- Understanding the TXREB Exam Blueprint
- National Portion Domains (1-8)
- Texas State Law Portion Domains (9-15)
- How the Case Study Items Actually Work
- Registration, Fee, and Timing Mechanics
- Scoring Thresholds by Portion
- What Happens If You Fail a Portion
- Mapping a Study Timeline to the Domains
- Who Actually Hires Texas Broker License Holders
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The TXREB combines 145 items total: 85 national items (80 scored) and 60 state items (50 scored).
- Agency & Brokerage and Case Studies are the two largest Texas-law domains, each worth 20% of that portion.
- You need 60 correct national answers and 38 correct state answers to pass both halves.
- The state portion includes 10 case-study items drawn from narratives and TREC-promulgated contracts.
Understanding the TXREB Exam Blueprint
The Texas Real Estate Broker Exam is split into two distinct halves that behave almost like two separate tests stitched together. The national portion draws from eight content domains built around broad real estate principles, while the Texas-specific portion draws from seven domains that focus on TREC rules, licensing law, and applied case studies. Together, these 15 domains define everything a candidate needs to master before sitting for the computer-based exam at Pearson VUE.
Because the two portions are scored and timed separately, understanding exactly which domain lives where - and how heavily each one is weighted - matters more for the TXREB than for most other licensing exams. This guide breaks down all 15 domains individually, then ties them back to the registration mechanics, scoring thresholds, and retake rules that determine whether you pass on the first attempt. For a broader first-attempt strategy, pair this domain breakdown with the TXREB Study Guide 2026.
National Portion Domains (1-8)
The national portion contributes 85 items to your exam (80 scored, 5 unscored) and gives you 150 minutes to work through them. These eight domains cover the foundational real estate knowledge that applies regardless of which state you're licensed in.
Domain 1: Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use
Candidates must distinguish real property from personal property, interpret legal descriptions (metes and bounds, lot and block, government survey), and understand land use classifications and restrictions.
- Fixtures vs. trade fixtures vs. personal property
- Reading and applying legal description formats
Domain 2: Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title
This domain covers estates in land, concurrent ownership types, deed types, and the recording system that establishes priority and constructive notice.
- Joint tenancy vs. tenancy in common vs. community property
- Warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, and quitclaim deeds
Domain 3: Property Value and Appraisal
Expect items on the three appraisal approaches (sales comparison, cost, income), highest and best use analysis, and the factors that influence market value.
- Calculating adjusted comparable sales values
- Depreciation and capitalization rate concepts
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency
This domain tests contract elements, offer and acceptance, and the fundamentals of agency relationships and fiduciary duties at a national level.
- Contract validity, voidability, and unenforceability
- Fiduciary duties owed under general agency law
Domain 5: Real Estate Practice
Covers day-to-day brokerage operations - listing agreements, marketing practices, fair housing compliance, and general business conduct.
- Types of listing agreements and their terms
- Federal fair housing protected classes
Domain 6: Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues
Tests knowledge of required seller disclosures and common environmental hazards that affect property transactions, such as lead-based paint and other hazard notifications.
- Federal disclosure requirements
- Environmental hazard categories and disclosure triggers
Domain 7: Financing and Settlement
Covers mortgage instruments, loan types, the closing process, and settlement statement mechanics used to finalize a transaction.
- Conventional vs. government-backed loan features
- Prorations and closing cost allocation
Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations
A dedicated math domain testing commission splits, area and volume calculations, loan-to-value ratios, and proration math under time pressure.
- Commission and net-to-seller calculations
- Area, perimeter, and volume problems
Key Takeaway
The national portion's 150-minute window covers eight domains and 85 items - pace yourself at roughly 1.75 minutes per item so math-heavy Domain 8 questions don't crowd out the rest.
Texas State Law Portion Domains (9-15)
The state portion delivers 60 items (50 scored, 10 unscored) in 90 minutes and covers seven domains rooted specifically in Texas licensing law, TREC rules, and applied practice scenarios.
Domain 9: Commission Duties & Powers
Covers the Texas Real Estate Commission's regulatory authority, rulemaking, and enforcement functions over licensees.
- TREC's statutory powers and jurisdiction
- Complaint and disciplinary processes
Domain 10: Licensing
Focuses on license categories, education requirements, renewal cycles, and sponsorship rules specific to Texas.
- Active license renewal every two years with 18 hours of continuing education
- Broker qualifying and related education hour requirements
Domain 11: Standards of Conduct
Tests the ethical and conduct rules TREC imposes on brokers and sales agents, including advertising rules and prohibited practices.
- TREC advertising rules for brokers and teams
- Prohibited conduct and misrepresentation standards
Domain 12: Agency & Brokerage
One of the two largest Texas domains at 20% weight. Covers intermediary status, broker-agent relationships, and disclosure of representation.
- Intermediary and appointed-license-holder rules
- Broker supervisory responsibilities over sponsored agents
Domain 13: Contracts
Covers TREC-promulgated contract forms, addenda, and the mechanics of executing a valid Texas real estate contract.
- One to Four Family Residential Contract structure
- Common addenda and amendment scenarios
Domain 14: Special Topics
A catch-all domain for Texas-specific issues such as property tax exemptions, homestead rules, and other topical statutory matters.
- Homestead protections and exemptions
- Miscellaneous statutory requirements unique to Texas
Domain 15: Case Studies
The other 20%-weighted domain. These items present a narrative scenario and ask you to apply contract and law knowledge to a realistic broker situation.
- Applying TREC-promulgated contract terms to a scenario
- Identifying the correct disclosure or agency action in context
How the Case Study Items Actually Work
Domain 15's 10 case-study items are unlike the rest of the state portion. Instead of a direct definition or rule question, each item opens with a short narrative - a buyer-seller scenario, a disclosure dispute, or a transaction timeline - and asks you to identify the correct action based on TREC-promulgated contract language. These items reward candidates who have actually read through the standard Texas contract forms and addenda rather than memorized isolated facts.
Because these items blend Domain 12 (Agency & Brokerage) and Domain 13 (Contracts) knowledge into applied scenarios, weak recall of intermediary rules or contract clauses shows up doubly in your score - once in the standalone domain questions and again in the case studies. Reviewing actual contract forms alongside a domain outline is far more effective than flashcards alone for this section.
Registration, Fee, and Timing Mechanics
Pearson VUE administers the computer-based TXREB exam for the Texas Real Estate Commission, and the current exam fee is $39. Before you can schedule a seat, you must meet the underlying broker-license prerequisites, which are worth reviewing in full in the TXREB Requirements 2026 guide:
- 270 qualifying education hours plus 630 related education hours, including the six-hour Broker Responsibility Course
- Four years of active licensed experience within the preceding five years, with at least 720 experience points
- Fingerprint and background check clearance
Two substitutions can shrink the related-education burden: a bachelor's degree may satisfy up to 300 related education hours, and qualifying experience above the 720-point minimum may substitute for up to 300 related hours as well. Once your application is approved, you'll schedule your seat and pay the exam fee directly through Pearson VUE - for scheduling windows and deadlines, see TXREB Exam Dates 2026.
Scoring Thresholds by Portion
Because the national and state portions are scored separately, you need two different thresholds cleared in the same sitting (or across retakes):
| Portion | Total Items | Scored Items | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | 85 | 80 | 150 minutes | 60 correct |
| Texas State Law | 60 | 50 | 90 minutes | 38 correct |
Unscored items are mixed in with scored items and are not identified during the exam, so every question deserves full attention. A deeper walkthrough of exactly how these numbers translate into a percentage-style cutoff is available in TXREB Passing Score 2026.
What Happens If You Fail a Portion
The retake structure is more forgiving than a full re-test. If you fail only one portion - national or state - you only need to retake that portion while your application remains active; the passed half doesn't need to be repeated. However, three failed attempts on either portion triggers a requirement for additional qualifying education before you're permitted to test again, so treat the second attempt as your real deadline for closing knowledge gaps.
Key Takeaway
If you barely miss the state passing score of 38, isolate whether the miss came from Domain 12, Domain 15, or a spread across all seven domains before scheduling your retake - the fix looks different in each case.
Mapping a Study Timeline to the Domains
Rather than studying all 15 domains in the order they're listed, sequence your preparation around weight and difficulty. Math-heavy and memorization-heavy domains benefit from early repetition; the higher-weighted Texas domains deserve the most recent review before test day.
National Foundations
- Work through Domains 1-3 (property characteristics, title, appraisal)
- Drill Domain 8 math problems daily until calculations become automatic
National Practice & Compliance
- Cover Domains 4-7 (contracts/agency, practice, disclosures, financing)
- Take a timed national-portion practice run
Texas Licensing Core
- Study Domains 9-11 (Commission duties, licensing rules, standards of conduct)
- Cross-reference TREC rule citations while reviewing
High-Weight Domains and Case Studies
- Concentrate on Domain 12 (Agency & Brokerage) and Domain 13 (Contracts)
- Practice full Domain 15 case-study scenarios using actual TREC forms
This sequencing gives the two 20%-weighted domains the most recency going into test day, while still leaving room to revisit Domain 14's special topics. For a condensed final review the week before your exam, the TXREB Cheat Sheet 2026 compresses these domains into one page.
Who Actually Hires Texas Broker License Holders
Passing the TXREB and holding an active Texas broker license opens doors beyond the standard sales-agent role. Brokerages hire licensed brokers to supervise sponsored agents, manage transaction compliance, and open independent offices under their own name. Property management firms, commercial brokerages, and team-lead positions within larger residential brokerages also typically require or strongly prefer the broker license rather than a sales-agent license alone, since broker status carries direct legal responsibility for supervised transactions under Domain 12's Agency & Brokerage rules.
If you're weighing whether the licensing investment pays off relative to the education-hour and experience requirements, the cost-and-return breakdown in Is the TXREB Certification Worth It? and the fee details in TXREB Certification Cost 2026 are worth reading alongside this domain guide. You can also run a full practice session on the main practice test platform to see how your current knowledge maps against all 15 domains before committing to a test date.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 15 total domains: eight on the national portion (Domains 1-8) and seven on the Texas state law portion (Domains 9-15).
Agency & Brokerage (Domain 12) and Case Studies (Domain 15) are the largest Texas domains, each accounting for 20% of the state portion.
No. If you fail one portion, you only need to retake that portion while your application stays active; you don't repeat the portion you already passed.
Domain 15 includes 10 items built around narrative scenarios that require applying TREC-promulgated contract language to a realistic broker situation.
The national portion has 85 items (80 scored) in 150 minutes; the state portion has 60 items (50 scored) in 90 minutes, requiring 60 and 38 correct answers respectively to pass.