Singapore RES exam FAQ
Course · format · fees · resits · 2027 syllabus · scope of the app
What is the RES Examination in Singapore?
The Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Examination is the licensing examination set by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). Passing both papers is a requirement for registration as a property agent (salesperson) in Singapore. It is administered by NTUC LearningHub and sat at SIM HQ.
Do I need to attend a course before sitting the RES Examination?
Yes. Candidates must complete the RES course — at least 65 hours — at a CEA Approved Course Provider before registering for the examination. The course completion certificate is valid for two years; check the current validity rules with your course provider before booking.
How is the RES Examination structured?
Two papers, each 2.5 hours and marked out of 100. Section A has 60 multiple-choice questions at 1 mark each; Section B has 20 multiple-choice questions at 2 marks each, set on one or two case studies. Paper 1 covers CU1 (real estate industry overview and land law basics) and CU2 (dealings with interests in land). Paper 2 covers CU3 (regulation, ethics, PMLPFTF, marketing and CPFTA) and CU4 (property transactions).
What is the pass mark for the RES Examination?
60 out of 100 on each paper. The papers are marked independently, so passing one paper is retained while you re-sit the other.
How much does the RES Examination cost?
S$512.30 including GST for both papers. A candidate who has passed one paper and re-sits the other pays the modular fee of S$283.40. Fees are set by the CEA and the examination administrator and can change — check the CEA website before booking.
How many times a year is the RES Examination held?
Three sittings a year, in March, July and October/November. Results are released about four to six weeks after each sitting.
Can I re-sit one paper if I pass the other?
Yes. Under the modular arrangement you re-sit only the paper you did not pass, at the modular fee of S$283.40, provided your RES course certificate is still valid.
What changed in the 2027 RES syllabus?
The 2027 syllabus, effective for sittings from 1 January 2027, adds four areas: PMLPFTF obligations (prevention of money laundering, proliferation financing and terrorism financing), green buildings and leases, conservation properties, and the Land Betterment Charge Act. The two-paper, 60 + 20 format is unchanged.
What are the Section B case studies?
Section B of each paper is 20 multiple-choice questions worth 2 marks each, built around one or two fact patterns — a client, a property, a transaction. The questions test how the rules apply to that scenario rather than recall alone, and Section B carries 40 of the 100 marks.
Who sets the RES Examination and who administers it?
The Council for Estate Agencies sets the examination and publishes the syllabus. NTUC LearningHub is the appointed examination administrator: registration, fees, sittings and results all go through it.
Is there an official question bank for the RES Examination?
No. The CEA publishes the syllabus, and Approved Course Providers issue course notes, but the examination items themselves are not released. Practice questions from any provider, including this app, are original material written to the published syllabus.
What happens after I pass both papers?
You apply for registration as a salesperson through a licensed estate agent, which lodges the application with the CEA. You may only carry out estate agency work once registered, and you must meet the CEA's continuing professional development requirements each year to renew.
Does the app cover the REA (Real Estate Agency) examination for key executive officers?
No. The app covers the two papers of the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Examination only. The REA Examination for key executive officers of estate agents is a separate examination with its own syllabus.
Does this app have anything to do with the CMFAS RES5 paper?
No. RES5 is an insurance and financial advisory module under the CMFAS framework administered by the Singapore College of Insurance. The RES Examination is the property agent examination under the Council for Estate Agencies. Despite the similar acronym they are unrelated qualifications; the CMFAS insurance papers are covered by our separate PrepLicense: SG CMFAS app.
How much does the app cost?
One All-Access plan covering both papers: S$14.98 a month, S$37.48 for three months or S$109.98 a year. Every plan is a subscription that can be cancelled from your Apple ID settings at any time; there is no one-time purchase.
Is this app affiliated with the CEA or NTUC LearningHub?
No. It is an independent study aid. Every question is original content written to the CEA syllabus, and each one names the Act, regulation or CEA guideline it tests.
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Council for Estate Agencies or NTUC LearningHub. Nothing here is legal or property advice — verify against the current CEA syllabus and the legislation before relying on any point for professional purposes.
© 2026 Sai Chun Christopher Tang. All rights reserved.