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

As you think about taking the SC real estate exam, the difficulty level of the test is likely top of mind, along with unanswered questions about how to best prepare.

This article sheds light on both of those areas. We provide particulars on the exam’s content and format, share actionable study strategies, and offer time-tested exam-day advice.

So, explore the details below to learn how to tip the scales in your favor for becoming a real estate salesperson in The Palmetto State.

How to Study for the South Carolina Real Estate Exam

The state-mandated pre-licensing curriculum provides the knowledge you need to get your license, making it an integral part of your study plan.

You can take the two South Carolina Real Estate Commission-approved courses that comprise the requisite 90 hours at a brick-and-mortar real estate school or through an internet-based education provider.

Those seeking the structure, routine, and interaction of classroom learning can pick from a couple of formats:

• Face-to-face classes in a conventional classroom
• Instructor-led courses offered via a live-streaming platform

You also have the option to complete the coursework entirely online, giving you the flexibility to set your study schedule. Both online providers and traditional schools offer this choice.

Make sure to compare the pros and cons of real estate courses online vs classroom to be able to select the best format that suits your learning style.

You should also consider supplementing the 90 hours of education with an exam prep course. Online options are plentiful, and many are offered as part of a pre-licensing package.

Because prep courses are tailored to the exam content and come with practice tests and assessment tools, you can get a leg up on how to pass the SC real estate exam the first time.

Practice exams can particularly help you apply what you’ve learned and get comfortable with question wording and the exam’s time limit. So, plan to use mock tests as a study tool.

You can also benefit from putting other proven study strategies into practice. Here are five things that you can do:

• Set a consistent study schedule and plan each session.
• Routinely review material as soon after class as possible.
• Keep carefully organized notes and include them in reviews.
• Do study sprints rather than marathons to avoid burnout.
• Have a study buddy or participate in a regular study group.

What to Study for the South Carolina Real Estate Exam

The exam covers various content areas, and you’ll see more questions on some topics than others. So, to have the best chance of passing the test, you must study accordingly.

To do that, you have to know where to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam.

There’s an excellent resource for that. The testing company PSI Services publishes an exam booklet called the Candidate Information Bulletin.

This publication provides a wealth of details about the test, including a description of the exam, a list of the topics covered in each portion, and the distribution of questions per topic.

According to that information, there are ten subject areas where you should focus your studies for the national part of the test and five topics to brush up on for the state section.

As for allocating study time, consider that more than two-thirds of the national questions focus on the following six subjects:

• Contracts (17%)
• Agency Principles (13%)
• Real Estate Practice (13%)
• Financing and Lending (10%)
• Property Ownership (8%)
• Title Transfer (8%)

The state portion that tests your knowledge of SC Real Estate Commission rules and real estate laws is heavily weighted toward statutes governing licensees and agency relationships.

Those two areas account for 55 percent of your score on that part of the exam. The remainder comes from questions on licensing requirements, additional SC statutes, and closing details.

7 Tips for Passing the South Carolina Real Estate Exam

You’ve made it through weeks of preparation, and exam day arrives. What can you do to help ensure your performance is solid and you leave the test center with a passing score report?

Here are some tips:

1. Fuel your brain.

Eating nutritious food on exam day boosts your mental clarity and energy. Also, listen to music or do a word puzzle beforehand to avoid going into the exam cold.

2. Mind your posture.

Slouching can cause poor circulation and lead to muscle tension. So, maintain a comfortable posture with your back straight. It will help you to stay alert and focused.

3. Use your time wisely.

When you fixate on a question you can’t quickly answer, it wastes time and creates anxiety. Move on and return to items that give you pause after you’ve responded to the easy ones.

4. Rule out wrong answers.

You can likely eliminate one to two choices as the wrong ones. Accordingly, exclude what you can to make it more likely you’ll pick the correct answer for a given question.

5. Analyze the question before you answer.

Read every word to avoid missing a keyword or clue. Think about what the question is asking. And if it’s lengthy or complex, break it down into parts to simplify it.

6. Don’t sneak a peek at the choices.

Try to come up with the answer before you read the choices. That will help you exclude those that are similar to the correct one. Once you have an answer in mind, then read all the options.

7. Answer every question, even if you guess.

Leaving something blank gets you zero points. Therefore, take a chance and make an educated guess. Avoid answers that seem out of context. And narrow the choices as best you can.

Additionally, read these tips on how to study for the real estate exam.

You’ll incur several costs associated with the salesperson exam.

One is for pre-licensing education taken at any of the accredited real estate schools in South Carolina, a prerequisite for taking the test.

While you only have to complete the 60-hour pre-licensing course before the exam, you can save money by purchasing it and the 30-hour advanced practices course together.

That education investment is around $500, on average.

You must also submit a salesperson examination application and receive an eligibility letter before you’re allowed to register for the test. The application fee is $25.

Additionally, if you elect to take an exam prep course, add $80 to $100 to cover that.

As for a direct expense, you’ll pay $63 to the test administrator to reserve a time slot at one of the designated SC real estate exam locations:

• Columbia
• Charleston
• Hilton Head/Beaufort
• Myrtle Beach
• Spartanburg/Greenville

What Is the SC Real Estate Exam Pass Rate?

State-specific data reported by education providers on how many people pass the real estate exam the first time show that it’s not uncommon for people to fail the SC test.

According to those reports, the average pass rate for the national portion is 56 percent. Even fewer test-takers, 47 percent, pass the state section on their initial attempt.

All real estate licensing exams are designed to be challenging to ensure you have the knowledge and skills to carry out the duties of a licensee competently.

However, some exams are harder than others. With about half of first-time applicants being repeat examinees, the SC real estate salesperson exam appears to be one of the tougher ones.

How Many Questions Are on the SC Real Estate Exam?

Applicants who want to become South Carolina real estate agents have 120 scored questions to answer. All the items are multiple-choice.

There are 80 general knowledge questions (national portion) and 40 that focus specifically on real estate license laws for the state of South Carolina.

You may also see 5-10 pretest items, also referred to as pilot or beta questions. They do not count toward your score or against the time allotted for taking the real estate exam.

Test developers include these questions to gather quality, fairness, and difficulty statistics. The items that pass the screening go into the pool for use as scored questions on future tests.

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

Eight of the 80 questions that comprise the national portion of the exam are math-related.

These questions cover basic real estate math concepts like equity and down payments and test your ability to apply formulas frequently used in property transactions.

Examples include commission calculations, transfer fee calculations, mortgage payments, and interest and tax prorations.

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

The minimum passing score for the SC real estate exam equates to the following number of correct answers per exam section.

• 56 (of 80) national questions
• 28 (of 40) state questions

In other words, the passing grade for each test portion is 70 percent or higher.

If you pass, you will immediately receive a successful test notification on the computer screen.

You’ll get an unsuccessful notification if you fail one or both portions. Your real estate exam results will also include a report on the strengths and weaknesses of your performance.

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

The good news is that the South Carolina exam doesn’t have a maximum number of tries. There is a time limit, though.

Exam eligibility is valid for one year. So, you must pass both portions of the test within that period. If you don’t meet that deadline, you have to reapply before making another attempt.

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

You’ll have to wait until at least the day after you fail the exam to schedule a retake. That gives the test administrator time to report scores for that day to the South Carolina Real Estate Commission.

Following that, you can retest as soon as you can get a time slot. However, we suggest pausing to review the diagnostic report you received with exam results before booking an appointment.

Look at how you fared. Also, given what you now know, do you feel you’re ready for an immediate retake? Or is the SC real estate exam too hard to pass without additional study time?

Your answer will determine how far out you should schedule your retest reservation.

Do You Have to Pay to Retake the South Carolina Real Estate Exam?

Every attempt to pass the exam comes with a registration fee. The amount you’ll pay depends on whether you failed one part or the entire exam.

The cost to apply for one portion of the exam is $55. If you must retake both, the fee is $63.

Even though the SC salesperson exam is rigorous, you can pass it with proper preparation. Use the information in this guide as part of your roadmap to ace the test on your first try.

You can also fill in any information gaps you may have about the process by reading our post on all the requirements for getting a South Carolina real estate license.

One such requirement is to be supervised by a licensed broker to be able to complete your license application.

You can choose one from our directory of the best real estate brokerages in South Carolina. Review our guide on how to pick a broker to work for before making your choice.

We also cover the cost of a real estate license in South Carolina and how long it takes to get a South Carolina real estate license in other expert articles.

Should you need to know if you can get licensed with a past conviction, refer to our guide on getting a South Carolina real estate license with violations on your record.

As you wait for your license application to get approved, you can equip yourself with the following useful information designed to help you build a successful real estate career:

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

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to build your brand and gain marketing exposure as a licensed South Carolina real estate salesperson.

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.