QUICK ANSWER
The Texas sales agent exam uses a raw-score standard, not a scaled score: you need 56 of 80 scored National items and 28 of 40 scored State items. Pearson VUE uses equating to keep different exam forms comparable, but the handbook still defines the examination score as the number answered correctly. The score report is marked pass or fail; when a portion is failed, Pearson includes its numeric score and content-area diagnostics. The handbook does not describe a curve or rank candidates against one another.
EXAM PREP ONLY
This guide explains how the Texas sales agent exam is scored. It is not legal or licensing advice. The scoring details come from the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook, which can change. Verify the current handbook before your test date.
Scoring confuses candidates because they assume real estate exams work like the SAT. They do not. Texas keeps it simple.
How is the Texas real estate exam scored?
Texas uses a raw score, which the Pearson VUE handbook defines as the number of questions answered correctly. The passing standard is 56 of 80 scored National items and 28 of 40 scored State items.
The handbook does not publish a percentile rank or a candidate-to-candidate curve. You reach the raw cut score on each portion or you do not. A completed report is marked pass or fail; a failed portion also receives a numeric score and diagnostic breakdown. For the cut scores and the must-pass-both rule, see what the passing score is.
Raw score vs scaled score
A raw score is the count of correct answers. A scaled score converts performance onto another reporting scale, such as 0 to 100 or 200 to 800. Pearson defines the Texas examination score as raw and publishes raw passing counts rather than a separate scaled cutoff.
This is the distinction candidates ask about most.
| Raw score (Texas uses this) | Scaled score (Texas does not) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The number of questions you answered correctly | The correct count converted onto a fixed scale |
| Reporting in Texas | Pass/fail; a failed portion includes a numeric raw score | A converted number on another scale |
| Passing mark | 56 of 80 national, 28 of 40 state, set by TREC | A scale cutoff |
| Handles form difficulty | Pearson equates forms so they are comparable | Built into the conversion |
Because Texas uses raw cut scores, the targets are concrete: 56 and 28. Remember that unscored pretest items are mixed into the appointment and do not affect the result. For the scored-item miss budgets, see how many you can miss.
Does Texas curve the exam?
The handbook does not describe a curve and does not say your result depends on other candidates. It publishes fixed raw passing counts. Therefore, another test taker's performance does not move your 56-question National or 28-question State target.
Pearson does use equating across exam forms, which addresses comparable form difficulty. That is different from ranking candidates against a group. The handbook does not disclose the equating calculation, so do not invent a formula from your score report.
What "equating" means
Pearson VUE says it uses a statistical procedure called equating to attain comparable difficulty across exam forms. It is not described as grading candidates against one another. The handbook nevertheless defines the examination score as the raw number of questions answered correctly and publishes raw passing counts.
People sometimes confuse equating with curving. They are different:
- Pearson uses equating to make different forms comparable in difficulty.
- The handbook does not publish the calculation on the candidate score report.
- The handbook still defines the examination score as raw and does not publish a separate scaled result.
So the handbook can say both that equating is used and that the score is reported as a raw number, and both are true.
What the score report shows
Every completed score report is marked pass or fail. If you fail a portion, Pearson says the report includes a numeric score, content-area diagnostic information, and re-examination information. The handbook does not promise a numeric breakdown for a passed portion.
For a failed portion, the diagnostic shows how many questions you answered correctly in each content area. For a full walkthrough of reading and acting on that report, see the score report guide, and use the study worksheet to turn it into a retake plan.
SCORE WHERE IT COUNTS
Raw scoring means every correct answer is a real point.
Pass Texas tracks your raw score on full national and state sets, so you know exactly how close you are to 56 and 28. Math Coach and Trap Library included. Native Texas exam prep. Original questions. No copied exam questions. Not affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE. Not a pass guarantee.
What the diagnostic does and does not tell you
The diagnostic shows the number of questions you answered correctly in each content area on a failed portion. The handbook calls it a general guide for study, so use it to target weak areas, but it does not reveal specific questions or your exact missed items.
The diagnostic is a study compass, not a transcript. It tells you which content areas were weak so you can focus your retake prep, but it does not show the actual questions, which are not released to candidates. Treat low-scoring areas as your priority, then drill them. The most commonly missed topics can help you read the signal, and if you failed a portion, the retake rules explain what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
For quick answers to every common Texas exam question, see the Texas real estate exam FAQ.
Is the Texas real estate exam scored on a raw or scaled basis?
Raw. Pearson defines the examination score as the number answered correctly and publishes raw cut scores: 56 of 80 National and 28 of 40 State. A completed report is marked pass or fail, and a failed portion includes its numeric score.
Is the Texas real estate exam curved?
The handbook does not describe a curve or ranking against other candidates. It publishes fixed raw passing counts and separately says Pearson equates different forms for comparable difficulty.
What is a scaled score, and does Texas use one?
A scaled score reports performance on another scale, such as 0 to 100. Pearson's Texas handbook instead defines the examination score as raw and publishes raw passing counts.
What does equating mean on the Texas exam?
Pearson VUE says equating is the statistical procedure used to attain comparable form difficulty. The handbook still defines the examination score as raw and does not publish a separate scaled result.
What does the diagnostic on my score report mean?
On a failed portion, the diagnostic shows how many questions you answered correctly in each content area. The handbook calls it a general study guide, so use it to target weak areas before a retake.
Does a hard exam day lower the passing score?
No candidate-group adjustment is described. Equating is used to keep forms comparable, while the published raw targets remain 56 and 28.
TRACK YOUR RAW SCORE
Know your raw number before Pearson tells you.
The free Texas practice exam scores a timed 25-question mock by portion, so you watch your raw score move toward 56 and 28 and see which side is dragging. Every miss comes with an explanation. No signup. Native Texas exam prep. Original questions. No copied exam questions. Not affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE. Not a 180-hour pre-license course or a pass guarantee.
Sources and Methodology
The scoring details were rechecked August 12, 2026 against Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook #094400, revision 05/2026. It defines the examination score as the raw number answered correctly, sets the sales-agent counts at 56 National and 28 State, and says equating is used to attain comparable form difficulty. It also says a failed portion receives a numeric score and diagnostic counts intended only as a general study guide. TREC Rule §535.57 confirms the 70 percent passing requirement for each sales-agent portion.
Official source links
- Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook
- Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate content outlines
- TREC: Become a Real Estate Sales Agent
- TREC Rule §535.57: Examinations
This post is educational content for Texas real estate sales agent candidates. It is not legal, tax, or licensing advice. Scoring, cut scores, and diagnostic reporting can change, so confirm the current Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook before you register or test.