What is on the New York Real Estate Exam?

According to the New York Department of State (NYDOS), the NY real estate exam covers the same topics taught in the 77-hour New York real estate course, such as licensing law, property taxes, and real estate finance.

Not everyone passes the New York real estate licensing exam on their first try. But passing the exam is a lot easier when you know what to expect on test day! Here is a rundown of what is on the New York real estate exam.

What Is on the New York Real Estate Exam?

• Type of Exam: Multiple choice, written exam

• Number of Questions: 75

• Time to Complete the Test: 90 minutes

• Passing Score: The test is pass/fail, but requires a score of 70% or higher

The questions on the New York pre-licensing exam are based on the information covered in the 77-hour real estate salesperson course. This means you’ll see questions about the following topics:

• Regulations and license law

• Law of agency

• Legalities

• The contract of leases and sales

• Finance related to real estate

• Regulations related to land use

• Environmental and construction issues

• Pricing properties and valuation process

• Fair housing and human rights

• Mathematics related to real estate

• Municipal agencies

• Insurance on properties

• License safety

• Assessments and taxes

• Cooperatives and condominiums

• Investment and commercial properties

• Issues with income taxes in real estate transactions

• Mortgage brokerage

• Management of properties

You can expect state-specific questions as well as questions about federal real estate practices. You should also expect to see a few math questions. Don’t worry — you’re allowed to bring a basic calculator to the exam (but, no, you can’t use the calculator on your phone).

The final exam for your 77-hour real estate course is great practice for your real estate exam. The state licensing exam is very similar in format and the type of questions asked.

New York Real Estate Exam Example Questions

The exact questions from the New York real estate exam are not public information, but here are examples of the types of questions you are likely to see on the exam.

Which term describes the right of a government or municipal quasi-public body to acquire private property for public use?

• A) Escheat

• B) Eminent domain

• C) Encroachment

• D) Estoppel

What is required for a valid contract of sale in real estate?

• A) Offer and acceptance only

• B) Offer, acceptance, and earnest money deposit

• C) Offer, acceptance, consideration, and legal capacity

• D) Offer, consideration, and proof of ownership

If the local property tax rate is $15 per $1,000 of assessed value, how much is a homeowner required to pay annually in property taxes for a home valued at $400,000?

• A) $6,000

• B) $60

• C) $600

• D) $6

What is required for a licensed real estate salesperson to legally operate under a broker in New York?

• A) The salesperson must pass the broker's own internal examination.

• B) The salesperson must be listed as an employee on the broker’s business insurance.

• C) The salesperson must have a written agreement specifying the terms of association with the broker.

• D) The salesperson must independently verify all licenses with the New York Department of State annually.

Under the Fair Housing Act, which is NOT a protected class in New York State?

• A) Age

• B) Marital status

• C) Political affiliation

• D) Disability

Answers: B, C, A, C, C

How to Pass the New York Real Estate Exam

Passing the NY real estate exam comes down to preparation.

Enrolling in AceableAgent’s New York pre-licensing course is one of the best ways to pass the exam. You’ll be prepping for the exam the entire time with engaging course materials that make it easier to understand the concepts and recall the answers.

If you already enrolled with another real estate school, you can still take advantage of AceableAgent-style exam prep with a stand-alone PrepAgent crash course. This will give you access to worksheets, flashcards, and hundreds of practice questions to help you study for your real estate test efficiently.