Illinois (IL) Real Estate Exam Cheat Sheet 2026

The 7 rules worth memorising

Not subject knowledge — that comes from practice questions. These are the procedural rules candidates lose the exam to: how the threshold is applied, what a partial fail means, and the deadlines that void a pass.

1. 1

   Two portions, two different passing scores

   The national portion needs 70%; the Illinois portion needs 75%. They are scored separately, so a 72% overall tells you nothing — you can clear the national bar and still fail the state one. If you fail a portion you repeat only that portion.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Examination Summary Table and Re-taking a Failed Portion

2. 2

   Four attempts, then back to school

   You get up to four attempts inside your two-year eligibility period. After a fourth failure you must retake the full 75-hour broker prelicense education before testing again. This is the hardest deadline in the Illinois process and most prep sites do not mention it.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Re-taking a Failed Portion

3. 3

   In Illinois the entry-level license is called "Broker"

   There is no salesperson license here. The first license is Broker; the supervisory license is Managing Broker. Study materials written for other states will call this the salesperson exam — it is the same level.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Examination Summary Table

4. 4

   Prelicense education expires in two years

   The bulletin repeats this on every qualification path, in capitals: the education is valid for two years after the date you satisfactorily complete it. Let it lapse and the course does not count.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Examination Eligibility

5. 5

   Experimental questions eat your clock

   Five to ten unscored experimental questions may be added. They do not affect your score but they do count against your exam time. Budget for a few more questions than the outline promises.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Experimental Questions

6. 6

   Some state questions have more than four options and only one best answer

   Illinois uses scenario-based items on the managing broker and instructor national portions where several options are defensible but only one is optimal — options are weighted zero, one or two points. Read for the most complete resolution, not merely a correct statement.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Description of Examinations

7. 7

   Launch within 30 minutes, start within 15

   An online test can be launched within 30 minutes of your booked time, but not starting within 15 minutes of the appointment forfeits the attempt and the fee. The fee is never refundable or transferable.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Scheduling and Examination Fee