RES exam difficulty and preparation
How hard is the RES exam?
The RES exam is demanding: you need to apply a broad set of rules to unfamiliar situations and pass both papers separately. CEA's current passing mark is 60 for each paper and is subject to review. CEA does not publish a current overall candidate pass rate in the official material reviewed here, so commercial percentages should not be treated as official without a named cohort and source.
Last reviewed by RESglide
Official fact
60 marks per paper
CEA states that the passing mark is subject to review.
Different measure
Candidate pass rate
No current overall rate was published in the official CEA material reviewed.
Why do candidates find the RES exam difficult?
Breadth
The syllabus spans land law, agency, regulation, marketing, transactions, tax and finance.
Application
Section B makes you interpret facts and apply rules, not simply recognise definitions.
Two separate passes
A strong total across both papers cannot offset a score below the mark in one paper.
Current rules
Candidates need examinable law and policy that is current for their sitting, within CEA’s stated one-month cutoff.
See CEA's official format, syllabus and passing-mark statement (opens in a new tab).
Is Paper 1 or Paper 2 harder?
The harder paper depends on your starting point. If legal concepts feel unfamiliar, give Paper 1 extra attention. If transaction steps, conduct rules or calculations trip you up, focus on Paper 2. Compare your performance on new questions from each paper to choose where your next revision session will help most.
| Your pattern | Likely pressure point | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| You mix up legal interests or relationships | Paper 1 | Rebuild the rule map, then apply it to short scenarios. |
| You know rules but miss the transaction stage | Paper 2 | Practise complete transaction sequences and case studies. |
| Section A is sound but Section B drops sharply | Both papers | Extract decisive facts before reading the options. |
| Scores swing between sets | Coverage or question familiarity | Use unseen mixed questions and revisit the error log after a gap. |
How should you read a claimed RES pass rate?
- Is it the official exam pass rate or one provider's student cohort?
- Does it cover first attempts, repeat attempts, or selected completers?
- Are the dates, number of candidates and calculation method disclosed?
- Can you reach the underlying source rather than another page repeating it?
Those details tell you what the percentage actually measures. Even a well-supported cohort pass rate cannot predict your individual result.
How do you know when you are ready?
Unseen questions
You can apply the rule when the names and surface details change.
Stable results
Performance holds across several mixed sets, rather than one familiar mock.
Explainable answers
You can say why the correct option follows and why the closest distractor fails.
Timed control
You finish representative blocks without rushing the final questions or abandoning review.
No practice score or preparation product can guarantee an examination result.
What happens if you pass only one paper?
CEA says you may retake only the failed paper in a later sitting while your RES course completion certificate remains valid. If that certificate expires, you must retake and complete the course before attempting both papers again. Check the official results and retaking rules (opens in a new tab) for your circumstances.
Replace uncertainty with a first practice session
Start with a few questions and read the reasoning behind every answer. A free account gives you 20 questions across three selected topics and saves your progress, so you have a concrete place to begin revising.
No payment required for either option. No practice score guarantees an exam result.