Pass Your Illinois Real Estate Exam the First Time

Illinois has massive fines ($25k+) for unlicensed practice and very specific "Substantive Contact" timing for disclosures.

Questions

140

100 NAT / 40 STATE

To Pass

70%

70% NAT / 75% STATE

Time Limit

4 Hrs

240 TOTAL MINUTES

Provider

PSI

IDFPR

Pass your Illinois Broker, Managing Broker or Residential Leasing Agent License

Illinois uses ‘Broker’ as its entry level license and structures the entire agency system around statutory duties that differ from the fiduciary model most candidates studied.

Candidates who learned agency law from national prep materials arrive with the wrong framework for Illinois. The IDFPR exam tests a statutory system, and the distinction between what is permitted versus prohibited in that structure is not something AI generated content handles correctly. Generic tools recycle national patterns. Illinois does not follow the national pattern.

The License Professor was written by licensed Illinois professionals who know what the PSI state portion actually tests. Every question on Illinois statutory agency structure, brokerage documentation requirements, and disciplinary procedures is grounded in Illinois statute and IDFPR rule.

Illinois Sample Exams

Experience the real study interface — no account required.

Broker

Individuals new to real estate who want to start their career helping clients buy and sell property

Managing Broker

Experienced professionals who want to manage a brokerage office and supervise other agents

Residential Leasing Agent

Individuals who only want to handle residential leasing/rental transactions rather than sales

Three Topics that Trip Up Illinois Students Most

Dual Agency Disclosures

Illinois requires a two-step process — first a consent form, then a confirmation form — each needing separate signatures with copies retained for five years, and the exam tests the timing, two-document requirement, and prohibition against dual agency when the licensee is a party to the transaction.

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Ministerial Acts vs. Fiduciary

Illinois is a statutory agency state where licensees may perform limited "ministerial acts" for the non-client customer — the exam tests whether ministerial acts create an agency relationship (they do not) and what happens if a licensee tries to contract away statutory duties.

Real Estate Recovery Fund

The Fund caps claims at $50,000 per aggrieved person with a two-year statute of limitations — the exam tests whether you need a court judgment first and the distinction between damages from a licensed agent versus an unlicensed employee.

The Illinois Real Estate License Professor includes specialized deep dives for each of these.

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Illinois Real Estate Practice Questions

Sample questions from the Illinois real estate exam — with answers and explanations.

1. An agent shows fewer rental units to an applicant because they have a service dog. This violates fair housing law because:

  1. A.Service animals are reasonable accommodations; this is disparate treatment based on disability
  2. B.It's legal only if the property explicitly has a no-pets policy
  3. C.Service animals can damage property, so limiting showings is justified
  4. D.The Mrs. Murphy exemption allows discrimination in owner-occupied buildings
Explanation: Service animals are not pets and qualify as reasonable accommodations for disabilities under the Fair Housing Act. Treating applicants differently based on a service animal constitutes illegal disparate treatment discrimination, regardless of property damage concerns or pet policies.

2. A real property disclosure report is required of the seller to the buyer in all except which of those situations?

  1. A.For the sale of commercial property.
  2. B.If the seller does not list through a licensed agent.
  3. C.When the buyer has an independent agent representing their interests.
  4. D.When the seller has not resided on the property during the three years previous to the sale.
Explanation: Seller property disclosure forms are required in the transfer of one to four residential dwelling units.

3. A person must be licensed as a real estate broker if that person is engaged in the:

  1. A.selling his house.
  2. B.constructing houses.
  3. C.buying a house for his personal use.
  4. D.engaged in the listing.
Explanation: Anyone engaging in the real estate business needs a real estate license. Individuals may build their own houses without a license.
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More on Illinois Licensing

Deeper reading on the topics that matter most for Illinois candidates.

Illinois Real Estate Exam Structure: What to Expect

The Illinois Broker exam combines 100 national questions and 40 state-specific questions in 240 minutes.

Question breakdown

National portion: 100 questions, 150 minutes

Standard PSI national content. Illinois's national portion is larger than most states' — 100 questions versus the more typical 80.

Illinois portion: 40 questions, 90 minutes

Topics:

  • IL license law (RELA) (10-12 questions)
  • Designated agency (5-7 questions)
  • Property disclosures (4-6 questions)
  • Trust accounts (3-5 questions)
  • Chicago-specific issues (3-4 questions)
  • Real estate practice (5-7 questions)

Independent portion scoring

Illinois does NOT combine the two portions into one score. Each is graded independently, and you must pass both: 70 of 100 correct (70%) on the national portion, and 30 of 40 correct (75%) on the state portion. Fail one and you only retake that portion — up to four total attempts before you're required to redo pre-licensing education and retake the entire exam.

Time management

240 minutes for 140 questions = about 103 seconds per question overall (150 min / 100 questions on the national portion, 90 min / 40 questions on the state portion). Moderate pacing.

Cost structure

  • Pre-licensing (75 hours): $400-$800
  • Exam: $55
  • License: $125
  • Background check: ~$50
  • Total: $630-$1,030

Retake rules

If you fail one portion, you only retake that portion — not the whole exam. Up to four total attempts are allowed before you must redo pre-licensing education and retake everything. $55 per attempt.

If you're taking the Managing Broker exam

Managing Broker candidates already hold an active Illinois Broker license and don't retake the national portion — this is a state-only upgrade exam: 50 questions in 90 minutes, passing at 75% (38 correct). Content covers brokerage supervision and firm-level trust account responsibilities, not the general real estate fundamentals tested on the Broker exam's national portion. Source: PSI Illinois candidate bulletin (#4655), Examination Summary Table.

If you're taking the Residential Leasing Agent exam

The Residential Leasing Agent license is a separate, narrower credential for people who only want to handle leasing and rental transactions rather than sales — not a step toward the Broker license. Its exam is entirely state-only: 50 questions in 120 minutes, passing at 74% (37 correct), with a 15-class-hour prerequisite course rather than the Broker exam's 75-hour requirement. Source: PSI Illinois candidate bulletin (#4655), Examination Summary Table: "Residential Leasing Agent — 50 (50 points) — 74% — 120 minutes."

Topics Covered on the Illinois Real Estate Exam

National Exam Topics (100 questions)

  1. Property Ownership — Estates, deeds, easements
  2. Land Use — Zoning, government powers
  3. Valuation — Three approaches, CMA
  4. Financing — Mortgages, FHA/VA, RESPA, TILA
  5. Agency — Agency relationships
  6. Contracts — Listing agreements, purchase contracts
  7. Closing — Closing procedures, prorations
  8. Practice — Working with buyers and sellers, fair housing, math

Illinois State Exam Topics (40 questions)

  1. Illinois Real Estate License Act (RELA) — License categories, Sponsoring Broker, advertising
  2. Designated Agency — Illinois's framework for representing both parties via different agents
  3. Trust Accounts — Broker trust account rules
  4. Property Disclosures — Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Report
  5. Chicago-Specific Issues — RLTO, transfer taxes, condo declarations

Why this list matters

Each state topic generates 4-10 questions. Illinois's national portion (100 questions, versus the more typical 80) is the real size outlier. Master designated agency and RELA on the state side regardless.

What this list doesn't tell you

PSI writes scenario-based questions. Practice questions, not just topic review.

Illinois Exam FAQ

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