Illinois real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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Illinois exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate Illinois has no 'salesperson' license: the entry-level license is 'Broker' (sponsored by a managing broker); 'Residential Leasing Agent' is a separate narrower license. All figures below are for the Broker exam. | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | PSI Services LLC Candidate Information Booklet dated 6/24/2026. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 100 Broker national portion: 100 items (100 points); 5-10 unscored experimental questions may be added. | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 40 Broker state portion: 40 items (40 points). | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 240 National 150 min + State 90 min = 240 min. | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | National 70% (equivalent to previously reported scaled 75); State 75% | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $58 Broker exam $58 (managing broker $58; residential leasing agent $37). Fee forfeited if no test within 1 year. | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 75 75 class hours: Broker Pre-License Topics (60 hrs) + Applied Real Estate Principles-Interactive (15 hrs); valid 2 years after completion. | Official source | Link |
| Languages | English No other exam language is listed in the official handbook/bulletin; English-only is inferred from silence. | Secondary source | Link |
| Active licensees | 49812 Licensed Real Estate Broker (entry-level) = 49,812 active as of Sept 1, 2026 (profession 475). Also 13,763 managing brokers, 3,044 residential leasing agents. Count basis (in-state + out-of-state) not stated in this r… | Official source | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 1.7 minutes each (240 minutes ÷ 140 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak Illinois score.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: Up to FOUR attempts per portion within a 2-year eligibility period; after a 4th failure the 75-hour pre-license education and the entire exam must be retaken. Must apply to IDFPR within 1 year of passing. Pass one portion/fail other: repeat only failed portion. National broker exam includes scenario-based 'best answer' items scored up to 2 points. Course certificate upload to PSI required for eligibility.
State-portion topics published for Illinois
- Licensing requirements (10%, 4 items)
- Illinois Real Estate License Act (40%, 16 items) - agency, advertising, sponsored licensee/sponsoring broker, brokerage agreements, compensation, teams, handling of monies/documents, discipline, CMA/BPO
- Additional Illinois laws and regulations affecting practice (25%, 10 items) - ownership interests, unauthorized practice, transfer taxes, title, Plat Act, Human Rights Act/fair housing advertising, Landlord Tenant Act, Commercial Broker Lien Act, Radon Resistant Construction
- Disclosures (25%, 10 items) - designated agency, Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, environmental
Sample Illinois practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. Illinois-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
The contract that defines a property manager's authority, duties, compensation, and term is the:
- Management agreement
- Proprietary lease
- Rent roll
- Estoppel certificate
Answer: A. The management agreement sets out what the manager may do for the owner, including collecting rents, hiring vendors, and making repairs, along with spending limits, reporting duties, fees, and how either party may terminate.
Topic: Property Management & Specialty Areas · Source: Restatement (Third) of Agency (2006)
An adjustable-rate mortgage's interest rate is typically determined by:
- A fixed rate set by the Federal Reserve
- The borrower's income
- An index plus a margin
- The original appraised value
Answer: C. The index is a published benchmark that moves with the market, and the margin is a fixed percentage that the lender adds. The sum is the fully indexed rate, which may be limited by rate caps.
Topic: Real Estate Finance · Source: 12 C.F.R. § 1026.18 and § 1026.20 (closed-end and adjustable-rate disclosures)
Under the Uniform Condominium Act, real property taxes in a condominium are generally assessed:
- On each unit separately, as its own parcel
- On the association, as one parcel for the building
- On the developer, until every unit has been sold
- On the common elements only, with no unit bills
Answer: A. The Uniform Condominium Act treats each unit, together with its interest in the common elements, as a separate parcel of real estate, and requires each unit to be separately taxed and assessed. The common elements are not separately taxed, except for any portion on which the declarant has reserved development rights.
Topic: Property Management & Specialty Areas · Source: Uniform Condominium Act § 1-105 (1980), as enacted in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-1-105
Try the full 20-question Illinois quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Illinois real estate exam?
The Illinois exam format we found is 100 national questions plus 40 Illinois questions (140 in total) in 240 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Illinois real estate exam?
National 70% (equivalent to previously reported scaled 75); State 75% (Official source).
How much does the Illinois real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $58, paid to PSI Services LLC. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Illinois require?
75 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Official sources for Illinois
- Regulator: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate
- Exam provider: PSI Services LLC
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.