- The MA-REB has two timed portions: 75 general questions (80 points, 150 minutes) and 40 Massachusetts questions (40 points, 90 minutes).
- You need 70% on each portion separately - a strong general score cannot offset a weak Massachusetts score.
- Contracts is the largest general domain at 19%; Requirements Governing Licensees leads the Massachusetts portion.
- Eligibility requires 3 years as an active MA salesperson at 25+ hours/week, 40 hours of broker education, three endorsements, and a $5,000 surety bond.
What the MA-REB Actually Tests
The Massachusetts Real Estate Broker Exam (MA-REB) is administered through PSI Services LLC on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, Division of Occupational Licensure. Unlike the salesperson exam, the MA-REB assumes you already understand basic transaction mechanics - it's testing whether you're ready to supervise agents, manage trust funds, and carry the legal weight of a broker's license.
The exam is built from two separate content pools: a general real estate portion that mirrors national broker-level knowledge, and a Massachusetts-specific portion covering the statutes, regulations, and consumer protections unique to this state. If you're still mapping out what the credential involves before you commit to a study plan, our overview of what MA-REB is and the breakdown of what MA-REB stands for are useful starting points.
Exam Structure and Scoring Mechanics
Understanding the arithmetic of the MA-REB matters as much as understanding real estate law. The bulletin breaks the exam into two components:
- General Portion: 75 scored questions worth 80 points, administered in 150 minutes.
- Massachusetts Portion: 40 scored questions worth 40 points, administered in 90 minutes.
Added together, that's 115 scored questions worth 120 points across four hours of testing time - though PSI's combined broker exam listing displays a rounded 120-question total. On top of the scored items, PSI may seed 5 to 10 additional unscored experimental questions into your session. You won't know which questions are experimental, so every question deserves full attention regardless of how unfamiliar or oddly specific it seems.
| Component | Scored Questions | Points | Time Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Portion | 75 | 80 | 150 minutes |
| Massachusetts Portion | 40 | 40 | 90 minutes |
| Combined Total | 115 (bulletin lists 120) | 120 | 240 minutes |
You must score at least 70% on each portion independently. Testing is available at a PSI center or via remote online proctoring, and PSI supplies an on-screen calculator - personal calculators are prohibited, so practice with an on-screen tool before test day so it doesn't slow you down during the calculations questions. For a full walkthrough of how the passing threshold works in practice, see MA-REB Passing Score 2026, and for a broader look at how the format compares in difficulty to other licensing exams, check How Hard Is the MA-REB Exam?
Key Takeaway
Because each portion is scored separately, treat your prep as two mini-exams. Weak Massachusetts-law knowledge will fail you even with a perfect general score, and vice versa.
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility Mechanics
Before you can sit for the MA-REB, you need to clear a specific eligibility bar. This isn't a "study and register" exam - it has real prerequisites tied to your salesperson history:
- Be at least 18 years old and 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 for at least 25 hours per week.
- Ensure your qualifying experience is no more than two years old at the time you test.
- Obtain three endorsements from unrelated individuals.
- Secure a $5,000 surety bond.
On the cost side, expect a $52 application fee plus a $56 examination fee. Both portions of the exam must be passed within two years of completing your broker education course - miss that window and you may need to retake coursework. For the complete fee breakdown and how it compares to renewal costs, read MA-REB Certification Cost 2026, and for a line-by-line eligibility checklist, see MA-REB Requirements 2026.
The 11 General Portion Domains
The general portion covers eleven domains, and the weighting is not even - some areas are worth far more of your study time than others. All percentages below are shares of the general portion specifically.
Contracts (19%) - Largest General Domain
The single heaviest-weighted domain on the entire general portion. Expect scenario-based questions on offer and acceptance, contingencies, breach, remedies, and the mechanics of purchase and sale agreements.
- Master the differences between listing agreements, buyer agency agreements, and purchase contracts
- Know contingency removal and default/remedy scenarios cold
Agency (13%)
Fiduciary duties, agency disclosure, and the distinctions between seller's agents, buyer's agents, and dual/designated agency come up repeatedly, often woven into contract-based scenario questions.
Practice of Real Estate (12%)
Covers day-to-day brokerage operations - advertising rules, trust account handling, and supervisory responsibilities that specifically apply once you're licensed as a broker rather than a salesperson.
The remaining general domains - 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%) - round out the general portion. Real Estate Calculations deserves extra attention even at 6%, since it's where the on-screen calculator and multi-step math problems live. For a domain-by-domain breakdown of all 20 content areas across both portions, see MA-REB Exam Domains 2026.
The Massachusetts State Portion Domains
The Massachusetts portion tests nine domains rooted in state statute and regulation rather than generic real estate theory:
- Duties and Powers of the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
- Licensing Requirements
- Requirements Governing Licensees - the largest Massachusetts domain
- Contracts (state-specific application)
- Consumer Protection Laws
- Environmental Issues and Hazardous Materials
- Massachusetts Fair Housing Law
- Landlord Tenant Law
- Additional Topics
Because Requirements Governing Licensees carries the most weight in this portion, prioritize the specific conduct rules, recordkeeping obligations, and supervisory duties the Board imposes on Massachusetts brokers - these are frequently tested with precise, fact-pattern questions rather than broad conceptual ones.
Key Takeaway
Don't study Massachusetts Fair Housing Law and Landlord Tenant Law as an afterthought - both are distinct scored domains, not sub-points under Contracts or Consumer Protection.
A Domain-Driven Study Timeline
Rather than a generic weekly template, sequence your study around domain weight and how the two portions are scored separately.
Contracts and Agency
- Work through Contracts scenario questions - the largest general domain at 19%
- Layer in Agency (13%) since the two domains overlap in scenario-based questions
Practice of Real Estate, Property Ownership, Financing
- Drill trust account and supervisory rules unique to brokers
- Cover ownership types and financing calculations together
Remaining General Domains
- Valuation, Property Disclosures, Transfer of Title, Real Estate Calculations
- Practice using the on-screen calculator format, not a personal one
Massachusetts Portion, Starting with Requirements Governing Licensees
- Study Board duties, licensing requirements, and consumer protection laws
- Finish with Fair Housing and Landlord Tenant Law, then run a full-length timed practice covering both portions
If you want a condensed, single-page reference to review during this final week, bookmark the MA-REB Cheat Sheet 2026 and run timed sets on our practice test platform to simulate the 150-minute and 90-minute blocks separately.
Question Format Traps to Expect
Some general portion questions are scenario-based and may present up to eight answer options, worth up to two points each - more choices and more point value than a standard single-point item. This format rewards careful elimination over quick pattern-matching.
- Read the full scenario before glancing at answer choices; eight-option questions often bury the deciding detail mid-paragraph.
- Don't assume every question is worth the same amount - higher-value scenario items deserve proportionally more of your time budget.
- Remember that 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions may be mixed in, so pacing yourself evenly across all 115 questions is safer than trying to guess which ones "don't count."
After You Pass: License Term and Renewal
Passing both portions is the finish line for the exam, but not for the licensing process. The initial broker license term runs no less than two years and no more than three years, and active renewal requires 12 continuing-education hours. Building this into your post-exam planning now avoids a scramble later.
Once licensed, brokers open different employment paths than salespersons - supervising agents, running independent brokerages, or managing larger transaction volumes. If you're weighing whether the credential pays off relative to the study and bonding investment, our analysis in Is the MA-REB Certification Worth It? and the earnings breakdown in MA-REB Salary Guide 2026 lay out the practical upside. For where brokers actually find opportunities after licensure, see MA-REB Jobs.
For a step-by-step look at scheduling your test date around the two-year, post-course deadline, review MA-REB Exam Dates 2026 before you lock in your PSI appointment.
Key Takeaway
Your exam pass is only half the process - plan your continuing education cadence now so your 12 CE hours are ready well before your two-to-three-year renewal deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
The general portion has 75 scored questions worth 80 points in 150 minutes, and the Massachusetts portion has 40 scored questions worth 40 points in 90 minutes - 115 scored questions total, though the bulletin's combined row shows 120.
No, but you need at least 70% on each portion, and both must be passed within two years of completing your 40-hour broker education course.
No. PSI provides an on-screen calculator at both test centers and for remote online proctoring, and personal calculators are prohibited.
Contracts, at 19% of the general portion, is the single largest domain. In the Massachusetts portion, Requirements Governing Licensees carries the most weight.
You must be 18 or older, hold a current Massachusetts salesperson license, complete 40 hours of approved broker education, document three years as an active salesperson affiliated with an active broker at 25+ hours per week with experience no more than two years old, secure three endorsements, and post a $5,000 surety bond.