How Hard Is the Montana Real Estate Exam and How to Pass It the First Time?
This post is your guide to learning what the Montana real estate salesperson exam is like, how it works, and how to prepare to ace it.
We give you details on the exam’s structure and content. In addition, we share research-proven study strategies and tried-and-true techniques for successful test taking.
So, keep reading for resourceful information and actionable tips.
Best Way to Pass the Montana Real Estate Exam
How to Study for the Montana Real Estate Exam
The first step in your study plan is completing the pre-licensing course. It helps you develop the competencies for practicing real estate. You’ll apply that knowledge when taking the exam.
The required course is 70 hours, and you can study at a traditional or online real estate school. The Board of Realty Regulation lists the schools offering real estate classes in Montana that satisfy this requirement.
Some of these providers offer options for classroom learning, such as the following:
- Face-to-face classes scheduled at an allotted time
- Instructor-led virtual classes that meet in real time
You can also learn at your preferred pace, accessing online lessons on demand versus having a set class time.
Pick the best method of instruction by reading our article discussing “Is it better to take real estate classes online or in person?” Choosing the most suitable format will help you learn and absorb the lessons better.
You should also consider an exam prep course in addition to taking pre-licensing education.
Providers tailor prep courses to the content on the licensing test. They also use interactive tools that help you learn and adaptive technology that lets you create a personalized study plan.
For example, digital flashcards help you master the vocabulary and key concepts. You can use progress tests to shed light on what you know and the real estate exam difficulty level.
Plus, you’ll have the option of creating custom exams on the fly to hone your knowledge of challenging topics.
You can also take other actions like those listed below to prepare for a successful exam day.
- Create a timetable with consistent blocks of study time.
- Study in short, frequent bursts to maximize focus.
- Decide what you want to accomplish in each session.
- Have a go-to study spot that inspires productivity.
- Test yourself periodically rather than wait until the end.
Survey of Experts
Did you take your pre-licensing real estate course online or in person?
Do you think taking a real estate pre-licensing course online can save students time compared to in-person courses?
What is the name of the school where you completed your pre-licensing course?
Expert Insight
Do you see any advantages of taking an online course over the in-person class?
I am personally a huge advocate for the in-person class.
I was somewhat surprised at the amount of information that we needed to retain and I felt it vital to have access to the Instructor and his wealth of knowledge before and after class. It was also easy to stay invested in the instruction since we were face to face.
That being said, in-person instruction may not be for everyone. There are advantages to the online course in terms of saving time and money.
If you are taking the class in the luxury of your own home or town, you reduce the travel time, save money on meals and entertainment as well as get a good night’s rest in the comfort of your own home.
I can see advantages to both courses, but am happy with my decision to take the course in person.
Advantage would be completing the course on your own time. If you have other responsibilities in your day that require attention, online courses are the best option.
I chose online because I didn’t have the time or resources to attend in-person training, all day, for a week.
What to Study for the Montana Real Estate Exam
One of the secrets to preparing for success on test day is understanding where to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam. Knowing this will allow you to prioritize what you study.
The Candidate Information Bulletin for Montana real estate license examinations is the best place to get that information. The test proctor PSI Services publishes this handbook.
In it, you’ll find two outlines that list topics on the test. What’s even more helpful is that you can see how questions are distributed across the content areas and plan to study accordingly.
There are 10 topics covered on the national portion of the exam. Four areas account for more than 50 percent of the questions: Contracts, Agency, Real Estate Practice, and Financing.
The state portion that pertains to Montana real estate law has four content areas as follows:
- Licensee Activities – 25 questions
- Licensing — 2 questions
- Licensing Agency Powers — 2 questions
- Additional Topics — 4 questions
The candidate handbook also lists additional study resources, including real estate textbooks and other educational materials from training and content solution providers.
7 Tips for Passing the Montana Real Estate Exam
You’ve studied hard and are relatively confident that you have a solid command of the material. But you still have to cross the hurdle of passing the test.
Your best chance for seeing a status of “pass” on your real estate exam results is to put smart test-taking strategies into action. Here are seven things you can do.
1. Wake up your brain.
Listen to upbeat music to get your mind into a more active state. If exercise is part of your routine, do a quick warm-up or a light workout to help with focus and attention.
2. Give yourself a pep talk.
Positive self-talk can boost your confidence. Before the test begins, tell yourself that you’re ready and will do well. During the test, use mental affirmations to quell self-doubt and stay calm.
3. Don’t dwell on what you don’t know.
Avoid getting stuck on questions you’re unsure about. Move on and answer what you know. Then go back to the items you skipped. The answer may have come to you by the time you do.
4. Hyperfocus when reading the questions.
Read each question carefully, paying attention to every word. Often, a single word can change how you answer the question or be a hint that helps you pick the correct one.
5. Guess if you have to.
If you don’t know the answer, make an informed guess. You’re not penalized if you’re wrong and will earn a point if you’re right.
6. Watch for distractors.
Typically, there are one or two answer choices that are close to correct. So, make sure you understand what is being asked and read all the options before picking the best answer.
7. Use the test as an information source.
Sometimes, questions further on in the exam may provide clues that help you answer previous ones. Keep that in mind for questions that you’re struggling with.
You can read more tips in my article tackling how to study for the real estate exam.
Expert Insight
Tips to help future agents pass the real estate exam.
Studying is key. I spent at least 2-3 hours every night after class going back over the material and taking practice exams. I also took two full days after the course ended to study before taking the exam.
The other major suggestion I have is to take the exam within a couple days of ending the class. That way all of the information is fresh and accessible to you.
It is one of the harder exams I have taken, but if you dedicate your time and energy to absorbing and understanding the information, you will do great!
Study for the exam, not for being an agent. The exam questions are meant to test your memory and understanding of that specific material.
Now that I’ve been an agent for two years, almost none of the material I was tested on is used in my everyday Realtor life. Study just the exam material.
Read the questions twice. Sometimes they try to trick you. Wrong answers are normally the product of questions that were misread, not because the student didn’t know the answer.
What Is the Cost of Taking the Montana Real Estate Exam?
You’ll pay a flat fee to register for the exam. But before you can do that, you’ll incur the cost of the pre-licensing course you must complete before taking the test.
Between the two, you can anticipate spending $406 or more, which breaks down as follows:
- A registration fee of $106 goes to the test administrator PSI.
- The pre-licensing course ranges from $300 to $725.
Taking online courses is typically the least expensive option. The price points for in-person and virtual classroom courses tend to be at the higher end of the above range.
For a complete breakdown of licensing expenses in the state, read — How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Montana?
How Hard Is It to Pass the Montana Real Estate Exam?
What Is the Pass Rate for the Montana Real Estate Exam?
Montana does not publish data on pass rates for the real estate salesperson exam. Generally speaking, however, the test is reported to be deliberately difficult but not impossible to pass.
Regardless of the degree of difficulty, preparation is one of the primary factors impacting how many people pass the real estate exam on the first attempt.
So, the bottom line is that you don’t want to “wing it.” Instead, you need to prepare and practice.
How Many Questions Are on the Montana Real Estate Exam?
The exam has two parts, and 113 scored multiple choice questions. Eighty questions are on broad concepts that are consistent nationally. The other 33 items cover Montana real estate law.
You can also expect to answer a small number of unscored items when taking the real estate exam. PSI calls them “experimental” questions.
You’ll also hear them referred to as pilot questions. That’s because they are being pre-tested for quality, fairness, and relative difficulty before inclusion as scored questions on future exams.
There are typically 5-10 of these experimental questions, and the time taken to answer them does not count against the allotted testing time.
How Many Math Questions Are on the Montana Real Estate Exam?
Your real estate math skills are tested by eight questions, all of which are on the national portion of the exam.
Those questions relate to real estate formulas you’ll most commonly use in transactions. Among them are the following:
- Loan-to-value ratio
- Prorated taxes
- Mortgage payment
- Discount points
- Seller proceeds
What Score Do You Need to Pass the Montana Real Estate Exam?
Each portion of the exam has a separate passing score, so you must achieve both of these results to test successfully and qualify for a salesperson’s license.
Specifically, you must answer at least 70 percent of the questions correctly in each portion. That translates into the following:
- National portion: 56 questions correct
- State-specific section: 23 questions correct
Survey of Experts
How difficult was it for you to study and pass the Montana real estate license exam?
How many attempts did it take you to pass your real estate license exam?
Expert Insight
What would you recommend real estate students to invest extra in to ensure passing the exam on the first try?
I think mainly it’s good to go to a good school. The school I went to, I think, was really good and was the main reason I passed the exam on the first try.
A lot of the questions, especially on the state portion of the exam, are specific to the state that you’re in and the Montana school I went to really helped with that.
I highly recommend taking the course in person. If you have to travel and take on extra costs associated with that, I would still highly suggest going that route.
The instruction is vital to passing the exam and having that face-to-face connection and ability to ask questions right then and there made all the difference.
What Happens if You Fail the Real Estate Exam in Montana?
How Many Times Can You Fail and Retake the Montana Real Estate Exam?
Montana is one of the states with no limit on the number of times you can repeat a failed exam. But you don’t have unlimited time to retest until you pass it.
You have 24 months from taking the pre-licensing course to pass both parts of the exam and apply for your license. If you don’t meet that deadline, you must repeat the course.
Also, note that state law requires you to pass at least one portion of the exam within 12 months of completing the course.
How Long Do You Have to Wait to Retake the Montana Real Estate Exam?
As a general rule, PSI mandates a 24-hour wait time before scheduling a retake.
Therefore, you can contact PSI the following day and reserve the first available slot. That could be several days or weeks out, based on how booked the testing centers are.
To get an idea of the hours needed to complete all the steps in the licensing process, refer to our article discussing how long it takes to get a Montana real estate license.
Do You Have to Pay to Retake the Montana Real Estate Exam?
PSI charges a $106 fee for each exam attempt, including retakes. The fee applies whether you’re retaking both portions of the exam or only one.
Spending the time to prepare properly can pay off on exam day with a passing score. So, use the information in this guide to help you step up to the challenge.
Also, to cover all the bases, refer to our blog post on obtaining a real estate license in Montana. It provides the particulars of the entire licensing process, from start to finish.
These include information on getting a real estate license in Montana if you have violations on your record.
Note that once passing the exam, you need to be sponsored by a licensed broker before applying for your license.
Our directory of top real estate brokers in Montana gives you a vetted list of real estate companies to choose from.
Review our article on choosing the right real estate brokerage to work for as a new agent to know the essential factors you need to take into consideration.
Then before you know it, you’ll be one of the licensed real estate agents in Montana, and it will be time to get your business off the ground.
As you begin, ensure you have a new agent action plan that details your next steps after passing the real estate exam.
Additionally, these resources can help jumpstart your real estate career in the state:
- Insights from top realtors discussing “Is Being a Real Estate Agent Worth It?”
- Expert advice on how to join 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 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.