Paper 1 guide · 2026 syllabus
RES Exam Paper 1 topics and revision guide
RES Paper 1 tests the real estate industry, basic land law and dealings with interests in land. It is a 2.5-hour, 100-mark paper with 60 one-mark questions and 20 two-mark case-study questions. You need 60 marks to pass, subject to CEA review, and must pass Paper 1 separately from Paper 2.
Format and scope checked against the official CEA examination page (opens in a new tab).
Last reviewed by RESglide
2.5 hours
Time available
100 marks
Total for Paper 1
60 marks
Current passing mark
For examinations held in 2026
What topics are in RES Paper 1?
Paper 1 contains two competency units. The list below follows the syllabus currently selected for your exam year; CEA's learning-outcome document remains the source for the exact examinable detail.
Competency Unit 1
Industry overview and basic land law concepts
- Real estate market and submarkets
- Real estate market players and government intervention
- Introduction to basic land law concepts
- Land
- Estates in land
- State Lands Act
- Rights in another’s land
- Registration of titles
Competency Unit 2
Dealings with interests in land
- Law of contract
- Law of agency
- Landlord and tenant law
- Negligence
- Conveyance inter vivos
- Mortgage
- Gift
- Trust
- Succession
- Future interests
- Co-ownership
- Restrictions on capacity to hold land
- Planning and development of land
Read the official syllabus and learning outcomes (opens in a new tab) beside your notes. A topic heading alone does not show whether CEA expects recall, explanation or application.
How are Paper 1 questions structured?
| Section | Questions | Marks | What it demands |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 60 multiple-choice questions × 1 mark | 60 | Knowledge, understanding and direct application |
| B | 20 multiple-choice questions based on 1 or 2 case studies × 2 marks | 40 | Interpret rules within one or two scenarios |
Section B is only one quarter of the questions but carries 40% of the marks. Revision that stops at definitions leaves too much of Paper 1 exposed.
How should you revise for Paper 1?
- 01
Map
Use the official learning outcomes as a checklist, not just the broad topic names.
- 02
Explain
State each rule in plain language, including its conditions, exceptions and legal effect.
- 03
Apply
Answer scenario questions that make you identify the relevant facts before choosing the rule.
- 04
Repair
Review mistakes by learning outcome and repeat weak areas after a gap, rather than rereading everything.
Need a timetable for both papers? Follow the eight-week RES exam study plan.
Are RESglide's Paper 1 questions official past questions?
No. RESglide creates original exam-style practice; it does not present confidential exam questions as past papers. Each practice item is mapped to a CEA learning outcome, checked by a human before release and supported by the primary rule or official guidance it tests.
Test your Paper 1 knowledge
Start with five fixed Paper 1 and Paper 2 questions without an account, or register free for a 20-question practice allowance and topic-level progress tracking.
No payment required for either option. RESglide practice is original exam-style material, not official past questions.