How to Prepare for the Colorado Real Estate Exam

You've finished your pre-licensing coursework—now it's time to tackle the Colorado real estate exam. This is the final hurdle between you and your license, and with the right preparation, you can walk in confident and walk out licensed.

The Colorado exam has a reputation for being challenging, but it's absolutely passable if you know what to expect and how to study. Here's everything you need to know to prepare effectively and pass on your first attempt.

What's on the Colorado Real Estate Exam?

The Colorado broker exam is split into two sections: a national portion that covers fundamental real estate concepts, and a state portion focused specifically on Colorado laws and practices. You'll need to pass both sections to earn your license.

National Section

The national portion has 80 questions, and you need at least 60 correct to pass (75%). You'll have 120 minutes to complete it. This section tests your understanding of core real estate principles that apply across the country, including property ownership, land-use controls and zoning, valuation and market analysis, financing and mortgages, agency relationships, property disclosures, contracts, leasing and property management, transfer of title, and fair housing laws.

Expect a heavy focus on contracts, agency relationships, and financing—these tend to make up a significant portion of the questions. Real estate math also shows up here, so brush up on calculating loan-to-value ratios, equity, commission splits, prorations, and discount points.

State Section

The Colorado-specific portion has 74 questions, and you need at least 53 correct to pass (72%). You get 110 minutes for this section. Topics include the duties and powers of the Colorado Real Estate Commission, licensing requirements and regulations, brokerage relationships, Colorado contracts and forms, property management and the Colorado Landlord Tenant Act, water rights (yes, this comes up—it's Colorado), state tax laws, the Colorado Fair Housing Act, foreclosure processes, trust account management, and closing procedures.

Pay special attention to Colorado-specific contract forms and brokerage relationship disclosures. These are areas where the state exam differs significantly from what you learned in the national content.

Study Strategies That Actually Work

Start with Practice Exams

Practice tests are the single most effective way to prepare for the real estate exam. They help you get comfortable with how questions are worded, identify gaps in your knowledge, and build your test-taking stamina.

Don't just take practice exams to see your score—use them diagnostically. When you miss a question, go back and understand why. Was it a concept you didn't know? A tricky wording issue? A math error? Each missed question is a learning opportunity.

Aim to consistently score 80% or higher on practice tests before scheduling your official exam. If you're hitting that mark, you're likely ready.

Focus on Your Weak Spots

It's tempting to review material you already know well—it feels productive and confidence-boosting. But your study time is better spent on topics that challenge you.

After a few practice exams, you'll notice patterns. Maybe you're solid on contracts but shaky on financing calculations. Maybe agency relationships make sense but Colorado-specific forms trip you up. Whatever your weak areas are, that's where you should focus.

Create flashcards for terms and concepts you keep missing. Work through extra practice problems in areas like real estate math. Re-read your course materials on challenging topics, or find YouTube videos that explain them differently.

Don't Underestimate the Math

Real estate math intimidates a lot of exam-takers, but the calculations themselves aren't complicated—they just require practice. You'll need to be comfortable with commission calculations, prorations (taxes, rent, interest), loan-to-value ratios, equity calculations, and basic area and volume problems.

The good news? You can use a basic calculator on the exam. The key is knowing which formula to apply and setting up the problem correctly. Practice until the process feels automatic.

Study in Focused Blocks

Cramming the night before rarely works for licensing exams. Instead, study in focused 45-60 minute blocks over several days or weeks. Your brain retains information better with spaced repetition than with marathon study sessions.

Mix up your study methods too—read your materials, watch videos, take practice tests, quiz yourself with flashcards. Engaging with the content in different ways helps it stick.

Exam Day: What to Expect

The Colorado real estate exam is administered by PSI at testing centers throughout the state. Here's what you need to know for test day:

Arrive at least 30 minutes early. You'll need to check in, show valid government-issued ID, and complete some paperwork before you're seated.

You can't bring personal items into the testing room—no phones, smart watches, bags, or notes. Lockers are typically provided. You will be given scratch paper and a basic calculator, or you can bring your own non-programmable calculator.

The exam is computer-based, and you can flag questions to review before submitting. Use this feature strategically—if a question is taking too long, flag it and move on. You can return to it after completing the rest of the section.

You'll receive your results immediately after finishing. If you pass both sections, congratulations—you're ready to apply for your license. If you don't pass one or both sections, you'll receive a diagnostic report showing which areas need more work before your retake.

How to Register for the Colorado Real Estate Exam

Once you've completed your 168 hours of pre-licensing education, you can schedule your exam through PSI's website# Scheduling Search Test Home.psiexams.com or by calling (855) 744-0313. The PSI Candidate HandbookBulletin Display_bulletin.jsp?ro=yes&actionname=83&bulletinid=163&bulletinurl=.pdf Candidate.psiexams.com has detailed instructions on the registration process.

The exam fee is $44.95 for your first attempt and $42.50 for retakes. PSI has testing centers throughout Colorado, so you should be able to find a location and time that works for your schedule.

What If You Don't Pass?

First, don't panic. Plenty of successful agents didn't pass on their first attempt. The diagnostic report you receive will tell you exactly which content areas need more attention.

You can retake the exam as soon as the next available appointment. Use the time between attempts to focus specifically on the areas where you struggled. Consider investing in additional exam prep resources if your pre-licensing course materials aren't clicking.

Most importantly, don't give up. The exam is a hurdle, not a wall. With targeted studying, you'll clear it.

Ready to Start Your Real Estate Career?

Passing the exam is the final step in a process that starts with pre-licensing education. If you haven't started yet, learn more about how to become a real estate agent in ColoradoColorado How To Become A Real Estate Agent In Colorado Career Center, including what courses are required for a Colorado real estate licenseColorado What Courses Are Required For A Colorado Real Estate License Career Center and how long it takes to get licensedColorado How Long Does It Take To Get A Real Estate License In Colorado Career Center.

Ready to get started? Enroll in your Colorado pre-licensing course todayColorado Real Estate License and take the first step toward your new career.