How Hard Is the Arkansas Real Estate Exam and How to Pass It the First Time?

You undoubtedly want to pass your real estate exam with flying colors and in one try. You can, as long as you’re properly prepared. Reading this article is an excellent start.

We’ve outlined essential details about the salesperson exam and provided tips and techniques for studying effectively and taking the test.

So, wonder no more about what the Arkansas real estate exam will be like or what it takes to pass it. Here’s everything you need to know.

How to Study for the Arkansas Real Estate Exam

Sixty hours of pre-licensing education is required for applicants to become licensed real estate agents in Arkansas.

I recommend getting the most out of your courses to fully prepare yourself for the exam.

The course provides you with the knowledge you need to practice real estate, and that’s what you’ll be tested on.

An exam prep course can also be a helpful study tool. You’ll find versions that focus on just the national or state portion or content for both.

It also offers practice tests that mimic the exam. You get a baseline of what you know so you can customize your study plan.

Plus, you gain insight into the real estate exam difficulty level and structure.

Like the pre-licensing course, exam prep options are available in a classroom setting or online.

Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of online real estate classes vs. classroom courses before choosing the most suitable format for you.

Once you’ve set your mind on the right course to take, pick an accredited provider offering the best real estate classes in Arkansas that fit your schedule.

Something else to consider is joining an in-person or virtual study group, or pairing up with a study buddy.

Both offer the opportunity to gain clarity on content, fill in knowledge gaps, and break the monotony of studying alone.

Also, here are more tips to boost your chances of passing the real estate exam the first time.

• Have a consistent study routine.
• Create a distraction-free study space.
• Keep study sessions short.
• Divide content into digestible chunks.
• Avoid cram sessions at all costs.

You might also want to check out my article for some useful pointers on properly studying for the real estate exam.

What to Study for the Arkansas Real Estate Exam

As you prepare to study, you may be wondering where to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam. A couple of resources can be helpful in that regard.

Your pre-licensing course materials can help you hone your study focus. Look back at the course curriculum and use it as a guide.

You can also use any content summaries you have to refresh your memory of the material.

You’ll also want to carefully read through the Candidate Handbook provided by the independent testing company, Pearson VUE.

This reference guide is based on the current exam and contains detailed content outlines for both the national and state portions.

You’ll see what topics and subtopics are covered and how many exam questions you can expect for each one.

Here is a high-level list of the content areas:

• Real property characteristics
• Property value and appraisal
• Contracts and agency
• Real estate practice
• Financing and settlement
• Forms of ownership and title transfer
• Disclosures and environmental issues
• Arkansas laws, rules, and regulations

Another area you’ll want to spend study time on is real estate terminology (flashcards can help).

Once you’ve mastered key vocabulary words, you’ll have a better context for answering exam questions.

7 Tips for Passing the Arkansas Real Estate Exam

You’ve prepared the best you can, and test day has arrived. What can you do when taking the real estate exam to help you get a passing score?

1. Answer what you know first

Rather than answer the questions in order, do a first pass of the exam and skip the tough ones. That way, you won’t get stuck.

You’ll make progress and build momentum instead by answering the questions you know. Then, circle back to the others.

Sometimes this can help as a future question might prompt a prior answer.

2. Don’t overthink the questions

It’s not hard to get caught up in “what ifs” on exams like this. Your best approach is to take each question at face value. Answer what it asks, and don’t read more into it.

3. Read the questions word for word

Don’t skim. Missing one word like “not” or “except” can lead you to the wrong answer.

Read the entire question. Then look at the answers. Read them carefully, too, and don’t select an answer until you’ve read all the choices.

4. Don’t second-guess yourself

Once you’ve answered a question, refrain from changing it unless you’re confident the answer is incorrect. And even then, be sure that you have a good idea of what the correct answer is.

5. Hone in on key terms in a question to get unstuck

If you don’t know an answer, look for real estate vocabulary words in the question. That can help you put the question in context and work your way to the right answer.

6. Guess rather than leave a question unanswered

You’re only penalized for guessing if your answer is incorrect. If you don’t answer a question, it’s automatically scored as wrong.

Make your best guess by excluding the answers you know are false. Narrow it down to two answers, and you’ve got a 50-50 chance of being right.

7. Review everything a final time before you submit your answers

Go back over the entire exam to ensure that you haven’t misread any questions or answers.

Make sure to double-check your math calculations and whether you picked the responses you intended.

There is a $75 fee to register for the exam. Plus, you should add in costs associated with fulfilling the requirements that qualify you to take the test.

The price tag for your pre-licensing education will vary based on the delivery format and the extras that you include, such as exam prep. An approximate range is $350-$450.

You’ll also need to pay the Commission $86.25 to cover the costs of Arkansas and FBI criminal background checks ($22 and $14.25) and an application fee ($50).

Know the complete breakdown of licensing expenses in the state by referring to our article on how much a real estate license in Arkansas costs.

Should a past criminal charge puts your eligibility to get licensed in question, read our tips for applying for an Arkansas real estate license with criminal record.

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

One of the main things you’re likely interested in about being licensed in Arkansas is how many people pass the real estate exam the first time they take it.

According to exam prep providers, almost 50 percent of applicants fail. You can therefore see that the real estate salesperson exam is relatively difficult.

Don’t be discouraged, though. It’s not impossible to pass it.

How Many Questions Are on the Arkansas Real Estate Exam?

Candidates taking the real estate exam have four hours to answer 125 questions. Of that total, 15 are unscored pretest questions.

These are “trial” items that the Commission is vetting for quality and difficulty before using them as scored questions on future exams.

Your performance on the exam is based solely on the 110 questions that are scored.

• Eighty of the 85 questions in the national portion are scored.
• The state section has 30 scored and 10 unscored questions.

The pretest questions are dispersed throughout each portion, and you won’t be able to discern which ones they are. So, do your best when answering every question on the exam.

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

The national portion of the exam has seven questions that involve mathematical calculations.

These questions cover the following areas: property measurements, financing, closing, commissions, investment, property management, and property valuation.

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

The minimum passing score is 70 on each portion of the exam. To clarify, that doesn’t mean you need to answer that number or percentage of questions correctly. Instead, your score is scaled.

What that means is your raw score, such as the number of correct answers, is statistically adjusted for variations in question difficulty.

That matters because there are multiple versions of the exam. Each is based on the same content outline, but the questions are different.

Scaling ensures that you are not unfairly benefited or disadvantaged based on the version you take.

You’ll get your real estate exam results at the end of the test. It shows “pass” or “fail.” If you fail, you’ll see your numeric score and an analysis of how you did on the national section.

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

Your Certificate of Eligibility gives you a one-year timeframe for passing the real estate exam. There’s no limit on the number of attempts you can make during that time. Every try costs $75.

Note that if you pass one section at any time during the year, you’ll get six months to retake the part you failed. If you don’t pass by then, you’ll have to take both portions all over again.

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

There’s a mandatory 24-hour wait time before you can make a reservation for a reexamination. After that, you’re free to take the first available appointment.

To know the estimated timeline of all the other steps in the licensing process, read – How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Arkansas?

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

Every retake requires payment of the $75 examination fee.

After passing the real estate exam, you will need to complete all the requirements for getting your real estate license in Arkansas.

You will have to find a sponsoring broker to activate your license. Learn how to choose the right sponsoring broker who can help you lay a good foundation for your real estate career.

Narrow down your search by picking from our directory of the best real estate brokerages in Arkansas.

Once you’ve joined the ranks of licensed real estate agents, you need to take steps to set yourself up for future success.

One of our experts covers what to do after you get your real estate license in an easy-to-follow article that will help you hit the ground running.

You might also want to read the pros and cons of being a real estate agent to be prepared for what’s to come when working as a realtor.

Another important thing to keep in mind is becoming a part of a real estate team to get started on the right networking strategies from experienced real estate professionals.

This will help you develop the right marketing techniques to put your real estate business on the right track.

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 a REALTOR® with over 20 years of professional experience. She actively practices real estate in Ohio but also has practiced real estate in California and Texas. Conducting her real estate business in three states has allowed her to gain unique experiences that make her a well-rounded realtor. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and her MBA with a concentration in Banking and Finance. Prior to real estate, Kristina had an extensive corporate career in banking and treasury. She ended her finance career as an Assistant Treasurer at a publicly traded oil & gas company in Houston, TX.