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Pennsylvania · Real Estate practice

Pennsylvania Real Estate Salesperson Practice Exam

Pennsylvania's salesperson exam is given by Pearson VUE for the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. It has a national portion and a state portion. These facts come from the October 2026 candidate handbook.

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The exam at a glance

National portion: 80 scored questions plus 5 to 10 unscored pretest questions, 150 minutes. State portion: 40 scored questions plus 5 to 10 pretest questions, 60 minutes. You need a scaled score of 75 on each portion.

What a scaled score means

Pennsylvania converts your raw score to a scale from 0 to 100, so that different versions of the test are equally hard. A scaled 75 is not the same as 75% correct. Only candidates who fail see a number on their score report.

How to study

Treat the two portions as two tests. The national portion covers general real estate principles. The state portion covers Pennsylvania law and Commission rules. Practice each portion under its own time limit.

How passMarker helps

Practice the national and state portions separately, with explanations for every answer. Start with the free diagnostic.

Original sample practice questions

Study examples from the learner-approved practice bank. These are not live exam questions. Open each answer to see the explanation and source reference.

1. In a jurisdiction applying the general principles stated here, which item is most likely real property rather than personal property?

  1. A portable toolbox stored in a garage
  2. A freestanding sofa that can be moved without attachment
  3. A permanent building constructed on the land
  4. A removable area rug
Show answer and explanation

Answer C. Real property includes land and permanent features above or below it. A permanent building is therefore real property, while the movable household items are personal property.

Source: real property | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute, checked Oct 26 2026

2. Assume a jurisdiction applies the modern common-law presumption described in the source. A deed conveys land to Priya and does not state any lesser estate. What interest is presumptively conveyed?

  1. Life estate
  2. Fee simple
  3. Fee simple determinable
  4. Tenancy in common
Show answer and explanation

Answer B. A modern grant is presumed to convey fee simple unless its text specifically indicates that a lesser interest is being transferred. Because the deed states no lesser estate, the presumed interest is fee simple.

Source: Cornell Wex, “fee simple” — opening paragraph on modern presumption, checked Oct. 26, 2026

3. For a federally related transaction, the sales comparison approach is applicable and necessary to the assignment. What must the appraisal do?

  1. Include the applicable sales comparison approach and reconcile the applicable approaches to reach an estimated market value
  2. Use only the sales comparison approach and omit all other applicable approaches
  3. Replace the sales comparison approach with a broker price opinion
  4. Omit the sales comparison approach whenever the subject has a recent contract price
Show answer and explanation

Answer A. When the sales comparison approach is applicable and necessary, it must be included. The appraiser must analyze and reconcile information from applicable approaches to arrive at an estimated market value.

Source: Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines § IX, Appraisal Development (checked Oct. 26, 2026)

4. Assume the governing state's general contract law follows the stated national principle. A buyer makes a purchase offer, and the seller accepts it. Which contract element is shown by these facts?

  1. A remedy for breach
  2. Mutual assent
  3. Capacity
  4. Legality
Show answer and explanation

Answer B. An offer and an acceptance demonstrate mutual assent, one of the basic elements of a legally enforceable contract.

Source: contract — opening list of basic elements, checked Oct 26 2026

5. A landlord advertises an otherwise available apartment but refuses to rent it to a family because they have children. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, which conclusion is correct?

  1. The refusal is permitted because familial status applies only to home purchases.
  2. The refusal is permitted if the landlord applies it only to new applicants.
  3. The refusal is prohibited only when the apartment receives federal funding.
  4. The refusal is prohibited discrimination based on familial status.
Show answer and explanation

Answer D. Familial status is one of the protected bases listed by HUD. A refusal to rent because applicants have children is housing discrimination based on familial status; the supplied HUD source states that discrimination is illegal in nearly all housing, including private housing.

Source: HUD, Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act—Who Is Protected?, checked Oct 26 2026

6. Assume a dwelling is covered pre-1978 housing under the federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule. When must the required lead-related information be provided to a prospective buyer or renter?

  1. Only after the buyer or renter requests it
  2. After closing or move-in
  3. At the first annual lease renewal
  4. Before the buyer signs the contract or the renter signs the lease
Show answer and explanation

Answer D. For covered housing, the disclosure obligation must be completed before the prospective party signs the applicable purchase contract or lease. Waiting until closing, occupancy, or renewal would not satisfy the stated timing requirement.

Source: EPA, “Requirements Under the Disclosure Rule,” checked Oct 26 2026

7. Assume general U.S. real-estate financing principles. A buyer signs a written, signed instrument containing an unconditional promise to pay the lender a fixed amount of money. What instrument is this?

  1. A promissory note
  2. A mortgage
  3. A lien
  4. A deed of trust
Show answer and explanation

Answer A. A promissory note is the borrower’s written and signed unconditional promise to pay a fixed sum. It evidences the payment obligation rather than the real-property security for that obligation.

Source: Wex, “promissory note,” heading “promissory note” (checked Oct. 26, 2026)

8. Under Pennsylvania RELRA, how many members of the State Real Estate Commission must represent the public at large?

  1. Five
  2. Six
  3. Three
  4. Two
Show answer and explanation

Answer C. The Commission includes three members who represent the public at large. These public members are distinct from the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs, the consumer-protection representative, and the professional-member categories.

Source: RELRA § 202(a), checked Oct. 26, 2026

9. Assuming no statutory exemption applies, which license must a person obtain before acting in the capacity of a real estate salesperson within Pennsylvania?

  1. The person need only register a business name.
  2. The person may act once the examination fee is paid.
  3. The person may act if the client signs a waiver of licensure.
  4. The person must obtain the appropriate Pennsylvania salesperson license.
Show answer and explanation

Answer D. RELRA § 301 requires the appropriate license before a person acts as a salesperson unless a statutory exemption applies. Registering a business name, paying an examination fee or obtaining a client's waiver does not replace that license. This question tests licensure, not the separate broker-affiliation requirement.

Source: RELRA § 301, checked Oct 26 2026

10. At an in-person initial interview with an individual seeking to buy a residence, what must a Pennsylvania licensee provide, assuming no stated exception applies?

  1. The applicable written disclosure summary at the initial interview
  2. A signed buyer-representation agreement before discussing any property
  3. A written disclosure summary only after the consumer submits an offer
  4. An oral disclosure only, with the written summary due at the first property showing
Show answer and explanation

Answer A. For an in-person initial interview with a consumer seeking to purchase real estate, the licensee must provide the applicable disclosure summary at that interview. The consumer notice describes business-relationship choices; it is not itself a requirement that a representation agreement be signed before the interview.

Source: 49 Pa. Code § 35.284(a)(1), checked Oct 26 2026

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the PA real estate exam?

80 scored national and 40 scored state questions, plus 5 to 10 pretest questions in each portion.

What is the passing score?

A scaled score of 75 on each portion.

Is 75 the same as 75% correct?

No. It is a scaled score from 0 to 100, not a percent of questions right.

How long is each portion?

150 minutes national, 60 minutes state.

Official sources

Source information reviewed November 11, 2026. Policies can change; confirm requirements with the licensing agency before booking.

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