- The Passing Score, In Exact Numbers
- Why Two Portions Means Two Separate Hurdles
- How PSI Scores the Exam
- What the Domain Weights Mean for Your Score
- National Portion vs. State Portion: Different Content, Same Pass/Fail Rule
- Allocating Study Time Around the Passing Score
- What Happens If You Miss the Cutoff
- Fees Tied to Each Attempt
- Frequently Asked Questions
- You must answer 56 of 80 national questions and 28 of 40 state questions correctly - both, not either.
- The exam includes 5-10 unscored experimental questions you cannot identify during testing.
- Portions have separate time limits: 120 minutes for national, 80 minutes for state.
- Retesting one portion costs $55; retesting both together costs $63.
The Passing Score, In Exact Numbers
The South Carolina Real Estate Salesperson Exam (SC-RES) does not use a single overall percentage. Instead, PSI and the South Carolina Real Estate Commission set two independent thresholds, one per portion of the test. To pass, a candidate must correctly answer 56 of the 80 scored national questions and 28 of the 40 scored state questions. There is no averaging between the two. A strong national score cannot offset a weak state score, and vice versa.
This structure matters more than most candidates realize when they start studying. If you're building a plan, the SC-RES Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through how to sequence preparation so neither portion gets shortchanged.
Why Two Portions Means Two Separate Hurdles
Because SC-RES is split into a national section and a South Carolina-specific section, candidates face two pass/fail gates in one testing appointment. This is different from exams that report one combined score. Practically, it means you can fail the exam overall even if you're comfortable with national real estate concepts but weak on South Carolina statutes - or the reverse.
The national portion draws from Domains 1-11, covering broadly applicable real estate concepts. The state portion draws from Domains 12-16, covering South Carolina Real Estate Commission rules, licensing law, and state-specific practice issues. For a full breakdown of what's tested in each domain, see the SC-RES Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Treat national and state content as two separate study tracks with two separate mastery checks - don't let confidence in one mask a gap in the other.
How PSI Scores the Exam
PSI administers SC-RES by computer at its testing centers. The scored portion of the exam totals 120 questions (80 national, 40 state), but candidates will also see 5-10 additional experimental questions mixed in. These experimental items are unscored and used by the Commission to evaluate future test content - but they are not labeled, so you cannot skip or rush through anything just because you suspect it's experimental.
This is an important nuance when candidates try to reverse-engineer their expected score during the test. You genuinely cannot know which questions count, so every question needs to be treated as if it affects your 56/80 or 28/40 target.
Approved calculators are permitted at the testing center, but they must be silent, battery-operated, nonprogrammable, and without printing functions or alphabetic keyboards. Bring one that meets these specs, since real estate calculation questions (Domain 11) will require basic math beyond mental arithmetic for some candidates.
What the Domain Weights Mean for Your Score
Since you need 56 correct answers out of 80 on the national portion, it helps to know where those 80 questions are concentrated. The domain weights tell you which content areas carry the most opportunities to bank correct answers - and which mistakes will hurt most if repeated.
Domain 5: Contracts (19%)
The single heaviest-weighted national domain. Roughly 15 of the 80 national questions relate to contract formation, elements, contingencies, and remedies.
- Master offer, acceptance, and consideration mechanics
- Know contingency types and how they affect enforceability
Domain 6: Agency (13%)
The second-heaviest national domain, covering agency relationships, fiduciary duties, and disclosure obligations.
- Distinguish types of agency relationships
- Understand fiduciary duty scope and limits
Domain 10: Practice of Real Estate (12%)
Covers day-to-day licensee conduct, advertising rules, and business practice standards tested on the national portion.
- Know license law interactions with daily practice
- Understand advertising and marketing compliance basics
Together, Contracts, Agency, and Practice of Real Estate account for 44% of the national portion's weighting - nearly half of your 80 scored questions. Underperforming here is the fastest way to fall short of the 56-correct threshold, even with solid performance elsewhere. For a domain-by-domain study sequence, the SC-RES Exam Domains 2026 guide breaks down every content area, including the smaller-weighted domains like Property Management (3%) and Land Use Controls (5%) that still contribute a handful of questions each.
National Portion vs. State Portion: Different Content, Same Pass/Fail Rule
The state portion (Domains 12-16) is smaller - 40 scored questions instead of 80 - but the 70%-equivalent bar (28 correct) is just as firm. These domains cover South Carolina Real Estate Commission licensing requirements, statutes governing licensees and non-licensees, South Carolina-specific agency and non-agency relationship rules, additional state statutes, and closing details unique to South Carolina transactions.
| Portion | Scored Questions | Passing Threshold | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (Domains 1-11) | 80 | 56 correct | 120 minutes |
| State (Domains 12-16) | 40 | 28 correct | 80 minutes |
Note that unlike the national domains, the state domains in the official outline don't carry published individual percentage weights - but their combined content is dense with South Carolina-specific licensing law, so treat every state domain as high-priority rather than trying to guess which will dominate the 40 questions.
Because Act No. 204 changed the statutory title from "salesperson" to "Real Estate Associate" effective May 21, 2024, make sure any study materials you use reflect current terminology - older prep content referencing only "salesperson" language may be outdated on this point, even though the exam name itself hasn't changed.
Allocating Study Time Around the Passing Score
Because the passing threshold is fixed and non-negotiable, your prep time is best spent proportionally to each domain's weight and to your own weak spots - not spread evenly across all 16 domains. A simple way to structure the final weeks before your test date:
Heavy National Domains
- Contracts (19%) and Agency (13%) - the two largest national domains
- Practice of Real Estate (12%) fundamentals
Remaining National Domains
- Financing (10%), Property Ownership (10%), Valuation (8%)
- Real Estate Calculations (7%) - practice with your approved calculator
- Property Disclosures (7%), Transfer of Title (6%), Land Use Controls (5%), Property Management (3%)
State-Specific Domains 12-16
- South Carolina Real Estate Commission licensing requirements
- Statutes governing licensees and non-licensees
- South Carolina agency and non-agency relationships
- Closing details specific to South Carolina practice
Full Practice Under Timed Conditions
- Full-length national practice runs within the 120-minute limit
- Full-length state practice runs within the 80-minute limit
- Review missed questions by domain, not just overall score
Running full-length timed practice tests on our practice test platform before your actual appointment is one of the most direct ways to see whether you're tracking above or below the 56/80 and 28/40 thresholds under real time pressure. If you want a condensed reference to keep nearby during final review, the SC-RES Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts consolidates the highest-yield facts across all 16 domains.
What Happens If You Miss the Cutoff
If you fall short of 56 correct on the national portion, 28 correct on the state portion, or both, you can retest. Exam eligibility lasts one year from approval, and there is no limit on the number of retests within that window. You can retake just the portion you failed rather than sitting for both again, which saves both time and money.
Once you do pass both portions, the clock shifts: successful candidates must apply for a license within one year of passing. Don't treat passing as the finish line if you still need to complete outstanding requirements like the 30-hour Unit II course, which can be finished after the exam but must be done before licensure. For the full list of prerequisites and deadlines, see SC-RES Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Key Takeaway
A near-miss on one portion isn't a full restart - retest only the portion you missed, and use your score report to target the domains that dragged you below threshold.
Fees Tied to Each Attempt
PSI charges $63 to sit for both portions in one appointment, or $55 to sit for a single portion. This fee structure directly affects your retest strategy: if you clear the national portion but miss the state portion's 28-correct mark, you only pay $55 to retest that portion alone rather than $63 for a full retake. For a complete cost picture including course fees and licensing costs beyond the exam itself, see SC-RES Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Putting the Score in Context
A fixed 70%-equivalent threshold on each portion sounds straightforward, but the difficulty of hitting it depends heavily on how the 120 combined questions (plus experimental items) are worded and distributed. If you're trying to gauge how much preparation time you realistically need, How Hard Is the SC-RES Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 looks at the exam's difficulty profile in more depth, and SC-RES Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows examines available pass-rate data.
It's also worth remembering why the passing score matters beyond the test day itself. Passing both portions is the gateway to applying for licensure, working under a broker-in-charge, and eventually building a career - a path explored further in SC-RES Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis and Is the SC-RES Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No single number applies to both. You need 56 of 80 correct on the national portion and 28 of 40 correct on the state portion - two separate thresholds, each equivalent to about 70%.
No. The 5-10 additional experimental questions are unscored, but since they aren't identified during the test, you should answer every question as if it counts toward your 56/80 or 28/40 result.
Yes. If you pass one portion but not the other, you can retest only the failed portion for $55, rather than paying $63 to retake both portions together.
Exam eligibility lasts one year, and there is no cap on the number of retest attempts within that year.
No. Passing both portions makes you eligible to apply for a license, which you must do within one year of passing. You'll also need to complete Unit II coursework, a background check, and secure a broker-in-charge before practicing.