RES Exam Schedule 2026: Dates, Fees, and How to Book

The RES exam schedule for 2026 consists of three main sittings: 14–15 March, 18–19 July, and 31 October–1 November. To secure your slot, you must register through the appointed examination administrator, NTUC LearningHub, during specific registration windows usually announced one to two months before the exam. The 2026 full-sitting fee for both papers is S$512.30, while a modular sitting for a single paper costs S$283.40. For a deep dive into the syllabus and preparation strategies, visit our RES Exam Guide.

Planning your career as a real estate salesperson requires careful timing. Because the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) (opens in a new tab) only conducts the exam three times a year, missing a registration window can delay your licensing by several months. Candidates are encouraged to complete their RES Course early to ensure their certificate of completion is valid before the registration date. The RES exam dates 2026 are fixed by CEA to ensure a standardized assessment across the industry.

The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has confirmed the following schedule for the 2026 Real Estate Salesperson Examination. All exams are paper-based and conducted at the Singapore Institute of Management Headquarters (SIM HQ) at 461 Clementi Road.

Exam Month	2026 Exam Dates	Estimated Registration Window
March	14 March (Sat) & 15 March (Sun)	Late January 2026
July	18 July (Sat) & 19 July (Sun)	Late May 2026
October	31 October (Sat) & 1 November (Sun)	Late August 2026

Registration typically opens at 9:00 AM on the first day of the window and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to high demand, slots often fill up within hours. To increase your chances of securing a seat, ensure your NTUC LearningHub account is active and your RES Course completion certificate is ready for upload. For those still looking for a training provider, check our RES Course Guide. The RES exam schedule Singapore 2026 follows a strict timeline, and no late registrations are entertained once the quota is met.

Understanding the financial commitment is essential for your planning. The fees for the RES exam are standardized by CEA and administered by NTUC LearningHub. For 2026, the costs are as follows:

• Full Sitting (Papers 1 & 2): S$512.30 (inclusive of GST)
• Modular Sitting (Single Paper): S$283.40 (inclusive of GST)

Payment must be made online during the registration process via credit card (VISA/Mastercard) or other supported digital payment methods. Note that these fees are non-refundable unless there are exceptional circumstances approved by CEA. If you are retaking only one paper, ensure you select the correct modular option to avoid overpayment. You can view our Pricing page for more details on how to supplement your study journey. For RES exam candidates, the 2026 full-sitting fee is S$512.30, and the modular sitting fee for retakers is S$283.40, payable directly to the exam administrator during the booking window.

The RES exam consists of two papers, each designed to test different competencies required under the Estate Agents Act (Cap. 95A) (opens in a new tab). Both papers follow a consistent format: 60 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in Section A and 20 Case Study MCQs in Section B. You are given 2 hours and 30 minutes for each paper.

• Paper 1: Focuses on legal foundations, including Land Law, Law of Contract, and Landlord and Tenant Law. It covers Competency Units 1 and 2.
• Paper 2: Focuses on practical transactions, including HDB policies, the Estate Agents Act, and taxation. It covers Competency Units 3 and 4.

Note that for Paper 2, candidates must be familiar with the latest Residential Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) rules. For properties acquired on or after 4 July 2025, a 4-year holding period applies with rates of 16%, 12%, 8%, and 4%. Properties acquired between 11 March 2017 and 3 July 2025 follow the older 3-year schedule. The passing mark is 60 for each paper, subject to CEA review. You can test your knowledge with our Free RES Practice questions to gauge your readiness.

Booking your RES exam slot can be stressful due to the limited number of seats. Follow this checklist to ensure a smooth registration process:

1. Verify Eligibility: Ensure you meet the educational requirements (minimum 4 GCE 'O' Level passes) and are a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. Foreigners must have a valid Employment Pass and a support letter from a licensed Estate Agent.
2. Complete the RES Course: You must have a valid Certificate of Completion from a CEA-approved provider. This certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance.
3. Monitor CEA and NTUC LearningHub: Check the CEA website (opens in a new tab) regularly for the exact registration start time.
4. Prepare Digital Documents: Have a digital copy of your NRIC, educational certificates, and RES Course certificate ready.
5. Login Early: On the day of registration, log in to the NTUC LearningHub portal 15 minutes before the opening time.

Remember, the RES exam is a paper-based examination at Singapore Institute of Management Headquarters (SIM HQ), not a computer-based test. Candidates often ask: when is RES exam 2026 registration? It typically opens 6-8 weeks before the exam date, so set your calendar reminders early.

Many candidates feel anxious about the registration and retake policies. Here are the most frequently asked questions:

What is the passing mark for the RES exam? The passing mark is 60 for each paper, though this is subject to review by the CEA examination board. You must pass both papers to be eligible for a license.

What happens if I fail one paper? You can opt for a modular sitting in the next available exam window to retake only the paper you failed. However, you must pass the remaining paper within the 2-year validity period of your RES Course certificate.

Are the 2026 exams based on the new syllabus? The revised RES syllabus applies to exams from 1 January 2027. Therefore, all 2026 sittings will follow the current syllabus, though Paper 2 will continue to emphasize ethics, prevention of money laundering, and HDB resale procedures.

Where is the exam held? The exam is held at SIM HQ, 461 Clementi Road. Ensure you arrive at least 45 minutes early for identity verification. To prepare effectively, the Prepare app offers practice questions across all 13 RES exam topics, helping you master the specific patterns found in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.