NZ Real Estate Agent (L6) exam-day guide
NZ Real Estate Agent (L6) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (passport or NZ driver licence are the usual choices). Check the name matches your enrolment exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept and whether a certified copy is permitted - do not assume.
Confirmation of booking and test centre details
Save the booking confirmation email offline on your phone and print a copy. Note the exact venue, room, arrival time, and any candidate number. Verify the address the day before in case of a campus or building change.
Admission ticket or candidate number
Some providers issue a separate admission slip. Check your booking portal for anything you must present at the door. If none is issued, confirm with the provider what to show instead.
Know the assessment format and unit standards
Confirm whether you are sitting the written/knowledge assessment, a case-study or scenario-based paper, or a practical/role-play component, and how many questions or credits are involved. The NZ real estate salesperson qualification is unit-standard based, so check the exact standards and assessment conditions with your provider.
Permitted calculator and stationery
Bring a basic non-programmable calculator if calculations (commission, GST, apportionments) may appear, plus pens and pencils. Confirm with the provider whether calculators are allowed and whether any are supplied.
No notes, phones, or smart devices at your desk
Plan to switch off and stow your phone and smartwatch. Written notes, textbooks, and study cards are normally prohibited in a closed-book assessment. Confirm the open/closed-book status with the provider before relying on any reference material.
Arrive early with a buffer for travel and parking
Aim to arrive at least 15–30 minutes before the start to allow for check-in and ID verification. Build in extra time for city traffic, parking, and finding the room. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Read the candidate information and rules pack
Review the provider's candidate handbook for rules on late arrival, leaving early, misconduct, and results. These details vary by provider, so rely on the official pack rather than hearsay.
Plan food, water, and medication
Bring water and a snack for before or after the session, and any medication you may need. Check with the provider in advance if you need an approved break or special assessment condition.
Revise the high-yield areas the day before, not new material
Focus on core topics: the Real Estate Agents Act and Code of Conduct, licensing and supervision, agency agreements, disclosure and conflicts of interest, AML/CFT obligations, sale and purchase process, and trust accounting basics. Confirm the current syllabus with your provider.
Check the provider's special-condition and reschedule policy
If you have a disability, health condition, or need extra time, confirm the application deadline for special assessment conditions. Also check the cut-off and fees for rescheduling. These are provider-specific - confirm with the provider.
Backup transport and contact plan
Have a backup route and the provider's contact number saved in case of delay. If you are running late, call as soon as possible; late-arrival rules are set by the provider, so confirm them beforehand.
Plan the day
Re-read your booking confirmation and the candidate rules pack. Confirm the venue, arrival time, ID requirements, and whether the assessment is open or closed book. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now, not on the day.
Do a final structured revision pass over the syllabus: Act and Code of Conduct, licensing classes and supervision, agency agreements and disclosure, AML/CFT, sale and purchase, and trust accounting. Use practice scenarios and past-style questions to find gaps rather than rereading notes cover to cover.
Check your calculator works and has no stored notes or programmable functions, and gather stationery, ID, and printed confirmation in one bag.
Confirm travel and parking, check the weather and any transport disruptions, and set two alarms. Charge your phone and any device you need for the journey.
Do a light review of key definitions and formulas only - for example commission and GST calculations and apportionment logic. Stop studying early enough to sleep well; avoid cramming new topics.
Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation, stationery, water, and snacks by the door. Reconfirm the start time and the latest arrival time with the provider's information.
Eat a proper breakfast, hydrate, and leave with a buffer. Arrive early for check-in and ID verification, and switch off and stow your phone and smartwatch before entering the room.
Read the instructions and check the time allowance and question count before starting. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Watch for question wording such as 'must', 'best', and 'except', which change the correct answer.
For scenario questions, identify the role (salesperson, branch manager, licensee), the relevant rule or Code obligation, and the required action. For calculations, show your working on any provided paper and sanity-check the result.
If you need a break, follow the invigilator's instructions exactly - you may be escorted or required to sign out. Confirm the break rules with the provider beforehand. Leave time at the end to check flagged answers and ensure every question is attempted.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID and present it at check-in. The name must match your enrolment. Confirm the accepted ID types and any alternatives with the provider before the day.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not communicate with other candidates during the assessment, and do not bring unauthorised notes, phones, smartwatches, or other devices into the assessment room.
Treat the assessment as confidential. Do not copy, photograph, record, or share question content. Reproducing assessment material is normally treated as misconduct.
Breaks and leaving the room are usually controlled by the invigilator, and you may not be allowed to leave and re-enter freely. Confirm the break policy and any supervised-break arrangements with the provider.
Late arrival, early departure, and absence rules are set by the provider and can affect whether your paper is marked. Confirm these rules in advance and call the provider immediately if you are delayed.
Scoring and pass marks depend on the unit standards or assessment being attempted. Confirm the pass criteria, whether results are competency-based, and when and how results are released with the provider.
If you believe an assessment condition or incident affected your performance, raise it with the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's appeal or special-consideration process. Deadlines apply, so confirm them.
Declare any special assessment needs or approved conditions well before the day. Applications usually have a deadline, so confirm the process and cut-off with the provider.