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

Passing the real estate exam in Washington is possible with the right tools. Studying hard, knowing what to expect from the test, and making sure you complete all the educational requirements helps.

To get all the details around the Washington real estate exam and how to fully prepare, we’ve collected everything you need to know right here.

Keep reading to learn more on how to get the real estate exam results you want to earn your real estate license and become a real estate agent in the state of Washington.

How to Study for the Washington Real Estate Exam

The best way to study for the Washington real estate exam is to complete the required pre-licensing education.

In Washington, that means taking 90 hours of approved real estate education in two specific subjects.

Education must include 60 hours in Real Estate Fundamentals and 30 hours in Real Estate Practices.

You can choose from the top-rated real estate schools in Washington that offer these courses to select a schedule that works best for you.

Opportunities to complete this coursework are available both in person and online to accommodate all schedules and types of learners.

Both options have positives and negatives, so it’s best to look at how each would fit into your schedule to decide the format that’s best for you.

Learn more from our comparison of real estate online classes vs classroom courses.

The biggest plus for attending classes in person is that it’s easier to network with peers and real estate experts because you’re physically together on a regular basis.

For studying, it’s easier to establish study groups which can prove a useful way to review.

You’re also working from a consistent schedule, with classes happening at the same time each day, making things more predictable.

Online courses provide a huge amount of flexibility, allowing you to maintain your regular schedule and work on your lessons when it’s most convenient for you.

This often allows those studying for a real estate license to complete the pre-license coursework faster since they’re working at their own pace.

It may also feel less distracting to not have others learning around you, enabling you to take stronger notes for future studying.

What to Study for the Washington Real Estate Exam

While there’s an established set of approved real estate education courses to take in Washington, the best place to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam is the AMP Candidate Handbook.

The exam itself covers the same subjects taught in the pre-licensing courses, so the best place to start when studying is the content covered there.

If you want to focus your review, the specific topics covered on the Washington real estate exam include:

• Property Ownership
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuation and Market Analysis
• Financing
• General Principles of Agency
• Contracts
• Learning and Property managers
• Transfer of Title
• Practice of Real Estate
• Washington Real Estate Law

You’ll also have to complete 10 real estate calculations.

7 Tips for Passing the Washington Real Estate Exam

Passing the real estate exam in Washington begins with the right preparation and goes through how you take the test itself.

These tips can help make the whole process more efficient and turn exam day into a less stressful experience.

Tip 1: Memorize

The information you need to know for your real estate exam is extensive, and memorizing helps a lot.

Pay close attention to your pre-licensing courses, take strong notes on the facts, especially in regard to laws, and make flashcards to help make memorization easier.

Tip 2: Pay Attention in Class

Since the exam covers all the same subjects you studied in your pre-licensing course, one way to fully prepare for the exam is to pay attention in class.

Don’t assume anything being covered isn’t necessary to know. It can all show up in the exam.

Tip 3: Create Outlines

To make sure you don’t miss any essential information, create outlines of each course you take as you complete them.

This allows you to act while the information is still fresh, and gives you a concise study guide to review over and over in preparation for the exam.

Tip 4: Rely on Existing Study Materials

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when studying for the Washington real estate exam. The material doesn’t often change as far as topics go, so there are plenty of good study materials already out there.

Take advantage of things like exam prep materials or practice tests. They’ll help you gauge where you need to put more time in studying and what information you already know well.

Practice tests also help you get used to the rhythm of the exam, so you can ensure you complete it in time.

Tip 5: Join a Study Group

Since there’s so much information to cover when studying for the Washington real estate exam, it can help you stay focused if you study with a buddy or in a group.

It can help keep you motivated to have others going through the same strenuous process working with you, as well as give you a ready partner to quiz you on your flashcards.

Tip 6: Take Care of Yourself

This is especially true the night before the test, when you need to get plenty of sleep and remember to eat.

Knowing all the information to pass the test is essential, but your brain will struggle to remember if it’s dealing with exhaustion and hunger pains during the test.

Make sure you get a full eight hours of sleep the night before the exam, and eat a solid dinner before bed.

Then, have a substantial breakfast when you wake up in the morning, and maybe even a snack on your way into the exam site.

Tip 7: Test Smart on Exam Day

Once the test is in front of you, and the clock starts ticking, it’s easy to let stress get the best of you. Stay calm, and use these strategies to approach how you take the test:

• Answer the easiest questions first.
• Never pick an answer you’ve never heard of.
• Save the questions you don’t know the answer to for last.
• Read through all answers to a question before picking one.
• Eliminate obvious wrong answers within a question you don’t know to give yourself fewer choices.

Our article, How to Pass the Real Estate Exam the First Time, provides additional tips to properly prepare yourself before taking the test.

The fee for taking the Washington real estate exam is $210. To register for the exam, visit schedule.psiexams.com or call PSI at 855-746-8168.

This isn’t the only expense to earning your Washington real estate license. You’ll also have to pay $223 to apply for your license.

Additional costs will come from the charges related to obtaining your fingerprints, which is a requirement. Know how the process is done by reading our article on passing a background check for a Washington real estate license.

You will also have to budget for the cost of taking the pre-licensing courses. This expense varies based on where you complete those hours.

For all costs associated with getting your real estate license in Washington State, refer to our article – How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Washington?

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

Those taking the real estate salesperson exam in Washington have a good chance of passing the exam on their initial attempt.

The real estate exam results note a high pass rate for both sections, although more people pass the state portion within their first attempt than the national section.

The pass rate in Washington shows that the real estate exam difficulty level may not be that high, since:

• 71% pass the national portion on the first attempt.
• 78% pass the state portion on the first attempt.

How Many Questions Are on the Washington Real Estate Exam?

Taking the real estate exam in Washington means you’ll have to answer 140 questions in total. The questions are broken into two types, national ones and those specific to the state.

You’ll have 3.5 hours to complete the entire test, and all questions are mixed together.

In total, there are 100 national questions and 30 dealing with Washington real estate law. All questions are multiple choice.

There are also 10 “pretest questions,” five for each section. These are only included for analysis, however you won’t know which questions are considered ‘pretest.’

So, it’s important to answer every question like it’s being counted toward your final score.

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

There are a total of 10 math questions on the Washington real estate exam, mixed into the total 140 questions that make up the entire test.

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

A minimum scaled score of 70 is required to pass the real estate exam and join the ranks of licensed real estate agents in Washington.

This score is created using the Angoff method where each question’s level of difficulty is estimated and factored into calculations to get the scaled score.

It’s not the same as calculating a percentage of right/wrong responses that you see in most tests.

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

You’re able to retake one or both parts of the Washington real estate exam as many times as you need to until you earn a passing score.

However, you have to pay a fee for each attempt, and you only have six months to pass the exam if you’re only retaking one section, before you have to start all over and pass both again.

You also only have until your educational credits expire to keep taking the exam before you have to retake the pre-licensing courses.

Your education is good for two years from the date you complete your oldest course.

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

You must wait 24 hours after receiving a failing grade on the Washington real estate exam before scheduling a retest.

However, once you surpass that time restriction, you can take the test on the next available day.

To know the estimated timeline for completing all the other steps in the licensing process, read our guide on how long to get a real estate license in Washington.

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

You must pay to take the Washington real estate exam each time you take it. Whether it’s your first attempt, or a retest, the fee is the same — $138.25.

The registration process is also the same, so you’ll need to go through PSI to schedule an exam.

Along with taking the exam, you will need to accomplish all the requirements to apply for a Washington State real estate license, including selecting a broker to sponsor you.

Choosing the right real estate brokerage to work for is a must for any new agent, so you must carefully weigh the pros and cons of each type of brokerage.

You can then check our database of the top real estate brokerage firms in Washington to pick the right broker to sponsor you.

After taking the exam and getting a passing rate, you will be issued your Washington State real estate license.

To know the variety of career opportunities that await you as a real estate agent, read our guide – I Just Got My Real Estate License, Now What?

As a newbie real estate agent, take note that joining a real estate team can help immensely as you build your real estate practice in Washington State.

Moreover, know the pros and cons of being a real estate agent to be prepared for the commitment involved when working as a realtor.

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.