How to Pass the Real Estate Exam in Delaware and What Is Its Passing Score?

If the Delaware real estate salesperson exam is in your future, you should know what you’re up against and how to be optimally prepared.

This article discusses both. So, read on to learn what subject matter you’ll be tested on, how the exam is structured, and how scoring works. Plus, get expert tips for doing your best on test day.

Ready to start your prep for the exam? Let’s get right into the details.

How to Study for the Delaware Real Estate Exam

A prerequisite and preparatory step for taking the exam, Delaware’s pre-licensing course will equip you with knowledge of real estate principles and practices and Delaware real estate law.

So, it benefits you to be a conscientious pre-licensing student who takes notes and routinely reviews them in addition to the coursework.

The curriculum consists of 99 hours of instruction, and you have several choices for studying.

• In-person courses in a physical classroom
• Real-time, instructor-led virtual classes
• Online learning at your preferred pace

Make sure the option you pick is the best method for you. Comparing the pros and cons of online real estate classes vs. classroom courses will help you with that.

Working with a study partner or group can also enhance your efforts. It can boost your focus, help keep you accountable, and strengthen your understanding of the material.

An exam prep course is another way to solidify your learning and prepare for the real estate exam difficulty level, format, and timing.

These courses are readily available online and explicitly designed for the Delaware exam.

Among the study aids is the opportunity to take an initial assessment to see where you stand. You can then study individual lessons to master topics you need to work on.

You also get access to dynamic practice exams, which simulate the real thing.

For all your study efforts, consider putting the following tips to use to enhance the results:

• No cramming; space out your study sessions instead.
• Do short sessions with breaks to stave off mental fatigue.
• Mix topics within a single session to improve retention.
• Choose a study spot that is conducive to productivity.
• Prioritize and schedule what you need to get done.

What to Study for the Delaware Real Estate Exam

One of the most helpful things to know as you make your study plan is where to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam.

For the Delaware test, the Candidate Handbook is a top-notch resource to use as a guide. You get this booklet from the assessment service provider administering the exam, Pearson VUE.

Since the test developer publishes this handbook, it contains information on the most current salesperson licensing exam.

That information is also quite detailed. You’ll find descriptive outlines of the content areas covered and the number of questions for each topic.

The outline for the general portion of the test, which focuses on real estate principles applicable nationwide, indicates that more than 60 percent of your score comes from four areas:

• Contracts and Agency (16 questions)
• Real Estate Practice (14 questions)
• Property Value and Appraisal (11 questions)
• Real Property Characteristics (9 questions)

You’ll further benefit by giving attention to forms of ownership, property disclosures, and financing and settlement. These topics account for an additional 30 percent of available points.

The state section concentrates on Delaware laws, rules, and regulations, covering commission duties, licensing requirements, statutes governing licensee activities, and additional state topics.

The latter two subjects make up more than 80 percent of the score for this part of the exam.

7 Tips for Passing the Delaware Real Estate Exam

Test-taking requires a day of strategy in addition to preparation. The following tips can help you navigate the test once you’re in the room.

1. Skip difficult questions.

If you spend too much time on difficult questions, you risk running out of time and missing points for easy questions you didn’t get to. Answer them first. Then, go back to the ones you skipped.

2. Avoid blind guesses.

Instead of taking a stab in the dark, eliminate answers. Strike choices that are obviously wrong, partially correct, or correct but don’t answer the question.

3. Watch for clues.

When the answer eludes you, look for keywords or phrases in the question that may help you pick the correct answer. Also, look at the context of the question to find the answer that best fits.

4. Benchmark the answer.

Mentally mark the answer you think is correct as you step through the choices. Then, use it as a standard by which you compare the others. When done comparing, you’ll have your answer.

5. Leave no question unanswered.

You won’t be penalized if you answer incorrectly or get any points if you leave answers blank. So, give all questions a try.

6. Focus on what matters.

Stay focused on applying your knowledge in answering the questions. Paying attention to patterns in answers and using rules of thumb for picking answers will not help you pass the test.

7. Use all the allotted time if you need it.

Don’t be distracted or concerned if others finish ahead of you. There are no bonus points for finishing early. So, don’t rush. Pace yourself and use any time at the end to check your work.

Pearson VUE charges $85 to take the exam. You pay this fee when you register for the test.

As an applicant for an initial license, you must also cover the cost of the required pre-licensing education before you can sit for the exam.

Look to pay $550 to $850 for the 99-hour course. If you also enroll in an exam prep course, budget for an additional $130 to $200.

We break down all the expenses you need to know when acquiring your license in the state in our article on the topic — How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware?

What Is the Pass Rate for the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

It’s said that the Delaware real estate salesperson exam is difficult. It has a reported pass rate of 62 to 72 percent, which is not overly intimidating, but it does signal a degree of rigor.

You’ll find that some Delaware real estate schools boast an even higher pass rate for their students. Those rates can top 90 percent, and many of the schools guarantee a passing score.

Ultimately, how many people pass the real estate exam on the first try is impacted by their level of preparedness. The exam is a knowledge test and you must effectively study to pass it.

How Many Questions Are on the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

You have 120 scored questions to answer when taking the real estate exam.

The test’s general (national) portion has the most questions, 80 to be exact. The Delaware section consists of 40 items. All the questions are multiple-choice.

Both portions also include pretest or pilot questions. These are not included for scoring purposes but provide test developers with helpful information.

Pearson VUE evaluates the statistics gathered on the quality and relative difficulty of these questions before using them as active items on an exam.

The five pilot questions on the national portion and the ten on the state section are randomly mixed in with the scored items. So, be sure to answer every question presented for each part.

How Many Math Questions Are on the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

Seven questions in the national portion require you to perform mathematical calculations. They cover the following areas:

• Property Management Calculations
• Loan Financing Costs
• Investment
• Property Valuation
• Settlement and Closing Costs
• Property Area Calculations
• Commission/Compensation

What Score Do You Need to Pass the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

Delaware’s real estate exam results are calculated as a scaled score ranging from 0 to 100. That score does not represent the number or percentage of questions answered correctly.

Instead, it’s a raw score adjusted by a statistical process known as equating, which corrects for variations in difficulty between different versions of the exam.

So, there is no unfair advantage or disadvantage, regardless of the questions on your exam form. The passing score for all exam forms is 70 on each section.

How Many Times Can You Fail and Retake the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

You have one year after completing the pre-licensing course to pass the exam and apply for your license.

During that period, you can take the test up to three times. If you get a passing score on one portion but not the other, you only have to repeat the section you still need to pass.

If you do not test successfully in three or fewer attempts, you must retake the ninety-nine hours of pre-licensing education.

How Long Do You Have to Wait to Retake the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

Pearson VUE reports a given day’s test scores to the Delaware Real Estate Commission. So, there’s a minimum wait time of 24 hours between failing the exam and being allowed to schedule a retake.

After that, you can book the first time slot that works for your schedule, starting with available appointments the next day.

Refer to our article on how long it takes to get a Delaware real estate license for the timeline involved in completing the licensing process in the state.

Do You Have to Pay to Retake the Delaware Real Estate Exam?

The Pearson VUE exam fee is $85 each time you take one or both parts of the test.

Avoid retakes by reading our article on how to pass the real estate exam the first time.

Now that you have the facts about the exam, you can prepare well and increase your chances of getting a passing score on your first try.

You can also get full details on the requirements in getting a Delaware real estate license and the background check for a Delaware real estate license in our comprehensive guides on these topics.

Note that as part of your application, you will be required to get sponsored by a Delaware real estate brokerage firm.

Read our guide on how to choose the right real estate brokerage to work for when on the lookout for a real estate company that aligns with your career goals.

Additionally, reference our other expert articles for information on how you can jumpstart your career as a Delaware real estate agent:

• Pros and cons of being a real estate agent
• What to do after passing the real estate exam
• Joining a real estate team

To help you build and grow your real estate career quickly, we at Real Estate Bees created a directory for real estate professionals.

It’s designed to help you get more exposure for your business, including receiving leads. Create a free profile by signing up here.

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About the Author

Kristina Morales is both a licensed mortgage loan originator and real estate agent in the State of Ohio. Inspired by her years of working with buyers and sellers and seeing a need for more consumer education, Kristina created loanfully.com, an online educational resource for borrowers and industry professionals. In addition to real estate sales and mortgage lending, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking, treasury, and corporate finance. She ended her corporate career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX. Kristina obtained her MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and her B.A in Business Management from Ursuline College.