Pass the Real Estate Exam with These Tips!

24 March 2022

Why feel pressure to perform when you can apply these 8 study tips for success on your real estate exam?

Creating a schedule and focusing on your mental game can help you prepare for the real estate licensing exam, but true success comes when there is an attempt to truly understand the material, rather than memorizing it. 

The 8 study tips to pass real estate exams are:

1) Have a study schedule and remain consistent

2) Avoid overloading your brain

3) Utilize a variety of study materials

4) Push your limits

5) Use acronyms or references

6) Get enough rest

7) Use a study guide

8) Simplify your thinking

Tip #1 Have a study schedule

By setting time aside to study, you can focus on the material, rather than when you are going to study.

During study hours, stay focused and avoid all forms of distractions. For example, it might require putting the phone away and moving to a quiet place.  Let your family and friends know that you are unavailable during that time.

One suggestion is to map out the exact dates, times, and content that you want to study on those dates. 

Rather than moving from topic to topic, make an effort to master one topic first and then move to the next.  KJMETHOD follows this exact formula.

Tip #2 Avoid overloading your brain

Studying without breaks can lead to burnout.  You should limit your studies to 2-3 hours per session, ensuring a break in between.

Studying for longer hours may lead to less retention, greater exhaustion, and more frustration.  In such case, adjust your strategy by studying for 45 mins with a 15 min break or switching to a different form of studying, such as flashcards or doing math problems.

Tip #3 Utilize a variety of study materials

One of the essential factors that you can consider when studying for the real estate exam is to make sure that you study different forms of materials.  The first goal is to learn the vocabulary.  This can be accomplished by making flashcards and doing matching problems.  Once you have a good portion of the vocabulary down, you want to move your studies to answering questions to ensure that you can apply the vocabulary in a context.

Tip #4 Push your limits

You must understand the material, not just memorize it.  In order to pass the real estate exam, one must over study because there will be concepts you do not know.  However, if you overstudy and truly understand the content, you will be able to make a best guess and if you have to sacrifice a question here and there,  you will still come out on top.  If your state exam requires a 70% score, push yourself to achieve at least an 80-85% on all of your practice exams.

Tip #5 Use acronyms to make study materials easy to remember

One of the most effective ways to retain more information is using acronyms where they make sense.  Be careful here though, the real estate exam does not test lists.  So, while acronyms can be a good way of remembering ways to create an easement, it is important that you understand what each letter of the acronym means.  Acronyms, however, can help to categorize information in your memory. 

For example, one acronym we use is M.A.R.I.A., an acronym that helps determine whether an item is a fixture: Modification, Attachment, Relationship, Intention, and Agreement.  While it is good to remember M.A.R.I.A. is the test for a fixture, you must also remember how it is tested.  For that, you need an understanding of the concepts.

Tip #6 Get enough rest

One of the most important things you can do after completing a study session is to take a break. This will allow you to recharge and feel like a new person.

Take a break whenever you feel as though you’ve hit a wall.  It can be as simple as going for a walk, watching a movie, or sitting down for a nap.

Getting too stressed out while studying is one of the main reasons many people fail the real estate exam. Getting too little sleep before the actual state examinations will prevent you from focusing and performing well.

Getting enough sleep is also essential to ensure that your mind is focused and ready to take the real estate exam.

Tip #7 Take a Prep Course

Getting help from a professional is also a great way to prepare for the real estate exam. Having access to a prep course will allow you to thoroughly analyze the material and identify the areas you need to improve.

A real estate exam prep course such as the KJMETHOD will help you prepare for the NATIONAL PORTION of the licensing exam and boost your test-taking confidence.

Tip #8 Simplify your thinking

Overthinking occurs when people get into a trap of thinking that they can outsmart the real estate exam.  Students frequently make questions more complicated and change answers without reason.  If you’ve put in the level of study necessary, you will be able to quickly eliminate wrong answers.

Getting flustered and overwhelmed by the amount of information you are presented with can also lead to forgetting important details and terminology.

There is no magic formula for studying for the real estate licensing exam other than following a consistent study schedule with the correct materials.