CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON EXAM
2026/2027 | EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
A+ GRADED | COMPREHENSIVE EXAM GUIDE
1. A California real estate salesperson is performing licensed activities for a client. Under
California law, which relationship is generally required for the salesperson to lawfully
perform those licensed activities?
A. An independent relationship with the client without broker supervision
B. Employment or affiliation under a responsible licensed broker
C. A written agreement with the local assessor
D. Membership in a local trade association
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: A California salesperson performs licensed real estate activities under the
supervision of a licensed broker. A salesperson who does not have a responsible broker may
hold a license but cannot perform acts requiring a real estate license.
2. Which three college-level courses are generally required to qualify for the California real
estate salesperson examination?
A. Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one approved additional course
B. Real Estate Finance, Appraisal, and Property Management
C. Real Estate Law, Escrow, and Accounting
D. Economics, Business Law, and Mortgage Lending
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: California requires Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one
additional qualifying course from the approved statutory list.
3. A prospective salesperson has completed Real Estate Principles and Real Estate Practice
but has not completed a third qualifying course. What is the most appropriate conclusion?
A. The applicant may substitute continuing education for the third course
B. The applicant automatically qualifies because two courses are sufficient
C. The applicant generally must complete one additional qualifying course
D. The applicant may substitute work experience for the education requirement
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Salesperson examination applicants generally need three qualifying college-
level courses: Principles, Practice, and one additional approved course.
,4. Which government agency administers California real estate salesperson licensing
examinations?
A. California Department of Consumer Affairs
B. California Department of Housing and Community Development
C. California Secretary of State
D. California Department of Real Estate
Answer: D
EXPLANATION: The California Department of Real Estate, commonly called the DRE,
administers the salesperson examination and regulates real estate licensing.
5. A salesperson tells a buyer, “The seller has already agreed to accept your offer,” even
though the seller has not communicated acceptance. What is the primary concern with the
salesperson's statement?
A. It may constitute a misleading representation
B. It automatically creates a binding contract
C. It changes the property's assessed value
D. It eliminates the need for written documentation
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: A licensee must communicate accurately and avoid misleading statements. A
salesperson should not represent that an agreement exists when it has not actually been
reached.
6. A broker instructs a salesperson to omit a known material defect from a property's
marketing description. What should the salesperson do?
A. Follow the broker's instruction because the broker is responsible
B. Disclose the material fact as required by law and professional duties
C. Tell only the buyer after the transaction closes
D. Remove the property from all marketing but make no disclosure
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Broker supervision does not authorize a salesperson to conceal material facts.
Disclosure obligations remain critical to lawful and ethical real estate practice.
7. Which statement best describes real property?
A. Personal belongings that can be moved
B. A temporary contractual right
,C. Land and things permanently attached to or legally associated with it
D. Only the physical structure located on land
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Real property generally includes land, improvements, and associated rights. It
is broader than the physical building alone.
8. A homeowner removes a built-in dishwasher before selling the property. The buyer
claims the dishwasher was part of the real estate. Which concept is most relevant?
A. Eminent domain
B. Avulsion
C. Accession
D. Fixture determination
Answer: D
EXPLANATION: Whether an item is a fixture depends on factors such as attachment,
adaptation, relationship of the parties, intention, and applicable agreements.
9. A tenant operates a retail business under a lease. The tenant installs removable display
racks specifically suited to the business. Which classification is most likely relevant?
A. Trade fixtures
B. Natural attachments
C. Appurtenant easements
D. Freehold estates
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: Trade fixtures are items installed by a tenant for business purposes and are
generally treated differently from ordinary fixtures when the tenancy ends.
10. Two siblings acquire title to property as joint tenants. One sibling dies without
transferring the interest before death. What generally happens to that sibling's joint
tenancy interest?
A. It automatically passes through probate to the sibling's heirs
B. It generally passes to the surviving joint tenant or tenants
C. It automatically becomes community property
D. It is transferred to the county
Answer: B
, EXPLANATION: A primary characteristic of joint tenancy is the right of survivorship, subject to
the applicable legal requirements and circumstances.
11. Which form of ownership is generally characterized by undivided interests that may be
unequal and without a right of survivorship?
A. Community property with right of survivorship
B. Joint tenancy
C. Tenancy in common
D. Severalty
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Tenancy in common allows co-owners to hold undivided interests that may
differ in percentage, and a deceased owner's interest generally passes through the estate
rather than automatically to the co-owners.
12. A property owner wants to hold title entirely in their own name. Which ownership form
best describes this arrangement?
A. Tenancy in common
B. Joint tenancy
C. Community property
D. Severalty
Answer: D
EXPLANATION: Ownership in severalty means one individual or legal entity holds title without
co-owners sharing the ownership interest.
13. Which right is generally included in the traditional bundle of rights associated with
property ownership?
A. Possession
B. Guaranteed appreciation
C. Guaranteed financing
D. Immunity from taxation
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: The bundle of property rights traditionally includes possession, control,
enjoyment, exclusion, and disposition, subject to governmental and private limitations.
14. A city changes zoning so that a parcel can no longer be used for the owner's former
commercial purpose. Which concept is most directly involved?
2026/2027 | EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
A+ GRADED | COMPREHENSIVE EXAM GUIDE
1. A California real estate salesperson is performing licensed activities for a client. Under
California law, which relationship is generally required for the salesperson to lawfully
perform those licensed activities?
A. An independent relationship with the client without broker supervision
B. Employment or affiliation under a responsible licensed broker
C. A written agreement with the local assessor
D. Membership in a local trade association
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: A California salesperson performs licensed real estate activities under the
supervision of a licensed broker. A salesperson who does not have a responsible broker may
hold a license but cannot perform acts requiring a real estate license.
2. Which three college-level courses are generally required to qualify for the California real
estate salesperson examination?
A. Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one approved additional course
B. Real Estate Finance, Appraisal, and Property Management
C. Real Estate Law, Escrow, and Accounting
D. Economics, Business Law, and Mortgage Lending
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: California requires Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one
additional qualifying course from the approved statutory list.
3. A prospective salesperson has completed Real Estate Principles and Real Estate Practice
but has not completed a third qualifying course. What is the most appropriate conclusion?
A. The applicant may substitute continuing education for the third course
B. The applicant automatically qualifies because two courses are sufficient
C. The applicant generally must complete one additional qualifying course
D. The applicant may substitute work experience for the education requirement
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Salesperson examination applicants generally need three qualifying college-
level courses: Principles, Practice, and one additional approved course.
,4. Which government agency administers California real estate salesperson licensing
examinations?
A. California Department of Consumer Affairs
B. California Department of Housing and Community Development
C. California Secretary of State
D. California Department of Real Estate
Answer: D
EXPLANATION: The California Department of Real Estate, commonly called the DRE,
administers the salesperson examination and regulates real estate licensing.
5. A salesperson tells a buyer, “The seller has already agreed to accept your offer,” even
though the seller has not communicated acceptance. What is the primary concern with the
salesperson's statement?
A. It may constitute a misleading representation
B. It automatically creates a binding contract
C. It changes the property's assessed value
D. It eliminates the need for written documentation
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: A licensee must communicate accurately and avoid misleading statements. A
salesperson should not represent that an agreement exists when it has not actually been
reached.
6. A broker instructs a salesperson to omit a known material defect from a property's
marketing description. What should the salesperson do?
A. Follow the broker's instruction because the broker is responsible
B. Disclose the material fact as required by law and professional duties
C. Tell only the buyer after the transaction closes
D. Remove the property from all marketing but make no disclosure
Answer: B
EXPLANATION: Broker supervision does not authorize a salesperson to conceal material facts.
Disclosure obligations remain critical to lawful and ethical real estate practice.
7. Which statement best describes real property?
A. Personal belongings that can be moved
B. A temporary contractual right
,C. Land and things permanently attached to or legally associated with it
D. Only the physical structure located on land
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Real property generally includes land, improvements, and associated rights. It
is broader than the physical building alone.
8. A homeowner removes a built-in dishwasher before selling the property. The buyer
claims the dishwasher was part of the real estate. Which concept is most relevant?
A. Eminent domain
B. Avulsion
C. Accession
D. Fixture determination
Answer: D
EXPLANATION: Whether an item is a fixture depends on factors such as attachment,
adaptation, relationship of the parties, intention, and applicable agreements.
9. A tenant operates a retail business under a lease. The tenant installs removable display
racks specifically suited to the business. Which classification is most likely relevant?
A. Trade fixtures
B. Natural attachments
C. Appurtenant easements
D. Freehold estates
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: Trade fixtures are items installed by a tenant for business purposes and are
generally treated differently from ordinary fixtures when the tenancy ends.
10. Two siblings acquire title to property as joint tenants. One sibling dies without
transferring the interest before death. What generally happens to that sibling's joint
tenancy interest?
A. It automatically passes through probate to the sibling's heirs
B. It generally passes to the surviving joint tenant or tenants
C. It automatically becomes community property
D. It is transferred to the county
Answer: B
, EXPLANATION: A primary characteristic of joint tenancy is the right of survivorship, subject to
the applicable legal requirements and circumstances.
11. Which form of ownership is generally characterized by undivided interests that may be
unequal and without a right of survivorship?
A. Community property with right of survivorship
B. Joint tenancy
C. Tenancy in common
D. Severalty
Answer: C
EXPLANATION: Tenancy in common allows co-owners to hold undivided interests that may
differ in percentage, and a deceased owner's interest generally passes through the estate
rather than automatically to the co-owners.
12. A property owner wants to hold title entirely in their own name. Which ownership form
best describes this arrangement?
A. Tenancy in common
B. Joint tenancy
C. Community property
D. Severalty
Answer: D
EXPLANATION: Ownership in severalty means one individual or legal entity holds title without
co-owners sharing the ownership interest.
13. Which right is generally included in the traditional bundle of rights associated with
property ownership?
A. Possession
B. Guaranteed appreciation
C. Guaranteed financing
D. Immunity from taxation
Answer: A
EXPLANATION: The bundle of property rights traditionally includes possession, control,
enjoyment, exclusion, and disposition, subject to governmental and private limitations.
14. A city changes zoning so that a parcel can no longer be used for the owner's former
commercial purpose. Which concept is most directly involved?
