Tennessee Real Estate Exam Pass Rate: What You Need to Know

# Tennessee Real Estate Exam Pass Rate: What You Need to Know

The Tennessee real estate exam has an estimated first-attempt pass rate of approximately 56%. While that is slightly above the national average for PSI-administered exams, it still means that four out of every ten candidates do not pass on their first try.

The Dual-Section Challenge

Tennessee's exam requires 70% on each section independently — 56 out of 80 national questions and 28 out of 40 state questions. This dual-threshold structure is why many candidates who study broadly still fail: they may perform well on the national content but fall short on Tennessee-specific topics, or vice versa.

Why Candidates Fail the State Section

The 40-question state section tests content that is genuinely unique to Tennessee. The most commonly missed topics include:

The Tennessee Residential Property Disclosure Act: Sellers of 1-4 unit residential properties must complete a state-mandated disclosure form. Many candidates know the general concept but miss the specific exemptions and what triggers the requirement.

Prohibition on dual agency in residential transactions: Tennessee is one of the few states that explicitly prohibits dual agency in residential real estate. This runs counter to national exam content that treats dual agency as permissible with consent, and it confuses many candidates.

TREC composition and disciplinary authority: Knowing the 9-member commission structure, how complaints are investigated, and what grounds exist for license suspension or revocation.

License law specifics: Pre-license education requirements (90 hours total — 60 hours fundamentals + 30 hours affiliate broker course), renewal cycle (2 years, 16 CE hours), and affiliate broker vs. broker classifications.

Why Candidates Fail the National Section

On the national side, the most common failure points are: - Contract law (especially offers, counteroffers, and breach) - Real estate math (proration, commission splits, loan calculations) - Agency duties and the distinction between fiduciary and non-fiduciary relationships

How to Improve Your Odds

1. Complete both pre-license courses (all 90 hours) with active engagement — do not treat coursework as a checkbox.
2. Take at least two full 120-question practice exams under timed conditions (4 hours).
3. Spend dedicated study sessions exclusively on Tennessee law.
4. Score 80% or higher on practice exams before scheduling your real exam date.

Candidates who treat the Tennessee state section with the same rigor as the national content consistently perform better.