I passed the state exam the first time I took it. I also studied A LOT. Many people don’t know how to study. Many people underestimate the amount of time they need to study. What I did won’t work for everyone, but it worked for me, so I’ll share it. First, I scheduled a test date that was about three weeks away. This way, I had a target date. If you wait until you are ready before you schedule a test, you will never be ready. But if you pick a test date, you will do whatever you need to do to get ready by that date.

Second, I studied a chapter a day. When I got my license, the textbook (Florida Real Estate Principles, Practices, and Law by Linda Crawford) had 20 chapters. So I figured that would take me 20 days. There were a few chapters that were shorter or longer than average, so I adjusted. But the chapter a day gave me a basic structure to begin. I read the entire chapter, made sure I understood all of it, and did all of the practice questions in the Florida Real Estate Exam Manual by Linda Crawford. I also listened to an audio recording (cassette tapes!) of a review class twice. Not surprisingly, those cassette tapes are no longer available. If you can’t find a good audio recording, attend a review class.

To me, though, the most important part of the studying was the two books by Linda Crawford. Every answer to the state exam is in those two books. I read the big book from cover to cover. I did every single question in the review manual. I can’t stress that enough. The questions in both books are great. Some of them are word for word on the test. Most importantly all of the questions are worded the same way as the state exam questions.

The second most important thing I did was make flash cards. The act of making the flash cards is helpful in itself. Using the flash cards daily is even more helpful.

I didn’t have a study buddy. I didn’t do any online review programs. I didn’t use an app. Those are certainly valid study methods, they just aren’t ones that I used. I focused on the two books and did every single practice question in both books. That’s not the only way to study, but that’s what worked for me.

Please note that neither I, nor anyone in the Climer family, have any affiliation with Climer School of Real Estate.  My father, Ron Climer, sold Climer School of Real Estate in 2014.  You can find me at Demetree School of Real Estate.