Exam Format

With effect from 2023 there is a change in the RES Exam format, there will be no more fill in the blank short answer section. There will be a total of 2 papers with Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the following format:

• • Section A consists of 60 Multiple Choice Questions (60 marks)

  • Section B consists of 20 Multiple Choice Questions with reference to 1 or 2 Case Studies (40 marks)

The duration of each paper is 2.5 hours. 

With effect from May 2013, the RES Exams format has been revised to include a Case Study Section in both Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the form of multiple choice questions.

The objective is to ensure that candidates are able to analyse and interpret the issues in a practice-oriented case study context.

Paper 1 tests you on:

• • Competency Unit 1 comprising of “Real Estate Agency Industry Overview and Basic Land Law Concepts”

  • Competency Unit 2 comprising of “Dealings with Interests in Land”

Paper 2 tests you on:

• • Competency Unit 3 comprising of “Regulation of Real Estate Agency Industry and Real Estate Marketing”

  • Competency Unit 4 comprising of “Property Transactions”

You are required to pass both papers in order to obtain your licence. The passing mark for each examination paper is 60% and is subject to review by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).

RES Exams Results Notification

The Exam Administrator will notify you of your results.

Candidates who have passed one paper* are allowed to retake the examination in modular sitting.

The exams results will be in one of the following formats:

• • Pass (P)

  • Fail (F)

  • Pass Paper 1; Fail Paper 2 (P1 F2)

  • Fail Paper 1; Pass Paper 2 (F1 P2)

It is a requirement for RES Course participants to pass the RES Exams, comprising two papers, within 2 years of getting your RES Course completion certificate.

If you have a modular pass in one paper of the RES Exams, you are required to pass the remaining paper within the 2 years timeframe.

If you fail to do so, the modular pass in one paper will not be valid and you will have to retake the RES course before attempting the RES Exams (i.e. both Paper 1 and Paper 2) again. Ouch!

Appeal of RES Exams Results

If you think you should have passed the exams but failed, you may submit an appeal to review your paper via NTUC Learninghub, CEA’s appointed examination administrator, within 5 working days from the date of the notification of examination results.

Do take note that a non-refundable fee of $65.40 (inclusive of GST) will be charged for the review of each paper.

Important Note for Aspiring Real Estate Agents and Foreigners

Attending the RES Course and passing the exams does not automatically qualify you to be a real estate agent.

It is only part of the criteria.

You still have to fulfil other prevailing registration criteria, which include approaching a registered estate agency to submit a salesperson registration application to CEA.

You can refer to CEA’s website (www.CEA.gov.sg) for the list of registration criteria before you register yourself for the RES Course.

For foreigners exploring a career in property sales, you will need to have a valid Employment Pass (EP) issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before you can register with CEA as a real estate salesperson.

You will need to produce a letter of sponsorship issued by your real estate agency when you register for the RES Course.

Hence, you should start by first searching for an established real estate agency which is willing to hire you, to support you in your registration application and guide you through the process.