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

Becoming a real estate agent in Wisconsin requires you to complete a lengthy process that culminates in passing a licensing exam.

To see the real estate exam results you want the very first time you take the test, you must be ready, which means knowing what to study and how to study it.

Continue reading for a complete breakdown of how to prepare for the Wisconsin real estate exam, including how best to keep real estate exam difficulty to a minimum.

How to Study for the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam

Focusing on the resources you have available — and there are a lot — is the best way to jumpstart studying for the Wisconsin real estate exam.

Begin with the materials you receive, and the notes you take, in your pre-licensing education course.

Many of the accredited real estate schools in Wisconsin may even guarantee real estate exam results that put your odds above the average, and that’s because they give you plenty of good materials to study.

Whether taking your 72 required hours in person or through an online format, you won’t be short of resources, especially if you take good notes, too.

Choosing the best format for your pre-licensing education is also important to help you study more effectively. Our A-to-Z guide on real estate classes online vs classroom courses is a great resource.

You’ll also find additional suggestions for study materials in the Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook.

Combine these resources, making content outlines and flashcards to streamline your studying. You can also form a study group with your peers to help stay motivated.

What to Study for the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam

Pearson VUE, who proctors the license test, makes it easy to figure out where to get an idea of what is on the real estate exam. You’ll find comprehensive outlines in the candidate handbook.

Outlines for both the salesperson and the broker exam include key topics covered, as well as a breakdown of the number of questions associated with that topic.

This is extremely helpful when budgeting time to study since you can see what topics are more heavily covered in the exam.

The main topics covered for the Wisconsin real estate salesperson license exam include:

• Ownership and transfer of property
• Land use controls and regulations
• Valuing and financing property
• Agency
• Disclosures
• Contract law and approved forms
• Business ethics
• Fair housing
• Federal antitrust

There are also questions within a miscellaneous category which range from trust accounts to residential rentals.

For the broker exam, main topics covered include:

• Real estate practice
• Trust accounts
• Conduct and ethical practices for real estate licensees
• Approved forms and legal advice
• Drafting and supervision knowledge
• Fair housing law
• Federal lead-based paint law

6 Tips for Passing the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam

With so much information to review, it’s best to have a solid study strategy that will take you through your entire process of preparing to take the exam.

These tips on taking the Wisconsin real estate exam will help you stay focused and on task through your testing day.

1. Start with Strong Notes

Staying focused in class, whether sitting in a classroom or working at your own pace online, is essential. You need good notes as your jumping-off point for studying the right material.

2. Create Topic Outlines

Using your notes, and the exam outline in the handbook that you’ve already reviewed, create strong, topic-specific outlines to streamline your studying.

3. Separate out the Facts

Studying for the real estate exam in Wisconsin also means doing some rote memorization. Dates, laws, vocabulary, and other hard facts can all get converted into flashcards.

You can then start each study session with a flashcard review before digging into those outlines.

4. Stay Motivated with a Study Group

If you find it hard to stay on track when you study alone, consider forming a study group with some of your classmates. It will help keep you accountable for your study time.

5. Know When to Take a Break

A big part of studying is knowing when you need to give your brain a break. You won’t hold on to all you’re learning if you overstuff your mind.

Take periodic breaks to decompress and allow your brain to process the information you’ve just reviewed. Your wellbeing matters in this process, too, so don’t overdo it.

6. Test Smart

Your study plan doesn’t end as you sit down for the test. Part of the process is to create a testing strategy that’s efficient and allows you to use everything you’ve just learned.

To test best:

• Take it slow and read each question, and all the answers, carefully. Never answer a question before you’ve looked at all the possible choices.

• Respond to the easier questions first to get them out of the way. Read through the whole exam first to single these out.

• Use a process of elimination for those harder questions. Cross off answers you know are wrong first, giving yourself fewer options to decide which response is best.

• Allow yourself to guess when it’s absolutely necessary. An educated guess still has good odds.

We have more tips to help you pass the real estate exam on your first attempt.

When you register for the real estate license exam in Wisconsin, either online or by calling Pearson VUE at 888-204-6284, you’ll need to pay a $65 fee.

You’ll then have the option of taking the test at one of many Wisconsin testing centers, or even in Chicago, IL, Duluth, MN, or St. Paul, MN.

You pick your time, date, and location, pay the fee, and get ready to test. However, this isn’t the only cost associated with getting your real estate license.

In Wisconsin, you’ll also pay a $75 license application fee.

For all other licensing fees you need to keep in mind, check out our article discussing how much a real estate license in Wisconsin is.

What Is the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam Pass Rate?

The real estate salesperson exam in Wisconsin is purposefully hard, but not impossible to pass.

While the state passing rate is 75 percent, how many people pass the real estate exam on the first try is highly dependent on where your pre-licensing coursework is completed.

Some schools will guarantee a higher first-time pass rate percentage based on what package you buy.

How Many Questions Are on the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam?

The time you’ll spend taking the real estate exam in Wisconsin depends on what type of license you’re getting.

For a salesperson license, you’re given four hours to answer a total of 140 scored items, plus 5-10 non-scored, pre-test questions.

Wisconsin real estate agents going for a broker license are given 3.25 hours to answer a total of 100 scored items, plus those same 5-10 pre-test questions.

The pre-test questions are mixed in with the scored questions, and not marked, so every question should be answered carefully.

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

Within the salesperson exam, calculations sit within the same section that covers valuing and financing property.

You’ll have a total of nine questions to answer in mathematics that may involve:

• Basic math skills involved in real estate calculations
• Prorations
• Property tax payment calculations
• Loan-to-value ratios
• Transfer fee calculations

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

To pass both the salesperson and broker real estate license exam in Wisconsin, you need a minimum score of 75.

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

If you fail the real estate license exam in Wisconsin, you’re able to retake it as many times as necessary until you pass.

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

You must wait 24 hours from the time you receive your failing score report to contact Pearson VUE to reschedule.

At that point, the earliest you may see an opening to test will be the following day, which means you’re waiting a minimum of two days to retest.

For example, if you fail the exam on a Monday, you can call to reschedule Tuesday, and test as early as Wednesday if there’s an opening in the schedule.

Know how much time you need to dedicate in completing all the steps in the licensing process by reading our article on how long to get a Wisconsin real estate license.

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

Each time you retake the real estate license exam in Wisconsin, you’ll pay the same $65 fee.

Use this guide to help you thoroughly prepare for the real estate exam in the state. Remember that proper preparation is key to getting your Wisconsin real estate license with ease.

When you pass the exam, you can then submit your license application. During this time, you should consider scouting for a sponsoring broker to avoid paying an additional $10 fee.

Know what to look for in a real estate broker by reading our guide on choosing the right real estate brokerage to work for. Then, pick one from our vetted list of top real estate brokers in Wisconsin.

Before submitting your application, make sure you are qualified to get a license. This means you have to apply for a determination of eligibility, which authorizes a background check for a Wisconsin real estate license.

Once you’re licensed, take advantage of the following resources to put you on the right path of success as you begin your real estate career:

• I Just Got My Real Estate License, Now What?
• What Are the Pros and Cons of Being a Real Estate Agent as a Career?
• Ultimate Guide to 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 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.