Alaska Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

From rugged cabins to downtown condos, the homes in Alaska are varied and unique. As a real estate agent in Alaska, you can help clients find their dream home — wherever it may be in the state.

But first, you’ll need to pass the Alaska real estate licensing exam. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare for the exam, like:

• How to schedule the Alaska real estate licensing exam
• What’s on the exam?
• Is the Alaska real estate exam hard?
• Tips and tricks for passing the exam on the first try

Keep reading to learn how to pass the Alaska real estate exam and the best ways to prepare for exam day. 

How to Schedule the Alaska Real Estate Licensing Exam

If you’ve completed your 40 hours of pre-licensing real estate courses, you’ll be ready to schedule your real estate exam! This can be done easily online, right in the comfort of your own home.

You’ll need to head to Pearson VUE’s website to schedule your exam. Alaska has contracted with this third-party testing provider to administer the exam, so all scheduling and testing is done through them. Once you register, you’ll be prompted to pick a date for your exam and pay the application fee, which costs $100. 

Make sure you schedule your exam ahead of time — Pearson VUE doesn’t allow for walk-in appointments. 

Where Do You Take the Alaska Real Estate License Exam?

As you schedule your Alaska real estate exam, you’ll be asked to select the Pearson VUE testing location that’s most convenient to you. The good news is that Pearson VUE has a wide range of testing centers across the state to allow for convenient testing options. 

In Alaska, you can take the real estate exam at one of the following locations: 

• Anchorage - Pearson Professional Centers, Anchorage
• Bethel - Yuut Elitnaurviat - The People’s Learning Center
• Dillingham - University of Alaska Fairbanks-Bristol Bay Campus
• Fairbanks - University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Homer - Kenai Peninsula College
• Juneau - University of Alaska Southeast
• Ketchikan - University of Alaska Southeast
• Kodiak - Kodiak College
• Palmer - Matanuska-Susitna College
• Seward - Alaska Vocational Technical Center
• Sitka - University of Alaska Southeast

Can You Take the Exam Online?

Currently, the Alaska Real Estate licensing exam must be taken in person at one of the approved Pearson VUE test centers. While you’ll take the exam on a computer at the test center, Alaska doesn’t allow for at-home test taking. 

That means you’ll need to prepare ahead of time to take the exam in person on test day and ensure you’re able to get there on time. 

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

Now let's talk about the big day! When test day comes, you’ll want to be prepared with all the right materials to get checked in and ready for the test. 

On exam day, you’ll need to bring a primary ID and a secondary ID. A primary ID is considered a government-issued photo ID with a signature, like a passport, driver’s license, military ID or other approved forms of ID. You can bring a Social Security card or a debit or credit card for a secondary ID. This must have your signature and be valid (or non-expired.)

Everything else, like personal belongings, food, drinks, etc., should stay in your car or be left behind. The fewer items you have, the better!

What is on the Alaska Real Estate Exam?

By the time you sit down and take your exam, you should feel comfortable and familiar with all the material you’ll see on the exam. But that means taking the time now to prepare and get ready! Alaska has a clear outline of what’s on the exam, broken down into two sections — a national section and a state-specific Alaska section. 

On the national section, you’ll be quizzed on your general knowledge of real estate and basic principles, including: 

• Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, And Property Use (9 questions)
• Forms Of Ownership, Transfer, And Recording Of Title (8 questions)
• Property Value And Appraisal (11 questions)
• Real Estate Contracts And Agency (16 questions)
• Real Estate Practice (14 questions)
• Property Disclosures And Environmental Issues (8 questions)
• Financing And Settlement (7 questions)
• Real Estate Math Calculations (7 questions)

The state-specific portion of the exam includes questions unique to Alaska and its laws. You can expect the following sections: 

• Powers Of The Alaska Real Estate Commission (5% of questions)
• Licensing (5% of questions)
• Requirements Governing The Activities Of Licensees (76% of questions)
• Additional Topics (14% of questions)

With the right preparation and studying, you’ll feel confident on exam day and ready to ace each of these questions!

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

Don’t panic, but yes, the real estate exam has a few math questions. The good news is, 7 out of 120 questions are math related. But with the right strategy, you won’t need to worry when you see a math question pop up. 

To go a bit deeper, all of the math questions will be in the national portion of the exam. The goal is to make sure you understand basic real estate calculations like loan financing costs, how commission is calculated, and other measurements like square footage. 

Keep in mind that it’s only a small portion of the exam. So if you encounter a question you’re not sure about, either skip it or take a guess! 

Is the Alaska Real Estate Exam Hard?

By the time you sit down for the Alaska real estate exam, you’ll have passed 40 hours of a pre-licensing exam and hopefully studied! With the right preparation and knowledge, the Alaska real estate exam shouldn’t feel impossible. It’s meant to be difficult, but with the right studying and focus, you should feel confident heading into exam day. 

How Many Questions Are on the Alaska Real Estate Exam?

When it comes to your exam, only 120 questions stand between you and getting your real estate license in Alaska. As outlined above, the bulk of the test is in the national section, where you’ll have 80 questions on general real estate topics. The remaining 40 questions are on Alaska-specific information to help you stay compliant and licensed in the state. 

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

Unlike a lot of states, Alaska uses a scaled scoring system to gauge passing rates for the exam. This means your scoring is based on a number between 1 and 100, indicating how close you were to passing the exam. For the salesperson exam, you’ll need to get a 75 to pass. 

Once you submit your exam, you’ll see “Pass” or “Fail” to indicate your status. If you fail, you’ll get a diagnostic report that can help you prepare and study the areas in which you performed poorly. If you pass, you’ll get a score report that tells you how to apply for your full license. 

Unfortunately, if you fail one section but not the other, you’ll have to retake both sections to get your license.

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

The good news is that if you fail your Alaska real estate licensing exam, you can retake it as many times as you need until you pass. But remember that each time you retake the exam, you’ll have to pay the $100 examination fee, which can add up over time. 

To reschedule the exam, you’ll have to wait at least 24 hours after passing and then log in to Pearson VUE’s website to reschedule. 

How to Pass the Alaska Real Estate Exam

Prioritizing a study plan and implementing some extra help are the most important parts to ensuring you pass on the first time. Here are proven tips and tricks that resulted in students passing the Alaska real estate exam. 

Create a Study Schedule

If you’re not sure how you’ll fit studying into your daily life, creating a study schedule can help. Sit down and outline on a calendar which nights you’ll study and what material you’ll cover each night. This kind of structure can help guide you when life gets busy, or you’re not feeling very motivated. 

While it’s best to study every night leading up to the exam, even 15 or 30 minutes every other night can do wonders to help you retain the information and prepare you for the big test. Give yourself the time you need to study ahead of time so you can walk in confidently on exam day!

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

A fun and helpful way to remember real estate vocabulary words is by using acronyms or mnemonic devices. This strategy involves creating a phrase or acronym that is pretty simple to remember and connects back to a real estate term or process.

Join a Study Group

Joining a study group is a great way to expand your social circle and connect with others who share your goal. Plus, you may also discover new ways to learn and comprehend the material. You’ll learn quickly that in the world of real estate, networking is key. So, getting a head start by studying with fellow students is a great way to start building relationships early. 

Get Guided Help

Preparing for the Alaska real estate exam requires the right resources to set you up for success — which is often easier said than done. But, investing in a guided help prep course, like RE State Exam Prep, is a cost-effective way to get the help you need. 

Our Alaska real estate exam prep package provides access to valuable practice tests and study guides that can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide the professional insight you need to pass the exam.

With our packages starting at $49.99, you’ll get access to 

• Over 1,500 Alaska real estate exam practice questions 
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations by real estate experts
• E-book study guide
• And so much more

We take pride in the fact that 90% of our students pass the exam, and we’ve helped more than 50,000 registered students pass their licensing exams. Not sure it’s a good fit for you? You can sign up for a free 3-day trial to experience for yourself how our material can help you prepare for your Alaska real estate exam. 

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in Alaska

When exam day comes, you want to feel confident and ready to ace the Alaska real estate exam and get your real estate license! 

With the help of our RE State Exam Prep program, you can have the added support and resources you need to pass your licensing exam.