How many questions are on the Illinois Real Estate Broker Exam?

The exam consists of 140 scored multiple-choice questions (100 in the National portion and 40 in the State portion). There are also 10 unscored pretest questions mixed in that do not affect your final score.

How long do I have to complete the exam?

You are allotted a combined total of 3.5 hours to complete both the National and State portions of the examination.

What is the passing score for the IL-BROKER exam?

Candidates must achieve a minimum scaled score of 70% on the National portion and 75% on the State portion. This is a state-specific licensure exam, and these cutoff scores are set by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Can I bring a calculator to the test center?

Yes, but only silent, non-programmable calculators without alphabetic keypads or printing capabilities are allowed in the testing room.

If I fail one portion, do I have to retake both?

No. If you pass one portion (National or State), you have one year from the date of passing that portion to retake and pass the remaining portion before having to start over.

Are there penalties for guessing on the exam?

No, there is no penalty for guessing. Unanswered questions are marked incorrect, so it is in your best interest to provide an answer for every question before time runs out.

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IL-BROKER · Syllabus & Exam Outline 2026

Illinois Real Estate License Exam (Broker)

In short

The Illinois Real Estate Broker exam features 140 scored multiple-choice questions and 10 pretest items across a 3.5-hour limit. Candidates need 70% on the National section and 75% on the State section to pass. Core subjects cover property ownership, contracts, agency, and state laws. Free practice questions and a full study plan are below.

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Questions: 140 scored questions (100 National, 40 State) plus 10 unscored pretest questions
Time limit: 3.5 hours for both portions combined
Passing score: 70% for the National portion and 75% for the State portion
Cost: $58
Format: Multiple-choice
Delivery: Computer-based testing at PSI test centers or online via secure proctoring
Calculator: Only silent, non-programmable calculators without alphabetic keypads or printing capabilities are allowed
Prep time: ~120 hours

Exam overview

The Illinois Real Estate Broker License Examination is administered by PSI on behalf of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). This high-stakes test is a critical milestone for candidates seeking to become licensed real estate brokers in the state of Illinois. The exam evaluates your understanding of both national real estate principles and state-specific laws, ensuring you possess the competency necessary to protect consumers and facilitate lawful property transactions. The examination is divided into two distinct sections: a National portion testing overarching real estate concepts, and a State portion focusing exclusively on Illinois statutes and regulations. With rigorous topics ranging from contract law and agency relationships to Illinois designated agency and fair housing provisions, the exam requires a deep and structured preparation approach. To streamline your preparation, Only Ever maps every domain to 15-minute study topics, allowing you to master complex material in short, focused bursts.

Exam domains & weighting

Each domain's share of the exam — study deepest where the weight is highest. Open one for how to study it and its objectives.

How to study this domain

Focus on the legal distinctions between real and personal property, and how each is conveyed. Ensure you thoroughly understand Illinois-specific ownership rules, such as land trusts and homestead rights, as well as the various methods of legally describing land.

Key objectives

Real and Personal Property Conveyances
Legal Property Descriptions
Measuring Structures and Land
Liens, Easements, and Encumbrances
Surface, Subsurface, Air, and Water Rights
Basic Types of Ownership and Tenancy
Common-Interest, Trusts, and Business Ownership
IL Ownership, Taxes & Special Laws: Land Trusts, Homestead, Transfer Stamps & Liens

Study this domain

Readiness self-check

Tick off everything you can confidently explain. Anything left unchecked is your study list — tap “Review” to jump straight into that domain.

Readiness

0 / 9

Property Ownership

Review

Can you distinguish between metes and bounds, lot and block, and the government survey system?
Do you understand the specific protections and mechanisms of the Illinois land trust and homestead rights?

Contracts

Review

Are you able to identify the factors that make a contract void versus merely voidable?
Can you outline the proper legal and ethical steps for managing multiple purchase offers on a single property?

General Principles of Agency

Review

What are the core fiduciary duties real estate agents owe to their clients under common law?
How does designated agency under Illinois law differ from traditional common-law agency relationships?

Practice of Real Estate

Review

Can you list the protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act and compare them to the expanded classes in the Illinois Human Rights Act?
Are you familiar with the strict Illinois rules for handling earnest money, security deposits, and special escrow accounts?

Real Estate Calculations

Review

Can you calculate a property tax proration for a mid-year closing accurately?

Quick reference

Essential Real Estate Acronyms

Common abbreviations you must recognize on the exam.

LTV: Loan-to-Value RatioUsed to assess lending risk based on property value.
PMI: Private Mortgage InsuranceRequired on conventional loans with LTV over 80%.
PITI: Principal, Interest, Taxes, and InsuranceThe core components of a standard monthly mortgage payment.
RESPA: Real Estate Settlement Procedures ActFederal law regulating closing costs and settlement procedures.
TRID: TILA-RESPA Integrated DisclosureRules requiring clear disclosure of loan estimates and closing disclosures.
ADA: Americans with Disabilities ActFederal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability.

Key Real Estate Terminology

Important terms related to ownership, agency, and fair housing.

Escheat

The reversion of property to the state when an owner dies without a will and without legal heirs.

Eminent Domain

The right of the government to acquire privately owned real estate for public use.

Blockbusting

The illegal practice of inducing panic selling based on the entry of protected classes into a neighborhood.

Steering

The illegal practice of directing home seekers toward or away from neighborhoods based on their protected class.

Commingling

The illegal act of mixing trust/escrow funds with a broker's personal or business funds.

Severalty

Ownership of real property by one person or a single legal entity only.

Designated Agency

An Illinois law where a sponsoring broker names a specific licensee as the legal agent of a client, replacing common-law agency.

Basic Real Estate Formulas

Foundational math concepts tested on the exam.

Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio

Loan Amount ÷ Property Value (or Sales Price, whichever is lower)

Expressed as a percentage.

Property Equity

Current Market Value - Outstanding Mortgage Balance

The portion of the property's value that the owner holds free and clear.

Commission

Sales Price × Commission Rate (%)

Total commission before any broker/agent splits.

Frequently asked questions

Good to know

You will be required to provide a biometric fingerprint scan and have your photograph taken upon arrival at the test center.
The exam contains 10 unscored 'pretest' items mixed among the scored items. You will not know which questions these are.
No personal items (phones, hats, watches, large coats) are allowed in the testing room. Small soft lockers are provided for wallets and keys.
You can bookmark questions during the computer-based exam and return to them later if time permits.
If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you will not be admitted and will forfeit your examination fee.

Reading isn’t remembering.

Illinois is a broker-entry state — its licensing exam blends the national real estate core with the Real Estate License Act of 2000, Illinois's distinctive designated-agency regime, and IDFPR licensing, escrow, and disclosure rules — and most materials muddle the two.

Only Ever teaches the shared national core once, then layers the Illinois state law — the Real Estate License Act of 2000 and IDFPR rules, the broker / managing broker / leasing agent license categories and the Real Estate Recovery Fund, designated agency and agency disclosure, special/escrow accounts and recordkeeping, the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, Illinois ownership/tax/special laws, and the Illinois Human Rights Act — as focused 15-minute topics.

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