Colorado Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

From the mountains of Boulder to the downtown charm of Denver, Colorado is a great place to be a real estate agent. If you’re preparing to become a Colorado real estate agent but need to pass your licensing exam, we’ve got you covered so you can pass on the first time and get started with your career!

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to prepare for the real estate exam, including: 

• How to schedule the licensing exam
• What’s on the exam
• How difficult you can expect the exam to be
• And tips and tricks to pass!

How to Schedule the Colorado Real Estate Licensing Exam

Once you’ve completed your pre-licensing education, you’ll be eligible to schedule your exam! You can head to the PSI Exams website to register for the Colorado licensing exam, where you’ll be able to select whether you’d like to take your exam online in a remotely proctored environment or in person at a PSI test center near you. 

The fee for taking the exam the first time is $44, and you should be prepared to pay that when you schedule your exam. 

Where Do You Take the Colorado Real Estate License Exam?

If you choose to take the Colorado real estate exam in person, you’ll get to pick which PSI test center is most convenient for you. PSI offers testing centers in the following Colorado cities: 

• Denver (Centennial & Wheat Ridge)
• Fort Collins
• Pueblo
• Colorado Springs
• Grand Junction 
• Durango

As you schedule your exam, you’ll be able to pick from these locations in Colorado or select from another PSI testing center available nationally in another state. 

Can You Take the Exam Online?

Colorado allows real estate licensing exams to be taken virtually if you’re not located near a testing site or you’d prefer to take the exam from the comfort of your home.

When you register for your exam, check your computer's compatibility to confirm your operating system will meet the requirements outlined by the state. You’ll also be able to see the rules in place for remote proctoring, which are somewhat different from taking the exam in person. 

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

When exam day comes around, you want to be as prepared as possible when you walk into the test center or log on to take your exam. No matter how you plan to take the test, you must supply at least one form of ID on exam day that matches your registered name. 

This must be a photo ID with the candidate’s signature, like a driver’s license or passport. If you fail to present an ID that matches or meets the requirements, you won’t be able to take the exam and will forfeit your exam fee. 

You should leave all personal items in your car and away from you during your exam time. For those taking the test online, they’ll have to remain on camera and stay in one place during the exam. That means no breaks if you plan to take the exam from home!

You can review a full list of prohibited and required exam-day procedures in PSI’s candidate bulletin for Colorado. 

What is on the Colorado Real Estate Exam?

When exam day rolls around, you want to feel confident that you know exactly what you’ll be tested on. Even if you aced your pre-licensing coursework, being tested in a multiple-choice test can require different strategies, and you’ll be tested on different content, so it’s best to prepare ahead of time. 

The Colorado real estate licensing exam includes both a state and national portion of the exam. 

The state portion will cover specific real estate statutes and Commission laws in Colorado and will consist of 74 questions. The Colorado portion will test you on the following categories: 

• Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission (2 items)
• Licensing Requirements (5 items)
• Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees (11 items)
• Additional Topics (7 items)
• Colorado Forms and Contracts (23 items)
• Record Keeping and Trust Accounts (5 items)
• Closing and Settlement (10 items)
• Brokerage Relationships (11 items)

In the national section, you’ll have to answer 80 questions about basic real estate principles and practices across the following sections: 

• Property Ownership (Broker 10%)
• Land use Controls (Broker 5%)
• Valuation (Broker 8%)
• Financing (Broker 9%)
• Contracts (Broker 19%)
• Agency (Broker 13%)
• Property Disclosures (Broker 7%)
• Property Management (Broker 5%)
• Transfer of Title (Broker 6%)
• Practice of Real Estate (Broker 12%)
• Real Estate Calculations (Broker 6%)

By understanding each of these sections and how much content is in each category, you can better develop a study plan to prepare for the exam. 

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

You’ll notice that 6% of the questions in the national portion of the exam include questions about real estate calculations. Even if math isn’t your strong suit, these questions are meant to quiz you on those basic math formulas and real-life concepts that you’ll use as a real estate agent. This includes things like calculating the loan-to-value ratio and the seller’s net proceeds, among other common calculations you use as a real estate agent. 

If you’re unsure about a math question or don’t like math, you can simply skip the question or take a guess! With only 6% of the questions relating to real estate math, you shouldn’t let this particular section stress you out any more than the others. You got this!

Is the Colorado Real Estate Exam Hard?

Just like most exams, the Colorado real estate exam is not meant to be impossible, but it is meant to confirm you’ve learned the right skills to become a real estate agent.

How Many Questions Are on the Colorado Real Estate Exam?

The Colorado real estate exam has a total of 154 questions across the Colorado and national sections. To pass, you’ll need to get 60 out of 80 questions right in the national section and 53 out of 74 questions right in the Colorado section to pass. In total, you’ll have almost 4 hours to complete both sections of the exam, so make sure you take that into consideration as you work through practice tests.

Once you submit your exam, you’ll be able to see how many questions you got correct and if you passed or failed. If you fail the exam, you’ll receive a diagnostic score report that will outline your strengths and weaknesses and can help you prepare to retake the exam. We recommend using that to guide any studying for the next time around. 

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in Colorado?

Colorado transparently shares the scores for their real estate exam every quarter, allowing prospective students to see how their educational institution stacks up and how students have performed on the exam. 

In the second quarter of 2023, about 52% of the 515 test takers passed on their first try. In Q1 of 2023, 67% of 924 first-time test takers passed, showing that how well you prepare and study before the exam can make a big difference in your likelihood of passing!

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

If you fail the exam on the first try, don’t worry — you can retake the exam! The good news is if you fail one part of the exam, you’ll only have to retake that section and not the entire test. Just keep in mind that your passing scores are only good for one year, so you’ll need to pass both sections by then to get your license. 

After failing the exam, you’ll be able to reschedule to take the exam again, which will cost you $42 in fees. This is why investing in a program like RE State Exam Prep can be a great investment the first time around and prevent additional fees from retesting. 

How to Pass the Colorado Real Estate Exam

Now that you know what to expect from the exam, you have to start studying! There's a lot of ground to cover since you'll be tested on EVERYTHING that you learned in your pre-licensing courses. That's why we assembled proven study strategies that have helped students pass the Colorado real estate exam on their first try.

Create a Study Schedule

Consistent studying is a major factor in passing your Colorado real estate exam. But what does a healthy study schedule look like, and how can you stay on track? It's simple – try and dedicate some time every night or at least every other night for studying. You don't have to pull an all-nighter, but a few focused hours consistently every week can make a big impact on your recall and help you remember all that information! 

Don’t have hours to spend every week? Try and dedicate a few minutes here and there. Even consistent, bite-sized learning can be more effective than no studying or intense cramming sessions.

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

Do you struggle to remember processes, facts or difficult terminology? Acronyms and mnemonic devices might be just what you need! These tried-and-true study methods essentially serve as memorization systems in your brain by using a simple word associated with a more complex one. You probably remember learning about Roy G. Biv in elementary school to learn the colors of the rainbow. Try creating your own mnemonic device for the next tricky phrase you come across!

Join a Study Group

If you struggle to motivate yourself for solo study sessions, consider joining a study group. Studying with other people who are also preparing to get their real estate license can be incredibly helpful in simplifying those complex topics, sharing resources, learning new studying methods, and, above all, holding yourself accountable. Not only will you have accountability and structure when it comes to studying, but you’ll get to meet new people in the process! Real estate is all about networking, so why not start now?

Get Guided Help

Although your real estate courses have provided you with a fundamental foundation, preparing for your exam requires a different set of materials and resources. This is where a guided exam preparation course, such as RE State Exam Prep, can be really useful in getting you ready for the exam.

Our Colorado real estate exam prep package offers a range of study materials and resources that will help get you prepared and ready when you sit down to take your licensing exam.

Instead of paying $42 to retake the Colorado exam if you fail, you can invest in our exam prep program, where you’ll get access to: 

• 1,500+ Colorado real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide
• Affordable!

We’ve helped over 50,000 registered students pass their licensing exams with a 90% pass rate. If you're unsure, we offer a free 3-day trial with no commitment required. You can see how our resources and study materials can help you ace your pre-licensing exam on the first try. 

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Colorado

Your Colorado real estate exam is one of the final stops on the way to getting your real estate license. And while it might be intimidating, it doesn’t have to be! Preparation and practice is the key to success when it comes to passing your licensing exam. 

If you’re looking for added support and help as you study for your exam, let our RE State Exam Prep program take your studying to the next level. You can rest assured that your investment will pay off with our pass guarantee, ensuring you pass the exam or get your money back. 

Ready to get started? Sign up today for our free 3-day trial to see how our resources can help you pass the Colorado real estate exam.

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