QUICK ANSWER
To pass the Texas real estate sales agent exam, TREC requires at least 70% on each portion. Under Pearson VUE's current format, that means 56 correct answers out of 80 scored National questions and 28 correct answers out of 40 scored State questions. Pearson reports the result as a raw score. You must pass both portions separately, so a high score on one cannot offset a failing score on the other.
YOU MUST PASS BOTH PORTIONS
There is no combined or averaged score. The national portion and the Texas state portion each have their own pass line. Clear one but miss the other and you have not passed the exam yet. While the application remains active, you retake only the failed portion. TREC may waive the national portion for an applicant who holds an equivalent active license in another state and passed a comparable nationally accredited or certified examination.
EXAM PREP ONLY
This guide explains the Texas sales agent exam passing standard. It is not legal or licensing advice. Cut scores are set by TREC and reported in the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook, which can change. Verify the current handbook and TREC before your test date.
The passing score question has a clean answer and one trap that fails people who think they passed. Here is both.
This page owns the passing-score answer. Use the Texas real estate exam format guide for sections and pretest items, or the complete Texas real estate exam guide for the full study-to-test roadmap.
What is the passing score on the Texas real estate exam?
TREC Rule 535.57 requires a sales agent applicant to attain at least 70% on each portion. Under Pearson VUE's current exam format, the corresponding raw-score cuts are 56 of 80 scored National items and 28 of 40 scored State items.
| Portion | Scored items | Correct answers to pass | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 | 56 | 70% |
| Texas state | 40 | 28 | 70% |
The two sources answer different parts of the question. TREC supplies the regulatory standard: at least 70% on each portion. Pearson reports the operational result as a raw score, meaning the number of questions answered correctly. Both descriptions are official and consistent because 56 of 80 and 28 of 40 each equal exactly 70%.
The exam is not curved against other candidates
Texas does not grade your exam against how other candidates perform. TREC requires at least 70% on each portion, and Pearson's current reported passing lines are 56 correct on National and 28 correct on State.
Pearson uses a statistical process called equating to keep different exam forms comparable in difficulty. Equating is not the same as ranking candidates against one another. Your reported result remains the raw number of questions answered correctly, and you must meet the applicable passing line on each portion.
Because the score is reported as a raw number, partial credit and "close enough" do not exist. Fifty-six correct national answers passes that portion; 55 does not.
You must pass both portions separately
The national and Texas state portions are scored independently, and you must pass each one. Scoring 70 of 80 on national does not help a 24 of 40 on state. You only retake the portion you failed.
This is the trap. Candidates see one strong portion and assume they passed.
The handbook is explicit that you must pass both portions, and TREC gives each passed section its own one-year validity period. While the application is active, retake only the failed portion. If the application expires, reapply before the passed result reaches one year old to keep that section. See what happens if you fail one portion and the retake rules and edge cases.
So treat the two portions as two separate tests that happen to share an appointment.
Why it is not "70 percent of everything on screen"
The 70% standard applies to scored items. Pearson VUE presents unscored pretest questions alongside scored questions, but pretest items do not affect the passing calculation.
Do not calculate your target from the total number of questions displayed. Your sales-agent passing targets remain 56 of the 80 scored National items and 28 of the 40 scored State items. The Texas real estate exam format guide explains the published item-count discrepancy, and how many questions are on the exam provides the complete count breakdown.
Since pretest items look identical to scored items, answer every question as if it counts.
Sales agent vs broker passing scores
Sales agent candidates need 56 of 80 national and 28 of 40 state. Broker candidates need 60 national and 38 state. If you are getting a sales agent license, the 56 and 28 are your numbers.
| Exam | National to pass | State to pass |
|---|---|---|
| Sales agent | 56 | 28 |
| Broker | 60 | 38 |
The broker numbers exist because the broker exam is longer and structured differently. Do not study to the broker cut score by mistake. Your sales agent targets are 56 and 28.
CLEAR BOTH CUT SCORES
Practice to 56 and 28 with a cushion.
Pass Texas drills full national and Texas state sets so you can see whether you are clearing each cut score before test day, not after. 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 happens if you fail one portion
If you fail a portion, the score report shows how many questions you answered correctly in each content area on that failed portion. While the application is active, you retake only the failed portion. TREC Rule §535.57 requires additional qualifying education after a third consecutive failed examination.
The category counts identify where your result was weakest, but Pearson calls them a general study guide rather than a list of the questions you missed. Use them to choose the first repair blocks.
The three-attempt rule explains the extra education required after the triggering examination: 30 qualifying classroom hours if one part was failed or 60 hours if both parts were failed. If one section keeps beating you, work through how to pass the section you keep failing.
Frequently Asked Questions
For quick answers to every common Texas exam question, see the Texas real estate exam FAQ.
What is a passing score on the Texas real estate exam?
TREC requires at least 70% on each portion. Under Pearson VUE's current format, that means 56 of 80 scored National items and 28 of 40 scored State items. Pearson reports the results as raw scores, and you must pass both portions separately.
Is the Texas real estate exam passing score 70 percent?
Yes. TREC Rule 535.57 requires at least 70% on each portion. Pearson's current handbook expresses that standard as raw-score cuts of 56 correct on the 80-item National portion and 28 correct on the 40-item State portion.
Do I have to pass both the national and state portions?
Yes, for candidates without a waiver. The portions are scored independently and there is no averaging. While the application is active, you retake only the failed portion. TREC may waive National for an applicant who holds an equivalent active license in another state and passed a comparable nationally accredited or certified examination.
Does Texas curve the real estate exam?
No. Pearson uses equating to keep different exam forms comparable, but candidates are not graded against one another. Pearson reports a raw score, and you must meet the applicable passing line on each portion.
Do pretest questions affect whether I pass?
No. Pretest items are unscored and do not count toward your raw score. The 56 and 28 cut scores apply to the 80 and 40 scored items only, even though you see more questions on screen.
What score do brokers need to pass?
Broker candidates need 60 correct on the national portion and 38 on the state portion. Sales agent candidates need 56 and 28. Make sure you study to your own exam.
KNOW THE NUMBER, THEN BEAT IT
Find out if you are above the line yet.
The free readiness check asks a few questions about how you have been studying and tells you whether you look close to exam-ready or should keep drilling before you book. Use it to decide your next move toward clearing 56 on national and 28 on state. 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
Reverified September 1, 2026. TREC Rule 535.57 establishes the regulatory passing requirement: a sales agent applicant must attain at least 70% on each portion. The Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook explains raw-score reporting and gives the current operational cuts of 56 National and 28 State for sales agent candidates and 60 National and 38 State for broker candidates. The handbook also explains pretest items, score reports, and equating. TREC Rule 535.57 separately controls one-year section validity, examination waivers, and the consecutive-failure education requirement.
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: Provider Exam Passage Rates
- TREC Rule 535.57: Examinations
- TREC FAQ: passed section after application expiration
This post is educational content for Texas real estate sales agent candidates. It is not legal, tax, or licensing advice. Passing standards, item counts, and exam structure can change, so confirm the current Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook and TREC requirements before you register or test.