Illinois Real Estate Practice Test (Free)
The Illinois real estate broker exam has 140 questions and a 4 hours limit. Below are the exact numbers the IL exam uses, and a free practice test to see where you stand.
The Illinois exam at a glance
- License
- Real Estate Broker
- Administered by
- PSI Services LLC (PSI), under contract with the IDFPR Division of Real Estate
- Total questions
- 140 (100 national and 40 Illinois-specific)
- Time limit
- 4 hours
- Passing score
- The two portions are scored separately and both must be passed; a high score on one cannot offset a failing score on the other. National portion: at least 70% (70 of 100 points). Illinois state portion: at least 75% (30 of 40 points). The PSI bulletin footnote states that the 70% national standard is the same standard formerly reported as a scaled score of 75, and that the standard did not change. passingPercent is null because there is no single combined pass line.
- How it is taken
- Computer based at PSI test centers across Illinois (plus other PSI locations) or by remote online proctoring. Report 30 minutes before your appointment and bring one valid government-issued photo ID.
- If you fail
- Up to four attempts during the 2-year eligibility period, measured from completion of the pre-license education. If you fail one portion you retake only that portion. After a fourth consecutive failure you must repeat the required pre-license education (75 hours for a broker) and the entire examination; the fifth attempt is treated like a first attempt, per 225 ILCS 454/5-35(c). The $58 fee is charged for each attempt and is nonrefundable and nontransferable, and it is forfeited if you do not test within one year of the date PSI receives the fee.
What Illinois requires before you can sit the exam
- Minimum age
- 18+
- Pre-license education
- 75 hours
- Broker Pre-License Topics, 60 hours. May be delivered in any format (classroom, live interactive webinar, online distance education, or correspondence or home study with a proctored final exam).
- Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Principles Interactive, 15 hours. Must be delivered in a classroom, by live interactive webinar, or by online distance education, and the hours include situational and case studies. Pre-license education is valid for two years after the date of satisfactory completion under 225 ILCS 454/5-35(a).
- Exam / application fee
- $58
- License term
- 2 years
- Background check
- Fingerprints and a criminal history check are required.
Free Illinois practice questions
10 questions written for the Illinois exam, drawn from 12 in the ApexAgent bank. The correct answer and the reasoning are under each one.
1. Which Illinois statute governs the licensing and regulation of real estate brokers?
- A. The Real Estate License Act of 1983
- B. The Real Estate License Act of 2000 ✓
- C. The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act
- D. The Illinois Human Rights Act
Why: The Real Estate License Act of 2000, codified at 225 ILCS 454, governs real estate brokerage licensing in Illinois. Section 1-1 of the Act (225 ILCS 454/1-1) gives the short title and states that the Act supersedes the Real Estate License Act of 1983. The Residential Real Property Disclosure Act is a separate law at 765 ILCS 77, and the Illinois Human Rights Act is at 775 ILCS 5.
2. What is Illinois's entry-level real estate license called, and which vendor delivers the licensing exam?
- A. Salesperson license, delivered by Pearson VUE
- B. Broker license, delivered by PSI Services ✓
- C. Salesperson license, delivered by PSI Services
- D. Broker license, delivered by AMP
Why: Illinois abolished the salesperson license; the entry-level credential is the Real Estate Broker license under Article 5 of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454/5-27). The IDFPR contracts with PSI Services LLC (PSI) to deliver the examination, as stated in the PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet. Older Illinois materials that name AMP are referring to the former vendor name and are outdated.
3. What is the minimum age to qualify for the Illinois real estate broker exam under the standard 75-hour education path?
- A. 18 ✓
- B. 19
- C. 20
- D. 21
Why: Category A in the PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet requires broker candidates to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and complete 75 hours of approved courses. Consistent with the Real Estate License Act of 2000, the broker qualifications are set in Section 5-27 (225 ILCS 454/5-27), while the managing broker license under Section 5-28 (225 ILCS 454/5-28) sets a higher minimum age of 20.
4. How many hours of pre-license education does Illinois require for a broker license, and how is that broken down?
- A. 60 hours: 45 topics plus 15 applied principles
- B. 75 hours: 60 hours Broker Pre-License Topics plus 15 hours Applied Real Estate Principles ✓
- C. 90 hours: 75 topics plus 15 applied principles
- D. 120 hours, all classroom based
Why: Section 5-27(a)(5) of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454/5-27(a)(5)) requires 75 hours of approved instruction. The IDFPR 75-hour broker pre-license curriculum splits those hours into a 60-hour Broker Pre-License Topics course and a 15-hour Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Principles interactive course that includes situational and case studies.
5. How long is Illinois broker pre-license education valid after it is completed?
- A. Six months
- B. One year
- C. Two years ✓
- D. Five years
Why: Section 5-35(a) of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454/5-35(a)) provides that approved pre-license education is valid for 2 years after the date of satisfactory completion of all required pre-license education. If the candidate does not satisfy the licensure requirements within that window, the education must be repeated.
6. How is the Illinois broker examination structured and scored?
- A. One combined section of 140 questions with a single 75% pass line
- B. 100 national items at 70% and 40 Illinois items at 75%, each scored separately ✓
- C. 100 national items and 40 Illinois items, both at 75%
- D. 80 national items and 60 Illinois items, both at 70%
Why: The PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet examination summary table lists a national portion of 100 items with a 70% passing score and a state portion of 40 items with a 75% passing score, each scored on its own. The bulletin footnote states that the 70% national standard is the same standard formerly reported as a scaled score of 75. Section 5-35 of the Act (225 ILCS 454/5-35) authorizes the examination, and a candidate who fails one portion retakes only that portion.
7. What is the examination fee for the Illinois real estate broker exam?
- A. $37
- B. $58 ✓
- C. $125
- D. $150
Why: The PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet fees section lists the Broker Examination at $58 (the Residential Leasing Agent exam is $37 and the Managing Broker exam is $58). Under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.130, applicants pay the cost of the examination directly to the designated testing service, and exam fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
8. How many times may an Illinois broker candidate attempt the exam before the pre-license education must be repeated?
- A. Twice
- B. Three times
- C. Four times, then the 75-hour education and the entire exam must be retaken ✓
- D. An unlimited number of times
Why: Section 5-35(c) of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454/5-35(c)) and the PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet both provide that a candidate who fails the examination 4 consecutive times must repeat the pre-license education required to sit for that examination and the entire examination; the fifth attempt is treated like a first attempt. For a broker that means repeating the 75-hour broker pre-license education.
9. After passing the Illinois broker exam, how long does a candidate have to apply for the license before the passing score expires?
- A. Six months
- B. One year ✓
- C. Two years
- D. The passing score never expires
Why: Section 5-35(b) of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454/5-35(b)) states that a passing score on the written examination terminates if the person fails to submit an application and meet all requirements for a license within one year after receiving the passing score, after which the person may make a new application for examination. The PSI bulletin repeats this one-year rule.
10. Under Article 15 of the Real Estate License Act of 2000, what relationship exists by default between a licensee and a consumer, and when must the licensee give written disclosure?
- A. Transaction brokerage; disclosure is optional
- B. Designated agency; a licensee acting as a designated agent must advise the consumer in writing no later than beginning to work for the consumer ✓
- C. Dual agency; written consent is required from both parties at first contact
- D. No representation unless a separate fee agreement is signed
Why: Section 15-10 of the Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454/15-10) provides that a licensee is considered to represent the consumer as a designated agent unless there is a written agreement between the sponsoring broker and the consumer providing for a different relationship. Section 15-35(a) (225 ILCS 454/15-35(a)) requires a designated agent to advise the consumer in writing, no later than beginning to work on behalf of the consumer, that a designated agency relationship exists and to name the designated agent or agents.
Want more Illinois-specific questions? Practice the full Illinois state-law set.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Illinois have a real estate salesperson license?
- No. Illinois abolished the salesperson license and the entry-level credential is the Real Estate Broker license, which many people would call an agent in other states. A broker must work under a sponsoring broker, and after gaining experience you can upgrade to the Managing Broker license. The Real Estate License Act of 2000 (225 ILCS 454) also provides for a Residential Leasing Agent license for rental-only activity. If you are moving from a state that calls its entry license salesperson, the Illinois exam will use broker terminology throughout.
- What score do you need to pass the Illinois real estate broker exam?
- The exam has two portions and each is scored on its own. You must reach at least 70% on the 100-question national portion and at least 75% on the 40-question Illinois state portion. You cannot pass by averaging the two: a strong national score does not rescue a failed state portion. The current PSI bulletin notes that the 70% national standard is the same standard formerly reported as a scaled score of 75, so older study guides that still print scaled 75 on both portions are using the previous reporting scale.
- How many questions are on the Illinois broker exam, and how long do you get?
- 140 scored questions: 100 national and 40 Illinois state. The current PSI candidate bulletin allows 150 minutes for the national portion and 90 minutes for the state portion, a total of 240 minutes (four hours). A small number of unscored experimental questions, typically 5 to 10, may be added and they count against your time but not your score. Because different PSI pages have printed different totals, confirm the clock shown on your appointment confirmation.
- How much do the Illinois broker exam and license cost, and how soon can you retake?
- The exam is $58 per attempt, paid to PSI, and is nonrefundable and nontransferable. The initial broker license application fee paid to IDFPR is $150 under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.130. You may test up to four times during your two-year eligibility period and, if you fail one portion, you retake only that portion. After a fourth consecutive failure you must repeat the 75-hour pre-license course and the entire exam, per 225 ILCS 454/5-35(c).
- What education and other requirements does Illinois set before you can sit the broker exam?
- You must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED, and complete 75 hours of IDFPR-approved pre-license education: a 60-hour Broker Pre-License Topics course plus a 15-hour Applied Real Estate Principles interactive course (225 ILCS 454/5-27(a)(5)). The education is valid for two years. You must pass both exam portions and apply to IDFPR within one year of passing, and you must be sponsored by an Illinois managing broker to activate the license. Electronic fingerprints through an IDFPR-licensed vendor are required and must be taken within 60 days of submitting the application. The license runs two years and renews by April 30 of even-numbered years.
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- PSI Services LLC, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division of Real Estate Candidate Information Booklet (published 6/24/2026): Examination Summary Table (Broker National 100 items, 70% pass, 150 minutes; Broker State 40 items, 75% pass, 90 minutes); footnote that 70% national equals the former scaled score of 75; Category A age 18 and 75-hour education; broker exam fee $58; up to four attempts in a 2-year eligibility period; retake only the failed portion; after a fourth failure retake the 75-hour education and the entire exam; 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions; one-year exam validity; report 30 minutes early) (verified 2026-10-03)
- IDFPR, Real Estate Brokerage program page (licensing authority; lists the 75-hour broker pre-license curriculum, the 45-hour post-license curriculum, and the 30-hour broker endorsement course; links approved education providers) (verified 2026-10-03)
- IDFPR, Real Estate Broker 75-Hour Pre-License Curriculum (75 hours = 60 hours Broker Pre-License Topics plus 15 hours Applied Real Estate Principles interactive; cites Section 5-27(a)(5) of the Real Estate License Act of 2000) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Illinois Administrative Code, 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.130, Fees (initial broker license application $150; broker renewal $200; late fee $75; managing broker initial $175; the applicant pays the cost of the examination to the designated testing service) (verified 2026-10-03)
- IDFPR, Fingerprint Background Check Guide (fingerprints through a Department-licensed vendor, taken within 60 days of the date the application is submitted to the Department or its testing vendor; results transmitted to IDFPR by the Illinois State Police) (verified 2026-10-03)
- IDFPR, Continuing Education Fact Sheet 2026, Real Estate Broker License Renewal (broker licenses renew by April 30 of even-numbered years; licenses issued on or after November 1, 2025 expire 4/30/2028; 45 hours of post-license education required before the first renewal) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Illinois General Assembly, 225 ILCS 454, Real Estate License Act of 2000 (Section 1-1 short title and supersession of the 1983 Act; 5-27 qualifications; 5-28 managing broker; 5-35 examination, 2-year education validity, one-year exam credit, four-failure rule; 10-5 compensation; Article 15 agency disclosure (15-10, 15-35, 15-45); 20-10 and 20-20 discipline and unlicensed practice, fines up to $25,000; 25-10 Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board; 25-35 Real Estate Recovery Fund; sections scheduled for repeal January 1, 2030) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Illinois Administrative Code, 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.750 and 1450.755 (special accounts: sponsoring broker must deposit escrow moneys in an account separate and apart from personal and other business accounts; escrow and transaction records, including monthly reconciliations, must be kept for 5 years and produced within 24 hours of a Division request) (verified 2026-10-03)
- IDFPR, Real Estate Broker Instructions for Online Licensing, Requirements for License by Examination (broker application under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.420; exam results transmitted directly to the Division of Real Estate; older packet names AMP as the vendor, which is the prior vendor name for PSI) (verified 2026-10-03)
- Exam details are checked against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Real Estate, advised by the Real Estate Administration and Disciplinary Board and its testing vendor. Always confirm current requirements with the board before your exam.