QUICK ANSWER
The Texas real estate exam has a national portion and a Texas state portion. Pearson's 2026 handbook lists 150 minutes for the sales national portion, 90 minutes for the sales state portion, and 240 minutes if both portions are taken in one appointment. The national outline lists 80 scored items plus 5 pretest items, and the Texas sales agent state outline lists 40 scored items plus 10 pretest items. Pearson's appointment table lists the sales national portion at 85 items, the state portion at 50 items, and both portions together at 125 items. Sales agent candidates need 56 correct answers on national and 28 correct answers on state. This article is educational exam prep for Texas sales agent candidates, not legal, tax, brokerage, or licensing advice.
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The Texas real estate exam format matters because it changes how you study.
If you only ask, "How many questions are on the Texas real estate exam?" you can miss the more useful point: the exam is split into two separately scored portions. National and state are different skill sets. They have different content outlines, different time allocations, different item counts, and separate passing thresholds.
That means a strong national score does not cover a weak Texas state score. A candidate has to pass both portions.
Use this article to understand the structure before you build a study plan. The format tells you how to divide your time, which topics deserve heavier practice, how to treat pretest items, and how to read a score report if you need a retake.
Texas Real Estate Exam Format Summary
Snippet answer: The Texas sales agent exam has two separately scored portions. The national portion shows 85 items (80 scored plus 5 pretest) in 150 minutes. The Texas state portion shows 50 items (40 scored plus 10 pretest) in 90 minutes. Pearson's appointment table lists both together as 125 items in 240 minutes. You must pass each portion: 56 correct on national and 28 on state.
For Texas sales agent candidates, think in portions:
| Portion | Appointment items listed by Pearson | Scored items in outline | Pretest items in outline | Time listed by Pearson | Passing raw score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales national | 85 | 80 | 5 | 150 minutes | 56 |
| Sales state | 50 | 40 | 10 | 90 minutes | 28 |
| Both in one appointment | 125 | 120 | See note | 240 minutes | Pass both portions separately |
Pearson lists these counts in two separate documents, an appointment table and the content outlines, so the combined appointment figure of 125 does not exactly equal the 120 scored plus 15 pretest from the outlines. Treat the appointment table and the outlines as separate references and verify current numbers with Pearson VUE.
The most important sentence in this article is this: study and scoring are portion-specific.
You are not trying to earn one combined score. You are trying to pass the national portion and pass the Texas state portion.
Safe Wording Around Texas Real Estate Exam Item Counts
Item-count wording can get messy because candidates see different summaries in different places. The safest way to explain the Texas sales agent exam is by portion.
Use this wording:
| Safe wording | Why it works |
|---|---|
| "The sales national portion is listed as 85 appointment items, with 80 scored items and 5 pretest items in the outline." | It separates what appears in the appointment table from the scored/pretest breakdown. |
| "The Texas sales agent state portion is listed as 50 appointment items, with 40 scored items and 10 pretest items in the outline." | It separates the appointment count from the scored/pretest breakdown. |
| "Pearson's appointment table lists both portions together as 125 items in 240 minutes, and the outlines count 120 scored across the two portions." | It reports the appointment table and the outlines without forcing them to reconcile exactly. |
| "Sales candidates need 56 correct on national and 28 correct on state." | It matches Pearson's raw-score explanation. |
Avoid saying only "the Texas real estate exam has X questions" without explaining the national and state portions. That wording is less useful because it hides the two separate pass/fail targets.
The better candidate question is not "What is the total?" It is "How do I pass each portion?"
Texas Real Estate Exam National Portion
Snippet answer: The national portion shows 85 items (80 scored plus 5 pretest), runs 150 minutes, and requires 56 correct of the 80 scored items to pass. It tests general real estate and federal concepts, not Texas law.
The national portion tests general real estate knowledge and federal concepts. It is not Texas-specific, but Texas candidates still need to pass it.
Pearson's national/general content outline for salespersons says the national portion has 80 scored items and 5 pretest items. Pearson's handbook lists the national appointment row as 85 items and 150 minutes.
The national outline is built around eight areas:
| National area | Scored items in sales outline | What to study |
|---|---|---|
| Real property characteristics, legal descriptions, and property use | 11 | Fixtures, legal descriptions, land use, easements, encumbrances, zoning, and property characteristics. |
| Forms of ownership, transfer, and recording of title | 9 | Estates, liens, deeds, title transfer, recording, notice, and title concepts. |
| Property value and appraisal | 11 | Market value, approaches to value, CMA/BPO concepts, depreciation, income approach, and value principles. |
| Real estate contracts and agency | 16 | Valid contracts, performance, breach, sales contracts, agency creation, termination, and licensee duties. |
| Real estate practice | 10 | Brokerage agreements, property management, fair housing, risk management, antitrust, and supervision. |
| Property disclosures and environmental issues | 9 | Lead-based paint, environmental hazards, disclosure duties, liability, and federal environmental concepts. |
| Financing and settlement | 7 | Loan types, lender requirements, TRID, RESPA, ECOA, closing, and settlement concepts. |
| Real estate math calculations | 7 | Area, valuation, commission, loan costs, closing costs, prorations, investments, and property management math. |
The national portion is broad. The trap is studying it like a vocabulary list. Pearson's outline says items can test knowledge, application, or analysis, so candidates need more than recall.
| If the question asks you to | The skill being tested |
|---|---|
| Define a term | Knowledge |
| Apply a rule to a short scenario | Application |
| Decide what a fact pattern means | Analysis |
| Choose the safest action | Application plus judgment |
| Calculate a number from a business situation | Setup plus math |
The national portion rewards candidates who can move from concept to scenario.
Texas Real Estate Exam State Portion
Snippet answer: The Texas state portion shows 50 items (40 scored plus 10 pretest), runs 90 minutes, and requires 28 correct of the 40 scored items to pass. It tests Texas-specific rules: TREC and TRELA, agency and intermediary brokerage, promulgated contract forms, and Texas law.
The Texas state portion is where candidates must shift from general real estate knowledge to Texas-specific rules.
Pearson's Texas sales agent state law outline says the state portion has 40 scored items plus 10 pretest items, and Pearson's handbook lists the state appointment row as 50 items and 90 minutes.
The Texas sales agent state outline currently includes:
| Texas state area | Items in the state outline | What to study |
|---|---|---|
| Agency and brokerage | 11 | Disclosure, intermediary, duties to clients, minimum services, broker-sales agent relationships, and broker responsibility. |
| Standards of conduct | 9 | Ethics, discipline, unauthorized practice of law, trust accounts, fee splitting, rebates, and advertising. |
| Contracts and promulgated forms | 9 | Promulgated contracts, forms, addenda, statute of frauds, and seller disclosure requirements. |
| Special topics | 5 | Community property, homestead, DTPA, landlord-tenant issues, foreclosure, liens, recording, HOA issues, and related Texas topics. |
| Commission duties and powers | 3 | TREC powers, complaints, hearings, penalties, discipline, and recovery trust account concepts. |
| Licensing | 3 | Activities requiring a license, exemptions, sponsorship, education, background checks, inactive status, and renewal ideas. |
The state portion feels different because the answer choices often turn on Texas wording. A candidate who knows generic agency law may still miss intermediary questions. A candidate who understands contracts generally may still miss Texas promulgated form issues.
Study the state portion as a Texas exam, not as a national exam with Texas labels.
How The Texas Real Estate Exam Is Scored
Snippet answer: Texas reports a raw score, the plain count of correct answers, not a percentage and not a scaled score. You pass with 56 of 80 scored national items and 28 of 40 scored state items, which is 70% of each portion, and you must pass both separately.
Pearson's handbook says the examination score is reported as a raw score, meaning the number of questions answered correctly.
For sales agent candidates:
| Portion | Passing raw score |
|---|---|
| National | 56 correct |
| State | 28 correct |
This is why candidates should not think only in percentages. Pearson gives the pass threshold as a number of correct answers.
The important scoring rules:
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| National and state are separate | You must pass both. |
| Raw score means correct answers | It is not a letter grade or a course percentage. |
| Pretest items do not count | But you will not know which items are pretest. |
| A passed portion can carry forward within the application window | If you fail one portion, you retake only the failed portion as long as the retake is inside the allowed period. |
| Diagnostic information is for study | If you fail, use it to find weak areas, not to guess future questions. |
The practical target should be higher than the passing raw score. Do not aim to barely reach 56 or 28 in practice. Build a buffer, especially on the Texas state portion.
What Pretest Items Mean
Pretest items are questions Pearson uses to collect data for future examinations. They do not affect your score.
But there is one catch: pretest items are mixed in with scored items and are not identified.
That means:
| Candidate question | Best answer |
|---|---|
| Can I tell which items are pretest? | No. Treat every item as if it counts. |
| Should I skip weird questions because they might be pretest? | No. Answer the best you can and move on. |
| Do pretest items change my passing raw score? | No. The pass thresholds are based on scored items. |
| Should I spend extra time trying to spot experimental questions? | No. That wastes time and creates anxiety. |
The right mindset is simple: if it is on the screen, answer it.
Texas Real Estate Exam Time Limit
Snippet answer: Pearson VUE allows 150 minutes for the national portion and 90 minutes for the state portion. Taken in one appointment, the sales agent exam is 240 minutes, or 4 hours, total.
Pearson's handbook lists the following sales exam time limits:
| Appointment | Time |
|---|---|
| Sales national | 150 minutes |
| Sales state | 90 minutes |
| Sales national and state together | 240 minutes |
The handbook also says candidates are given 240 minutes, or 4 hours, total when taking the state and national portions together.
Time pressure is different by portion:
| Portion | Time feel | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| National | More broad content, more total items | Spending too long on long national scenarios or math. |
| State | Fewer scored items, heavier Texas wording | Rushing because the section feels shorter. |
| Both together | Four-hour stamina test | Losing focus late in the appointment. |
The timing strategy is not to rush. It is to keep questions moving.
Time Management Strategy
Use a simple three-pass system:
| Pass | What to do | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| First pass | Answer questions you can solve cleanly. Mark hard ones. | You bank points without getting stuck. |
| Second pass | Return to marked questions and eliminate choices. | Hard questions become easier after the first pass pressure drops. |
| Final pass | Check unanswered or guessed items if time allows. | You reduce careless blank or misread errors. |
For math, name the unknown before calculating. For state law, identify the Texas rule before choosing the answer. For scenario questions, read the facts first and answer from the scenario, not from memory alone.
What Your Score Report Means
Pearson says candidates receive a score report marked pass or fail when they complete the exam.
If you pass, the score report confirms the result. If you fail, Pearson says the report includes a numeric score and diagnostic information for the failed portion.
Use the failed score report carefully:
| Score-report signal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weak national category | Review the matching national outline area, then answer mixed national questions. |
| Weak Texas state category | Drill Texas law and forms, not just general real estate concepts. |
| Low math performance | Practice setup types, not only formulas. |
| State failure with national pass | Protect the passed portion and focus on Texas-specific practice. |
| National failure with state pass | Rebuild broad real estate concepts and timed mixed practice. |
Do not retake because you are angry. Retake after you know what changed.
What Happens If You Fail One Portion?
Snippet answer: If you fail one portion, you retake only that portion, within one year of filing your application. You wait 24 hours to reschedule and pay the $43 fee again. After three failed attempts you must complete additional qualifying education before retesting.
Pearson's handbook says candidates who fail need to retake only the failed portion, as long as they do so within one year from the date the application was filed with TREC.
That is good news, but it can also create a trap. Some candidates pass one portion, fail the other, and then treat the failed portion as a small problem. It may not be small. It may reveal exactly where your prep was too thin.
Use this repair map:
| Failed portion | Likely issue | Best repair |
|---|---|---|
| National | Broad concepts, math, finance, contracts, disclosures, or practice questions were too weak. | Rebuild by outline category and use mixed timed sets. |
| State | Texas agency, TREC rules, forms, standards of conduct, contracts, or special topics were weak. | Drill Texas-specific scenarios and study the state outline. |
| Both | The issue is not just one topic. It is probably study method, timing, or weak explanations. | Reset the plan with diagnostics, targeted practice, and review. |
Pearson's handbook also says candidates must wait 24 hours before scheduling re-examination, and the exam fee must be paid at reservation.
How To Study For Each Section
Study national and state differently.
| Portion | Best study method | What not to do |
|---|---|---|
| National | Build broad concept fluency, then practice mixed questions. | Do not memorize definitions without scenarios. |
| State | Drill Texas law, forms, agency, conduct, contracts, and special topics. | Do not rely on generic national prep. |
| Math | Learn setup types and practice under light time pressure. | Do not hunt for formulas after reading the numbers. |
| Scenario questions | Read the fact pattern, identify parties and documents, answer from the scenario. | Do not import facts that are not given. |
The sequence:
- Read the outline so you know what is testable.
- Take a diagnostic set.
- Label every miss by category and cause.
- Review the rule.
- Practice focused questions.
- Switch to mixed timed questions.
- Repeat only where the miss pattern remains active.
Practice is only useful if review is honest. The explanation matters more than the score.
How To Split Your Study Time
There is no perfect study split for every candidate, but the exam format gives you a starting point.
If you are early in prep, use this split:
| Study block | Suggested share | Why |
|---|---|---|
| National concepts | 35% | The national portion is broad and has more scored items. |
| Texas state law | 35% | The state portion is smaller but more Texas-specific and easy to underprepare. |
| Math | 15% | Math is limited but high-stress for many candidates. |
| Scenario and mixed practice | 15% | The exam rewards application, not just labeled chapter recall. |
If your exam is close, change the split based on your actual misses:
| Practice result | Adjust this way |
|---|---|
| National below target, state strong | Shift more time to broad national concepts and mixed national sets. |
| State below target, national strong | Shift more time to TREC rules, agency, contracts, forms, standards of conduct, and special topics. |
| Math errors keep appearing | Drill setup types daily in small sessions. |
| You know rules but miss scenarios | Practice application and analysis questions, not more passive reading. |
| You run out of time | Add timed mixed sets and practice marking hard questions. |
Do not split time based only on item count. Split time based on item count plus weakness.
If You Take National And State The Same Day
Many candidates take both portions in one appointment. Pearson lists 240 minutes total when both portions are taken together.
The risk is not only time. It is mental fatigue.
Use this same-day strategy:
| Moment | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before the appointment | Review both portions, but do not cram a new topic the morning of the exam. |
| First hard question | Mark it and move on if you are stuck. The exam is too long to wrestle early. |
| Math question | Name the unknown, identify the base number, calculate, then check units. |
| Texas state wording | Slow down and ask whether the issue is licensing, agency, conduct, contract, form, or special topic. |
| Scenario question | Read the facts before answering. Do not import facts that are not given. |
| Final minutes | Check unanswered or marked items. Do not change answers without a reason. |
The goal is not to feel confident every minute. The goal is to keep making clean decisions.
Final Format Checklist
Before test day, you should be able to answer these without looking them up:
| Question | Candidate-ready answer |
|---|---|
| How many portions are there? | National and Texas state. |
| Are they scored together? | No. You pass each portion separately. |
| How long is the national portion? | Pearson lists 150 minutes for sales national. |
| How long is the state portion? | Pearson lists 90 minutes for sales state. |
| How long if both are taken together? | Pearson lists 240 minutes total. |
| How many scored national items are in the outline? | 80 scored items. |
| How many national pretest items are in the outline? | 5 pretest items. |
| How many scored Texas state items are in the outline? | 40 scored items, plus 10 pretest items. |
| How many items in the combined sales agent appointment? | Pearson's appointment table lists 125 items; the outlines count 120 scored across both portions. |
| What raw score passes national? | 56 correct. |
| What raw score passes state? | 28 correct. |
| Can you identify pretest items? | No. Answer every item. |
| If you fail one portion, do you retake both? | Pearson says candidates retake only the failed portion within the allowed application window. |
If any answer feels fuzzy, fix that before you schedule or retake.
KNOW THE FORMAT. NOW PRACTICE IT.
Turn national, state, math, and scenario gaps into a plan.
The Texas real estate exam prep app is built for Texas sales agent candidates: original Texas-focused practice questions, national and state review, math drills, scenario practice, flashcards, and weak-area feedback. Use it to see which portion still needs work before you schedule or retake. 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.
Common Format Mistakes
| Mistake | Why it costs points |
|---|---|
| Studying for one combined exam | National and state have separate pass thresholds. |
| Ignoring pretest items | You cannot identify them, so every item deserves an answer. |
| Treating state as easy because it has fewer scored items | The state section has Texas-specific wording and scenario questions. |
| Doing only national practice | Generic prep does not cover Texas forms, TREC rules, or Texas agency nuance. |
| Memorizing item counts but not using the outline | Knowing the numbers does not tell you what to practice. |
| Taking untimed practice forever | The exam is timed, so stamina matters. |
| Retaking without reading the score report | A retake should fix the failed portion's weak areas. |
Format knowledge is useful only if it changes your study behavior.
Candidate Examples
These are original learning examples, not copied exam questions, not official Pearson questions, and not a prediction of live exam wording.
| Candidate | What the format tells them | Better plan |
|---|---|---|
| Strong course finisher, weak practice scores | Course completion did not transfer into exam application. | Start mixed question sets and review every miss by outline category. |
| Strong national, weak Texas state | Generic concepts are working, Texas-specific rules are not. | Drill agency, contracts, standards of conduct, and special topics. |
| Math-anxious candidate | Math is only part of the national outline, but it can create panic. | Practice setup types until the first step is automatic. |
| Fast reader who rushes | The state portion is shorter but not safer. | Slow down on Texas wording and scenario facts. |
| Retaker with one failed portion | The passed portion is not the priority. | Use diagnostic information to target the failed portion. |
The format is a map. Your practice data tells you where you are on that map.
What To Pair With This
| Resource | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Texas real estate exam complete guide | Use it for the full exam overview, licensing context, and study plan. |
| How to get your Texas real estate license | Use it if you are still working through TREC application, eligibility, fingerprints, or sponsorship. |
| How hard is the Texas real estate exam? | Use it for pass-rate context and common failure patterns. |
| Texas real estate math guide | Use it if math setup is slowing you down. |
| Failed the Texas real estate exam? | Use it if you need to turn a failed score report into a retake plan. |
| Free Texas real estate practice test | Use it to check readiness before scheduling. |
| Texas real estate exam score report | Use it to read a failed score report and plan a focused retake. |
| Texas vs national real estate exam | Use it to see how the Texas state portion differs from the national portion. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of the Texas real estate exam?
The Texas sales agent exam has a national portion and a Texas state portion. Pearson's handbook lists the sales national portion as 85 appointment items and 150 minutes, the state portion as 50 appointment items and 90 minutes, and both portions together as 125 items and 240 minutes. The content outlines count 80 scored plus 5 pretest items on national and 40 scored plus 10 pretest items on state.
How many scored questions are on the Texas real estate exam?
Pearson's content outline says the national/general portion has 80 scored items and 5 pretest items, and the Texas sales agent state law portion has 40 scored items and 10 pretest items. Pearson's appointment table lists the national portion at 85 items, the state portion at 50 items, and both together at 125 items. Pretest items are not scored and are not identified during the exam.
What score do I need to pass the Texas real estate exam?
For sales agent candidates, Pearson says you need 56 correct answers on the national examination and 28 correct answers on the state examination. The score is reported as a raw score.
How long is the Texas real estate exam?
Pearson's handbook lists 150 minutes for the sales national portion, 90 minutes for the sales state portion, and 240 minutes if both portions are taken together.
Are pretest items scored?
No. Pretest items do not affect your score. They are mixed in with scored items and are not identified, so answer every question.
Is the Texas state section easier because it has fewer scored items?
Not necessarily. The Texas state portion has fewer scored items than the national portion, but it tests Texas-specific licensing, conduct, agency, contracts, forms, and special topics. Fewer scored items can make each miss feel more expensive. Note that "Case Studies" is a Texas broker state-law section only. It is not on the sales agent exam, so sales agent candidates should not study it.
Can I pass national and fail state?
Yes. National and state are separate. If you fail one portion, Pearson says you need to retake only the failed portion, as long as you do so within one year from the application filing date.
Should I study national or state first?
Study both early. National gives you the broad real estate foundation, but the Texas state section has state-specific wording that deserves its own practice. Do not leave Texas law and forms until the final week.
Does the score report show weak areas?
Pearson says candidates who fail receive a score report with a numeric score and diagnostic information for the failed portion. Use that information as a study guide before retaking.
Are copied exam questions useful for this format?
No. Do not look for copied exam questions. Use original exam-style practice that teaches the rule, the trap, and the reason the correct answer is correct.
Is the Texas exam prep app affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE?
No. The app is exam preparation only. 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.
Primary-source verification (June 19, 2026): This article was checked against the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook, the Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Content Outlines, Pearson VUE's Texas real estate exam page, and TREC's sales agent licensing page. Exam timing, item counts, pretest items, raw-score thresholds, fees, and scheduling rules can change. Verify current details with Pearson VUE and TREC before scheduling, rescheduling, retaking, or making licensing decisions.
Sources & Methodology
This guide is written for Texas real estate sales agent candidates who need to understand exam format, section timing, scored items, pretest items, raw-score thresholds, score reporting, and study strategy. It prioritizes Pearson VUE and TREC source material, then translates the format into practical study decisions.
Use this article for study and planning purposes only. For current official requirements, verify with TREC, Pearson VUE, your qualifying education provider, your sponsoring broker, or a qualified professional before making real-world licensing, legal, tax, lending, appraisal, brokerage, title, or transaction decisions.
This post is educational exam preparation content for Texas real estate sales agent candidates. It is not legal, tax, financial, lending, appraisal, brokerage, insurance, title, closing, or professional advice. For real-world decisions, verify current requirements with the official source or consult a qualified licensed Texas professional.
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