The Illinois real estate broker examination includes both national real estate material and Illinois-specific licensing material. Understanding how the exam is structured can help you prepare more effectively and manage your time with greater confidence on test day.
This guide explains the Illinois broker exam format, number of questions, time limits, passing scores, major subject areas, computer-based testing process, experimental questions, and what happens if you do not pass one portion.
The Illinois Real Estate Broker Examination is divided into two major portions:
The current exam structure is:
| Exam Portion | Number of Items | Passing Score | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 100 | 70% | 150 minutes |
| State | 40 | 75% | 90 minutes |
Together, the two scored portions contain 140 examination items.
Candidates should also be aware that a small number of experimental questions may be included in addition to the scored questions.
The broker examination separates general real estate knowledge from Illinois-specific law and regulation.
The national portion tests broad real estate principles and practices that apply across the profession.
Topics include areas such as:
The state-specific portion focuses on Illinois licensing law and other Illinois rules affecting real estate practice.
Topics include:
Students need to prepare for both portions rather than studying only general real estate concepts.
The current Illinois broker exam contains:
100 scored items
40 scored items
This gives a total of:
140 scored examination items
However, PSI may also include a small number of unscored experimental questions.
Because those experimental questions are not identified during the examination, candidates should treat every question as if it counts toward the final score.
The current time limits are:
150 minutes
That equals:
2 hours and 30 minutes
90 minutes
That equals:
1 hour and 30 minutes
If both portions are considered together, the stated testing time for the scored examination portions totals:
240 minutes, or 4 hours
Candidates should manage their time carefully rather than spending too long on one difficult question.
The current passing standards are different for the two portions.
You need a passing score of:
70%
You need a passing score of:
75%
You should therefore prepare for each portion separately.
Strong performance on one portion does not replace the need to pass the other required portion.
Yes. The Illinois broker examination is administered through a computer-based testing system.
Candidates answer questions on-screen rather than completing a traditional paper examination.
Before the scored examination begins, candidates are provided with instructions on how to use the testing system.
The computer interface allows candidates to:
Becoming comfortable with computer-based testing can help reduce unnecessary stress on exam day.
Candidates should expect objective exam questions that test both knowledge and application.
Some questions may test straightforward concepts.
For example:
Which document transfers ownership of real property?
Other questions may present a situation and require you to determine which principle or rule applies.
For example, a question may describe:
You then need to identify the best answer based on the applicable real estate principle.
This is why understanding concepts is more useful than memorizing isolated definitions.
Yes.
PSI states that a small number of experimental questions may be included in addition to the questions listed in the official examination content outline.
Typically, there may be approximately:
5 to 10 experimental questions
These questions:
Because you will not know which questions are experimental, answer every question carefully.
Testing organizations use experimental questions to evaluate possible future examination items.
Before a new question becomes part of a scored licensing examination, exam developers may need information about how candidates respond to it.
Experimental questions help evaluate factors such as:
These questions do not affect your score, but they still appear during the timed examination.
The national portion covers general real estate principles and practices.
The current broker content outline allocates the examination approximately as follows:
| National Topic | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| Property Ownership | 10% |
| Land Use Controls | 5% |
| Valuation | 8% |
| Financing | 10% |
| Contracts | 19% |
| Agency | 13% |
| Property Disclosures | 7% |
| Property Management | 3% |
| Transfer of Title | 6% |
| Practice of Real Estate | 12% |
| Real Estate Calculations | 7% |
These percentages can help students decide how much attention different topics deserve during exam preparation.
However, every listed subject should be reviewed.
Contracts represent one of the largest areas in the current national broker content outline.
Students should understand concepts such as:
Do not limit your contract preparation to definitions.
Practice applying these rules to transaction scenarios.
Agency accounts for a significant part of the national content outline.
Students should understand:
Scenario questions may require you to identify which duty or relationship applies.
The national exam also covers real estate financing.
Topics may include:
Students should understand both terminology and basic application of financing concepts.
The national broker examination includes real estate calculations.
Topics can include:
Most exam math relies on basic arithmetic, percentages, ratios, and careful interpretation of the question.
Regular practice is usually more effective than attempting to memorize every formula shortly before the exam.
Suppose a property sells for:
$280,000
and a question asks you to calculate:
3% of the sale price
First convert 3% into decimal form:
3% = 0.03
Then:
$280,000 × 0.03 = $8,400
The calculation itself is simple.
The challenge in many exam questions is determining:
Read each calculation question carefully.
The state-specific portion focuses on Illinois law and professional requirements.
The current broker outline divides this portion into four major areas:
| Illinois Topic | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| Licensing Requirements | 10% |
| Illinois Real Estate License Act | 40% |
| Additional Illinois Laws and Regulations | 25% |
| Disclosures | 25% |
The Illinois Real Estate License Act represents the largest single area of the state-specific broker examination.
The state examination can test your understanding of Illinois licensing matters.
These may include:
Students should understand the complete licensing journey rather than memorizing only the initial application requirements.
The Illinois Real Estate License Act represents a major part of the state portion.
Topics can include:
Because this area makes up a large part of the state examination, students should give it substantial attention during review.
The Illinois-specific exam also covers laws and rules affecting real estate practice beyond the main License Act.
Topics may include:
Students should avoid studying only national material because these state-specific subjects can represent a significant part of the exam.
Disclosures make up another major part of the Illinois broker state examination.
Students may need to understand:
Scenario-based questions may require you to determine when a disclosure is required and what responsibility applies.
Yes.
The national and state portions each have their own passing requirement.
A candidate needs to satisfy the passing standard for both required portions.
Passing only the national portion does not mean you have passed the entire licensing examination if the state portion remains unsuccessful.
Likewise, passing the state portion does not replace the national requirement.
Current PSI instructions state that if you fail one portion of the broker examination, you are generally required to repeat only the portion you failed.
For example:
You would retake the state portion.
You would retake the national portion.
Your score report can also provide diagnostic information that helps identify areas where additional study may be useful.
Current PSI rules allow broker candidates up to four attempts to pass the examination during the applicable two-year eligibility period.
If a candidate fails the fourth attempt, the standard Illinois broker candidate is required to retake the 75-hour broker pre-license education before registering again for the examination.
This makes it important to use unsuccessful attempts as diagnostic information.
Rather than immediately retesting without additional preparation, identify the subjects that caused difficulty and review them carefully.
Current Illinois examination guidance states that broker pre-license education is valid for two years after satisfactory completion.
The broker candidate's testing eligibility is therefore tied to that applicable period.
Do not complete your education and then postpone the examination indefinitely.
After completing your broker course:
PSI provides candidates with computer-testing instructions before the examination.
Use this opportunity to become familiar with the interface before the timed exam begins.
Understanding how to:
can help you focus on the examination content rather than the testing software.
Candidates should review the current PSI test-center or online-testing rules before exam day.
Any break policy should be considered carefully because examination timing continues according to PSI's testing rules.
Do not plan your exam strategy around taking long breaks.
Instead:
Always follow the current candidate handbook because testing procedures can change.
The Illinois broker licensing examination is a controlled professional examination.
Candidates should not expect to use personal study notes, textbooks, phones, or unauthorized reference materials during testing.
PSI has security procedures designed to protect examination content.
Before exam day, review current rules concerning:
Following the rules is part of a successful examination experience.
PSI requires candidates to satisfy current identification requirements before being admitted to the examination.
Your identification information should match the information associated with your examination registration.
Before test day:
Do not wait until you arrive at the testing location to discover an identification problem.
The national portion provides 150 minutes for 100 scored items, not including the possibility of additional experimental items.
A practical strategy is:
Answer questions you understand without spending excessive time.
Avoid allowing one difficult item to consume several minutes unnecessarily.
Read math questions carefully and perform the required steps methodically.
If the testing system and remaining time permit, review questions you were uncertain about.
Your objective is to complete the entire examination while maintaining accuracy.
The state-specific portion provides 90 minutes for 40 scored items.
The state exam contains fewer questions, but the material can involve detailed Illinois rules.
Read questions carefully for words such as:
Small wording differences can change the correct answer.
Do not rush simply because the state portion contains fewer questions.
Understanding the structure can improve your study plan.
Know which concepts belong to general real estate practice and which depend on Illinois law.
The content outline shows which subjects are tested and their approximate weight.
Become comfortable answering questions under time limits.
Do not leave real estate math until the last day.
Practice applying rules rather than only memorizing definitions.
Use quizzes and practice exams to identify topics requiring more work.
No.
Practice questions are most useful when they help you understand concepts.
Do not memorize:
"Question 17 = Answer B."
Instead ask:
The licensing exam may test the same concept using very different wording.
After testing, candidates receive examination results according to PSI's current score-reporting procedures.
If you pass both required portions, you can move forward with the remaining steps of the Illinois broker licensing process.
These can include:
Passing the examination is a major milestone, but it does not automatically mean your Illinois broker license has already been issued.
Use this checklist before scheduling your examination:
The Illinois broker examination covers a large amount of material, but the official exam format gives you a useful roadmap.
You know that you need to prepare for:
A structured course and review plan can make these topics easier to organize.
Illinois Broker Academy provides education and learning resources for students preparing for the Illinois real estate licensing process and broker examination.
If you want to see the subjects tested:
If you need a study guide:
Illinois Broker Exam Study Guide
If you want practice questions:
Illinois Broker Exam Questions
If you want a practice exam:
Illinois Real Estate Practice Test
If you need exam preparation guidance:
Prepare for the Illinois Broker Exam
If you recently passed the exam:
The current Illinois broker examination has 100 scored items on the national portion and 40 scored items on the Illinois state portion. PSI may also include a small number of unscored experimental questions.
The current national portion allows 150 minutes, while the Illinois state portion allows 90 minutes. Together, the stated time limits total 240 minutes.
The current passing score is 70% for the national broker portion and 75% for the Illinois state portion.
Yes. The national portion tests general real estate principles and practices, while the state portion focuses on Illinois licensing law, regulations, disclosures, and other state-specific requirements.
Yes. The Illinois broker examination is administered through a computer-based testing system.
PSI may include approximately 5 to 10 experimental questions. These questions are not scored but still count against the available examination time.
No. Experimental items are not identified to candidates. You should therefore answer every examination question carefully.
The current national outline gives substantial weight to contracts, agency, practice of real estate, property ownership, financing, valuation, disclosures, and calculations. Contracts currently represent the largest national broker category at 19%.
The Illinois Real Estate License Act is currently the largest broker state-specific category, accounting for approximately 40% of the state content outline.
Yes. The national content outline includes real estate calculations involving topics such as prorations, closing funds, transfer fees, PITI, equity, loan-to-value ratios, capitalization rates, and loan points.
Current PSI instructions state that candidates generally need to retake only the portion they failed. If you pass the national portion but fail the state portion, you would normally retake the state portion.
You would generally need to retake only the national portion that you failed, subject to the current PSI examination rules and eligibility period.
Current PSI guidance allows standard Illinois broker candidates up to four examination attempts during the two-year eligibility period.
Under current PSI rules, a standard broker candidate who fails the fourth attempt must retake the 75-hour broker pre-license education and the entire examination before continuing.
Study the national and state content outlines, review high-weight topics, practice calculations, complete scenario-based questions, use timed practice sessions, and focus additional study on areas where your practice results are weakest.
Students can use the current PSI Candidate Information Booklet and official content outlines as important preparation references. Those looking for structured broker education and exam preparation can also explore Illinois Broker Academy.