- Quick Overview: What DE-RE-B Actually Tests
- Fees, Application, and Registration Numbers
- Exam Format at a Glance
- All 13 Domains and Their Weights
- The Heaviest-Weighted Domains You Cannot Skip
- Broker Eligibility Checklist
- Retake Limits and Calculator Rules
- Renewal Date and CE Requirement
- One-Week Domain-Focused Review Plan
- FAQ
- The exam has 145 total questions (80+5 national, 50+10 state) in a four-hour window.
- You need a scaled score of 70 on both the national and state portions to pass.
- Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees carries 34% of the state portion - the single largest domain.
- Broker applicants need 5 continuous years of licensure, 30 documented transactions, and a 99-hour prelicensing course.
Quick Overview: What DE-RE-B Actually Tests
The Delaware Real Estate Broker Exam (DE-RE-B) is a closed-book, computer-delivered test administered through Pearson VUE on behalf of the Delaware Real Estate Commission, part of the Division of Professional Regulation. This cheat sheet is built to be scanned in five minutes the night before your test date - every number below traces back to the official candidate handbook, not to generic exam-prep filler. If you need a deeper narrative walkthrough instead of a quick-reference sheet, pair this page with the DE-RE-B Study Guide 2026 for a first-attempt strategy.
Fees, Application, and Registration Numbers
Before you can sit for the exam, three separate payments are involved. Keep these figures memorized so nothing surprises you during scheduling:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pearson VUE exam fee | $88 |
| State broker license application | $248 |
| Real Estate Guaranty Fund fee | $25 |
These are separate line items - the exam fee goes to Pearson VUE, while the application fee and Guaranty Fund contribution go through the state licensing process. For a full breakdown of how these fees fit into your total cost of licensure, see the DE-RE-B Certification Cost 2026 guide. If you're still confirming you meet the baseline qualifications before spending any money, cross-check the DE-RE-B Requirements 2026 page first.
Exam Format at a Glance
The DE-RE-B exam is split into two distinct portions that are scored - and must be passed - independently:
- National/general portion: 80 scored items + 5 unscored pretest items = 85 questions
- Delaware state portion: 50 scored items + 10 unscored pretest items = 60 questions
- Total: 145 questions
- Time allotted: 4 hours
- Passing standard: A scaled score of 70 on both the national portion and the state portion
Key Takeaway
You cannot "average" your way to a pass. Scoring well above 70 on the national section will not compensate for falling below 70 on the Delaware state section, and vice versa.
If you're trying to gauge how tough this format actually feels in practice, the How Hard Is the DE-RE-B Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article walks through what the four-hour, dual-portion structure feels like under time pressure. For the exact scoring mechanics, see the DE-RE-B Passing Score 2026 breakdown.
All 13 Domains and Their Weights
Domains 1-8 are weighted within the 80 scored national items; Domains 9-13 are weighted within the 50 scored state items. Percentages are calculated from Pearson VUE's official item counts, per the national outline (effective April 1, 2025) and the state outline (effective June 1, 2020).
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1. Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use | 12.5% |
| 2. Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title | 10% |
| 3. Property Value and Appraisal | 12.5% |
| 4. Real Estate Contracts and Agency | 18.75% |
| 5. Real Estate Practice | 15% |
| 6. Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues | 11.25% |
| 7. Financing and Settlement | 10% |
| 8. Real Estate Math Calculations | 10% |
| 9. Duties and Powers of the Real Estate Commission | 8% |
| 10. Licensing Requirements | 6% |
| 11. Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees | 34% |
| 12. Additional State Topics | 32% |
| 13. Broker Only | 20% |
For a full content breakdown of what each of these 13 areas actually tests, see the DE-RE-B Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas.
The Heaviest-Weighted Domains You Cannot Skip
Two domains dominate the state portion and deserve disproportionate review time.
Domain 11: Statutory Requirements Governing the Activities of Licensees (34% of state items)
This is the single largest domain on the entire exam and covers the day-to-day legal obligations of a practicing broker.
- Broker responsibilities for supervision, escrow handling, and office requirements
- Advertising rules and disclosure obligations tied to licensee conduct
- Recordkeeping and trust account statutory duties
Domain 12: Additional State Topics (32% of state items)
Combined with Domain 11, these two domains account for the large majority of the state portion's scored questions.
- Delaware-specific procedural and administrative rules not covered elsewhere
- State-level nuances layered on top of national real estate concepts
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.75% of national items)
The heaviest-weighted domain on the national side, covering agency relationships and contract mechanics that also connect back to Delaware statutory duties.
- Agency creation, disclosure, and termination
- Contract elements, contingencies, and remedies for breach
Broker Eligibility Checklist
Delaware doesn't let just anyone sit for the broker exam. Confirm every box below before you register with Pearson VUE:
- At least 23 years old
- Completed an approved 99-hour Delaware broker prelicensing course
- Five continuous years of licensure immediately preceding the application
- Documentation of at least 30 eligible transactions within the preceding five years
- For a full broker license (beyond passing the exam): three years of active practice plus compliance with office, supervision, and escrow requirements
This eligibility structure is the reason DE-RE-B functions as an experienced-agent credential rather than an entry-level test - it's built for licensees who've already been practicing and are moving up. If you want the complete eligibility narrative with edge cases, read DE-RE-B Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Retake Limits and Calculator Rules
Two operational rules trip up candidates who only skimmed the handbook:
- Attempt limit: No more than three exam attempts are allowed before you must repeat the 99-hour prelicensing course.
- Calculator policy: A silent, handheld, nonprinting calculator without an alphabetic keypad is permitted. Financial calculators are explicitly prohibited - bring a basic calculator, not a real estate finance model.
Key Takeaway
Because Domain 8 (Real Estate Math Calculations) is tested without a financial calculator, practice amortization, proration, and commission-split math by hand or with a basic calculator well before test day.
Renewal Date and CE Requirement
Passing the exam is the checkpoint, not the finish line. Once licensed, brokers must track two ongoing obligations:
- Renewal date: April 30 of even-numbered years
- Continuing education: 21 hours per full biennial cycle
Mark your calendar now - missing the biennial renewal window creates avoidable administrative headaches on top of an already document-heavy licensing process.
One-Week Domain-Focused Review Plan
If your exam date is close, don't try to re-study everything evenly. Use the weighting data above to sequence a short, focused final review.
Statutory Requirements + Additional State Topics (Domains 11-12)
- Drill licensee conduct rules, escrow/office/supervision statutes, and recordkeeping duties
- These two domains alone cover 66% of the 50 scored state items
Broker Only (Domain 13) + Licensing Requirements (Domain 10)
- Review supervision structure, office requirements, and broker-specific duties
- Confirm licensing procedure details tied to the Real Estate Commission
Real Estate Contracts and Agency (Domain 4) + Real Estate Practice (Domain 5)
- These are the two heaviest national domains - agency relationships, contract remedies, and day-to-day practice scenarios
Property Value and Appraisal (Domain 3) + Real Property Characteristics (Domain 1)
- Legal descriptions, property use classifications, and valuation approaches
Financing and Settlement (Domain 7) + Real Estate Math (Domain 8)
- Practice calculations by hand since financial calculators are prohibited
Full-length timed review + weak-domain cleanup
- Simulate the four-hour, 145-question format under real time pressure
- Revisit Domains 2 and 6 briefly to close remaining gaps
For a longer-horizon version of this plan built around a full study calendar rather than a final-week sprint, see the DE-RE-B Study Guide 2026. And if you're unsure whether your current knowledge level justifies this compressed schedule, the DE-RE-B Pass Rate 2026 article discusses what the available data suggests about readiness.
FAQ
There are 145 total questions - 80 scored plus 5 unscored national items, and 50 scored plus 10 unscored Delaware items - administered in a four-hour session at a Pearson VUE test center.
You need a scaled score of 70 on both the national portion and the Delaware state portion. Passing one and failing the other means you have not passed the exam overall.
No. Only a silent, handheld, nonprinting calculator without an alphabetic keypad is allowed. Financial calculators are specifically prohibited, which matters most for the Real Estate Math Calculations domain.
You get up to three attempts. If you don't pass within three tries, you must repeat the approved 99-hour Delaware broker prelicensing course before scheduling again.
You must be at least 23, complete the 99-hour broker prelicensing course, hold five continuous years of prior licensure, and document at least 30 eligible transactions in the preceding five years. A full broker license additionally requires three years of active practice.
Keep this page bookmarked and pair it with focused domain review through our practice test platform as your exam date approaches. For broader context on what this credential enables career-wise, browse DE-RE-B Salary Guide 2026 or Is the DE-RE-B Certification Worth It? on delawarerealtest.com.