Chapter 28

Ten Tips to Help You Succeed on the Exam

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Understanding some basic exam preparation techniques

Bullet Finding techniques to use during the exam

I once had to go to the doctor, and I knew he would test my blood pressure. I stayed up all night studying so I could pass the test. (Groan!) But seriously, everyone’s taken tests, and yes, even the calmest, most well prepared of all of us get nervous about being tested. As you know, there are tests and then there are tests. You probably don’t want to fail your blood pressure test. And you sure didn’t want to fail your driving test back when you first took it. That, after all, is serious stuff. So I won’t minimize the anxiety you’re probably already feeling about taking the state real estate exam. Yet I do want to put this into perspective for you. The worst that can happen is that you have to take the exam again. And, of course, the best thing that can and will happen to you is you’ll pass the first time around. I had a student take the test twice in the same day, figuring that would double her chances of passing at least one of them. Yes, she did pass both. So don’t let exam anxiety get in your way. If you’ve done your homework in your prelicense class and used this book to help you prepare, you’re there. Trust me. You’ll be selling real estate before you know it.

But just to give you one last bit of help, I wrote this chapter to provide you with a few more strategies to use while you’re taking the exam and a few ideas for preparing for the exam. Don’t think of these ten topics as guarantees for success; just know that if you follow the advice in this chapter, you can maximize your chances of passing the state license exam the first time you take it. For more exam preparation tips, check out Chapter 2.

Taking the Exam as Soon as You Can

Given the fact that the vast majority of states require some kind of coursework before you can get your real estate license, most of you probably will have completed a number of hours of real estate classes before taking the exam. You never will know the material better than you do right when you finish the course. And you’re likely to forget the specifics that you need from the material soon after your coursework is completed, especially if you must take an exam to complete the course. Your mind will actually think it’s done with all of this, even though you’re not and you’ll start forgetting important information. One of the most creative exercises you’ll ever do in your life is to come up with a laundry list of excuses for putting off taking the state exam. Don’t! A few of my students have actually taken the state exam near the end of their course but before the course exam. Some states may allow you to do that.

I hope you use this book along with the course material as you complete the prelicensing course. If you haven’t taken the practice exams in Chapters 19, 21, 23, and 25, do so. Take a quick review of your weakest points, and then go take the state exam. If you need to make an appointment to take the exam, make the appointment before you finish your course so there is little delay after you finish real estate school.

Knowing the Rules (and Following Them)

State specific You must adhere to a number of rules for any state exam. Find out what they are and obey them. Although you may encounter others, here are a few rules that you may want to check out. (For more on figuring out the rules of your state’s exam, see Chapter 1.)

  • Calculators: What kind can you bring and what kind are forbidden? Some states forbid any calculator (or electronic device with a calculator) that can store text, so no cellphones.
  • Entry permit: If your state requires an entry permit, don’t forget to bring it. States that require them typically have some sort of application procedure for you to go through just to take the exam. Follow all the instructions to apply for your entry permit, put it in a safe place when it comes in the mail, and then (did I say this already?) don’t forget it when you go to take the exam.
  • Exam fee: If you must pay the fee at the time you take the exam, make sure you have it and can pay it the way the test makers want it, by check, credit card, in cash, or with a money order; but you need to know which so you are prepared. Most of the time, though, you pay the exam fee when you apply to take the test.
  • Food: You may be prohibited from bringing food to the test. If you have a medical condition that requires you to eat at certain times, get permission ahead of time by contacting the state licensing agency or the people administering the test since some states use contracted services.
  • Handicapped accessibility: If this is an issue for you — say, for example, you use a wheelchair — find out ahead of time how your state licensing agency is making accommodations.
  • Identification: Find out the specific types of identification you need and whether more than one is necessary. Photo IDs are common requirements, but check it out first and make sure you bring what you need.
  • Location: Some states have more than one exam location. Pick the one most convenient and least stressful to you. Note, I didn’t say the one closest. You may be more relaxed driving a longer distance to a suburban location, knowing that you won’t have to struggle for parking downtown.
  • Time: Find out what time you need to arrive at the exam and be there at least 30 minutes early. At the very least, doing so can help relax you by avoiding the last-minute rush and possibly being late.
  • Writing implements: If the test materials say to bring two No. 2 pencils, then bring at least two or more. And you may want to bring a pen with you, just in case you have to sign something.
  • What you can and can’t bring in: Some states have strict rules about what can and cannot be brought into the actual exam room. Follow those instructions carefully, or you may find yourself having to leave your laptop computer in the hallway outside of the exam room — never to be heard from again.

Studying Your State License Law

State specific Make sure that you read your state’s real estate license laws (see Chapter 3) before you take your state exam. These laws can cover everything from agency relationships, which you can read about in Chapter 4, to how much continuing education you have to have to keep your license. Even if you’ve covered some of the material in your real estate course, you’re expected to be familiar with the law itself. You may be given a copy of the law when you take a prelicensing course. If not, you usually can obtain a copy directly from your state licensing agency, and often can do so online with your computer. Try using a search engine like Google and type in your state’s name followed by the words real estate license law. Because states vary in who issues real estate licenses, you can also type in your state’s name followed by the words real estate license commission or real estate license board.

Warning Don’t neglect knowing about the silly little stuff like license fees. Every real estate exam I’ve ever taken asked some question or another about how much it costs to get a license or change an address or something like that.

Remembering Important Vocabulary

Not having taken the real estate exams in all 50 states, I can’t say the following with absolute certainty, but I believe you can pass most state license exams for real estate salesperson by simply mastering the vocabulary (no small task). At the initial stage of licensing, state officials want to make sure that you at least understand the basics. If you can master all the terms that are in italics in this book, the glossary terms, the terms on flashcards, and any other words that are new to you, I think you’ll pass the state exam. By master them, however, I mean committing to memory a one- or two-sentence definition for each term. As for the more complicated concepts, memorizing the major differences between two similar terms probably will get you through. The online flashcards should be especially helpful because they contain most of the important terms in this book.

Warning Exams beyond the salesperson exam, such as the broker’s exam, require you to memorize more terminology and be able to apply it in various situational questions, almost like mini-case studies. A mastery of the vocabulary, however, shouldn’t be overlooked, even for the broker’s exam. That mastery can help you answer case studies and other questions on the broker’s exam.

Focusing on Key Concepts

Real estate studies include many key concepts that go beyond simple vocabulary (see the previous section). For example, the fact that a salesperson must work under a broker is a key concept (see Chapter 3). The idea of fiduciary responsibility is a key concept (see Chapter 4). Math formulas are key concepts (see Chapter 18). Most key concepts can be reduced to a few sentences. The way this book is organized, every key concept has its own heading. Look for the words in italics and a few key sentences that describe what I’m talking about. If it helps, reduce it all to a sentence or two or a list of important characteristics. In addition, when a key concept doesn’t warrant its own section, I highlight it with the (you guessed it) Remember icon. Make sure that you learn, understand, and remember them for the exam.

Eating Something

I’m a big believer in the food, energy, blood sugar, and alertness relationship. Eat your normal meals for the day. If eating and the exam schedule are a problem, make other arrangements. For example, if you’re traveling to an exam site or actually taking the exam when you normally would be eating, get some energy or meal replacement bars or some other healthy snacks and eat them as close to your regular meal time as possible. If you’re allowed to bring food into the exam, by all means, bring something if you want — just don’t go overboard.

Staying Cool, Calm, and Collected

Okay! I grant you staying calm before a test always is easier said than done. But let your nerves work for you rather than against you. Get just anxious enough to motivate you to study, do the practice exams in this book, and review the material you didn’t do well on in class and practice questions. At some point, you’ll begin to feel comfortable enough with the information that you’ll begin to relax. Keep in mind that you probably have accomplished much harder things in your life, that you’re being tested on real estate issues and not rocket science, and that you can always take the test over if you don’t pass.

I think activities like relaxation exercises, meditation, and deep breathing all can help. Before any exam that I take, I close my eyes for just a few seconds and take a couple of deep breaths. If you’re so inclined, say a short prayer. What you’re looking for is to become calm and focused.

Paying Attention (without Overthinking)

Take what is presented in each question at face value. Avoid “what-iffing” as you read the question. Don’t be afraid to select the obviously correct answer. Examiners don’t write questions that are intentionally designed to trick you. They do write questions that sometimes require knowledge of the fine differences between two points. Pay attention to unnecessary material that is designed to give the question a sense of reality or throw you off. Here’s an example with a topic from Chapter 7.

  • Question: Tenancy in common is a common form of ownership for
  • Answers: married couples, cooperative apartment owners, time share owners, condominium owners.

The answer is condominium owners, and you can read why in Chapter 7. If you started to overthink this question, you may want to pick cooperative apartments, because that’s a form of group ownership, and married couples can own property as tenants in common, but it isn’t typical. Time share ownership generally is individual ownership. So if you overthink this question, you may find justification for at least one if not two of the incorrect answers. This question, again, points out the benefits of mastering terms and key concepts that I discuss in “Focusing on Key Concepts” earlier in this chapter. I’ve tried to give you examples of various types of test questions in the four practice exams in this book.

Going with Your Initial Instinct

The advice you’ve been given since the time you started taking multiple-choice tests needs to be engraved on Mount Rushmore: Go with your first answer on a multiple-choice question. I have corrected enough of these types of exams and have seen enough right answers changed to wrong answers to tell you that for the most part, it’s true. I don’t know enough about how the brain works to explain it, but on recognition-type exams, or exams where the answers are right in front of you if you have prepared well, the first answer that comes to mind usually is the best one.

The two exceptions to this rule are:

  • If a later question gives you information that makes a better choice likely in an earlier question.
  • When checking your answers to the math questions. Do the math questions at least twice or until you get the same answer twice. Once upon a time, I decided that 100 minus 4 equaled 94. That cost me a perfect score on a math test in seventh grade. Although not that important in the grander scheme of things, I never forgot after that to do math questions twice over just in case.

Finishing the Job

Above all, don’t leave any answers blank. Go through the test quickly the first time to answer as many of the easy questions that you know the answers to right away. Then go back and take your time with the harder ones. Guess if you have to. There will inevitably be a few answers you know right off the bat in the last 10 or 15 questions. It would be a shame to miss those answers because you spent too much time on a few questions earlier in the exam. If you’re a little mathphobic, don’t get stuck wrestling with the math questions. Skip them, if you have to, and come back to them after you’ve gone through the entire exam.

The last thing you need to do is actually count the number of marks on the answer sheet to make sure that the number corresponds with the number of questions on the exam. While you’re at it, make sure you didn’t fill in two answers for the same question. Many states are using computerized testing. Make sure you understand how the system works, how to finalize your answers or leave them open to change, and to make sure you’ve answered all the questions. And if you’re not sure, ask the exam proctor, and don’t be embarrassed to ask in front of the kids in the room who probably grew up with computers in their cribs.

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