How Many Questions Are on the Texas Real Estate Exam? (2026 Breakdown)

Last reviewed: October 2026

The Texas real estate sales agent exam contains 125 questions total, split across two separate portions: an 85-question National portion and a 50-question State portion. Not all of those questions count toward the score, which is a detail that catches many candidates off guard.

The Two-Portion Structure of the Texas Real Estate Exam

Texas requires candidates to pass two distinct portions of the sales agent licensing exam, administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). The two portions can be scheduled together in a single appointment or separately, but each must be passed independently. A passing result on one portion does not carry the other. Understanding the structure of each portion before exam day removes a significant source of confusion and helps candidates focus their preparation where it matters most.

Can the Two Portions Be Taken at the Same Appointment?

Yes. Candidates may schedule both portions together in a single combined appointment. In that case, the total exam runs 125 questions over 240 minutes. The Pearson VUE exam fee is $58 per appointment, whether a candidate schedules one portion or both together. Scheduling both at once is the most common approach and allows candidates to finish the entire examination requirement in a single visit to the testing center.

Are the Two Portions Graded Separately?

Each portion has its own independent passing threshold. A candidate can pass one portion and fail the other, and only the failed portion needs to be retaken. The portions are not averaged together. This distinction matters because a candidate who scores well on the National portion but falls short on the State portion is not required to repeat the National material during a retake appointment.

National Portion: Question Count, Time, and Passing Score

The National portion of the Texas real estate exam consists of 85 questions and is allotted 150 minutes. Of those 85 questions, 80 are scored and 5 are unscored pretest questions. Pretest questions are embedded throughout the exam and are indistinguishable from scored questions, so every question should be treated as if it counts.

What Topics Does the National Portion Cover?

The National portion tests concepts that apply broadly across real estate practice in the United States. Major topic areas include property ownership, land use controls, valuation and market analysis, financing, transfer of property, agency relationships at a general level, contracts, and federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act recognizes seven federally protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status. Candidates should have a solid command of these subjects as they apply to real estate practice generally, before layering Texas-specific rules on top.

What Is the Passing Score for the National Portion?

According to the September 2026 Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook, a candidate must answer 56 out of 80 scored questions correctly to pass the National portion. The 5 pretest questions are not scored and do not affect the result. It is important to note that the denominator for the passing score is 80, not 85. Citing 56 out of 85 would be inaccurate because those 5 additional questions are unscored pretest items.

State Portion: Question Count, Time, and Passing Score

The State portion of the Texas real estate exam consists of 50 questions and is allotted 90 minutes. Of those 50 questions, 40 are scored and 10 are unscored pretest questions. The State portion carries a heavier ratio of pretest questions relative to its total length compared to the National portion, but again, candidates have no way to identify which questions are pretest items, so all 50 must be answered with the same level of care.

What Topics Does the State Portion Cover?

The State portion tests Texas-specific real estate law and practice. Key subject areas include the Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1101, TREC rules and regulations, agency relationships under Texas law, TREC-promulgated contract forms, the Seller's Disclosure Notice, the Information About Brokerage Services (IABS) form, and Texas licensing requirements. Candidates should be familiar with the four types of brokerage representation recognized under Texas law as of January 1, 2026: seller representation, buyer representation, intermediary, and non-representation. The IABS form was revised effective January 1, 2026, and the Seller's Disclosure Notice form was updated effective May 28, 2026.

What Is the Passing Score for the State Portion?

A candidate must answer 28 out of 40 scored questions correctly to pass the State portion, per the September 2026 Pearson VUE handbook. As with the National portion, the correct denominator is the number of scored questions (40), not the total number of questions on the portion (50). The 10 pretest questions are excluded from scoring. Candidates sometimes see passing thresholds expressed as a percentage, but Pearson VUE and TREC publish the passing score as a raw number of correct scored responses, not a percentage.

Full Exam at a Glance: Side-by-Side Comparison

The table below summarizes every structural detail of both portions in one place. Use this as a reference when registering for the exam and planning study time.

What Are Pretest Questions and Why Do They Exist?

Pretest questions are unscored items embedded in the exam to help Pearson VUE evaluate whether those questions perform reliably before including them as scored items on future exams. They appear in the same format as every other question on the exam and cannot be identified. A candidate has no way to know which questions are pretest items, which means the only rational approach is to answer every question as carefully as possible.

Do Pretest Questions Count Against the Score?

No. Pretest questions do not affect the score in either direction. A wrong answer on a pretest item does not reduce the score, and a correct answer does not add to it. The sole purpose of those questions is to gather performance data for future exam development. This is a standard practice across professional licensing exams administered by Pearson VUE and similar testing organizations.

How Should Candidates Handle Pretest Questions During the Exam?

Because pretest questions are indistinguishable, candidates should not try to guess which questions might be unscored and skip or rush through them. Answer every question deliberately. Skipping questions in hopes of identifying pretest items is not a productive strategy and risks leaving genuinely scored items unanswered.

Time Management: How Much Time Per Question?

Across the combined appointment, candidates have 240 minutes for 125 questions, which works out to just under two minutes per question on average. Breaking it down by portion gives a clearer picture for managing pace during the exam.

• National portion: 150 minutes for 85 questions, approximately 1 minute and 46 seconds per question
• State portion: 90 minutes for 50 questions, approximately 1 minute and 48 seconds per question

Most candidates find the time allocation adequate for straightforward recall questions. Calculation-based and scenario-based questions tend to take longer. Developing the habit of answering confidently and moving on, rather than dwelling on difficult items, is a practical skill that practice exams help reinforce. Candidates who use the flagging feature in Pearson VUE's interface can mark uncertain questions and return to them before the clock expires.

Retakes: What Happens If a Portion Is Failed?

Because the Texas exam uses a two-portion format, failing one portion does not mean repeating both. If a candidate passes the National portion but fails the State portion, only the State portion needs to be retaken. The two scores are independent and are not averaged.

How Soon Can You Retake a Failed Portion?

Failed portions may be retaken subject to TREC's examination and application requirements. Candidates should schedule retakes through Pearson VUE after confirming eligibility with TREC.

What Happens After Three Failures?

If a candidate fails the same portion three times, TREC requires additional education before another attempt is allowed. The requirement depends on which portions were failed:

• Failed one portion three times: 30 additional qualifying education hours required before retaking that portion
• Failed both portions three times each: 60 additional qualifying education hours required

This rule is separate from the pre-license requirement. The additional hours apply specifically to the retake eligibility situation and are not a full restart of the 180-hour pre-license curriculum.

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