DC-RE-S Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

What the DC-RE-S Passing Score Actually Is

The District of Columbia Real Estate Salesperson Exam (DC-RE-S) uses a straightforward numeric threshold: candidates need at least 75% correct to pass. That figure applies separately to each portion of the exam, not to a blended overall score. PSI, the testing vendor that administers the exam on behalf of the District of Columbia Real Estate Commission within the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, scores the general portion and the state portion independently, and both must clear the 75% line.

In practical terms, the general portion contains 80 scored questions, so you need roughly 60 correct answers to pass it. The state portion contains 30 scored questions, so you need roughly 23 correct answers there. PSI may also slip in up to 10 additional non-scored items across the exam for field-testing purposes, which candidates cannot identify and which do not count toward or against the 75% requirement.

Two Portions, Two Separate Scores

Understanding the passing score requires understanding the exam's two-part structure. The DC-RE-S is not one undifferentiated pool of 110 questions - it is a general portion built on national real estate principles and a state portion built specifically on District of Columbia law and licensee conduct. Each has its own 75% passing threshold, and each is drawn from a distinct set of domains.

This split matters when you plan your study time. If you're allocating hours evenly across "the exam" without distinguishing which portion you're weak on, you risk clearing one threshold comfortably while barely missing the other. For a full breakdown of every content area and how they interrelate, see the DC-RE-S Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 14 Content Areas.

How Domain Weighting Shapes Your Score

Not all 110 scored questions carry equal strategic value - they're distributed according to fixed domain weights published in the PSI candidate bulletin. Knowing these weights tells you where a missed question is most likely to occur, and where a focused review session pays off the most.

If you're still building out your understanding of how difficult these weighted domains are relative to each other, the article How Hard Is the DC-RE-S Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through where candidates typically lose the most points.

Question Format, Timing, and Scoring Mechanics

The DC-RE-S is a closed-book, computer-based exam delivered at PSI test centers. You get 210 minutes to complete all 110 scored questions (plus any non-scored items PSI has added), which averages out to under two minutes per question - generous compared to some professional exams, but not a lot of room for second-guessing on calculation-heavy items.

• Closed book: no notes, textbooks, or outside materials are permitted at the workstation.
• Calculator provided: PSI supplies an on-screen or physical calculator for Real Estate Calculations (7%) and any math embedded in Financing (10%) or Valuation (8%) questions - you do not need to bring your own.
• Non-scored items: up to 10 additional questions may appear anywhere in the exam for PSI's own field-testing; they look identical to scored questions, so answer every question with equal care.
• No penalty for guessing: since the passing score is based on the percentage of questions answered correctly, leaving a question blank has the same effect as answering it wrong - always select an answer before moving on.

Because both portions are scored independently against the same 75% bar, question format consistency matters. Expect scenario-based multiple-choice items on the general portion (contract clauses, agency scenarios, disclosure timing) and more code-and-statute-referenced items on the state portion, particularly anything touching licensee conduct under Statutory Requirements.

A Domain-Weighted Study Timeline

Generic study advice - flashcards, timed drills, spaced repetition - only helps if it's pointed at the right targets. Below is a sample allocation that weights study weeks according to the domain percentages rather than treating all 14 domains as equally important.

For a more detailed week-by-week breakdown and first-attempt strategy, see the DC-RE-S Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want to gauge realistically where you stand before test day, running full-length timed sets on our practice test platform is the closest simulation to the actual PSI experience.

What Happens If You Miss the Passing Score

If you fall short of 75% on either portion, you don't have to redo everything. Candidates who pass one portion but fail the other are only required to retake the failed portion - but there's a firm deadline: the failed portion must be completed within six months of your first attempt. Miss that window, and you may need to retake both portions again.

There's a second six-month clock to keep in mind as well: once you pass both portions, you must apply for your license within six months of passing. Missing either deadline resets progress you've already earned, so treat both windows as hard constraints when scheduling retakes or paperwork.

For a broader look at how the passing standard connects to overall performance data, see DC-RE-S Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.

Fees, Registration, and Licensing Logistics

Hitting the passing score is only part of becoming licensed. Before you can even sit for the DC-RE-S, you need at least 60 hours of approved salesperson prelicensing education, be at least 18 years old, hold a high-school diploma or equivalency, and be able to read, write, and understand English. After passing, you'll need to affiliate with a District-licensed broker to activate your license.

On the cost side, the exam fee is $79 for one or both portions. Once you pass, the state application fee is $65, the license fee is $130, and there's a Guaranty and Education Fund assessment of $60. These are separate from any prelicensing course tuition. A full cost breakdown, including how these fees stack up against total licensing spend, is available in DC-RE-S Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and the eligibility checklist is covered in detail in DC-RE-S Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

Once licensed, remember that salesperson licenses expire August 31 of odd-numbered years, and renewal ordinarily requires 15 continuing-education hours per two-year cycle - though your very first renewal after passing by examination is CE-exempt. That's a helpful cushion in your first two years, but it doesn't affect what you need to do to pass the exam itself; it only affects what comes after.

To see how this passing standard translates into real earning potential once you're licensed and working under a broker, browse the DC-RE-S Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis. And if you're still weighing whether the time and fees are worth it before you commit to a prelicensing course, Is the DC-RE-S Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs.

Frequently Asked Questions