How Many Questions Are on the Real Estate Exam?
The total number of questions on the real estate exam ranges from 75 questions (New York) to 180 questions (Arizona). Most states fall between 110 and 150 questions split into two portions: a national portion testing general real estate concepts, and a state-specific portion testing local law and procedures.
This page lists the exact question count for every state, along with the time limit and passing score so you can calibrate your pacing strategy before exam day.
Question Count for Major States
Florida
100 total questions (single combined exam — no separate national/state split). 210 minutes. Passing: 75% (75/100). Administered by Pearson VUE.
California
150 total questions (single combined exam). 210 minutes (84 seconds per question — fastest-paced major state exam). Passing: 70% (105/150). Administered by PSI.
Texas
125 total questions: 85 national + 40 state. 240 minutes. Passing: 70% on each portion (60/85 national, 28/40 state). Administered by Pearson VUE.
New York
75 total questions (single combined exam). 90 minutes. Passing: 70% (53/75). One of the shorter state exams. Administered by PSI.
Georgia
152 total questions: 100 national + 52 state. Approximately 4 hours. Passing: 75% on each section. Administered by PSI.
North Carolina
120 total questions: 80 national + 40 state. 240 minutes. Passing: 75% on each section (57/80 national, 29/40 state). Administered by PSI.
Question Count for Additional States
Illinois
140 total questions: 100 national + 40 state. Passing: 75% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Ohio
120 total questions: 80 national + 40 state. Passing: 70% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Pennsylvania
110 total questions: 80 national + 30 state. Passing: 75% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Michigan
115 total questions: 80 national + 35 state. Passing: 75% national, 70% state. Administered by PSI.
Colorado
154 total questions: 80 national + 74 state (one of the longest state portions). Passing: 75% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Arizona
180 total questions: 100 national + 80 state (largest total question count of any major state). Passing: 75% national, 70% state. Administered by Pearson VUE.
Washington
130 total questions: 90 national + 40 state. Passing: 70% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Virginia
120 total questions: 80 national + 40 state. Passing: 75% national, 70% state. Administered by PSI.
Massachusetts
120 total questions: 80 national + 40 state. Passing: 70% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Tennessee
120 total questions: 80 national + 40 state. Passing: 70% on each section. Administered by PSI.
Nevada
130 total questions: 80 national + 50 state. Passing: 75% on each section. Administered by Pearson VUE.
Oregon
130 total questions: 80 national + 50 state. Passing: 75% on each section. Administered by PSI.
National Portion vs State Portion: What Each Covers
The national portion tests concepts that apply in every state: real estate contracts, agency relationships, property ownership, financing, appraisal, fair housing, and property management. This portion is the same content whether you are testing in Florida or Oregon.
The state-specific portion tests your state's license law, agency disclosure requirements, state commission rules, and local transaction procedures. This is where many candidates get caught — they focus entirely on national concepts and underestimate how different state law can be.
Some states (Florida, California, New York) use a single combined exam without separate national/state timers. Most other states have two sections with separate time limits and separate passing requirements. Check your state's candidate handbook for the exact format.
How Question Count Affects Your Pacing
Time per question varies significantly by state. Texas gives about 115 seconds per question (240 min ÷ 125 questions). California gives only 84 seconds per question (210 min ÷ 150 questions). New York gives 72 seconds per question (90 min ÷ 75 questions).
The practical rule: if your state gives less than 90 seconds per question (California, New York), pacing discipline is critical — you cannot afford to spend 4–5 minutes on a single difficult question. Practice specifically at your state's time-per-question ratio.
For states with longer time limits (Texas: 115 sec/question, Georgia: ~95 sec/question), pacing is less of a problem but concentration drift over a 4-hour exam is. Both issues are solved by practice: take at least 2–3 full-length exams that match your state's exact format before exam day.
How to Use Question Count in Your Study Plan
Specific ways to apply this information to your exam preparation.
Take at least 2–3 full-length practice exams that match your state's exact question count — not generic 50-question drills
Calculate your state's time-per-question ratio and set a timer during practice (e.g., for California: 84 seconds per question)
If your state separates national and state portions, practice each section under its own time limit — do not treat them as one long exam
For long exams (Arizona: 180 questions, Colorado: 154 questions), build stamina by gradually increasing practice session length over 2–3 weeks
Use the question count to estimate how many questions you can miss and still pass: if your state has 100 questions and requires 75%, you can afford 25 misses — know your buffer
Do not skip state-specific content because the national portion has more questions — state-specific failures are proportionally common
State Exam Question Count Details
Select your state for the exact question breakdown, testing provider details, and study resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the real estate exam?
It depends on your state. The range is 75 questions (New York) to 180 questions (Arizona). Most states fall between 110 and 150 questions. The national average is approximately 120–130 questions split between a national portion (80–100 questions) and a state-specific portion (30–74 questions).
How long do you have to complete the real estate exam?
Most states give 3–4 hours for the complete exam. Florida gives 210 minutes for 100 questions. California gives 210 minutes for 150 questions. Texas gives 240 minutes for 125 questions. Arizona gives the most time — 300 minutes (5 hours) for 180 questions. Check your state's candidate handbook for the exact allocation.
Do all questions on the exam count toward your score?
Most testing providers include a small number of unscored 'pretest' questions that are being evaluated for use on future exams. You will not know which questions are scored and which are pretest — answer every question as if it counts. These are typically 5–10 questions embedded within the exam.
Are the questions on the real estate exam multiple choice?
Yes. All questions are four-option multiple choice (A, B, C, D). There are no true/false, essay, or short-answer questions on any state's real estate licensing exam. You select one answer per question.
Can I skip questions and come back to them?
Yes. Pearson VUE and PSI testing software both allow you to flag questions and review them before final submission. This is an important strategy — if a question is taking too long, flag it, move on, and return to it after completing the rest of the exam.
Practice at Your State's Pace
Take the free diagnostic to see where you stand by topic, then use state-specific practice questions at your state's actual question count and timing.