6 Tips for Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Exams Preparations

You are all geared up for the upcoming RES (Real Estate Salesperson) Exams, which takes place every 4 months now (February, June, October), and under the regulations of the Council For Estate Agencies (CEA). Presuming you don't know how or where to start studying for it, allow me to let some of these facts and tips sink in, and hopefully help you along your journey to passing of the RES Exams.

Step 1:  read all the guidelines and information about the exams

Yes, I mean all that you need to know, and understand about the examination format, syllabus, topics covered, passing rates, requirements etc. These information are more important than you would expect. A good source to start would be the CEA Website

Step 2: believe that it is one of the most difficult exams you have ever taken

This is coming from someone who holds certifications from many different regulatory bodies, as well as academic institutions. Yes, I love studying and obtaining certifications; learning never grows old. I failed at my very first attempt because I refused to believe in its difficulty level (I studied while playing movie clips in the background), believing that a combination of textbook knowledge and common sense would get me through). It is only when you are down at the exam halls, you'd realise the questions are formulated not in a straightforward manner, but they ask a lot of questions on scenarios, to ensure that you really understand a concept and are applying it. 

Step 3: attend RES Course under a recognised provider

Attending RES Course under a recognised training provider is mandatory, and each course attended is valid for 2 years. Meaning to say, you have 6 attempts at the exams before needing to re-take another RES Course. I heard merits about a few training providers and trainers - so do your research before signing up. I took mine under Hastor - where the trainers provide nearly round-the-clock support and assistance via Whatsapp group chats.  You can claim training fees via SkillsFuture credits or if you are an NTUC member, via UTap.

Here is a list of recognised training providers (info correct as at March 2019):

1. Benchmark Realpro

2. Hastor Property Services 

3. Institute of Estate Agents

4. Life Mastery Academy

5. Pioneer Training & Consultancy

6. Singapore Estate Agents Association

7. Real Centre Network

8. Real Estate School (under Real Estate Academy)

9. Realty International Associates (RIA) School

Photo Source:
https://www.cea.gov.sg/professionals/salesperson-registration-matters/real-estate-salesperson-examination-syllabus

Step 4: additional reading materials

Attending an RES course gives you the basic fundamentals of understand the real estate markets, rules and regulations etc in Singapore. On top of that, there is a lot of reading up on other legislations because anything can come out (trust me).  It also depends on the notes and training materials given by your course provider. Some notes are less informative or inclusive than others.

You can start with some information here at Mdm. Celeste Ng's website.

On top of these, other reading materials may include:-

1. HDB's For Senior "Monetizing Your Flat For Retirement"

2. BCA's Outdoor Advertising Requirements

3. BCA's Sign Licence Requirements

4. Basic knowledge obtained from the various authorities' websites such as HDB, CPF, MinLaw sites etc

Step 5: lots of practice 

As the anticipated questions are an enigma, lots and lots of practice is vital. Mock examination papers can be purchased online - whether you prefer to attempt online or use hardcopy mock exam questions. I learned a lot from practice papers because they also test on knowledge outside of my course notes, such as commercial subletting ratio, showroom guidelines, etc. 

On top of that, you can also join revision classes to strengthen and fortify your knowledge. There are paid revision classes by the course providers, as well as free revision courses conducted by property groups under PropNex, Huttons, ERA etc.  Attending revision courses is also a good way to meet and interact with students from other training courses - who may have questions or information to share with you that your course provider did not furnish.

Personally I wrote a lot of my own notes and drew mind-maps because writing them down myself, made me remember the information better (lots of memorisation is involved). 

Step 6: the  battle begins...

By now, you should be equipped with a lot of information on real estate in Singapore, the market and marketing strategies, rules and regulations, legislations etc. This includes remembering the various tax rates (buyer's stamp duties, additional buyer stamp duties, seller stamp duties, the various types of property tax, HDB housing financing schemes such as housing grant, additional grant & special housing grant, registration fees for RES and agencies, professional indemnity insurance required, etc).

Personally I did not buy or use a Financial Calculator at all during the examination because I found the formulae too complex for me. I skipped all the calculation questions but you shouldn't try to do that - in case a certain Paper 2 bases many questions on loan / mortgage calculations.

Have a good night's rest, remember your coffee shot or chicken essence in the morning for energy; bring along your NRIC and examination confirmation printout, 2B pencil, eraser, calculators and a sweater lest the exam hall is cold. 

All the best for your RES Exams!

Preparation Panic - no, not Exams Panic!

It's that time of year again, when your kids are sitting for their annual major exams. For obvious reasons, parents always tend to worry more about exams than the exam-takers themselves. It doesn't matter whether you, as a parent, have been scheduling tuition lessons for your children way before the exams, or leaving your careers to guide them through their studies, or you are one of the play-it-cool types who claim you "don't want to stress the kids out" - deep in your hearts you are all hoping for a miracle that your children excel in their exams and pass with flying colours.

It is about a month away from the year-end examinations. It may be just an exam to bridge the students into the next grade, or the exam in which they are aiming to get into their dream high schools / colleges. Either way, I am sure that preparations are under way and parents are every bit as involved as their children in the preparations during this crucial period.

You are not alone. While all parents are gearing up for the exam battlefield out there, here are some (hopefully) helpful and practical pre-exam tips for you:

1. Stop Other Activities
The kids' extra-curricular activities should've stopped by now, as well as all outside-of-school sports lessons, music lessons, drama classes etc. This is vital so that the kids understand the importance of the year-end exams, and should focus all their time and energy on revision for the same without spreading themselves thin.


2. Conducive Environment
If you want your kids to be able to concentrate on their studies and not worry about anything else - please provide a conducive environment at home for them to study. A quiet study room would be ideal, but if not, at least a quiet corner where they are not distracted by the family's conversations or sounds from the TV.

If there are constant disputes around the house, this is an essential time to lend your support by minimalizing quarrels or fights at home - so that the kids can concentrate on their studies without worry.

3. Practice makes Perfect
Studying means lots of practice, including doing assessment books, poring over relevant books from outside-of-school sources, as well as attempting mock exam papers. Revising on a constant basis improves their familarity with the topics and makes it part of their memory consequently.


4. Work Closely with their Teachers and Tutors
No, this doesn't mean to pressurize or antagonize them. Work closely with them to schedule more remedial / revision lessons for your children, especially with tutors who have to schedule their slots in advance. While you may call or email them on questions, please do not be demanding on response time or overdo it - they are here to offer help, but making them feel pressurized won't help your kids score too well if they become too reliant on being spoon-fed.

5. Study Smart
Unless your kids have photographic memory, poring over the same textbooks again and again is not going to be too effective. Have them try various methods such as mind-mapping, summarizing study materials into note sheets by writing them down themselves, highlighting huge chunks of texts in different swatches of colors, Mnemonics, or playing braincells-stimulating music softly in the background.

6. Make Revision Enjoyable
Yes, make revision enjoyable and even memorable. A method could be rewards system - a major reward after the exams if they do well, as well as small, periodical treats. A method that worked very well for me was to cram intensely for 2 chapters of the textbooks, followed by a 15 minutes reward - this could come in the form of a chocolate bar, half a chapter of their favorite novel, or a quick walk around the estate. This would make studying more exciting because they have something to look forward to, and are recharged at good intervals.

Other methods could be to organize chaperoned study groups or quizzes with prizes. Keep the group size small, about 3 to 5 of their classmates. They could either discuss their assessment questions together, or you could throw quizzes with little prizes. This would help the kids take note of certain questions and inject a little social pressure if their friends know the answers to questions they don't, hence pushing them to study harder.

7. Healthy Lifestyle
Ensure that the kids eat and sleep well during this period, and are on their regular exercise. No, not Extra Curricular Activities, but maybe more like a weekly family swimming or cycling session to let them recharge and improve on health (can't afford to have them falling sick around exam time).  Plenty of vitamins and fruits would be important too.

8.  Be Encouraging , not Extreme
Children react better to encouragement and compliments, just like we do. While we may think that the dated method of pressurizing or scolding them work well, it may bounce back badly instead.

Try to encourage them by praising the good work they have done, or efforts put into something. Point out their strengths so they can apply these to their studies. Point out weaknesses tactfully - you don't want hurtful words reverberating around the kids' minds to distract them from their studies.

Do not compare them against their siblings or classmates ever. This may result in an adverse effect on their mental and emotional well- being, even causing resentment in time to come. They try to give you their best, therefore it won't be nice to hear that someone else will always be better that them.

9. Get Them Involved in your Planning
People usually work harder when they like the results reaped through their hard work. So consider very carefully why you need them to excel. Is it so that they are better than their peers or your friends' children, so you can have more "face"? Is it so that you can send them to your alma-mater or become the lawyer they were never interested to become?

If your replies are "yes" to any of the questions above, then please ease back.  Understand what they want and like, discuss the schools they are keen in attending. Work with them on practical goals, setting milestones on how to attain the goals. After all, if they have made the selection together wih you, they have a sense of ownership and will be more inclined to take charge of the outcome.

10.  Something New
If you have never let your kids take supplements such as chicken essence and gingko, or energy boosters such as Milo or hot chocolate, then please do not attempt to feed them chicken essence or Milo etc, on the eve or morning of their exams. This is to avoid your kids falling sick before or during the major examination, such as tummy upsets. If you wish to try these energy boosters or supplements on them, do it at least a month before the exams so you can monitor any adverse reactions.

Well, here's 10 tips for exams preparation. Hope they come in handy in helping your kids cope with their impending exams - all the best!