How the real California real estate exam works

• 150 multiple choice questions with a 3 hour time limit.
• You need 70% to pass, which is 105 correct answers.
• It is one exam that mixes national real estate principles with California law. There is no separate state section.
• The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) writes and gives the exam.

This free practice exam copies that format: the same number of questions, the same time limit and the same passing score.

Topics the California exam tests most

Practice exam questions are spread across every topic on the official outline. These carry the most questions, so they are worth studying first:

• Agency Relationships and Types
• Fiduciary Duties to Principal
• Agency Disclosure
• Financial Analysis and Real Estate Math
• Mortgages, Deeds of Trust, and Promissory Notes
• Deeds
• Escrow
• Property Tax and Proposition Rules
• DRE Jurisdiction and Licensing
• Disciplinary Actions and the Recovery Fund
• Trust Account Management
• Federal Fair Housing Laws
• California Fair Housing Laws
• Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS)
• Material Facts and Other Required Disclosures
• Contract Fundamentals
• Listing Agreements
• Purchase Agreements and Offers

How to use your practice exam score

• Start with the 25-question quick check (about 30 minutes) to see where you stand.
• Take the full 150-question exam under the timer to practice your pacing.
• Your results break your score down by topic, so you know which topics to study first.
• A good rule of thumb: book the real exam once you score 80% or higher on several full-length timed practice exams.

More free California exam prep

• Free California real estate practice questions with answers
• What's on the California Real Estate Salesperson Exam? (Topics Breakdown)
• California Real Estate Exam Math: Every Formula (2026)
• California Real Estate Exam Pass Rate (2026 Guide)
• What Happens If You Fail the California Real Estate Exam? (2026)