- Official section
- Illinois I.E: Examination
- Broker weight
- Part of 10% of the Illinois state portion
- Expected scored items
- Licensing Requirements accounts for about 4 of 40 state items
Illinois licensing requirements topic guide
Illinois broker examination rules
The exam has several clocks and they do different jobs. One controls how long education supports eligibility. One limits time inside each portion. One counts consecutive failures. Another starts after you pass and controls the license application. Put the correct event on the correct clock and most exam-rule questions become straightforward.
Last updated: August 1, 2026
What does current Illinois authority require?
Short answer: The current Illinois broker exam has a 100-point national portion with 150 minutes and a 40-point Illinois portion with 90 minutes. National requires 70%, while Illinois requires 75%, and each result stands alone. PSI may add 5 to 10 unscored experimental items that still use time. A candidate who fails one portion ordinarily repeats only that portion. A standard candidate has four attempts within the two-year pre-license education period; a fourth consecutive failure triggers new 75-hour education, a new examination application, and the full exam. After passing, the candidate has one year to apply and meet license requirements.
Examination rules appear at Illinois I.E in the PSI outline effective June 24, 2026. This guide uses the PSI Candidate Information Booklet dated June 24, 2026 together with Section 5-35 and Part 1450 as checked August 1, 2026. It focuses on the standard broker examination. Endorsement candidates, managing broker candidates, residential leasing agents, instructors, candidates receiving accommodations, and anyone whose appointment confirmation differs should follow the rules for their exact examination.
Where is this tested on the Illinois outline?
- Topic
- Eligibility to test
- What to know
- Age certification, secondary education, required fee, currently active Illinois attorney, 75 approved hours, course transcript, candidate account, PSI approval, eligibility email, approved provider, and standard broker category
- Best exam move
- Confirm that the candidate is eligible before treating payment or scheduling as a valid exam appointment.
- Topic
- Two-year education validity
- What to know
- Approved pre-license education, satisfactory completion, all required courses, completion date, two years, eligibility period, transcript, expiration, four attempts, retake education, and current curriculum
- Best exam move
- Start the education clock at satisfactory completion, not at exam scheduling or the first failed attempt.
- Topic
- National portion format
- What to know
- 100 scored items, 100 points, 150 minutes, 70% raw, 70 points, 11 content areas, multiple choice, one best answer, calculations, national principles, independent score, and prior scaled score 75 equivalence
- Best exam move
- Use 70% for national and do not import the Illinois 75% cutoff.
- Topic
- Illinois portion format
- What to know
- 40 scored items, 40 points, 90 minutes, 75%, 30 points, state law, four outline areas, independent score, license requirements, License Act, additional laws, disclosures, and current June 24 outline
- Best exam move
- Use 75% for Illinois and study from the current four-area state outline.
- Topic
- Experimental questions
- What to know
- Possible 5 to 10 items, unscored, future-test development, extra to outline totals, not identified, time counts, equal attention, no score effect, question comments, and exam security
- Best exam move
- Answer every item seriously and budget a modest time cushion without trying to spot experimental questions.
- Topic
- Separate passing decisions
- What to know
- National pass, Illinois pass, no combined average, no offset, pass both, fail national only, fail state only, fail both, score report, diagnostic categories, and retained passed portion
- Best exam move
- Read the result as two independent decisions before choosing the required retest.
- Topic
- Partial retest
- What to know
- Failed portion only, national, state, diagnostic score, reapplication instructions, attempt count, eligibility window, remaining portion, no automatic full retest, scheduling, fee, and passed credit
- Best exam move
- Before the reset, register only for the failed portion indicated by the score report.
- Topic
- Four-consecutive-failure reset
- What to know
- Four attempts, consecutive failures, two-year period, 75-hour broker education, new examination application, fifth attempt treated as first, entire examination, education-exempt candidate, no endless partial retest, and fresh eligibility
- Best exam move
- After the fourth failure, stop scheduling partial retests and complete the applicable reset first.
- Topic
- One-year post-pass application clock
- What to know
- Passing score, receipt date, one year, IDFPR application, meet all license requirements, fee, transcript, sponsorship for active license, exam credit termination, retake appropriate exam, and no automatic license
- Best exam move
- Passing ends the testing phase but immediately starts a separate licensure deadline.
- Topic
- Scheduling, cancellation, and fee
- What to know
- $58 current fee, nonrefundable, nontransferable, PSI portal, examination appointment, two-day notice, reschedule, no voicemail, missed appointment, late arrival, improper identification, forfeiture, fee received, and one-year testing use
- Best exam move
- Distinguish exam eligibility from the vendor deadline needed to preserve a paid appointment fee.
- Topic
- Identification and check-in
- What to know
- One ID, scheduled name match, signature, photo, valid, unexpired, accepted government documents, military ID not remote, arrive 30 minutes early, late arrival, fee forfeiture, prohibited items, and security inspection
- Best exam move
- Treat exact identity and punctuality as conditions of admission, not details that can be cured after start time.
- Topic
- Test center versus remote rules
- What to know
- Physical calculator at test center, no physical calculator remote, provided scratch paper and pencil at center, no scratch paper remote, restroom permission, no extra time, no remote breaks, camera, room scan, no prohibited electronics, internet, and appointment choice
- Best exam move
- Apply the delivery-specific rule and never assume an item allowed at a center is allowed at home.
- Topic
- Score report and diagnostics
- What to know
- On-screen result, emailed report, pass instructions, failure diagnostics, strengths, weaknesses, examination type, online account, Manage tab, print, save, no item review, candidate comments, and next step
- Best exam move
- Use the report's official pass-fail result and follow the matching license or retest branch.
The CLOCKS method for Illinois exam rules
- Course clock: Date the satisfactory completion of all required pre-license education and add two years for ordinary eligibility.
- Limits by portion: Use 100 points and 150 minutes for national, then 40 points and 90 minutes for Illinois.
- Outcome by portion: Compare national to 70% and Illinois to 75% independently, without averaging.
- Count attempts: Track consecutive failures and whether the candidate is still before or after the fourth-failure reset.
- Keep passed credit: Before the reset, repeat only the portion the score report says was failed.
- Start the license clock: After the passing result, add one year to submit the IDFPR application and meet all licensure requirements.
- Scheduling controls: Apply the current fee, two-day cancellation notice, identity, arrival, and delivery-specific security rules to the appointment itself.
- Rule
- National scored portion
- Current figure
- 100 points in 150 minutes
- Exam meaning
- Pass at 70 points
- Rule
- Illinois scored portion
- Current figure
- 40 points in 90 minutes
- Exam meaning
- Pass at 30 points, or 75%
- Rule
- Experimental items
- Current figure
- Possible 5 to 10
- Exam meaning
- Unscored but timed
- Rule
- Standard broker fee
- Current figure
- $58 in June 24, 2026 booklet
- Exam meaning
- Verify before payment
- Rule
- Education validity
- Current figure
- 2 years after completion
- Exam meaning
- Window supporting exam eligibility
- Rule
- Standard attempts
- Current figure
- Up to 4
- Exam meaning
- Within education eligibility period
- Rule
- Ordinary partial failure
- Current figure
- Retake failed portion
- Exam meaning
- Passed portion remains credited before reset
- Rule
- Fourth failure
- Current figure
- Repeat 75 hours and full exam
- Exam meaning
- New exam application required
- Rule
- Post-pass application
- Current figure
- Within 1 year
- Exam meaning
- Meet all license requirements
- Rule
- Appointment cancellation
- Current figure
- Notice received 2 days before
- Exam meaning
- Preserves fee under current PSI rule
Which Illinois distinctions matter most?
- Terms
- National 70% vs. Illinois 75%
- Difference
- The national raw cutoff is 70 of 100 points. The Illinois cutoff is 30 of 40 points, or 75%. They are not the same standard.
- Question cue
- Which portion's result is being calculated?
- Terms
- Scored item vs. experimental item
- Difference
- Scored items affect the result. Experimental items do not affect the result but still consume time and are not safe to skip.
- Question cue
- Extra question beyond the published outline total.
- Terms
- Combined performance vs. separate results
- Difference
- PSI does not average national and Illinois into one pass. Each portion must independently meet its cutoff.
- Question cue
- Strong national score offered to offset a state miss.
- Terms
- Failed-portion retest vs. full reset
- Difference
- Ordinarily the candidate repeats only a failed portion. After the fourth consecutive failure, the applicable education, new-application, and entire-exam reset controls.
- Question cue
- Attempt one through three versus after attempt four.
- Terms
- Two-year education clock vs. one-year application clock
- Difference
- Two years measures how long completed pre-license education supports exam eligibility. One year measures how long a passing exam result supports the license application.
- Question cue
- Course completion date versus passing-score receipt date.
- Terms
- Exam pass vs. license issuance
- Difference
- Passing satisfies the examination requirement. IDFPR still reviews the license application and other qualifications, and active practice still requires sponsorship.
- Question cue
- Candidate begins showing property with a score report.
- Terms
- Cancellation deadline vs. exam eligibility
- Difference
- Two-day cancellation notice preserves the appointment fee. It does not extend education validity or the statutory attempt period.
- Question cue
- Valid candidate cancels too late.
- Terms
- Test-center tool vs. remote tool
- Difference
- A physical calculator and provided scratch paper are allowed at the test center under the booklet. Remote candidates may not use physical calculators or scratch paper.
- Question cue
- Same exam, different delivery method.
- Terms
- Diagnostic report vs. item review
- Difference
- A failing report gives broad strength and weakness information by examination type. It does not disclose secure live questions or provide an answer-by-answer review.
- Question cue
- Candidate asks PSI for the missed items.
How does the Illinois rule apply?
A national pass and Illinois miss
Scenario: A first-attempt candidate earns 78 national points and 29 Illinois points. The candidate argues that 107 points out of 140 is more than enough overall.
- National requires 70 of 100, so 78 passes national.
- Illinois requires 75% of 40, which equals 30 points.
- The candidate earned 29 state points, so Illinois is failed.
- The portions are scored independently and cannot be averaged.
- Before any reset, the candidate follows the report and repeats only Illinois.
Answer: The candidate passes national and fails Illinois by one point. The combined 107 has no passing significance.
The experimental-question guess
Scenario: A candidate sees an unfamiliar question and skips it because it must be one of PSI's unscored experimental items.
- PSI may include 5 to 10 experimental questions beyond the scored totals.
- Those questions do not affect the score but do use examination time.
- An unfamiliar question can just as easily be a scored item from the outline.
- Candidates cannot safely classify a live item from its difficulty or wording.
- Every question should receive a reasoned answer and difficult items can be flagged for review if the interface permits.
Answer: Skipping based on a guess is unsafe. Treat every item as scored and preserve time through pacing, not speculation.
The fourth Illinois failure
Scenario: A standard broker candidate passed national on the first attempt but has now failed the Illinois portion on four consecutive attempts and wants to schedule Illinois alone a fifth time.
- The ordinary rule allows a failed-portion retest before the reset.
- The candidate has reached four consecutive failures.
- Section 5-35 and Rule 1450.420 require repeating broker pre-license education and filing a new examination application.
- The current PSI booklet states that the entire examination must then be taken.
- The fifth attempt begins a fresh sequence after eligibility is reestablished.
Answer: The candidate may not simply book Illinois alone again. The 75-hour, new-application, and entire-exam reset comes first.
The two clocks after a delayed exam
Scenario: A candidate completed pre-license education 20 months ago, passes both portions today, and asks whether only four months remain to apply for the license.
- The two-year clock measures acceptance of pre-license education for exam eligibility.
- At 20 months, the education was still inside that period when the exam was passed.
- A separate one-year application clock begins from receipt of the passing score.
- The candidate does not subtract the 20 education months from the application year.
- All license requirements must still be met during that new one-year period.
Answer: The candidate has the full one-year post-pass application period. The clocks run from different events and serve different purposes.
The Monday cancellation
Scenario: A candidate has a Monday appointment and sends cancellation notice on Sunday evening, then assumes the $58 fee will transfer to a new date.
- PSI requires cancellation notice to be received two days before the appointment.
- The booklet's own example says a Monday appointment requires notice by the previous Saturday.
- Sunday is too late under that current procedure.
- The examination fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable when forfeited.
- The candidate's underlying eligibility can remain valid even though the appointment fee is lost.
Answer: The late cancellation forfeits the fee. Losing the fee and losing exam eligibility are different outcomes.
The remote scratch-paper plan
Scenario: A remote candidate places blank paper and a physical calculator beside the computer because both would be usable at a PSI test center.
- The booklet allows a physical calculator at a test center but not for remote proctoring.
- Test-center staff provide scratch paper and a pencil that must be returned.
- Remote candidates are not allowed scratch paper.
- No prohibited item may be within reach or line of sight.
- The candidate should complete the remote room setup using the remote rules before check-in.
Answer: Both items must be removed for the remote examination. Permission at a center does not carry over to remote delivery.
Where do candidates misread the Illinois rule?
- Trap
- Both broker portions pass at 70%.
- Correction
- The current PSI booklet uses 70% for national and 75% for Illinois.
- Trap
- A strong national result can offset an Illinois miss.
- Correction
- The portions produce separate pass-fail decisions, so both cutoffs must be met.
- Trap
- The exam always contains exactly 140 total questions.
- Correction
- There are 140 published scored items, and PSI may add 5 to 10 unscored experimental items.
- Trap
- An experimental question can be recognized and skipped.
- Correction
- Candidates cannot safely identify it; answer every item as if it affects the score.
- Trap
- Failing one portion always means retaking both.
- Correction
- Ordinarily only the failed portion is repeated until the fourth-failure reset applies.
- Trap
- Four failures lead to a fifth partial retest.
- Correction
- The standard broker must repeat the 75-hour education, submit a new exam application, and retake the entire exam.
- Trap
- The education-validity clock restarts after each attempt.
- Correction
- The two years run from satisfactory completion of all required pre-license education.
- Trap
- A pass score can be used for a license application forever.
- Correction
- The candidate must apply and meet licensure requirements within one year after receiving the passing score.
- Trap
- The two-day cancellation window adds two days to exam eligibility.
- Correction
- It is an appointment-fee rule, not an extension of education or statutory eligibility.
- Trap
- Remote and test-center security rules are identical.
- Correction
- Remote testing bars physical calculators, scratch paper, and breaks that have different treatment at a center.
Can you apply the rule to a fresh scenario?
These questions are original study items aligned to the published outline. They are not copied, recalled, or predicted PSI questions.
1. A candidate earns 72 national points and 29 Illinois points. What is the result?
- Pass both because the combined percentage exceeds 70%
- Fail both because Illinois controls the entire exam
- Pass national and fail Illinois
- Fail national and pass Illinois
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Pass national and fail Illinois
National requires 70 of 100. Illinois requires 30 of 40. Separate scoring means the candidate keeps the national pass before a reset and retakes Illinois.
2. How do possible experimental questions affect a standard broker candidate?
- They add points but no time
- They are unscored but use exam time
- They are labeled so candidates can skip them
- They replace scored questions from the outline
Show answer and explanation
Answer: They are unscored but use exam time
PSI may add 5 to 10 experimental questions beyond the published scored totals. They support future test development and still consume time.
3. A standard broker candidate fails the examination four consecutive times. What must happen before another attempt?
- Wait 30 days only
- Retake only the most recently failed topic
- Repeat the 75-hour pre-license education and submit a new exam application
- Apply for an inactive broker license
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Repeat the 75-hour pre-license education and submit a new exam application
The four-failure reset requires new education and examination application. PSI says the standard broker then takes the entire examination.
4. Which event starts the one-year deadline to apply for broker licensure?
- The first day of pre-license education
- The date the exam fee is paid
- Receipt of the passing examination score
- The first sponsorship interview
Show answer and explanation
Answer: Receipt of the passing examination score
The one-year application rule is a post-pass clock. It is separate from the two-year validity of pre-license education.
5. Which item is permitted at a PSI test center under the current booklet but not during remote proctoring?
- A mobile phone
- A physical calculator
- A personal notebook
- A smart watch
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A physical calculator
The booklet allows physical calculators at test centers but not for remote exams. Phones, notebooks, and smart watches are prohibited.
How should you review this Illinois topic?
- Session
- 1. Memorize the current exam table
- Focus
- National 100, national 150 minutes, national 70%, Illinois 40, Illinois 90 minutes, Illinois 75%, separate scoring, and exact cutoff points
- Proof you are ready
- Rebuild the table and classify 20 score pairs without calculating a combined percentage.
- Session
- 2. Add experimental items and pacing
- Focus
- Five to ten possible items, unscored, timed, not safely identifiable, one best answer, flags, comments, time cushion, and complete response
- Proof you are ready
- Explain an experimental-item strategy in three sentences and finish a timed mixed set with review time.
- Session
- 3. Draw both eligibility clocks
- Focus
- Education completion, two years, exam attempts, pass-score receipt, one year, IDFPR application, sponsorship, and no clock subtraction
- Proof you are ready
- Solve 15 date scenarios and name the event that starts each clock.
- Session
- 4. Master the attempt tree
- Focus
- Pass both, fail national, fail Illinois, fail both, failed portion only, consecutive count, fourth failure, 75 hours, new application, full exam, and education-exempt route
- Proof you are ready
- Draw the result tree from memory and choose the next step in 20 candidate histories.
- Session
- 5. Secure the appointment
- Focus
- $58, nonrefundable, two-day notice, Monday example, arrival 30 minutes early, matching ID, signature, photo, expiration, late arrival, and missed appointment
- Proof you are ready
- Audit a sample appointment checklist without missing a fee-forfeiture condition.
- Session
- 6. Compare delivery methods and apply CLOCKS
- Focus
- Test center, remote, calculator, scratch paper, breaks, camera, prohibited items, course clock, portion limits, outcome, attempt count, passed credit, application clock, and scheduling
- Proof you are ready
- Score at least 90% on fresh exam-rule questions and explain every clock or delivery distinction.
Do not count recognition as mastery. Close the notes and explain the rule, apply it to a new fact pattern, and identify why each distractor fails.
Practice the Illinois rule in context
From concept to decision
Drill this topic, then review the explanation
Pass Illinois gives you original national and Illinois questions, topic-by-topic study, clear explanations, timed practice, flashcards, progress tracking, and Math Coach. Start free, find the weak distinction, and focus the next session there.
Questions students ask about Illinois Broker Examination Rules
How many questions are on the Illinois real estate broker exam?
The current PSI summary lists 100 scored national items worth 100 points and 40 scored Illinois items worth 40 points. PSI may also administer 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions in addition to the published totals. Experimental items use exam time but do not affect the score.
What score do you need to pass the Illinois broker exam?
You need 70% on the national broker portion and 75% on the Illinois state portion. With the published point totals, that corresponds to 70 of 100 national points and 30 of 40 Illinois points. The portions are scored separately, so a high score on one cannot offset a failing score on the other.
How much time do you get for the Illinois broker exam?
The June 24, 2026 PSI booklet gives 150 minutes for the 100-item national portion and 90 minutes for the 40-item Illinois portion. A tutorial of up to 15 minutes does not count against examination time. Candidates should still read the duration and portion details on their own appointment confirmation because scheduling interfaces can change.
Are there unscored questions on the Illinois broker exam?
Possibly. PSI says a small number, generally 5 to 10, may be added as experimental questions. They are not scored but do count against the time limit. Because candidates are not given a dependable way to identify them, the sound strategy is to answer every item as if it counts.
Do you retake both portions if you fail one portion?
Not during the ordinary partial-retest stage. If you fail only national or only Illinois, PSI says you repeat only the failed portion. The passed portion remains credited while the candidate stays within the governing eligibility and attempt rules. After the fourth consecutive failure, the education and full-exam reset applies to the standard broker path.
How many times can you take the Illinois broker exam?
A standard broker candidate has up to four attempts during the two-year education eligibility period. If the examination is failed four consecutive times, Section 5-35 and Rule 1450.420 require the candidate to repeat the 75-hour pre-license education and complete a new examination application before testing again. PSI states that the entire examination is then required.
How long is Illinois broker pre-license education valid for the exam?
Approved broker pre-license education is valid for two years after satisfactory completion of all required pre-license education. The attempt allowance operates within that eligibility period. Once the education expires, the candidate must reestablish eligibility under the current requirements.
How long do you have to apply for an Illinois broker license after passing?
You have one year from receipt of the passing examination score to submit the broker application and meet all licensure requirements. Missing that deadline terminates the examination credit, and the person must retake the appropriate examination before applying again.
How much is the Illinois broker examination fee in 2026?
The current PSI booklet lists a $58 broker examination fee. The fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable. PSI says cancellation or rescheduling notice must be received two days before the appointment to avoid forfeiture; a missed appointment, late arrival, improper ID, or late cancellation can cost the fee. Verify the amount in the portal before paying because vendor fees can change.
Are these official PSI exam questions?
No. They are original study questions about the published rules in Illinois I.E of the PSI outline effective June 24, 2026. Format, score, timing, and vendor procedures were checked against the booklet dated June 24, 2026 and available on August 1, 2026.
Primary sources
- PSI Illinois Candidate Information Booklet dated June 24, 2026
- 225 ILCS 454/5-35, examination, education validity, four failures, and pass-score expiration
- 225 ILCS 454/5-27, broker examination qualification
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.400, two-year education validity
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.420, broker examination application and four-failure reset
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1450.430, one-year broker license application deadline
- PSI Illinois real estate examination scheduling portal
The current official outline controls the tested scope. Statutes, regulations, and official agency materials control when a general study rule and a jurisdiction-specific rule differ.
Editorial status
Checked against primary sources
The Pass Illinois editorial team last checked this guide on August 1, 2026. Every practice question is an original study item, and the source links above let you verify the rules that support the lesson.