The Illinois Real Estate Broker Exam tests both general real estate knowledge and Illinois-specific laws.
The current examination includes a 100-question scored National portion and a 40-question scored Illinois State portion. Candidates currently receive 150 minutes for the National portion and 90 minutes for the Illinois portion.
Strong preparation means more than rereading your 75-hour course.
You need to identify the topics on the current PSI outline, strengthen weak areas, practice real estate calculations, apply Illinois law to scenarios, complete mixed questions, review mistakes, and become comfortable working under exam time limits.
This guide shows you how to build that preparation process from the first review session through exam day.
A practical preparation process looks like:
Finish Your Pre-License Education
↓
Get the Current PSI Exam Outline
↓
Take a Baseline Practice Test
↓
Identify Weak Topics
↓
Build National and Illinois Study Plans
↓
Practice Real Estate Math
↓
Complete Topic-Specific Questions
↓
Track Mistakes
↓
Move Into Mixed Questions
↓
Take Timed Practice Tests
↓
Review Weak Areas Again
↓
Prepare for Test Day
Do not make your entire strategy:
Read the textbook again from page 1.
Targeted preparation is usually more efficient.
You should understand the examination structure before deciding what to review.
| Exam Portion | Scored Questions | Passing Score | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Broker | 100 | 70% | 150 minutes |
| Illinois State | 40 | 75% | 90 minutes |
PSI may also include approximately:
5 to 10 experimental questions
These questions are not scored, but they are not identified and still use examination time.
Prepare to treat every question seriously.
The Broker examination should not be treated as one undivided test.
Focuses on general real estate principles and practices.
Focuses on Illinois licensing, law, regulation, agency, disclosure, and related state requirements.
A student can understand national real estate concepts well and still struggle with Illinois-specific rules.
The reverse can also happen.
Track the two portions separately.
The current PSI National Broker content outline uses these approximate weights:
| National Topic | 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% |
The weighting tells you where substantial study time may be needed.
Under the current outline:
Contracts = 19%
This makes contracts one of the highest-priority areas for National Broker preparation.
Be comfortable with concepts involving:
Do not study contract terminology without practicing scenarios.
Current National Broker weighting:
13%
Study:
Then separately study how Illinois applies its own agency rules.
Current weighting:
12%
Topics include areas such as:
This area combines legal principles with professional conduct.
Review:
Create comparison tables instead of memorizing each term in isolation.
Study financing vocabulary and how the concepts connect.
Important areas include:
Learn both terminology and application.
Students sometimes spend all their time on the largest categories.
Smaller sections still produce exam questions.
Review:
Appraisal methods, CMA, BPO, value principles.
Transaction math and financial ratios.
Condition, environmental issues, material facts.
Deeds, title, recording, closing.
Government and private controls.
Landlord-tenant and management fundamentals.
A few missed questions across several small categories can add up quickly.
The Illinois State Broker outline currently gives these approximate weights:
| Illinois Topic | Weight |
|---|---|
| Licensing Requirements | 10% |
| Illinois Real Estate License Act | 40% |
| Additional Illinois Laws and Regulations | 25% |
| Disclosures | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
The state portion is heavily concentrated in:
Illinois License Act + Additional Illinois Laws + Disclosures
Together, those areas account for most of the Illinois-specific exam content.
The current state outline gives:
40%
to the Illinois Real Estate License Act category.
Topics include:
This should be one of your strongest study areas.
This category can include:
Because this category combines multiple laws, organize it into smaller groups.
Disclosure is another major state section.
Study:
Before spending several days reviewing everything, find out what you already know.
Take a mixed practice test without:
Record:
Your baseline is not a judgment.
It is a map for your study plan.
Not every mistake has the same cause.
After your baseline test, mark each missed question as:
You did not know the rule.
You knew the concept but misread words such as:
You knew the formula but made a math mistake.
Each type requires a different solution.
Create a simple table.
| Topic | Confidence | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts | Low | Full review |
| Agency | Medium | Scenario practice |
| Financing | Medium | Vocabulary review |
| Calculations | Low | Daily practice |
| Illinois License Act | Low | Focused review |
| Disclosures | Medium | Timing + scenarios |
| Property Ownership | High | Light review |
Do not spend equal time on every topic.
Spend more time where your performance is weakest.
Mark topics:
You frequently miss questions or cannot explain the concept.
You understand the basics but make mistakes in scenarios.
You consistently answer new questions correctly and can explain why.
Your study time should be weighted toward:
Red → Yellow → Green
Do not spend hours rereading green topics simply because they feel comfortable.
Create:
This prevents Illinois-specific rules from becoming mixed with general national concepts.
A strong study cycle is:
Read or watch the topic.
Close the material and explain it from memory.
Answer a question or solve a scenario.
Correct mistakes and update your notes.
Then revisit the topic later.
Passive rereading should not be your only study method.
After studying a topic, close the material and ask yourself questions.
For example:
What is the difference between a client and customer?
What happens when an offer is countered?
What does LTV measure?
How many sponsoring brokers can a Broker have at one time?
When is a no-agency disclosure required?
Trying to retrieve the answer strengthens memory.
After studying a large chapter, reduce it to one page.
For example, your Agency page might contain:
Your Financing page might contain:
The goal is to create material you can review quickly during the final week.
Many exam mistakes occur because two concepts sound similar.
Create comparisons such as:
| Concept A | Concept B |
|---|---|
| Real property | Personal property |
| Joint tenancy | Tenancy in common |
| Void | Voidable |
| Client | Customer |
| CMA | Appraisal |
| Mortgage | Promissory note |
| Designated agency | Dual agency |
| Pre-license | Post-license |
| Active license | Inactive license |
Comparison helps you see the exact distinction.
Knowing:
Dual agency requires consent
is useful.
But an exam question may give you a transaction and ask whether dual agency exists.
Scenario questions require you to identify:
Practice applying rules to facts.
For Illinois scenario questions, ask:
Broker, client, customer, seller, buyer, sponsoring broker?
What is happening?
Which law or professional duty applies?
What should the Broker do?
This simple framework works well for:
Do not memorize agency as disconnected definitions.
Understand the flow:
Consumer Begins Working With Broker
↓
Determine Representation
↓
Create Written Brokerage Relationship Where Applicable
↓
Identify Designated Agent
↓
Provide Required Disclosure
↓
Protect Confidential Information
↓
Handle Offers and Negotiations
↓
Address Dual Agency or Contemporaneous Offers if They Arise
This is fundamental.
Represented by the Broker.
Not represented by that Broker.
Ask yourself in every agency question:
Who is the client?
Then ask:
What duties follow from that relationship?
This prevents many agency mistakes.
Know the major Illinois concepts:
Then practice scenarios.
A common study mistake is remembering:
Agency disclosure
without remembering:
When it must happen.
For each disclosure, note:
For example, build a table for:
Timing can be as important as the disclosure itself.
Instead of memorizing only protected classes, practice questions such as:
Can a seller instruct a Broker to avoid families with children?
Can an advertisement express a preference based on religion?
How should a disability-related assistance-animal request be approached?
Can a lawful income standard be applied inconsistently to a voucher holder?
This makes fair housing knowledge easier to apply.
Do not dedicate one evening to math and then ignore it.
Current National Broker content includes:
Real Estate Calculations — 7%
Practice several short problems repeatedly.
Topics include:
Short daily practice is more useful than avoiding math until exam week.
Your review sheet might include:
\[
LTV =
\frac{\text{Loan Amount}}{\text{Property Value}}
\times100
\]
\[
\text{Equity}
=
\text{Property Value}
-
\text{Debt}
\]
\[
\text{Commission}
=
\text{Sales Price}
\times
\text{Commission Rate}
\]
\[
\text{Cap Rate}
=
\frac{\text{Net Operating Income}}{\text{Property Value}}
\times100
\]
\[
1\text{ point}
=
1\%
\text{ of the loan amount}
\]
Write the formula, then solve practice problems without looking at it.
Property value:
$350,000
Loan:
$280,000
\[
\$280,000 \div \$350,000 = 0.80
\]
LTV:
80%
The objective is not merely knowing the formula.
You should be able to identify which numbers belong in it.
Property value:
$425,000
Mortgage balance:
$275,000
\[
\$425,000-\$275,000
=
\$150,000
\]
Equity:
$150,000
Read the question carefully for any additional liens or obligations before assuming only one debt exists.
Loan amount:
$240,000
Points:
2
One point:
\[
\$240,000 \times 1\%
=
\$2,400
\]
Two points:
\[
\$2,400\times2
=
\$4,800
\]
Answer:
$4,800
Memorize:
not:
"$4,800 was the answer to Question 12."
The actual exam will use different numbers.
Your skill must transfer to a new problem.
Every serious exam-prep plan should include one.
Use:
| Question | Topic | Why I Missed It | Correct Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Agency | Confused client/customer | Client is represented |
| 16 | Contracts | Forgot counteroffer effect | Counteroffer changes original offer |
| 21 | Math | Used sale price instead of loan | Points use loan amount |
| 30 | Illinois | Forgot sponsor rule | One sponsoring broker at a time |
Review this log several times each week.
An error log entry such as:
Question 14 = C
has limited value.
Instead write:
A sponsored Illinois Broker generally performs licensed activity only through the sponsoring broker.
Now you have learned a reusable rule.
A guessed answer that happens to be correct is still a study weakness.
Mark each question:
Confident and understood why.
Selected the correct answer but was uncertain.
Incorrect.
Review:
U + W
not only wrong answers.
Complete questions only about the topic you just studied.
Combine several topics.
Answer questions under time pressure.
Simulate the testing environment.
This progression is more useful than taking full exams before you understand the material.
A poor preparation cycle is:
Take Same Test
↓
Memorize Answers
↓
Retake
↓
Score 100%
That score mostly measures memory of that test.
A stronger cycle is:
Take Test
↓
Analyze Errors
↓
Review Topics
↓
Take Different Questions
↓
Measure Improvement
PSI currently offers practice examinations through its testing platform.
PSI specifically notes that practice examinations are intended to help candidates become familiar with the general types of questions that may appear.
A strong practice score does not guarantee a passing licensing-exam result.
Use practice exams as:
Feedback
not as:
Prediction
You do not need perfect confidence before eliminating an answer.
Suppose four choices are provided.
Ask:
Eliminate it.
Eliminate it.
Examine it carefully.
Choose the best supported answer.
Elimination is especially useful on difficult scenario questions.
Slow down when you see:
BEST
MOST
FIRST
EXCEPT
NOT
MUST
MAY
REQUIRED
These words can completely change the question.
For example:
Which action is required?
is different from:
Which action may be taken?
Underline or mentally emphasize the command word.
If the question says:
The Broker knows about a hidden material defect
do not invent:
Use only the facts given.
Adding imaginary facts can turn a simple question into a confusing one.
When possible:
This reduces the chance of being distracted by plausible-looking incorrect options.
Instead of studying randomly, use clusters.
Ownership + liens + easements + land use + title.
Offers + acceptance + contingencies + breach + termination.
Loans + federal lending rules + calculations.
Clients + customers + duties + disclosures.
Licensing + sponsorship + advertising + compensation + discipline.
Studying connected topics improves context.
Do not study a topic once and consider it finished.
Review it:
Short recall.
Quick review.
Practice questions.
Mixed recall.
Spacing forces your brain to retrieve information after some forgetting has occurred.
If you have about 90 minutes:
Review one content area.
Active recall and notes.
Practice questions.
Real estate math or Illinois law.
Update error log.
This creates a balanced session.
If your schedule is tighter:
Review weak topic.
Practice questions.
Math or Illinois rules.
Error review.
Consistency across multiple days is more useful than waiting for one large block of free time.
Even on a busy day:
Flashcards or recall.
5–10 practice questions.
Review mistakes.
A short session keeps exam material active in memory.
If you have about six weeks, use a gradual plan.
National high-weight topics:
National remaining areas:
Illinois:
If your examination is close, prioritize.
Baseline + contracts.
Agency + property ownership.
Financing + calculations.
Valuation + title + land use.
National mixed practice.
Illinois License Act.
Illinois additional laws.
Illinois disclosures.
Fair housing + sponsorship + advertising.
Full timed practice.
Error review + light final revision.
Avoid trying to learn an entire 75-hour course from scratch in two weeks.
This plan is more appropriate for final review after completing the required education.
Do not attempt to reread everything equally.
Prioritize:
Then use your error log to decide what deserves extra attention.
During the final week:
Less new material
and
More retrieval and application
Use:
Do not spend the final night trying to learn an entire unfamiliar topic from zero unless it is unavoidable.
Full mixed practice test.
Review all missed National topics.
Review Illinois License Act.
Review disclosures + fair housing.
Math + contracts + agency.
Second timed practice + error review.
Light review, logistics, identification, rest.
The exact schedule can be adjusted to your weaknesses.
Practice scores will fluctuate.
A lower score can happen because:
Look at:
Trend + Topic Performance + Error Type
rather than one isolated number.
Ask:
What did this test tell me to study?
The current official passing percentages are:
70%
75%
Do not make your goal:
"I got exactly 70% once, so I am ready."
A stronger sign of preparation is consistent performance across:
with clear understanding of your answers.
The current National Broker portion gives:
150 minutes for 100 scored questions
That averages:
\[
150 \div 100 = 1.5
\]
or approximately:
1 minute 30 seconds per scored question
Some questions will take less time.
Math or scenario questions may take longer.
Do not force yourself to spend exactly the same amount on every question.
The current Illinois State portion gives:
90 minutes for 40 scored questions
That averages:
\[
90 \div 40 = 2.25
\]
or approximately:
2 minutes 15 seconds per scored question
Use extra time for:
but do not let one difficult question consume several minutes unnecessarily.
Answer questions you can solve reasonably quickly.
Return to more difficult questions when the testing system allows review.
This helps protect time.
Do not spend seven minutes fighting with one question while easier questions remain unanswered.
PSI states that approximately:
5 to 10 experimental questions
may appear.
They:
Do not try to identify which questions are experimental.
A strange or difficult question might still be scored.
Answer every question seriously.
The examination is administered by computer.
Before the test:
PSI provides an introductory tutorial before the examination, and the tutorial time does not count against the exam time within the stated tutorial allowance.
Current PSI scheduling allows candidates to choose:
or
when available through the registration system.
Your preparation should include the testing environment, not only course material.
Potential benefits include:
Plan:
PSI currently advises candidates to arrive early, and arriving after the examination start time can invalidate the appointment.
Before choosing remote testing, check:
Current PSI guidance warns that failing to launch within the permitted period can result in loss of the testing fee or eligibility.
Do the system checks before exam day.
Current PSI instructions state:
Breaks are not allowed during remote online proctored examinations.
If you believe you cannot complete the examination without a break, PSI advises against registering for the remote online format.
Factor this into your choice before scheduling.
Do not wait until the morning of the exam.
Check the current PSI identification requirements.
Your registration name should match the required valid government-issued identification.
An identification problem can prevent you from testing and can result in fee forfeiture.
Confirm:
If you need to reschedule, current PSI rules generally require the cancellation notice to be received at least:
2 days before the scheduled examination
to avoid forfeiting the examination fee.
Do:
Avoid:
The final night should be controlled review.
Keep it light.
Useful review:
Avoid studying so aggressively that you arrive mentally exhausted.
Use this order:
What is being asked?
Contracts? Agency? Illinois law?
BEST? EXCEPT? REQUIRED?
Remove clear distractors.
Do not invent missing facts.
Changing an answer can be appropriate if you realize:
Do not change an answer only because:
"The letter C appeared too many times."
Correct answers do not need to form a visible pattern.
Do not panic.
Ask:
Your broader understanding can help even when the wording is unfamiliar.
Current PSI guidance states that if a candidate fails one or more portions of the Broker examination:
Only the failed portion or portions generally need to be repeated.
The score report also includes diagnostic information.
Use that diagnostic report to identify weak areas before immediately scheduling another attempt.
After an unsuccessful attempt:
Review diagnostic results.
Identify weak categories.
Write down what felt difficult.
Study those areas.
Complete new questions.
Retake when performance improves.
The earliest available appointment is not automatically the best retake date.
Current PSI guidance allows standard Broker candidates:
Up to four attempts during the applicable 2-year eligibility period.
Track:
Do not treat attempts as unlimited.
Current PSI guidance states that after failing the fourth attempt, a standard Broker candidate must:
This creates additional:
Use each attempt strategically.
Current Illinois requirements provide that qualifying standard Broker pre-license education is valid for:
2 years after satisfactory completion
Keep track of:
Once you pass:
Current PSI instructions state that the license application and applicable requirements must be completed within:
1 year after receiving the passing examination score
or examination accreditation can be lost.
Older study resources may contain outdated information such as:
Use:
Date-sensitive Illinois law should be checked before memorizing it.
Before scheduling, go through every content-outline category.
For each item mark:
I can explain and apply it.
I understand but need more practice.
I still do not understand it.
PSI itself instructs candidates to use the content outline as a pre-examination review guide and to become familiar with the listed topics before scheduling.
The Illinois portion requires state-specific knowledge.
Real estate calculations remain part of the National outline.
Learn the underlying rules.
Build content knowledge first.
Focus on weak areas.
Verify current rules.
Course completion does not automatically mean exam readiness.
You need strong preparation, not certainty about every possible question.
More resources are not always better.
Using:
can create confusion.
A simpler system is:
Your approved course.
Current PSI outline.
Your notes.
Practice questions and tests.
Error log.
Depth is more useful than constantly changing materials.
Organize:
A single system saves time.
You should not spend your final week looking for notes across multiple devices and notebooks.
Early preparation:
Learn slowly
Middle preparation:
Practice actively
Late preparation:
Perform under time
The progression should look like:
Course Review
↓
Topic Questions
↓
Mixed Questions
↓
Timed Sets
↓
Full Practice Tests
↓
Final Weak-Area Review
This is more effective than using the same study method from beginning to end.
| Date | Topic | Questions | Accuracy | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ___ | Contracts | ___ | ___% | ___ |
| ___ | Agency | ___ | ___% | ___ |
| ___ | Financing | ___ | ___% | ___ |
| ___ | Illinois Law | ___ | ___% | ___ |
| ___ | Disclosures | ___ | ___% | ___ |
| ___ | Math | ___ | ___% | ___ |
After one or two weeks, patterns become visible.
Use those patterns to adjust your study plan.
You are becoming more prepared when you can:
No single practice score proves readiness.
Look at the complete pattern.
Use this sequence:
Learn the concepts.
Create summaries, tables, and formulas.
Retrieve information without looking.
Answer topic questions and scenarios.
Use practice tests to identify weaknesses.
Study errors.
Complete timed tests.
Focus on high-value weaknesses and logistics.
Then take the examination.
If you need the exam structure:
If you need detailed topic coverage:
If you want a structured study guide:
Illinois Broker Exam Study Guide
If you want original practice questions:
Illinois Broker Exam Questions
If you want a full Illinois practice test:
Illinois Real Estate Practice Test
If you want test-taking strategies:
If you are ready to register:
A Broker examination is one licensing milestone.
The concepts you are studying also become part of real professional practice.
Agency affects clients.
Fair housing affects consumers.
Contracts affect transactions.
Disclosure affects risk.
Sponsorship affects how you work.
Use exam preparation to build knowledge you can carry into your first brokerage relationship.
Illinois Broker Academy provides educational resources that connect the licensing course, exam preparation, and the next steps toward Illinois Broker practice.
Begin with the current PSI exam outline, take a baseline practice test, identify weak areas, review National and Illinois topics separately, practice real estate math, complete topic-specific questions, maintain an error log, and gradually move into timed mixed practice tests.
The current Broker examination contains 100 scored National questions and 40 scored Illinois State questions. PSI may also include approximately 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions.
The current National Broker passing score is 70%.
The current Illinois State Broker passing score is 75%.
The current National Broker portion allows 150 minutes.
The current Illinois State Broker portion allows 90 minutes.
The current National outline gives the largest weighting to Contracts at 19%, followed by Agency at 13%, Practice of Real Estate at 12%, and Property Ownership and Financing at 10% each. You should still study all listed categories.
The current Illinois Broker outline assigns 40% to the Illinois Real Estate License Act, 25% to Additional Illinois Laws and Regulations, 25% to Disclosures, and 10% to Licensing Requirements.
Yes. Contracts currently make up approximately 19% of the National Broker content outline, making them the largest single National category.
Yes. Agency appears in both the National portion and the Illinois-specific portion. Illinois also has detailed designated-agency, no-agency, dual-agency, and contemporaneous-offer rules.
Yes. Real Estate Calculations currently account for approximately 7% of the National Broker outline.
Practice seller net proceeds, buyer funds needed at closing, prorations, transfer fees, PITI, equity, capitalization rate, loan-to-value, discount points, and origination fees.
You should know commonly tested formulas, but also understand which numbers belong in each formula and how to apply the calculation in a transaction scenario.
A baseline practice test can be useful because it identifies the topics you already understand and the areas that need the most review.
There is no required number. Use enough different question sets to demonstrate consistent performance and identify weak areas. Avoid repeatedly memorizing the same test.
Yes. Current PSI materials indicate that practice examinations are available through its testing platform. PSI notes that practice exams are for familiarity and do not guarantee success on the licensing examination.
Also review questions you guessed correctly or answered with low confidence. A lucky correct answer can still reveal weak knowledge.
An error log records the questions you miss or find uncertain, the topic involved, why the mistake occurred, and the correct rule or calculation. Reviewing it helps prevent repeated mistakes.
There is no universal number. Your preparation time depends on how well you learned the pre-license material, available study hours, and baseline performance. Two-, four-, and six-week review plans can all work for different candidates.
A two-week intensive review may be practical for someone who already completed the required education and retained the material. It is not a substitute for completing the required pre-license education or learning the entire curriculum from scratch.
Focus on mixed practice questions, your error log, high-weight topics, Illinois law, disclosures, agency, formulas, and weak areas. Reduce the amount of entirely new material.
Light review is reasonable. Avoid an all-night study session. Confirm your identification, appointment, travel or remote-testing setup, and get adequate rest.
The National portion currently provides 150 minutes for 100 scored questions, averaging about 1 minute 30 seconds per scored question. Some questions will take less time and others, particularly calculations, may take longer.
The State portion currently provides 90 minutes for 40 scored questions, averaging approximately 2 minutes 15 seconds per scored question.
Yes. PSI states that approximately 5 to 10 experimental questions may be included. They are not scored, are not identified, and still count against examination time.
No. Experimental questions are not identified, so treat every question as though it may count toward your score.
Current PSI scheduling materials provide both Test Center and Remote Proctored options when available through the registration system.
Current PSI instructions state that breaks are not allowed during remote online proctored examinations.
Choose based on your environment and preferences. Remote testing can eliminate travel but requires compatible technology, reliable internet, and compliance with remote-proctor rules. Test centers provide a dedicated testing environment but require travel.
Current PSI guidance states that candidates generally need to retake only the portion or portions they failed. The score report also provides diagnostic information.
Standard Broker candidates currently have up to four attempts during the applicable two-year eligibility period.
Current PSI rules require a standard Broker candidate who fails the fourth attempt to repeat the 75-hour Broker pre-license education and then retake the entire examination.
The standard qualifying Broker pre-license education is currently valid for two years after satisfactory completion.
Passing the exam does not automatically issue the license. You must follow IDFPR licensing instructions, provide required documentation, arrange sponsorship for active status where applicable, submit the application, and wait for license approval.
Current PSI guidance states that candidates must submit the IDFPR license application and meet licensing requirements within one year after receiving a passing exam score, or the examination accreditation can be lost.
Use the current PSI Illinois Division of Real Estate Candidate Information Booklet and its examination content outlines together with your approved pre-license course and current Illinois licensing materials.