RES Exam 2026: Registration, Schedule, and Everything You Need

The RES exam 2026 is administered by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) through NTUC LearningHub and is held three times a year. For 2026, the examination dates are 14–15 March, 18–19 July, and 31 October–1 November. Candidates should note that registration typically opens approximately two months before the exam date and often closes within days due to high demand.

Exam Intake	Examination Dates	Estimated Registration Period
March 2026	14 – 15 March 2026	January 2026
July 2026	18 – 19 July 2026	May 2026
Oct/Nov 2026	31 Oct – 1 Nov 2026	August/September 2026

To secure a slot, you must have already completed the RES Course at a CEA Approved Course Provider and received your Certificate of Completion. The RES exam schedule 2026 follows a strict timeline; if you miss the registration window or the seats are filled, you must wait for the next intake. The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) provides official updates on their website at cea.gov.sg (opens in a new tab). The 2026 RES exam in Singapore is held in March, July, and October/November, requiring candidates to register via the NTUC LearningHub portal after completing their mandatory preparatory course.

The RES exam registration 2026 process is conducted online through the NTUC LearningHub portal. Before you can register, you must meet the minimum eligibility criteria: you must be at least 21 years old, possess a minimum of 4 GCE 'O' Level passes (or equivalent), and satisfy the CEA's Fit and Proper criteria.

Step-by-Step Registration Process:

1. Complete the RES Course at an Approved Course Provider (ACP).
2. Ensure your course completion certificate is valid (it is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance).
3. Monitor the CEA website (opens in a new tab) or NTUC LearningHub for the registration announcement.
4. Log in to the NTUC LearningHub exam portal during the registration window.
5. Select your papers (Full Sitting or Modular Sitting).
6. Make payment via the accepted online methods to confirm your seat.

Candidates who have previously failed one paper can opt for a modular sitting. For RES exam candidates, the Estate Agents Act falls under Paper 2. You can practice questions on this in the Prepare app. RES exam registration 2026 requires a valid course certificate and successful application through NTUC LearningHub, with seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis for the three annual sittings.

The RES exam Singapore 2026 fees are standardized for all candidates. A full sitting, which includes both Paper 1 and Paper 2, costs S$512.30. If you are retaking only one paper, the modular sitting fee is S$283.40. These fees are inclusive of GST and are non-refundable.

Item	Details
Full Sitting Fee	S$512.30 (2 Papers)
Modular Sitting Fee	S$283.40 (1 Paper)
Exam Venue	SIM Headquarters (SIM HQ), 461 Clementi Road
Format	Paper-based (Not Computer-based)
Passing Mark	60 for each paper (subject to CEA review)

The examination is a paper-based format held at the Singapore Institute of Management Headquarters (SIM HQ). Each paper lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes. Paper 1 focuses on legal foundations like land law and contracts, while Paper 2 covers practical transactions, including the Estate Agents Act and HDB procedures. The RES exam 2026 costs S$512.30 for a full sitting and is held at SIM HQ in a paper-based format, requiring a passing mark of 60 per paper.

In 2026, the RES exam continues to follow the established syllabus before the revised CEA syllabus takes effect on 1 January 2027. Each paper consists of two sections: Section A contains 60 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), and Section B contains 20 case-study-based MCQs.

Paper 1 Topics:

• Real Estate Agency Industry and Role of Salespersons
• Landed Property and Land Titles Act
• Law of Contract and Tort
• Landlord and Tenant Law

Paper 2 Topics:

• Estate Agents Act (Cap. 95A) and Regulations
• HDB Resale Procedures and CPF Policies
• Taxation (Stamp Duties, including SSD and ABSD)
• Marketing and Professional Ethics

Note that for properties acquired on or after 4 July 2025, the Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD) follows a 4-year holding period (16%, 12%, 8%, and 4%). Candidates must be familiar with these current residential SSD rules as they are frequently tested. The RES exam Singapore 2026 consists of two 2.5-hour papers, each featuring 60 standard MCQs and 20 case-study MCQs, covering both legal theory and practical real estate transactions.

Q: Can Permanent Residents (PR) take the RES exam? Yes, Singapore Permanent Residents are eligible to take the exam, provided they meet the educational requirements and the CEA's Fit and Proper criteria.

Q: What happens if I fail one paper? You are allowed to retake the specific paper you failed (Modular Sitting). However, you must pass both papers within the 2-year validity period of your RES course completion certificate. If you fail to pass the remaining paper within this timeframe, you must retake the entire RES course before sitting for the exams again.

Q: Is the exam computer-based? No, the RES exam is a paper-based examination. You will be provided with an Optical Answer Sheet (OAS) to shade your answers.

Q: How long should I study? Most successful candidates dedicate 2 to 4 months of intensive study. This involves reviewing the RES Exam Guide and practicing thousands of questions to master the Estate Agents Act and other topics. To pass the RES exam 2026, candidates must pass both Paper 1 and Paper 2 within two years of completing their course, utilizing modular sittings if they fail a single paper.

As you approach your exam date at SIM HQ, ensure you have a clear revision strategy. Start by mastering the core concepts in the RES Course Guide and move on to high-volume practice.

2026 Preparation Checklist:

• Verify your exam entry proof and NRIC/Passport.
• Bring approved calculators (non-programmable) and 2B pencils for the OAS.
• Review the latest HDB resale procedures and the Planning Act.
• Double-check the current ABSD and SSD rates (especially the 4-year SSD schedule for 2025/2026).
• Practice time management: 150 minutes for 80 questions means roughly 1.8 minutes per question.

For those looking for an edge, the Prepare app offers over 2,000 practice questions across all 13 RES exam topics, including a dedicated module for the Estate Agents Act. You can start with Free RES Practice to assess your current knowledge level before committing to a full study plan. Comprehensive preparation for the RES exam 2026 involves consistent practice of MCQ and case-study questions, focusing on both the legal framework and current Singapore property market regulations.