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California Real Estate Exam Questions, Time, and Passing Score

The California DRE salesperson examination has 150 multiple-choice questions, allows three hours, and requires at least 70 percent correct. Each question has four choices. Seventy percent of 150 equals 105 correct answers. DRE publishes approximate area weights, not an exact question count for each category or a promise that every listed subtopic will appear.

Published August 27, 2026Reviewed August 27, 2026Next review November 25, 202613 minute read

The California salesperson exam is 150 questions in three hours

150

multiple-choice questions

3 hours

or 180 minutes total

70%

minimum passing percentage

The California Department of Real Estate salesperson examination has 150 multiple-choice questions, allows three hours, and requires at least 70 percent correct. Each item has four choices. Seventy percent of 150 is 105, so the published threshold corresponds to 105 correct answers. DRE states the percentage requirement, not a promised question mix.

DRE, current salesperson examination time, method, and passing score · checked 2026-08-27

The exam facts in one table

QuestionCurrent DRE answerWhat it means for preparation
How many questions?150Full simulations should reproduce the complete length, not only short quizzes.
How much time?3 hoursA full mock must test pacing and sustained attention for 180 minutes.
What format?Multiple choice, four choices per itemPractice should include selecting and eliminating choices, not only free-response recall.
What passes?At least 70%The mathematical equivalent is 105 of 150 under the published question count.
How is it delivered?Currently electronic at the five listed DRE centersElectronic means at a test center, not a remote examination from home.
When are results given?At completion for an electronic examinationPassing candidates do not receive a final numerical score.

What 70 percent means in question count

The arithmetic

150 × 0.70 = 105

Under DRE's published 150-question format and at-least-70-percent requirement, 105 correct is the threshold equivalent. A score of 104 out of 150 is about 69.3 percent.

What it does not mean

It does not mean 70 percent in every content area, 70 percent on a private mock, or 70 percent after averaging subject percentages from a failed result. DRE expressly says the overall score cannot be obtained by averaging those area percentages.

Do not prepare to the exact cutoff

A private bank does not reproduce the live item mix or difficulty. This site uses 80 percent on two fresh full mocks as an editorial readiness buffer, not a DRE rule or pass prediction. Coverage, timing, reasoning, and repeat errors matter alongside the number.

Three hours allows an average of 72 seconds per question

180 minutes ÷ 150 questions = 1.2 minutes = 72 seconds

That is an average, not a command to spend exactly 72 seconds on every item. Some definition questions will be quicker. A scenario or calculation may take longer. Use broad checkpoints so one difficult cluster cannot consume the session.

CheckpointEditorial targetIf behind
Question 50About 60 minutes usedShorten unproductive rereading and make a reasoned choice.
Question 100About 120 minutes usedProtect enough time to reach every remaining item.
Question 150By 180 minutesThe full simulation should reveal pacing changes needed before test day.

These checkpoints are planning math, not DRE instructions. Practice with the interface and navigation available in your chosen mock, then follow proctor and on-screen directions at the official center.

The seven percentages are approximate, not exact question promises

DRE content areaApproximate weight150 × weight
Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures25%37.5
Laws of Agency and Fiduciary Duties17%25.5
Property Ownership and Land Use Controls15%22.5
Property Valuation and Financial Analysis14%21
Contracts12%18
Financing9%13.5
Transfer of Property8%12

The last column shows multiplication, not a forecast of a specific form. Several products are fractional because the percentages are approximate. Rounding each row separately can produce a total other than 150. DRE also says a particular examination samples the broad field and may not contain every listed subject.

DRE, official approximate content weights and broad-field sampling warning · checked 2026-08-27

What DRE tells you after the examination

If you pass

An electronic-exam result is provided at completion. Because the examination is qualifying, DRE says a passing candidate is not informed of the final score.

If you do not pass

DRE says you receive the actual score and the percentage correct in each subject area. Do not average the area percentages to reconstruct the overall score. Use them with question evidence to plan a retake after results are released.

DRE, current examination result and retake information · checked 2026-08-27

Electronic at a DRE center does not mean remote at home

Current delivery

DRE currently lists electronic examinations at Fresno, La Palma, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Diego. Candidates attend the scheduled location and follow its identification, belongings, security, and proctor rules.

Current does not mean permanent

Center availability, appointment dates, and administration details can change. Check eLicensing and DRE guidance for the booked appointment rather than relying on an old screenshot, course video, or article excerpt.

Do not mix salesperson and broker exam numbers

ExamQuestionsTimePass requirement
Salesperson1503 hoursAt least 70%
Broker2004 hoursAt least 75%

This site and article focus on the salesperson license. A broker-exam statistic copied into salesperson preparation changes the target and can distort pacing, mock length, and score interpretation.

Seven exam-number claims to reject

The salesperson exam has 200 questions because the broker exam does

A 70-percent average across the seven failed-result percentages reconstructs the score

Every exam contains exactly 38 Practice and Disclosures questions

A topic absent from one practice form cannot appear on the live examination

Electronic delivery means the test can be taken remotely from home

A 70-percent score on any private mock guarantees a pass

Passing candidates receive a detailed numerical score and area breakdown

Turn the official numbers into a full exam plan

See the complete exam hub

Continue from the headline numbers to all seven content areas, current administration, scheduling, test-center rules, results, and the practice path built for the California salesperson examination.

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