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Know Your Exam
120
Total Questions
115 scored + 5 unscored pretest questions. You won't know which are which.
190
Minutes Allowed
3 hours 10 minutes total. About 95 seconds per question average.
75%
Passing Score
Must score 75% or higher. That means answering at least 86 of 115 scored questions correctly.
180
Day Wait
After 3 failed attempts, must wait 180 days before retesting. After each single failure: 30 days.
Exam Content Breakdown
| Topic Area | % of Exam | Approx Questions |
|---|
| Federal Mortgage-Related Laws | 23% | ~26 questions |
| General Mortgage Knowledge | 23% | ~26 questions |
| Mortgage Loan Origination Activities | 25% | ~29 questions |
| Ethics | 16% | ~18 questions |
| Uniform State Content (Texas) | 13% | ~15 questions |
Focus first on Ethics (16%) and Federal Laws (23%). Together they make up nearly 40% of the exam. Master these two areas and you have a huge head start.
The Week Before — Study Plan
- Day 7: Review all 10 interactive lessons — focus on the exam traps sections
- Day 6: Take the full 125-question mock exam under timed conditions
- Day 5: Review every wrong answer from the mock exam — understand WHY
- Day 4: Focus drill on your 2 weakest topics from the mock exam
- Day 3: Review the key numbers cheat sheet — drill until automatic
- Day 2: Light review only — no new material. Re-read takeaways from each lesson
- Day 1: Rest. Short review of key numbers in the morning. Early bedtime.
The Night Before
- Confirm your exam appointment time and testing center location
- Prepare your two valid forms of ID (see requirements below)
- Set TWO alarms — one as backup
- Eat a real dinner — no studying after 8 PM
- Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep
- Lay out your clothes and everything you need the night before
What to Bring
Required
Two Forms of Valid ID
Primary ID (one required): Government-issued photo ID — driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID
Secondary ID (one required): Credit card, debit card, or additional government ID with your name
Both IDs must have your name EXACTLY as it appears in NMLS. Name mismatches = denied entry.
Do NOT bring
Leave These at Home or in Your Car
Phone · Smartwatch · Notes or study materials · Food or drinks · Bags or backpacks · Earbuds or headphones · Calculators (one is provided on screen)
What to Expect at the Testing Center
- Arrive 30 minutes early — late arrivals may be denied entry
- You will be asked to empty your pockets completely
- Palm vein scan or fingerprint required at most Prometric centers
- You'll be given a locker for your belongings
- A whiteboard and marker (or scratch paper) will be provided — use it!
- You can raise your hand to leave for a break — the clock keeps running
During the Exam — Strategy
- Read every question fully — do not skim
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
- When stuck between two answers — trust your first instinct
- Flag questions you are unsure about and come back
- Do not leave any question blank — wrong answers count the same as blank
- Pace yourself: check your time after every 30 questions
- At 60 questions remaining: make sure you have at least 60 minutes left
The Key Numbers — Final Drill
Read these aloud before bed the night before:
| Number | What It Means |
|---|
| 75% | NMLS passing score |
| 3 bus. days | LE delivery from complete application · CD waiting period before closing |
| 7 cal. days | Minimum between LE delivery and closing |
| 3 cal. years | TRID cure window |
| 5 bus. days | QWR acknowledgment deadline |
| 30 bus. days | QWR substantive response deadline |
| 25 months | ECOA record retention |
| 2 months | Maximum escrow cushion (RESPA) |
| 80% / 78% | PMI request / auto-cancel (original purchase price) |
| 6% | SCRA interest cap — excess FORGIVEN |
| $10,000 | BSA CTR cash threshold |
| 30 days | SAR filing deadline |
| 80% CLTV | Texas 50(a)(6) hard cap |
| 3% | Texas fee cap · QM points and fees cap |
| 12 cal. days | Texas home equity waiting period |
| 21 days | Texas foreclosure advance notice |
| First Tuesday | Texas foreclosure sale day |
After the Exam
You will receive your pass/fail result immediately on screen at the testing center. A score report will also be available in your NMLS account.
If you pass: Complete your state license application in NMLS within the required timeframe. Submit employment sponsorship. You are almost there!
If you need to retake: Wait the required period, review your score report to identify weak areas, and use the full course to drill those topics specifically before retesting.