations such as loan-to-value ratios, down payments, and other common financial metrics relevant to property transactions.
Since math questions can affect your result, focused practice is essential after reviewing the main topics. To prepare:
- Solve sample problems with our practice tests.
- Use flashcards or guided quizzes to reinforce conversions and amortization steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the exam in Illinois take?
The full national + state exam is officially 4 hours, but some candidates complete it in an hour if well-prepared. Still, plan for the full duration and use all available time for review.
What topics do test-takers in Illinois struggle with most?
Challenging areas include: title transfers, property management regulations, Math/problem‑solving. A tip is to focus extra study on these areas while reinforcing vocabulary and legal concepts.
What are effective study strategies for taking the exam in Illinois?
Use targeted vocabulary review before the exam. On test day, answer confidently what you know, flag doubtful questions, and complete them in a second round. This method helps reduce second‑guessing.
How should I pace my exam approach?
Use a two-pass method: quickly answer confident questions, flag the rest, then review flagged items. Take your time to read carefully, eliminate wrong choices, and ensure math accuracy.
How do I overcome test anxiety and second-guessing?
Label questions based on confidence (A – sure, B – unsure, C – math), complete the A group first, skip B and C, then return for review. Look for clues in later questions, you may find hidden answers.