Cambo

California Real Estate Exam Quiz & Practice Questions

Take a free practice quiz or point your phone at any California real estate exam question for an instant, explained answer — national principles and DRE-specific law, without the guesswork.

Try it free

Three steps, a few seconds each.

01

Snap a photo

Point your phone at the question — on a screen, a printout, anywhere.

02

Get the answer

Cambo reads the question and answers it in a few seconds.

03

See the explanation

Read the reasoning behind the answer so it actually sticks.

Looking for the official training, not practice questions? dre.ca.gov — California Department of Real Estate ↗

Taking it right now? Snap a photo of any question you get stuck on — get the answer in seconds.

Try it free

Built for exactly this kind of question.

California blends national real estate principles with a dense body of state-specific law — the Real Estate Law, agency disclosure duties, trust fund handling, and disclosure statutes like Transfer Disclosure Statements — and it's easy to answer a question correctly under a "general" rule while missing the California-specific twist the exam is actually testing. Cambo reads the exact scenario and explains which rule, national or California, the correct answer is built on.

Test yourself with real practice questions.

Under California law, what document must most residential sellers provide to buyers disclosing known material facts about a property's condition?

  1. ANatural Hazard Disclosure Statement only
  2. BTransfer Disclosure Statement (TDS)
  3. CPreliminary Title Report
  4. DCertificate of Occupancy
Tap the card to reveal the answer
Answer
BTransfer Disclosure Statement (TDS)
The Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) — California Civil Code requires most residential sellers to disclose known material facts about the property's condition to prospective buyers, separate from other required disclosures like natural hazards.

A California real estate salesperson receives trust funds (like earnest money) on behalf of a buyer. What must the salesperson generally do with those funds?

  1. ADeposit them into their own personal checking account temporarily
  2. BGive them directly to the buyer's lender
  3. CTurn them over to their responsible broker or deposit into a trust account per DRE rules
  4. DHold them in cash until closing
Tap the card to reveal the answer
Answer
CTurn them over to their responsible broker or deposit into a trust account per DRE rules
Turn the funds over to the responsible broker (or deposit into a neutral escrow/trust account) — California's Real Estate Law imposes strict trust fund handling rules, and a salesperson commingling trust funds with personal funds is a serious violation.

Which agency oversees real estate licensing and enforces the Real Estate Law in California?

  1. ACalifornia Association of Realtors (CAR)
  2. BCalifornia Department of Real Estate (DRE)
  3. CNational Association of Realtors (NAR)
  4. DCalifornia Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
Tap the card to reveal the answer
Answer
BCalifornia Department of Real Estate (DRE)
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) — it licenses salespersons and brokers and enforces the Real Estate Law, distinct from CAR, which is a trade association, not a regulator.

On the national portion of the exam, which type of listing agreement gives one broker the exclusive right to a commission regardless of who finds the buyer?

  1. AOpen listing
  2. BExclusive agency listing
  3. CExclusive right-to-sell listing
  4. DNet listing
Tap the card to reveal the answer
Answer
CExclusive right-to-sell listing
An exclusive right-to-sell listing — the listing broker earns a commission no matter who ultimately produces the buyer, including the seller themselves, which distinguishes it from an exclusive agency listing.

A California seller's property is located in a designated high fire severity zone. What is the seller generally required to do?

  1. ANothing — fire zone status is only relevant to insurance companies
  2. BDisclose this on the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement
  3. CPersonally pay for brush clearance before every showing
  4. DObtain a fire marshal inspection before listing
Tap the card to reveal the answer
Answer
BDisclose this on the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement
Disclose it on the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement — California law requires sellers to disclose whether a property lies within a state-mapped natural hazard zone, including high fire severity zones.

What is the maximum commission rate a California broker may legally charge on a residential sale?

  1. A6%, set by state law
  2. B5%, set by the DRE
  3. CThere is no state-mandated maximum — commission rates are negotiable
  4. D3%, matching the national average
Tap the card to reveal the answer
Answer
CThere is no state-mandated maximum — commission rates are negotiable
There is no state-mandated maximum — commission rates in California (and nationally) are negotiable between the broker and client, and the exam tests this as a point antitrust law specifically protects.
1 / 6
2 / 6
3 / 6
4 / 6
5 / 6
6 / 6

Questions, answered.

How many questions are on the California real estate salesperson exam?

+

150 multiple-choice questions, covering both national real estate principles and California-specific law, taken over a 3-hour testing window.

What score do I need to pass?

+

70%, meaning at least 105 of the 150 questions answered correctly.

How many pre-licensing education hours does California require?

+

135 hours across three DRE-approved courses: Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one approved elective.

How many times can I retake the exam?

+

As many times as needed within your 2-year application window — California has no fixed retake limit — though you'll pay the exam fee again each attempt and must wait for your prior result before scheduling the next one.

Is Cambo affiliated with the DRE?

+

No. Cambo is an independent study tool, not produced or endorsed by the California Department of Real Estate.

Who administers the California real estate exam?

+

The exam is administered directly by the California Department of Real Estate at DRE testing locations, not by a third-party vendor like Pearson VUE.

Other practice pages.

Example quizzes that you are forced to take

DoD & Military Training 19+
Workplace Compliance 12+
Career & Aptitude Tests 8+
Professional Certifications 8+
State Licensing & Exams 7+
Course & Campus Study Tools 27+
Campus Study Hubs 24+