Your first objective in the real estate business is not to close that million dollar deal, but to pass the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Exams and get your real estate licence.
The RES Exam is a challenging test that requires careful preparation and a thorough understanding of real estate principles and practices.
Failing the RES Exam can indeed be disheartening if you've already attempted it.
Nevertheless, there's absolutely no need to lose hope. It can be quite a challenge to pass it on the first try and most people take 2 or more attempts to pass both papers.
So chins up, and let's get you ready for your next retake and with the right strategies and resources, you can increase your chances of success!
In this article, I will provide you with a comprehensive guide to revising and passing the RES Exam on your next try. We will cover 5 main points that will help you focus your efforts and prepare effectively for the exam.
These points include:
Attend All Lessons and Focus On Your Study Materials
Understand the RES Exam format and content
Review the RES Exam syllabus and study materials
Practice with RES Exam questions and sample papers
Get Support And Join A Peer Support Community
To work in the real estate industry, aspiring agents must pass a mandatory exam under the Council of Estate Agency's rules.
This ensures they have the necessary knowledge and skills before handling such a significant purchase in someone else's life.
The exam mainly consists of multiple-choice questions, and while it may seem easy, many people fail. Anecdotal data collected indicates a current passing rate of roughly 4 to 5 out of 10.
However, do not lose hope yet!
There are still candidates who've passed on their first try by attending our RES Exam Revision Tutorials and practicing with our mock exam papers.
Instructions on how to get these papers are provided at the end of this article.
Anyway, here are some study tips that can help you get prepared for the exams!
1. Attend All Lessons and Focus On Your Study Materials
Who says being a real estate agent just requires great selling and communication skills.
The amount of information that a real estate agent needs to know is overwhelming.
You will need to learn about URA, HDB, BCA and Ministry of Law regulations, policies and many other jargons and formulas.
Therefore, it is important to attend all the lessons of the RES course diligently to learn and understand the real estate industry better.
Pay attention and take down all the important points highlighted by your course tutor.
You will also be given study materials such as guidebooks, mind maps and mock examination papers to guide you along on the topics that you need to focus on.
Our free RES Revision sessions also provides you free mock paper questions for you to test your possibility of passing the exams.
Using the study materials that you have, come up with your own set of notes using your preferred studying style (point form, mindmaps, etc).
I find mind-mapping using SimpleMind+, a free downloadable app, a particularly useful way of laying out all the connecting topics with colour coding to aid retention.
Make it a point to go through your notes after every lesson and clarify any questions you have with your trainer.
Some trainers cover just the surface of certain topics and it is very useful to probe further to understand the “Why” behind the policies or regulations.
It makes remembering policies easier as you start to see the logic behind each regulation and its purpose.
Also, practise the mock examination papers and vary the papers so that you can get a feel for question variations and different sentence phrasings.
The questions can be very tricky and they are changed by the exam setters often.
Through these practices, you will have a better idea on the topics that you are weak in, and then focus more on improving on those areas.
Also, if you think that it is no big deal to miss the lessons as you can self-study, then you are in for a rude shock.
Candidates sitting for the RES exams will need to attend and complete the RES Course conducted by a CEA Approved Course Provider.
CEA requires a minimum attendance rate of 75% and candidates are required to submit a copy of the RES Course Completion Certificate when they register for the examination.
Hence, no. Those of you who are academic geniuses or the garang type can’t just self-study and go for the exams.
2. Understand the RES Exam format and content
The first step in preparing for the RES Exam is to understand the format and content of the test.
The CEA provides a range of study materials and resources to help you prepare for the RES exam. These include the RES Examination Syllabus Handbook, which provides a detailed breakdown of the topics covered in the exam.
The CEA also provides a sample exam paper and answer key, as well as a list of recommended readings and resources. The RES Exam consists of two parts: a multiple-choice section and a case study section. The multiple-choice section consists of 50 questions and is designed to test your knowledge of real estate principles and practices. The case study section consists of two case studies and requires you to apply your knowledge to real-life scenarios.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be on the RES Exam, as well as the areas of the syllabus that will be covered. The RES Exam covers a wide range of topics, including property law, agency law, real estate finance, and property development. By understanding the content of the exam, you can focus your studies on the areas that are most relevant and important.
3. Review the RES Exam syllabus and study materials
The RES Exam syllabus is a comprehensive list of the topics and concepts that will be covered on the test. It is essential to review the syllabus carefully and make sure you understand all the material.
This will help you identify the areas where you need to focus your studies and ensure that you are prepared for the exam.
In addition to the syllabus, there are a number of study materials available to help you prepare for the RES Exam. These include textbooks, study guides, and practice questions. It is a good idea to review these materials carefully and make sure you understand all the concepts covered.
4. Practice with RES Exam questions and sample papers
One of the most effective ways to prepare for the RES exam is to practice with past exam papers.
By working through past exam papers, you can get a sense of the types of questions that are likely to come up in the exam and how to approach them.
You can also identify any gaps in your knowledge and focus your revision on those areas.
By answering practice questions, you can get a feel for the types of questions that will be on the exam and how much time you need to allocate to each question. It is also a good idea to review the explanations for each question, as this will help you understand the concepts behind the questions and identify any areas where you need further study.
There are a number of RES Exam practice question banks and sample papers available online (Or you can get it for free by joining in our RES Exams Revision Telegram group).
You can also find past exam papers and answer keys on various online forums like Hardwarezone.com. Make sure to set aside enough time to work through as many past exam papers as possible, and try to do so under exam conditions (e.g., time yourself and work in a quiet, distraction-free environment). Ideally, you should use all the resources available to get as much practice as possible before the exam.
It happens only thrice a year so best to pass it on your earliest attempt!
5. Get support and guidance from others
Studying for the RES exam can be a challenging and overwhelming experience, especially if you are doing it on your own.
It is important to seek support and guidance from others, whether it's from a tutor, study group, or mentor.
Working with others can help you stay motivated and on track with your revision, as well as provide you with a different perspective and new ideas.
It can also be helpful to discuss difficult concepts and questions with others, as this can help you discover your gaps in understanding and better prepare.
Recommended books and case studies:
"The Law of Estate Agency" by Chan Leng Sun SC and Alan Cheong Yew Vooi
"Real Estate Salesperson: A Practical Guide" by Ravi Philemon and Lim Hwee Peng
"Property Law and Conveyancing in Singapore" by Tan Kian Hin and Andrew Phang
"The Real Estate Salesperson: An Insider's Guide to Passing the RES Exam" by Edmund Tie & Company
Case studies can also be found in various real estate publications and online resources, such as the CEA's website and the Institute of Estate Agents Singapore's website.
It might be stressful to study for the RES examination, but it will definitely be worth it once the doors of limitless opportunities open to you.
I hope that this post will help you if you are preparing for the RES examination.
By the way, you are welcome to join in our free regular RES Revision Sessions or upcoming RES Bootcamp to help you succeed faster in your real estate career!
Register for our RES Boot Camp after passing your RES exams to accelerate your income breakthrough! Limited seats each batch.
Held 3 times a year, our programme consists of over 42 hours of essential training by our top team leaders, sales achievers and project ICs to help you be field-deployable within 7 days.
Suitable for all brand new RES or part-timers who are looking to commit full time, succeed fast and give your 100% in the shortest time possible!
Find out about our boot camp graduates' reviews below.
Looking for great real estate career mentorship to shorten your learning curve?
Get a 1-time free 30 min career consultation with Stuart and his team leaders. Schedule one right now.
P.S. Drop a WhatsApp to 96919907 if you would like some free and effective exam revision past year papers and mind maps to help you revise better.
Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.
He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife.
Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, an avid stocks & options trader and real estate investor, business owner, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.
Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great property investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.
Stuart has also coached many top million dollar producing agents from different real estate agencies in Singapore. Read his agents' reviews here.
P.S. Brand new and interested in the RES Course? Find out how to get your property agent licence and be a real estate agent in Singapore!
P.P.S. Passed your RES Exams? Find out what steps to take next to quickly reach your goals!
P.P.P.S. Find out which real estate agency to join after passing your exams!