Real Estate Exam Pass Score by State
Most states require a score of 70–75% to pass the real estate licensing exam. Both the national portion and the state-specific portion must be passed independently — a high score on one does not offset a failing score on the other.
This page lists the passing score for every state, the testing provider, and what happens when you fail only one section.
Pass Score for Major States
Florida
75% passing score (75/100 questions correct). Single combined exam — no separate national/state sections. Administered by Pearson VUE. Score displayed on screen immediately.
California
70% passing score (105/150 questions correct). Single combined exam. Administered by PSI. Score displayed on screen at Pearson VUE centers; PSI results are immediate.
Texas
70% passing score on each section independently: 60/85 on the national portion and 28/40 on the state portion. Administered by Pearson VUE. Must pass within 1 year of completing pre-licensing.
New York
70% passing score (53/75 questions correct). Single combined exam administered by PSI. Some locations display results immediately; others mail results.
Georgia
75% passing score on each section independently: 75/100 on the national portion and 39/52 on the state portion. Administered by PSI.
North Carolina
75% passing score on each section independently: 57/80 on the national portion and 29/40 on the state portion (post-licensing exam may differ). Administered by PSI.
Pass Score for Additional States
Illinois
75% passing score on national + state portions independently. 100 national + 40 state questions. Administered by PSI.
Ohio
70% passing score on each section. 80 national + 40 state questions. Administered by PSI.
Pennsylvania
75% passing score on each section. 80 national + 30 state questions. Administered by PSI.
Michigan
75% on the national portion, 70% on the state portion. 115 total questions. Administered by PSI.
Colorado
75% passing score on each section. 80 national + 74 state questions (one of the longest state exams). Administered by PSI.
Arizona
75% on the national portion, 70% on the state portion. 180 total questions. Administered by Pearson VUE.
Washington
70% passing score on each section. 130 total questions. Administered by PSI.
Virginia
75% on the national portion, 70% on the state portion. 120 total questions. Administered by PSI.
Massachusetts
70% passing score. 120 total questions (80 national + 40 state). Administered by PSI.
Tennessee
70% on national, 70% on state. 120 total questions. Administered by PSI.
Nevada
75% on each section. 130 total questions (80 national + 50 state). Administered by Pearson VUE.
Oregon
75% on each section. 130 total questions. Administered by PSI.
How the National and State Passing Requirements Work
Almost every state requires you to pass both the national portion and the state-specific portion independently. A score of 90% on the national portion does not compensate for a 60% on the state portion — both must meet or exceed the passing threshold.
This means your study plan needs to allocate time specifically to state-specific content, not just national concepts. Many candidates pass the national portion and fail the state portion because they focused entirely on broad concepts and underestimated the specificity of state law questions.
If you fail only one portion, most states allow you to retake just the failed section. You do not have to repeat the section you already passed (subject to state-specific time limits on how long passed scores remain valid — typically 1 year).
What Your Score Report Tells You
Score reports from Pearson VUE and PSI break your result down by content area, not just by total score. You will see something like: Contracts 65%, Agency 78%, Finance 55%, Property Ownership 80%, Fair Housing 90%.
This breakdown is the most useful piece of data you have for retake preparation. If you are re-studying and your score report shows Finance at 55%, every retake study session should weight Finance heavily until your practice scores in that category climb above 75%.
Many candidates ignore the topic breakdown and just re-read everything, which is the primary reason second attempts fail at similar rates to first attempts.
How to Make Sure You Pass (Score Strategy)
What successful candidates do differently to hit the passing threshold.
Target 78–80% on practice exams before sitting for the real exam — the buffer above passing (70–75%) gives you room for test-day pressure and unfamiliar question phrasing
Study the national content AND the state content — state portion failures are more common than most candidates expect
After every practice test, track your score by topic category — a single weak category dropping you below passing on the real exam is the most common failure pattern
Take at least 2–3 full-length practice exams that match your state's actual question count and timing
Use the same pace on practice exams as you will on the real exam — if your state gives 90 seconds per question, practice at that pace
After failing once: do not re-read the entire textbook — use your score report to identify the specific categories below 70% and drill those only
State Pass Score Details
Select your state for passing score details, testing provider information, and retake policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passing score for the real estate exam?
Most states require 70–75% to pass. The most common passing thresholds are 70% (Texas, California, Ohio, New York, Washington) and 75% (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada). Both the national and state portions must be passed independently.
What happens if I pass one section but fail the other?
You retake only the failed section — you do not lose credit for the section you passed. Most states allow passed section scores to remain valid for 1 year. Check your state's specific rules since time windows vary.
Do I find out my score immediately?
At Pearson VUE locations and most PSI locations, yes — your preliminary pass/fail result appears on screen the moment you submit your exam. You then receive a printed score report with section-by-section breakdowns before you leave the testing center.
What score should I be getting on practice exams before testing?
Target 75–80% on practice exams before sitting for the real test. The buffer above the passing threshold (70–75%) accounts for test-day nerves and the slightly different question phrasing of the real exam compared to practice questions.
Is 70% hard to achieve?
The national first-time pass rate is approximately 50–60%, which means 40–50% of candidates do not reach the passing score on their first attempt. The most common failure causes are inadequate preparation time, over-reliance on reading instead of practice questions, and insufficient focus on state-specific content.
Find Out Where You Stand Right Now
Take the free diagnostic to see your current score by topic — then build toward the passing threshold with targeted practice.