- Pass with 60 of 80 national points and 38 of 50 Virginia answers - two separate score thresholds.
- Contracts (19%) and Licensing (26%) are the single biggest domains on each portion, respectively.
- You get 105 minutes for national questions and 55 minutes for the Virginia-specific portion.
- PSI administers the exam for $60 per attempt; a nonprogrammable calculator is allowed.
Exam Format Snapshot
The Virginia Real Estate Broker Exam (VARE-B) is split into two distinct sections that are scored independently, so a strong national score cannot rescue a weak state score, and vice versa. Keep this table nearby while you review - it's the skeleton everything else in this cheat sheet hangs on.
| Component | National Portion | Virginia Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Question count | 75 questions (worth 80 points) | 50 scored questions |
| Time allowed | 105 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Passing threshold | 60 of 80 points | 38 of 50 correct |
| Domain range | Domains 1-11 | Domains 12-17 |
PSI, not the Virginia Real Estate Board, administers the exam itself, while the Board - housed inside the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation - handles licensure decisions. Testing is computer-based and closed-book, and PSI may slip in unscored experimental questions you won't be able to identify, so treat every question as if it counts. For a deeper walkthrough of how these mechanics fit into overall difficulty, see How Hard Is the VARE-B Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
National Domains Cheat Sheet (1-11)
These eleven domains make up the national portion. Weighting is not evenly distributed, so allocate review time proportionally instead of spending equal hours on every topic.
Domain 5: Contracts (19%)
The largest single national domain. Expect scenario questions on offer/acceptance, contingencies, contract remedies, and required disclosures baked into purchase agreements.
- Know the elements of a valid contract cold
- Practice distinguishing void, voidable, and unenforceable contracts
Domain 6: Agency (13%)
Fiduciary duties, types of agency relationships, and disclosure obligations to buyers and sellers. Overlaps conceptually with the Virginia-specific agency domain, so mastering this early pays off twice.
Domain 10: Practice of Real Estate (12%)
Day-to-day brokerage operations, licensee conduct, and supervisory responsibilities - directly relevant to the broker-level responsibilities this exam is testing you on, not just salesperson-level knowledge.
Rounding out the list: Property Ownership (10%), Financing (9%), Valuation (8%), Property Disclosures (7%), Transfer of Title (6%), Real Estate Calculations (6%), Land Use Controls (5%), and Property Management (5%). Real Estate Calculations is small in weight but disproportionately time-consuming, so drill math problems until they're automatic rather than leaving them for exam day. For the full breakdown of every domain with subtopics, see VARE-B Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 17 Content Areas.
Virginia Domains Cheat Sheet (12-17)
The state-specific portion covers six domains unique to Virginia broker practice. This is where generic national real estate knowledge stops helping and Virginia statute and Board regulation take over.
Domain 12: Licensing (26% - largest state domain)
Broker license requirements, license renewal cycles, and Board authority. Since licenses run on a 2-year validity period and active brokers must complete 24 hours of continuing education per renewal term, expect questions testing whether you know these cycle lengths precisely.
Domain 13: Escrow Accounts
Trust fund handling, recordkeeping obligations, and broker responsibility for supervising escrow. Memorize the timing rules around deposit handling - this is a favorite trap-answer area.
Domain 14: Disclosure Requirements
Virginia-specific seller and property disclosure statutes layered on top of the national Property Disclosures domain.
Domain 15: Agency Definitions and Relationships
Virginia's statutory definitions of agency relationships - read these against Domain 6 so you don't confuse general agency law with Virginia's specific definitions.
Domain 16: Virginia Fair Housing Law and Regulations
State fair housing statute and enforcement mechanisms, tested alongside broker supervisory duty to prevent violations.
Domain 17: Specific Acts Pertaining to Real Estate Practice
A catch-all domain covering practice-specific statutory requirements unique to Virginia brokers.
Key Takeaway
Since Licensing alone carries 26% of the state portion, review Board regulations on licensure, renewal, and continuing education requirements before anything else on the Virginia side.
Passing Score Math
Two independent thresholds, both must be cleared on the same sitting:
- National: 60 of 80 possible points
- Virginia: 38 of 50 scored answers
Because national scoring is point-based rather than question-based (thanks to multipoint scenario items), don't assume 75 questions equals 75 equal-weight opportunities. A candidate who nails the multipoint scenarios can bank points faster than one focused only on single-point recall questions. For the complete math and score-conversion explanation, read VARE-B Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Eligibility Checklist
Before you can even register with PSI, confirm you meet every one of these:
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 180 class or clock hours of Board-approved broker education, including a Real Estate Brokerage course
- Active salesperson experience for 36 of the 48 months immediately preceding application
- Fingerprint-based background check completed
The 36-of-48-month experience rule trips up more candidates than any content gap - it's not simply "three years since licensure," it's active practice within a rolling four-year window. Double-check your timeline against the full requirements list in VARE-B Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you schedule anything.
Registration & Test Day Mechanics
Once eligibility is confirmed, registration runs through PSI. Key mechanics to lock in:
- Fee: $60 per attempt
- Format: Computer-based, closed-book
- Calculator policy: An approved nonprogrammable calculator is allowed - bring your own and confirm it's compliant beforehand
- Reference material: The PSI Candidate Information Bulletin, last revised February 18, 2026, is the authoritative source for policy details - read it in full, not just a summary
Because this is a fee-per-attempt exam with no bundled retake, budgeting matters. A full cost breakdown covering education hours, fees, and retake scenarios is available in VARE-B Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're weighing whether the broker path is worth pursuing at all given the time and fee investment, Is the VARE-B Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that decision in more depth.
Final-Week Review Plan by Domain
With 17 domains split unevenly across two timed portions, a generic "review everything equally" plan wastes hours. Weight your final review sessions by point value, not by domain count.
High-Weight National Domains
- Contracts (19%) and Agency (13%) - drill scenario-based multipoint items
- Practice of Real Estate (12%) - broker-level supervisory scenarios
High-Weight Virginia Domains
- Licensing (26%) - renewal cycles, CE hours, Board authority
- Escrow Accounts and Fair Housing - statute specifics
Calculations & Timed Drills
- Real Estate Calculations problems until pacing is automatic
- Full timed section using practice exams under real time limits
Weak-Spot Cleanup
- Re-test missed domains from earlier days
- Review the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin policies one final time
If you want a longer-horizon plan rather than a final-week sprint, the multi-week roadmap in VARE-B Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt lays out how to sequence all 17 domains from day one. And if you're still deciding when to sit the exam relative to your experience-hour timeline, check VARE-B Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling for scheduling considerations.
FAQ
Separately. You need 60 of 80 national points and 38 of 50 correct on the Virginia portion - both thresholds must be met on the same attempt.
75 national questions (worth 80 points due to multipoint scenario items) and 50 scored Virginia questions, plus the possibility of unscored experimental items PSI may add.
Licensing at 26% is the largest Virginia domain, and Contracts at 19% is the largest national domain. Both deserve disproportionate review time.
Yes, an approved nonprogrammable calculator is permitted. Confirm your specific model complies with PSI's policy in the Candidate Information Bulletin before test day.
Active salesperson experience for 36 of the 48 months immediately preceding your application, on top of 180 hours of Board-approved broker education and a fingerprint-based background check.