West Virginia Real Estate Practice Exam
(Free Questions & Answers)
The West Virginia real estate exam is administered by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission (WVREC) and covers West Virginia's unique property landscape, where coal and mineral rights are frequently severed from surface ownership. Questions on severed mineral interests, coal severance deeds, and mining subsidence disclosure appear regularly on the state exam. Underground storage tanks and the associated liability disclosure requirements are also tested. The state portion covers WVREC's specific broker supervision requirements and West Virginia's consumer information form obligations.
Administered by: West Virginia Real Estate Commission · 130 questions · Passing score: 70%
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Updated May 2026 · West Virginia Real Estate Commission exam outline
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Free West Virginia Real Estate Practice Exam Questions
Test your knowledge with these West Virginia real estate practice questions. Each question is based on topics from the West Virginia Real Estate Commission exam and includes detailed explanations.
Q1. Which agency regulates real estate licenses in West Virginia?
Explanation
The West Virginia Real Estate Commission (WVREC) is the state agency responsible for licensing, regulating, and disciplining real estate brokers and salespersons in West Virginia.
Q2. Under West Virginia law, a real estate licensee's agency relationship with a client is primarily established by:
Explanation
Agency in West Virginia real estate is best established through a written agency agreement (listing agreement or buyer agency agreement) that clearly defines the relationship, duties, and compensation.
Q3. A valid real estate contract in West Virginia requires all of the following EXCEPT:
Explanation
A valid real estate sales contract requires offer and acceptance, consideration, competent parties, and a legal purpose. Notarization is required for deeds to be recorded, not for contracts to be valid.
Q4. A West Virginia buyer obtains a $250,000 FHA loan. What is the minimum down payment required?
Explanation
FHA loans require a minimum down payment of 3.5% for borrowers with a credit score of 580 or higher. On a $250,000 purchase, the minimum down payment would be $8,750.
Q5. In West Virginia, tenancy in common differs from joint tenancy in that tenants in common:
Explanation
Tenants in common do NOT have the right of survivorship. Upon the death of a tenant in common, their share passes by will or intestate succession, not automatically to the surviving co-owners.
Q6. In West Virginia, the income approach to value is MOST appropriate for:
Explanation
The income approach is most appropriate for income-producing properties such as apartment buildings, office buildings, and commercial properties, where value is driven by the income the property generates.
Q7. The West Virginia Human Rights Act prohibits housing discrimination based on all of the following EXCEPT:
Explanation
West Virginia's Human Rights Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, blindness, and disability. Political party affiliation is not a protected class.
Q8. In West Virginia, a general warranty deed provides the grantee with:
Explanation
A general warranty deed provides the strongest title guarantee. The grantor warrants the title against all defects and encumbrances throughout the entire chain of title, not just during the grantor's ownership.
Q9. A West Virginia property has an assessed value of $150,000 and a tax rate of $12.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. What is the annual property tax?
Explanation
Annual tax = (Assessed value ÷ 1,000) × Tax rate = (150,000 ÷ 1,000) × $12.50 = 150 × $12.50 = $1,875.
Q10. Which federal law requires disclosure of known lead-based paint hazards in housing built before 1978?
Explanation
The Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule requires sellers and lessors of housing built before 1978 to disclose known lead-based paint hazards and provide buyers with an EPA-approved pamphlet.
Q11. In West Virginia, the legal authority for local governments to enact zoning ordinances derives from:
Explanation
Zoning authority derives from the state's police power — the inherent government authority to regulate for public health, safety, and welfare. The state delegates this power to local governments.
Q12. A West Virginia property manager who collects rents must:
Explanation
Property managers must maintain tenant funds and client funds in separate trust accounts and provide accurate accounting to property owners. Commingling is prohibited.
Q13. How many hours of pre-license education are required for a West Virginia real estate salesperson applicant?
Explanation
West Virginia requires 90 hours of approved pre-license education before a candidate may sit for the salesperson licensing examination.
Q14. A West Virginia buyer's agent discovers a major foundation crack during a property showing. The agent is required to:
Explanation
A buyer's agent has a duty to disclose all known material facts and defects to their buyer client. Failure to disclose a known material defect would be a breach of fiduciary duty.
Q15. In West Virginia, a contract signed by a 17-year-old is:
Explanation
Contracts with minors (under 18 in West Virginia) are voidable at the minor's option. The minor may disaffirm the contract upon reaching the age of majority, but the adult party is bound.
Q16. A West Virginia buyer's loan is for $180,000 at 6.5% annual interest. What is the monthly interest for the first payment?
Explanation
Monthly interest = $180,000 × 6.5% ÷ 12 = $180,000 × 0.005417 = $975. The first month's interest portion of the payment is $975.
Q17. A life estate in West Virginia gives the life tenant the right to:
Explanation
A life estate grants the holder (life tenant) the right to use and possess the property for the duration of their life. Upon death, ownership passes to the remainderman. The life tenant cannot convey more than the life estate.
Q18. Highest and best use of a property is defined as the use that is:
Explanation
Highest and best use is the reasonably probable use that is legally permissible, physically possible, financially feasible, and that results in the maximum value of the property.
Q19. Redlining, as prohibited by the Fair Housing Act, refers to:
Explanation
Redlining is the illegal practice of refusing mortgage loans or imposing more burdensome terms on properties in minority neighborhoods. It is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
Q20. A special warranty deed in West Virginia warrants title only against defects:
Explanation
A special warranty deed only warrants against title defects that arose during the grantor's period of ownership. It does not protect against defects that existed before the grantor acquired the property.
Q21. A West Virginia home sells for $185,000. The commission rate is 6%, split 50/50 between the listing and buyer's broker. The listing agent receives 70% of the listing broker's share. How much does the listing agent earn?
Explanation
Total commission = $185,000 × 6% = $11,100. Listing broker's share = $11,100 ÷ 2 = $5,550. Listing agent's share = $5,550 × 70% = $3,885.
Q22. In West Virginia, an underground storage tank (UST) that has leaked petroleum products onto a property creates:
Explanation
Leaking USTs create environmental liability and must be disclosed by sellers. Cleanup requirements apply regardless of who caused the contamination, and the current owner may bear responsibility.
Q23. A non-conforming use in West Virginia exists when:
Explanation
A non-conforming use (or legal nonconforming use) is one that lawfully existed before a zoning ordinance was enacted or amended and is permitted to continue despite not conforming to current zoning requirements.
Q24. Under the West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit within how many days after the lease terminates?
Explanation
Under West Virginia law, a landlord must return the security deposit (or provide an itemized written statement of deductions) within 45 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates.
Q25. What is the minimum passing score required on the West Virginia real estate licensing examination?
Explanation
West Virginia requires a minimum passing score of 70% on the real estate licensing examination, which contains 120 questions.
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West Virginia Real Estate Exam — What to Expect
What Is On The West Virginia Real Estate Exam?
The West Virginia real estate salesperson exam is administered by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission and tests both national real estate principles and West Virginia-specific laws and regulations. The exam contains 130 multiple-choice questions, and you must score at least 70% to pass.
The national portion covers topics that apply in every state: property ownership, land use controls, valuation and market analysis, financing, agency law, contracts, leasing and property management, transfer of title, fair housing laws, and real estate calculations. The state portion tests knowledge specific to West Virginia — including regulations set by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission, West Virginia agency disclosure requirements, and state-specific contract and closing practices.
Topics covered on the West Virginia exam include: Property Ownership, Agency Law, Contracts, Finance, West Virginia License Law. Candidates who struggle on the WV exam typically underestimate the state-specific portion — the national content is well-covered by most study materials, but West Virginia law questions require targeted preparation.
Official West Virginia Exam Content Areas
Source: West Virginia Real Estate Commission · Updated June 2026
| Content Area | Questions |
|---|---|
| National Section (Pearson VUE common outline — real property, agency, contracts, financing, valuation, fair housing, calculations) | 80 scored |
| West Virginia State Section (WV license law, WVREC statutes, agency disclosure, trust accounts, licensing requirements, fair housing) | 50 scored |
- ▸Administered by Pearson VUE; must score 70% on each section — 56/80 national, 35/50 state; sections scored independently
- ▸West Virginia state section covers WV Real Estate Commission (WVREC) statutes and rules, agency disclosure requirements, trust account/escrow compliance, and licensing requirements
- ▸Source: West Virginia Real Estate Commission (rec.wv.gov) and Pearson VUE Candidate Handbook (pub. #094900)
Practice West Virginia questions by topic — start with West Virginia License Law, Agency, and Contracts to build your foundation, then work through remaining topics.
How Many Questions Are On The West Virginia Exam?
The West Virginia real estate salesperson exam has 130 multiple-choice questions. The exam is divided into a national section covering general real estate principles and a state section covering West Virginia-specific laws administered by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission. You have 3.5 hours to complete the exam.
West Virginia Real Estate Exam Passing Score
You need a 70% to pass the West Virginia real estate exam. The first-time pass rate in West Virginia is approximately 52%, which means preparation is essential — most candidates who fail do so because they focused on national content and underestimated the WV-specific portion. Our West Virginia practice exam is built specifically around the West Virginia Real Estate Commission exam outline.
Read our complete West Virginia exam study guide — state-specific topics, 5-week study plan, and what to focus on before exam day.
Most Difficult Topics On The West Virginia Exam
These are the areas where West Virginia candidates most commonly lose points — and a key reason why some states produce harder real estate exams than others.
West Virginia Real Estate Commission's licensing requirements, broker supervision rules, and continuing education mandates are tested on the state portion with WV-specific provisions.
Severed mineral rights — especially coal rights — are extremely common in West Virginia. Questions on how severed mineral interests affect title, disclosure, and property value appear regularly on the state exam.
West Virginia's coal mining history means subsidence (ground sinking from underground mining) is a real property risk. Disclosure of known mining activity and subsidence risk is a state-specific exam topic.
West Virginia's consumer information form requirements — what must be provided, when, and the consequences of failing to provide it — are tested on the state portion with WV-specific rules.
West Virginia Real Estate Math
The West Virginia real estate exam includes math questions covering commission calculations, loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, property tax prorations, area and volume, and appreciation/depreciation. A common example: if a property sells for $350,000 and the total commission is 6%, split equally between listing and buyer's broker, each side earns $10,500. Proration questions — such as calculating how many days of property taxes a seller owes at closing — are also common. On the WV exam, you will not need a calculator for most math questions, but you do need to understand the formulas. Practice the "T-bar" method for commission splits and the 360-day banker's year for prorations.
🧮 See all exam math formulas →How To Get Your West Virginia Real Estate License
- 1Complete 90 hours of state-approved pre-license education covering topics required by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission.
- 2Submit your application to the West Virginia Real Estate Commission and pay the required fees (exam fee: $75).
- 3Pass the West Virginia real estate salesperson exam (130 questions, 70% to pass).
- 4Complete a background check and fingerprinting as required by West Virginia law.
- 5Find a licensed sponsoring/employing broker to activate your license.
- 6Complete any required post-licensing education within the timeframe set by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission.
Best Study Strategy For The West Virginia Exam
Start with West Virginia license law first. State-specific regulations administered by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission make up a significant portion of the WV exam and are not covered in most national study materials.
Master the math early. The West Virginia real estate exam includes questions on commission calculations, prorations, loan-to-value ratios, and area calculations. Set aside dedicated math practice sessions — don't leave it until the last week.
Take timed practice exams. The West Virginia exam has 130 questions within a 3.5 hours time limit. Simulate exam conditions to build stamina and identify weak topics before exam day.
Focus heavily on agency law. Agency relationships, disclosure requirements, and fiduciary duties are consistently among the most-tested topics on the WV exam. Understand the difference between seller's agent, buyer's agent, dual agent, and transaction broker in the context of West Virginia law.
Review Fair Housing thoroughly. Federal Fair Housing Act protections apply in all states, but West Virginia may have additional protected classes. Know both federal and West Virginia-specific protections cold — this topic appears on virtually every exam.
Use active recall, not passive reading. Instead of re-reading notes, quiz yourself. Use flashcards or practice questions to test retention. Research shows active recall improves long-term retention significantly compared to passive review.
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