Using the PSI Content Outline as Your NJ Exam Study Checklist

The short answer: PSI's New Jersey candidate bulletin lists every topic on the real estate exam and how much of the test each area is worth. PSI says to use the outline "as a guide for pre-examination review" and not to schedule your exam "until you are familiar with the topics in the outline" (PSI candidate bulletin). Copy the outline line by line, rate yourself on each topic, spend your time by weight, and re-rate after every practice test.

For the exam format, scoring and test-day rules, start with our NJ real estate exam guide. This page is about turning the outline into a working study tool.

What's actually in the PSI content outline?

Two parts (PSI candidate bulletin, updated 2/1/2026):

• The general section: 11 areas, each with a percentage for salesperson, broker and instructor candidates. Under each area are lettered and numbered subtopics, such as "Effect of the Statute of Frauds" under Contracts or "Fiduciary duties of agents" under Agency.
• The New Jersey section: four groups with item counts. For salespersons that's 2 items on the Commission's duties and powers, 3 on licensing requirements, 22 on statutes and rules governing licensee activities, and 3 on additional requirements.

A few lines in the general section are marked "BROKER ONLY," such as trust accounting for rents and property management contract provisions. Those are aimed at broker candidates.

How do you turn the outline into a checklist?

Here's a method that works with paper or a spreadsheet (our suggestion):

1. Download the current bulletin. Check the "Updated" date on the cover. PSI says the outlines are "periodically updated."
2. Copy every subtopic onto its own line, keeping PSI's numbering (for example, V.A.3 for the Statute of Frauds). Skip the BROKER ONLY lines if you're a salesperson candidate.
3. Add three columns: the area's weight, your rating, and where you'll study it.
4. Rate each line honestly:
   • 0: I don't recognize it.
   • 1: I recognize it but couldn't explain it.
   • 2: I can explain it to a friend and answer a question on it.
5. Sort by weight, then by rating. A 0 in Contracts outranks a 0 in Property Management.

The goal is simple: every line at 2 before test day.

Which areas deserve the most study time?

Weight your hours to match the exam. Here are the salesperson percentages for the general section, with our guide to each area:

Source for the weights: PSI candidate bulletin.

Contracts, Agency and Practice of Real Estate add up to 44% of the general section. If your time is short, make sure those lines reach a 2 first. Don't skip the small areas, though. A 3% area is still a few questions you could get right.

Where do the New Jersey items fit?

Give them their own block on the checklist. The 22 "statutes and rules" items cover 13 named topics, including advertising, trust funds, listing agreements, inducements and a list of other NJ laws. The outline doesn't say how many items each topic gets (PSI candidate bulletin). Our NJ law items study guide pairs each topic with the statute or rule to read, so put that link in your "where to study" column.

The "Additional Requirements" group lists four laws for 3 salesperson items. Rate all four.

How do you keep the checklist current while you study?

• After each practice test, write the outline number next to every question you missed. Lines that keep collecting misses drop back to 1, even if you rated them 2. Our practice exam guide explains how to use them well.
• Re-rate weekly, and revisit 2-rated lines now and then instead of dropping them. Our page on spaced repetition explains why spreading reviews out helps.
• Schedule when the sheet says you're ready. When nearly every line is a 2 and your practice scores are steady, you're close to PSI's "familiar with the topics" standard. The last week before the exam guide covers the final stretch.

If you don't pass, the same sheet becomes your retake plan. Our score report guide shows how to match PSI's diagnostic to the outline.

What can't the outline do for you?

It tells you what is tested, not the rules themselves. "Seller's property condition disclosure requirements" is one line on the outline, but learning it means reading what New Jersey actually requires. Your pre-licensing course materials and the primary sources do that work. The checklist just keeps you honest about what you've covered.

Business Elementary's Practice Exams and 75-hour pre-licensing course pages are there when you're ready for the next step.

Sources

• PSI Services, New Jersey Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin (updated 2/1/2026; re-downloaded November 2, 2026), Content Outlines and Examination Summary: https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/1667

Last reviewed: November 2, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to study the BROKER ONLY lines for the salesperson exam?

PSI labels those lines "BROKER ONLY," so they're aimed at broker candidates (PSI candidate bulletin). Some areas also carry different weights for brokers, such as Property Management at 5% for brokers vs 3% for salespersons.

Does the outline say how many questions come from each subtopic?

No. The general section gives a percentage for each of the 11 areas, and the New Jersey section gives item counts for four groups. Neither breaks the count down to individual subtopics.

Is PSI's outline the same as my course syllabus?

No. The outline describes the exam. Your 75-hour course follows the Commission's course rules. They overlap heavily, but they aren't the same document. See our page on course hours by topic.

How often does PSI change the outline?

The bulletin says the outlines are "periodically updated by committees of professionals." Check the "Updated" date on the bulletin when you start studying and again before you schedule.