Aspiring Illinois real estate agents must pass the state’s license exam. This test consists of two sections: a national portion and an Illinois-specific one.
Studying for the exam can take anywhere from 3 to 18 months, depending on how quickly you work and how much time is dedicated to it. To maximize success, plan your studies strategically and set achievable objectives.
Top 4 Online IL Real Estate Exam Prep Courses
The CE Shop
The CE Shop is an online course provider that provides exam prep, pre-licensing courses, and continuing education for real estate licensees. They have various package options available and boast impressive pass rates among their students.
This course format features downloadable real estate books and engaging learning content, plus it offers both a pass and money-back guarantee to guarantee you’re satisfied with the training materials.
Another advantage of the course is its use of real-life examples to explain key concepts and impart necessary skills. This helps students retain information and become better real estate professionals in the process.
Its real estate exam practice questions are designed to replicate the actual test, helping students identify their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, The CE Shop’s course materials are user-friendly, ensuring learners remain engaged with the content.
The CE Shop’s Agent Essentials program is an invaluable resource for new agents looking to take their careers in real estate forward. It includes business eBooks written by experts and other helpful materials tailored specifically toward new agents.
The Real Estate Institute
The Real Estate Institute is one of Illinois’ premier online courses for prepping for the real estate exam. It offers self-paced learning packages to those who prefer studying from home, as well as live webinars for those who prefer more of an interactive classroom setting.
The school’s Intensive Broker Review package includes a 2.5-hour live class or webinar with a real estate expert, an electronic copy of their presentation, online practice quizzes, and a stimulated final state exam. Additionally, you’ll receive a copy of Illinois’ Real Estate License Act of 2000 Study Guide as well as a candidate handbook.
Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate provides courses for pre-licensing and continuing education to help you obtain your license. Their course materials are rigorous, featuring real-world examples, Q&A sessions with instructors and experts, as well as professional development resources.
The company’s exam prep package includes progress exams, digital flashcards, personalized exams, and a pass guarantee. Furthermore, it gives customers access to state and national exams.
Unfortunately, they do not provide the 15-hour interactive course required by Illinois. Kaplan is our top pick for those needing to prepare for the real estate exam in Illinois; if you need this kind of preparation, they are our top choice.
For customers on a higher level, the company offers state-approved instructor support, three real estate e-books, and audio playback for exam preparation. Plus, those who select this option will get a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee on the real estate exam.
NetSuite
NetSuite is one of the premier online courses for prepping for the real estate exam in Illinois. Its materials are high-quality and reasonably priced, and students who took its course have had nothing but positive reviews after passing their exams.
This course includes the Modern Real Estate Practice in Illinois textbook (searchable eBook), 15-hour Broker Pre-License Applied Real Estate Principles interactive webinar, and course modules with quizzes. Hosted on D2L’s platform through a partnership with Eastern Illinois University, the course is administered by Eastern Illinois University.
The program guarantees a pass, plus it comes with several bonuses like an “Ultimate Learning” package with unlimited practice tests. Plus, if you don’t pass the state exam on your first try, you can retake it at a reduced rate.
How to Study for the Illinois Real Estate Exam
The Illinois Real Estate Exam consists of 100 national questions and 40 state questions. To pass, you must score at least 70% on the national section and 75% on the state section. You may take this exam as many times as desired.
This exam can be taken on paper, computer, or both and costs $55 per attempt. Your results will be available immediately after finishing the test.
Pre-License Education
Before taking the Illinois state exam for real estate licensing, you must complete 75 hours of pre-license education. This will include courses on real estate law and regulations, the practice of real estate, contracts, financing options, etc.
Exam Study Tools
You have several tools at your disposal to prepare for the exam, such as digital flashcards and practice tests. These resources will increase your industry knowledge and make passing your licensing exam much simpler.
Use Practice Tests
Gain familiarity with the questions on your Illinois real estate license exam by taking practice tests and reviewing your scores. Doing this will enable you to identify any weaknesses and focus on improving those areas in order to pass.
Discover what types of questions will appear on your exam and what topics they cover by reading PSI Services’ Candidate Information Booklet, published by PSI Services – the company conducting your licensing exam. This booklet provides comprehensive summaries of each section covered on the test.
Familiarize Yourself with Common Real Estate Terms
Many questions on the Illinois real estate exam involve terminology and legal terms related to real estate. By having a working knowledge of these words, you can answer questions more quickly and precisely – thus increasing your chances of passing the real estate exam.
Learning the Mill Rate
One of the most essential concepts on the Illinois real estate exam is the mill rate. This refers to how much money is paid in property tax per $1,000 of assessed value. Knowing this number gives you an edge over other students as it allows you to move through math sections of the exam quickly and save time on other parts of it.

