How to Register for the RES Exam 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Before you can sit the RES exam, there are a few gates to clear: you have to meet the eligibility rules, complete the compulsory RES course, and register for a sitting through the official exam administrator. This guide walks through eligibility, the course prerequisite, how registration works, the fees, and the exam schedule — so you know exactly what to do and what to budget. Because the authorities update rules, fees and dates from time to time, always confirm the current details on cea.gov.sg and res.ntuclearninghub.com before you commit.

Who runs the RES exam?

The property agency industry in Singapore is regulated by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA). The Real Estate Salesperson (RES) examination itself is conducted by NTUC LearningHub, and you register for a sitting online at res.ntuclearninghub.com. Passing the exam is a key step on the path to becoming a registered salesperson — see our full guide on how to become a property agent in Singapore.

Are you eligible?

To register for the RES exam, you generally need to:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Hold a minimum of 4 GCE "O" Level passes (or an equivalent qualification).
• Have completed the compulsory RES preparatory course with a CEA-approved course provider before you register for the exam.

The compulsory RES course

Everyone sitting the RES exam must first complete the preparatory course run by a CEA-approved course provider. It covers the syllabus you'll be tested on — land law, contract and agency, regulation and ethics, anti-money-laundering, stamp duties and property finance, and the practical side of transactions. The course qualifies you to register, but it doesn't guarantee a pass: most people who fail simply didn't practise enough afterwards. See how to pass the RES exam for the study plan first-time passers use, and how long to study for the RES exam to work out your timeline.

How to register, step by step

Registration is a two-stage process, and the first stage is time-critical — miss its short window and you wait until the next sitting. Here's exactly how it works, in order.

Stage 1 — Indication of Interest (IOI)

You don't book the exam directly. First you submit an Indication of Interest— how the authorities confirm who intends to sit. It's done on the government GovEntry portal (Singpass login), and it opens for a single short window — typically about three hours on one morning (around 9am–12pm) — roughly two months before the sitting. For the 31 Oct / 1 Nov 2026 sitting, expect the IOI window around early-to-mid September 2026. CEA publishes the exact date and the GovEntry link, so watch cea.gov.sg from late August.

What to do in Stage 1:

• Before the day — make sure you hold a valid RES Course Completion Certificate (course finished with a CEA-approved provider, valid within its 2-year window).
• Step 1 — open the official CEA GovEntry IOI link the moment it opens on the announced morning.
• Step 2 — log in with Singpass to verify your identity.
• Step 3 — choose your exam type: Full sitting (both papers), Modular Paper 1, Modular Paper 2, or Paper 2 with a Paper 1 exemption. Choose carefully — you get one submission only.
• Step 4 —submit. Selection is on a first-come basis; you'll be notified by email if you progress to Stage 2.

Stage 2 — Registration & payment (NTUC LearningHub)

If you're selected, NTUC LearningHub emails you with instructions to complete your registration and pay at res.ntuclearninghub.com. This window usually runs over a few days (about Thursday–Sunday), a week or two after Stage 1.

Have these ready before you start:

• Your RES Course Completion Certificate.
• Your academic qualification certificate— a clear colour scan (e.g. your GCE "O"/"A" Level or equivalent).
• Your CEA Assessment Letter, if one applies to you.
• Your result slip, if you're re-sitting a single (modular) paper.
• A payment card for the fee (S$512.30 full / S$283.40 modular).

The steps:

• Step 1 — open the NTUC LearningHub email and click the registration link.
• Step 2 — log in and verify your identity, then confirm your name, contact number and email (an OTP is sent to verify your email).
• Step 3 — upload the required documents.
• Step 4 — select your exam session/slot.
• Step 5 — pay the fee — this is what confirms your booking (non-refundable).
• Step 6 — you'll receive a confirmation with your admission details — keep it for exam day.

How you'll know it worked

After Stage 1, you're notified by emailif you've been selected to register. After Stage 2, a confirmation email with your admission detailsis your proof you're booked — you'll need those details when you arrive at the venue. If you don't see it, check your spam folder and contact NTUC LearningHub before the window closes rather than assuming it went through.

When do you get your results?

RES results are typically released about 4–6 weeks after the exam — so for the 31 Oct / 1 Nov 2026 sitting, expect results around early-to-mid December 2026. You need 60% to pass each paper and must pass both; if you pass one and fail the other, you re-sit only the failed paper at the modular rate. For how the result slip works, the appeal window and what to do once you pass, see RES exam results & what happens next.

RES exam fees

Beyond the RES course fee (which varies by provider), you pay an exam fee to NTUC LearningHub. The current fees, inclusive of GST, are:

If you pass one paper and fail the other, you re-sit only the failed paper at the modular rate — so budget for the possibility of a re-sit, and give yourself the best shot at a clean full sitting with a free timed mock before you book.

Exam format at a glance

Registration covers two papers, so it helps to know the structure before you book:

• Two papers, each 2 hours 30 minutes.
• Section A — 60 standalone multiple-choice questions.
• Section B — 20 case-study multiple-choice questions.
• You need 60% to pass each paper, and you must pass both. Fail one and you re-sit only that paper.

For the full breakdown, see our RES exam format guide.

Exam schedule and sittings

The RES exam runs roughly 3–4 times a year, with sittings spaced about four months apart. Papers are held over a weekend — Paper 1 on Saturday and Paper 2 on Sunday, each starting at 9.30am. The confirmed 2026 sittings are:

For the full sitting schedule plus the registration timeline — course deadline, Indication of Interest and payment windows — see our RES exam dates & schedule guide.

Venue and what to bring

The exam is held at SIM Headquarters in Clementi. Bring your NRIC/FIN for identity verification, arrive early, and check the admission details on your confirmation. For a step-by-step run-through of the day itself, see what to expect on RES exam day.

After you register: get exam-ready

Registering is the easy part — clearing 60% on both papers is what counts. The most reliable path is to practise a high volume of exam-style questions, review every mistake, and lock the numbers cold with our one-page cheat sheet. Drill questions by topic, confirm your readiness with full mocks, and you'll walk in prepared. Create a free account to get started — the first 15 questions in every topic are free.