MA-REB Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts

Exam Format Snapshot

Before you memorize a single statute, lock in the shape of the test itself. The MA-REB bulletin splits the exam into two components that are scored independently, which is the single most important structural fact on this entire cheat sheet.

• General portion: 75 scored questions, 80 points, 150 minutes.
• Massachusetts portion: 40 scored questions, 40 points, 90 minutes.
• Combined totals: 115 scored questions and 120 points across four hours of scored content (the bulletin's combined broker row displays 120 questions, so don't be surprised by the slight discrepancy between the component breakdown and the summary row).
• Unscored items: An additional 5-10 unscored experimental questions may use exam time without affecting your score.
• Question style: Some general questions are scenario-based, may present up to eight answer options, and can be worth up to two points instead of one.

For a deeper breakdown of how these numbers translate into a study plan, see the full MA-REB Study Guide 2026, and for a plain-English explanation of the passing threshold, check the dedicated MA-REB Passing Score 2026 page.

Domain Weights at a Glance

The general portion percentages below apply within the general portion only - they don't get diluted by the Massachusetts portion's separate scoring. Use this table as your triage list: domains near the top of the general list deserve the most review time.

The Massachusetts portion is untitled by percentage in the bulletin's public breakdown, but it groups into nine subject areas: Duties and Powers of the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, Licensing Requirements, Requirements Governing Licensees, Contracts, Consumer Protection Laws, Environmental Issues and Hazardous Materials, Massachusetts Fair Housing Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Additional Topics. Requirements Governing Licensees is the largest of these nine, making it the single most important Massachusetts-specific area to master. For a full walkthrough of every domain, including subtopics not covered here, read the MA-REB Exam Domains 2026 guide.

Eligibility Checklist

MA-REB isn't a walk-up exam - you have to qualify before PSI will let you schedule a seat. Run through this list before you register:

• At least 18 years old.
• Hold a current Massachusetts salesperson license.
• Complete 40 hours of approved broker pre-licensing education.
• Document three years as an active Massachusetts salesperson, affiliated with an active Massachusetts broker, at 25+ hours per week.
• Qualifying experience must be no more than two years old at the time you test.
• Obtain three endorsements from unrelated individuals.
• Secure a $5,000 surety bond.
• Pass both exam portions within two years of completing your course.

A full walkthrough of documentation, endorsement letters, and the surety bond process lives in the MA-REB Requirements 2026 article.

Fees, Registration, and Testing Logistics

Costs and scheduling mechanics are simple once you see them side by side:

If remote proctoring is new to you, plan your workspace ahead of time - a clean desk, no scratch paper unless permitted, and a stable connection matter as much as content knowledge on exam day. For a granular cost breakdown including course fees and bond costs, see MA-REB Certification Cost 2026, and for scheduling windows and deadlines, check MA-REB Exam Dates 2026.

High-Yield Topics by Domain

Below are the domains most worth memorizing hard, based purely on their weight or their role as the largest section in their portion.

The Massachusetts Fair Housing Law and Landlord Tenant Law domains are smaller by question count but frequently tested through scenario items, so don't treat "smaller domain" as "skip it." For an exhaustive domain-by-domain study breakdown, revisit the complete domains guide.

A Compressed Final-Week Review Plan

If you're in your last week before test day, don't spread attention evenly across all 20 domains. Sequence your review by weight and by portion so your last hours go to the highest-leverage material.

Prefer a longer runway instead of a one-week sprint? The full MA-REB Study Guide lays out a multi-week version of this same weighting logic.

Test-Day Mechanics and Scoring

Two rules decide whether you pass, and both are easy to overlook under pressure:

• You need 70% on the general portion and 70% on the Massachusetts portion separately - there's no averaging between them.
• Only PSI's on-screen calculator is permitted; personal calculators, including ones on phones or watches, are prohibited.

Worried about how tough the exam feels relative to other licensing tests? The MA-REB difficulty guide breaks down what actually makes this exam challenging, and the MA-REB Pass Rate 2026 article walks through what's publicly known about outcomes.

After You Pass: License Term and Renewal

Passing both portions is the finish line for the exam, but not for your license obligations:

• The initial broker license term runs no less than two years and no more than three years.
• Active renewal requires 12 continuing-education hours.
• Keep your surety bond and any board-required documentation current throughout your license term.

If you're evaluating whether the time, fees, and study hours are worth it before you commit, the ROI analysis and salary guide are useful companion reads. Once licensed, many candidates also explore brokerage-side opportunities - see MA-REB Jobs for a sense of who hires brokers in Massachusetts.

Still building foundational understanding of the credential itself? Start with What Is MA-REB? or the more detailed MA-REB Certification overview before diving back into domain-level study.

Whichever stage you're at, running full-length timed drills on our practice test platform is the fastest way to convert this cheat sheet into exam-day muscle memory. Pair a session on the practice tests with the domain table above so every missed question maps back to a specific, weighted topic instead of a vague "study more" feeling.

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