Taking the Virginia real estate licensing exam was one of the most stressful things I’ve done in a while. Teaching myself the material was hard, but I managed to pull it off and passed my exam in one go. I am no professional when it comes to the best way to prepare for exams, but these 4 exam preparation tips helped me study and destress so I could pass.
Cram on vocab!
This is the one thing I will stress to focus on. The most important part of passing the real estate licensing exam is getting the lingo down. If you know your terms, you'll have no problem with the test. Especially when it comes to scenario-based questions. Those types of questions can vary from something like a violation of the law to math questions to answering what-ifs. Having a solid grasp of terminology makes it easier to weed out irrelevant answer choices.
Mastering vocab also helped me understand the verbiage of the questions. Some of the questions may have multiple answers that are technically right. They will try to trick you, so read carefully and make sure you know your terms. I have linked 2 Quizlets at the bottom of the page. The links can also be found on my master list of study materials (Real Estate Salesperson Study Resources Page.)
One other really good resource to check out is Prep Agent. My regional manager recommended it to me and it helped to reinforce my vocabulary knowledge. They also have practice exams you can take in preparation. You do have to pay a subscription to use it, unfortunately.
Don’t stress about the math section!
I was so nervous about the math portion. I am horrible at it. In high school, I only passed my geometry class because my teacher felt bad for me. Not my proudest moment, but I passed so oh well. The math on the exam isn’t anything crazy, your class should prepare you for a lot more than you end up using.
From what I saw on my exam, I would make sure you have a firm grasp:
1 point (for financing) is equal to 1% of the loan amount
1 acre = 43,560 sqft
1 mile = 5,280 ft
Area of rectangle = Length x Width
How to calculate seller/buyer credits and debits during proration based on the calendar (365 days) or statutory (360 days, 30 day months) method.
Also, a handful of the math questions were making me find how much frontage a property had. Not sure if it will be on your licensing exam, but they were obsessed with it on mine.
Don’t burn yourself out reviewing everything last minute.
You can’t learn everything all at once. Make sure you don’t try to cram all the information in at the last minute. Take your time reviewing everything so you can let it sink in.
When I was studying I used The CE Shops exam preparation course. I loved how it was set up. It formatted all the study guides and mini-quizzes directly from the content outline found in the VA Candidate Information Bulletin. They have a review for every single bullet point in the CIB. Each day I would review a few of the sections and take the practice quizzes until I mastered each section. Once I felt fairly comfortable with each section, I took a practice exam. The exam prep course would show me my scores broken down by section. Based on my scores, I then reviewed the ones I performed poorly in. I would just repeat that process until I was averaging about 90% on the exam.
It can be a bit pricey though, I got it discounted when I bundled it with my course. I feel it is worth the investment. I didn't have to rely on any outside resources for my exam prep other than the vocab sets on Quizlet and my notes from class.
Make sure to take the test as soon as you finish your class. You want to do it while everything is still fresh in your brain. Don't put yourself in the position of needing to relearn the material.
Change up your location when studying
Something surprising that helped me was changing the environment where I studied. It allowed me to focus SO much more. According to a 1978 experiment on a group of college students, something as simple as a "change of scenery" can be "one key way to improve productivity." The new environment "promotes increase[d] alertness and focus."
I genuinely noticed this happen in my own studies. When I first started taking my class I would try to work in my bedroom. No matter how hard I tried to focus I just couldn't! I decided to go to the library and try studying there. It was a quiet place and I found a little corner behind the fiction section to work on my class. It worked like magic, I was more focused and able to read my material and actually absorb it.
After a while, I learned my local library had private study rooms you can book for 2 hours. I recommend you look for one of those at your own library. If you don't have access to one, try a coffee shop. You could even just try a different room in your apartment or home. If you're in a dorm you could go to one of the public areas and study there.
BONUS:
I included one bonus one! This tip was originally going to be one of the 4, but it was kind of cheesy. I wanted to include it still :)
When you set a date for your licensing exam, don’t tell anyone.
I know this may sound counterintuitive, but let me explain. I’m not saying “Don’t tell people you're getting your license” or “Don’t tell them you’re about to take your test.” You should 100% be doing that. Tell everyone you can about it, but that’s another discussion. What I mean is don’t expressly tell them what day you scheduled it for.
When I let others know I’m going to take a big test, it weighs me down so much. Not only am I nervous about the test itself, but also the possibility of having to tell them I failed. Honestly, I get more nervous about the ladder. If you pass then you can share the good news and it’ll come as a surprise! If you fail, then you can pretend it didn't happen and not have anyone asking you about it.
The good news is, that if you fail you can sign up and take it as many times as you need to. In Virginia, you’ll have to pay the full amount for each retake. You only have to retake the section you failed. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how payments or retakes are handled in other states.
Resources Mentioned
Quizlet 1: This set claims to be a free alternative to the Prep Agent vocabulary study set. I can't guarantee whether or not it lines up perfectly, but it's still very helpful. More importantly, it's free, so can't pass it up.
Quizlet 2: This study set is bulkier than the other one. I used this one the most, simply because it had more.
Real Estate Salesperson Study Resources Page: This is my master list of study materials I find. I slowly update it as I come across something I think I should add. Feel free to send me anything you think is worth checking out!
VA Candidate Information Bulletin: Direct quote from the bulletin- "This Candidate Information Bulletin provides you with information about the examination and application process for becoming licensed as a real estate salesperson or broker in the Commonwealth of Virginia."
The CE Shop Exam Prep: Exam prep course that's a one-stop-shop. It has state and national practice exams. It also has study guides for every individual section covered on the exam. I used this for almost all of my exam prep.
Prep Agent: Subscription-based website with practice salesperson licensing exams, vocabulary exams, flashcards, etc.
Research Upends Traditional Thinking on Study Habits: About the 1978 study about changing environment helps retaining information when studying.
The Best Place To Study: About changing up your study location to help you retain information better.
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