RES Exam Study Guide (2026)
A free, no-nonsense guide to preparing for the Singapore Real Estate Salesperson (RES) exam — how to study properly, a suggested timeline, when the exam is held, the full syllabus, key rates, and recommended reading. All in one place.
3×
sittings a year
2
papers
60%
pass mark
15
topics
🧭How to prepare
Learn from your course and the official CEA materials— that's your foundation. Don't rely on any single practice site (including this one) as your only source. A tool like RESPrep is for the other half of passing: turning what you've read into exam skill.
Learn
Course + CEA syllabus
Practise
Drill questions
Mock
Timed papers
Pass
60% per paper
Learn the material
Course notes + CEA syllabus, unit by unit. Understand the concepts.
Understand, don't cram
The exam tests application — know why a rule exists, not just the number.
Practise actively
Do questions after each topic; review every worked answer. Focus on case studies.
Simulate the exam
Sit timed mocks so the format and pacing feel familiar on the day.
🗺️An 8-week study roadmap
A simple path from first read to exam-ready. Stretch or compress it to fit your own exam date.
Learn
Work through the syllabus and your course notes, unit by unit. Aim to understand, not memorise.
Practise
Drill questions per topic, review the worked answers, and sit your first mock papers.
Revise
Hammer your weakest topics and work Section B case studies until the traps feel obvious.
Simulate
Full timed mocks for both papers, fix recurring mistakes — then exam day.
When is the exam?
Held 3× a year (≈ March, July, Oct/Nov) via NTUC LearningHub for CEA. Two papers, each 2.5h — Section A (60 MCQs) + Section B (20, case studies). Pass mark 60%.
→ Dates, registration & fees📋The exam syllabus at a glance
Two papers, four competency units, 15 topics.
Paper 1
6 topicsReal Estate Agency & Law
CU1 · Agency & Basic Land Law
CU2 · Dealings with Interests in Land
Paper 2
9 topicsPractice & Transactions
CU3 · Industry Regulation & Marketing
CU4 · Property Transactions
🧮Key rates & limits
Current as at June 2026 — always confirm against IRAS, CPF and MAS.
BSD (residential)
1/2/3/4% up to $1.5M, 5% to $3M, 6% above $3M.
ABSD (from 27 Apr 2023)
SC 0/20/30% · PR 5/30/35% · Foreigner 60% · Entity/Trust 65%.
SSD (from 4 Jul 2025)
16/12/8/4% within ≤1/2/3/4 yrs; 0% after. Seller pays.
Financing
TDSR 55% · MSR 30% (HDB/EC) · LTV 75/45/35% · min 5% cash.
HDB
MOP 5 years · HDB loan LTV 75% · EIP/SPR resale quotas.
Other
Tenancy duty 0.4% of total rent (≤4-yr) · GST 9% (commercial).
📚Reading materials
📕 Your core textis the CEA syllabus handbook and your course provider's notes. Beyond that, the syllabus draws straight from Singapore's laws and official agency rules — all free to read:
Key legislation (free · Singapore Statutes Online)
Official agency resources
Prefer a quick plain-English refresher? See our exam guides.
When you're ready to practise
Once you've done the reading, test whether it stuck — practise exam-style questions, work case studies, and sit timed mocks. Free to start.
Study material mapped to the public CEA RES Examination Syllabus. Always verify rate-based figures and exam details against current official sources.