Study Plans
30-Day Real Estate Exam Study Plan: Day-by-Day Schedule
A day-by-day, 30-day study plan for the real estate exam. Each day has a specific focus topic and time estimate. No guessing what to study next — just follow the plan.
This plan assumes you have completed your pre-licensing course and are studying 1.5–2.5 hours per day.
Week 1: Baseline and Foundations (Days 1–7)
Day 1 (1.5 hrs): Take the diagnostic test. Record your overall score and topic-by-topic breakdown. Identify your 3 weakest topics. These drive your study plan.
Day 2 (2 hrs): Property ownership — fee simple, life estates, leasehold estates, bundle of rights. Do 20 practice questions on this topic.
Day 3 (2 hrs): Forms of co-ownership — joint tenancy (TTIP), tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, community property. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 4 (2 hrs): Contracts Part 1 — elements of a valid contract, Statute of Frauds, types of contracts (bilateral, unilateral, executory, executed). Do 20 practice questions.
Day 5 (2 hrs): Contracts Part 2 — offer and acceptance, contingencies, earnest money, specific performance, breach remedies. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 6 (2 hrs): Agency Part 1 — types of agency (buyer's agent, seller's agent, dual agency), creation of agency, fiduciary duties (OLDCAR). Do 20 practice questions.
Day 7 (1.5 hrs): Review Day. Re-read notes from the week. Re-do any practice questions you missed. Weekly total: ~13 hours.
Week 2: Core Topics (Days 8–14)
Day 8 (2 hrs): Agency Part 2 — disclosure requirements, termination of agency, agent responsibilities, compensation. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 9 (2 hrs): Finance Part 1 — mortgage types (conventional, FHA, VA), loan process, LTV, PMI, down payments. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 10 (2 hrs): Finance Part 2 — discount points, RESPA, TILA, ECOA, qualifying ratios, types of loans (fixed, ARM, balloon). Do 20 practice questions.
Day 11 (2 hrs): Fair Housing — seven protected classes, exemptions, steering, blockbusting, redlining, ADA, ECOA. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 12 (2 hrs): Property rights — easements (appurtenant vs. in gross), liens (voluntary vs. involuntary), encumbrances, deed restrictions. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 13 (2.5 hrs): PRACTICE EXAM #1 — Take a full-length timed practice exam (80–100 questions). Record your score.
Day 14 (2 hrs): Review Practice Exam #1 answer by answer. Write down every concept you missed. This becomes your 'missed concepts' list. Weekly total: ~15 hours.
Week 3: Fill the Gaps (Days 15–21)
Day 15 (2 hrs): Real estate math — commission calculations, net to seller, and area calculations. Work through 15 math problems step by step.
Day 16 (2 hrs): Real estate math — cap rate, GRM, LTV, proration, property tax (mill rate). Work through 15 math problems step by step.
Day 17 (2 hrs): Valuation — three approaches to value (sales comparison, cost, income), depreciation types, highest and best use, CMA vs. appraisal. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 18 (2 hrs): Land use and zoning — zoning types, variances, nonconforming use, police power, eminent domain, building codes. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 19 (2 hrs): Environmental — lead paint disclosure (pre-1978), CERCLA/Superfund, asbestos, radon, Phase I ESA, underground storage tanks. Do 15 practice questions.
Day 20 (2 hrs): Closing and settlement — proration, title insurance, deed types (general warranty, special warranty, quitclaim), recording, title search. Do 20 practice questions.
Day 21 (2.5 hrs): PRACTICE EXAM #2 — Full-length timed. Compare to Exam #1. You should see improvement. Review all missed questions. Weekly total: ~15 hours.
Week 4: State Content and Final Prep (Days 22–30)
Day 22 (2 hrs): State-specific content — your state's licensing authority, license types, CE requirements, and disciplinary procedures. Do 20 state-specific practice questions.
Day 23 (2 hrs): State-specific content — your state's unique laws (e.g., homestead, transfer taxes, disclosure requirements, landlord-tenant rules). Do 20 state-specific practice questions.
Day 24 (2.5 hrs): PRACTICE EXAM #3 — Full-length timed including state content. Target 75%+.
Day 25 (2 hrs): Deep review of Practice Exam #3. Focus on your 'missed concepts' list. Re-study any topics where you are still scoring below 70%.
Day 26 (2 hrs): Drill your weakest remaining topics. Use focused 20-question drills on specific subjects.
Day 27 (2.5 hrs): PRACTICE EXAM #4 — Final full-length timed exam. Target 78%+. This is your dress rehearsal.
Day 28 (1.5 hrs): Light review only. Re-read your missed concepts list and the cheat sheet. No new material.
Day 29 (0 hrs): DAY OFF. No studying. Exercise, rest, get 8 hours of sleep.
Day 30: EXAM DAY. Arrive 30 minutes early. Bring two forms of ID. Trust your preparation. Weekly total: ~15 hours.
Plan Summary
Total study time: approximately 58 hours over 30 days.
Practice questions completed: 300+ across drills and practice exams
Full-length practice exams: 4
Topics covered: all major national topics + state-specific content
Week 1: Foundations (contracts, ownership, agency basics)
Week 2: Core topics (finance, fair housing, property rights) + Practice Exam #1
Week 3: Math, valuation, land use, environmental, closing + Practice Exam #2
Week 4: State content, review, Practice Exams #3 and #4, rest, exam
What if I Have Less Than 30 Days?
14 days: Combine Week 1 and Week 2 into one week. Skip the lighter topics (environmental, closing details) and focus on the top 5 high-weight topics. Take 2 practice exams instead of 4.
7 days: Take the diagnostic on Day 1. Spend Days 2–5 exclusively on your 3 weakest high-weight topics. Take a practice exam on Day 6. Review and rest on Day 7.
3 days: Diagnostic on Day 1. Focused study of contracts, agency, and finance on Day 2. Practice exam and review on Day 3. This is cramming, and your pass probability drops significantly — but it is better than walking in cold.
Day 1 Starts Now
Take the free diagnostic to establish your baseline and identify your 3 weakest topics.
Keep Studying Smarter
Once you have the schedule, use these guides to fill in the topic-level details.
Study Plan FAQ
Can I study more than 2 hours per day?
Yes, but quality matters more than quantity. Studies on learning retention show diminishing returns after 2–3 hours of focused study. If you study longer, take breaks every 45–60 minutes.
What if I am scoring below 60% after Week 2?
Extend your timeline. Add an extra week focused on your weakest topics. Do not take the exam until you are consistently scoring 70%+ on practice tests. It is better to delay by a week than to fail and retake.
Should I study on weekends?
The plan assumes daily study. If you prefer to take weekends off, extend the plan to 6 weeks or increase your daily study time to 2.5–3 hours on weekdays.
How many practice questions should I do total?
Aim for at least 300 practice questions before exam day. This includes both topic-specific drills (20 questions per topic) and full-length practice exams. Most successful candidates do 400–500.
What is the best time of day to study?
Research shows that most people retain information best in the morning. However, the best time is whenever you can consistently show up. A regular 7 PM study session every day beats an inconsistent morning schedule.
Study Plan Pillars
Study-plan pages work best when linked back to pass-strategy and prep pillars.