Authored by Casa Academy · Reviewed by Casa Academy editorial · Updated July 29, 2026 · Official sources checked July 29, 2026

Illinois Real Estate Practice Exam

Illinois licenses entry-level real estate professionals as brokers through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). PSI administers the computer-based licensing exam in two independently scored sections with different passing thresholds. You must complete 75 hours of IDFPR-approved pre-licensing education and upload your course certificate before PSI approves your exam appointment. Use this guide to confirm current exam logistics and Illinois-specific study priorities, then start the clearly labeled Florida demo in free practice while Casa Academy builds Illinois-specific question data.

Florida demo only: Casa Academy currently offers Florida pre-licensing and exam prep products only. Interactive practice on this page uses clearly labeled Florida course questions, not Illinois PSI exam items. Illinois pre-licensing enrollment is not offered until a separate product launch is published.

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Casa Academy currently offers Florida pre-licensing and exam prep products only. Interactive practice on this page uses clearly labeled Florida course questions, not Illinois PSI exam items. Illinois pre-licensing enrollment is not offered until a separate product launch is published.

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Exam facts

Two scored sections with different passing thresholds

Illinois broker candidates take a national section and an Illinois state section during one computer-based appointment administered by PSI. The national portion includes 100 scored multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes. The Illinois state portion includes 40 scored multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. PSI schedules both sections in one 240-minute appointment. You must achieve at least 70% on the national section and at least 75% on the state section to pass. PSI may include five to ten unscored experimental questions that do not count toward your score but do count against your time. Results display on screen when you finish, and PSI emails a diagnostic score report if you fail either section.

What is on the Illinois real estate exam?

PSI publishes separate national and Illinois state content outlines in the Candidate Information Bulletin. Treat them as separate study plans even though both sections share one appointment. Illinois uses the title broker for its entry-level license, not salesperson.

  • National section (100 scored items): agency, contracts, valuation, finance, fair housing, property ownership, and real estate math per PSI's broker national outline.
  • Illinois Real Estate License Act: licensing standards, trust accounts, advertising rules, broker supervision, and prohibited conduct.
  • Residential Real Property Disclosure Act and radon disclosure requirements tested on the 40-item state block.
  • Illinois Human Rights Act, fair housing advertising, and stigmatized property rules.
  • Illinois Landlord Tenant Act, property tax exemptions, transfer taxes, and agency relationship disclosures.
  • Real estate calculations, prorations, and Illinois-specific closing and title concepts in the state content outline.

What are Illinois's real estate license requirements?

IDFPR licenses brokers after education, examination, and application review. Confirm current forms and fees on the Division of Real Estate website before you apply because rules and fee tables can change.

  • Be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
  • Complete 75 hours of IDFPR-approved broker pre-licensing education: 60 hours of Broker Pre-License Topics plus 15 hours of Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Principles-Interactive at a registered Illinois school.
  • Upload your course completion certificate to PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/ilrep and wait for eligibility confirmation before scheduling.
  • Pass the PSI broker exam with at least 70% on the national section and 75% on the Illinois state section independently.
  • Apply for licensure through the IDFPR Online Services Portal within one year of receiving a passing exam score.
  • Pay separate PSI and IDFPR fees: PSI lists a $58 broker examination fee per attempt, and Illinois administrative rules list a $150 initial broker license application fee (confirm both before paying).

Retakes, timelines, and how to study for split scoring

If you pass one section but fail the other, you retake only the failed section and pay the full $58 examination fee again. You have up to four attempts to pass during your two-year eligibility period tied to your education completion date. After four failed attempts, you must complete the 75-hour broker pre-licensing education again before retesting. Because each section uses a different passing threshold (70% national versus 75% state), a strong national score cannot offset a failing state score. Weight timed practice toward Illinois disclosure statutes, radon rules, property tax prorations, and IDFPR licensing law for the 40-item state block, then review national finance, contracts, and fair housing for the 100-item national block. When you want interactive reps today, use Casa Academy's free practice tool with the Florida demo disclosure visible on every launch.

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Frequently asked questions

What are Illinois's real estate license requirements?

You must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED, complete 75 hours of IDFPR-approved broker pre-licensing education (60-hour topics course plus 15-hour interactive course), upload your certificate to PSI, and pass both exam sections. After passing, apply through the IDFPR Online Services Portal within one year. Your pre-licensing education remains valid for two years from satisfactory completion.

How hard is the Illinois real estate broker exam?

Difficulty depends on preparation and whether you study the national and state sections separately. You must score at least 70% on 100 national questions and at least 75% on 40 Illinois state questions in one 240-minute appointment. Candidates who struggle often under-prepare for Illinois disclosure statutes, radon rules, and IDFPR licensing law even when national finance and contract topics feel familiar.

How many questions can you miss on the Illinois real estate exam?

Under the current PSI format, broker candidates need at least 70 correct answers on the 100-question national section, so you can miss up to 30 national items. On the 40-question Illinois state section, you need at least 30 correct answers at the 75% threshold, so you can miss up to 10 state items. Each section is scored independently; a strong national score cannot offset a failing state score.

How many times can you take the Illinois real estate exam?

PSI allows up to four broker exam attempts during your two-year eligibility period. If you pass one section but fail the other, you retake only the failed section and pay the full examination fee again. After four failed attempts, you must complete the 75-hour broker pre-licensing education again before retesting.

What is on the Illinois real estate exam?

The national section covers agency, contracts, valuation, finance, fair housing, and general brokerage concepts in PSI's broker outline. The Illinois state section emphasizes the Real Estate License Act, Residential Real Property Disclosure Act, Illinois Human Rights Act, radon disclosure, Landlord Tenant Act, property tax and transfer taxes, agency advertising, and stigmatized property rules.

How much does the Illinois real estate exam and license cost?

PSI lists a $58 broker examination fee per attempt in the Candidate Information Bulletin. Illinois administrative rules list a $150 initial broker license application fee, separate from the exam charge. Pre-licensing course tuition, fingerprint processing, and optional study materials are additional costs. Confirm both fee tables before submitting payment.

Does Casa Academy offer Illinois-specific practice questions?

Not yet. Casa Academy's approved question bank covers Florida pre-licensing topics only. The free interactive demo is labeled as Florida content so Illinois candidates can build study habits without mistaking it for PSI exam items.

About Casa Academy

Casa Academy is an online Florida real estate school operating under Florida school license ZH1003169. We maintain this page against the DBPR sales associate checklist and Pearson VUE exam scheduling guidance.

If the state changes its application steps or exam scheduling, this page should change too. The current review date for this version is July 29, 2026.

Authority details

Organization
Casa Academy
Florida school license
ZH1003169
Current review date
July 29, 2026