RES EXAM
2027 RES Exam Syllabus Changes: New Topics and Transition Rules
Published 18 June 2026
The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) will implement a revised Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Examination syllabus starting 1 January 2027. The mandatory course duration increases to 65 hours to accommodate three new competency units covering ethics, anti-money laundering and green buildings. The exam format and the two-year validity of course certificates and modular passes remain completely unchanged.
Syllabus Additions and Removals
The most significant update is the addition of three new Competency Units (CUs). The mandatory RES course duration has been increased from 50 to 65 hours to cover these topics. One unit has been removed entirely, and four have been renamed to reflect updated legislation and industry practices.
2017 vs 2027 RES Syllabus Changes
Change | 2017 syllabus | 2027 syllabus |
|---|---|---|
New | — | CU3.2: Professional practice, ethics and conduct |
New | — | CU3.4: Prevention of Money Laundering, Proliferation Financing and Terrorism Financing (PMLPFTF) obligations |
New | — | CU3.9: Green buildings and leases |
Removed | CU4.7: Foreign Worker Housing | — |
Renamed | CU1.6: State Lands Act | CU1.6: State Lands Act and Land Betterment Charge Act |
Renamed | CU2.4: Negligence | CU2.4: Property torts |
Renamed | CU3.13: Marketing of special properties | CU3.13: Marketing of conservation properties |
Renamed | CU4.5: Leasing of private properties | CU4.5: Leasing of private residential properties |
Exam Format and Certificate Validity
CEA has not altered the exam structure. You still sit for two papers at 2.5 hours each. Section A contains 60 multiple-choice questions at 1 mark each, while Section B contains 20 multiple-choice questions based on case studies at 2 marks each.
Your Certificate of RES Course Completion remains valid for two years from the course completion date. A modular pass in either Paper 1 or Paper 2 also remains valid for two years from your course completion date, regardless of the syllabus changeover.
Transitioning to the 2027 Syllabus
If your course completion certificate is still valid on 1 January 2027, you do not need to retake the full 65-hour course. You will simply be tested on the new 2027 syllabus topics when you sit for the exam.
Bridging courses are available for candidates transitioning from the old syllabus. These are not mandatory. You are free to self-study the new competency units.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Modular Pass Transition
A candidate completes the RES course in November 2025 and passes Paper 1 in March 2026 but fails Paper 2. Their modular pass for Paper 1 is valid until November 2027. They only need to retake Paper 2 in 2027, which will be tested under the new 2027 syllabus.
Example 2: Course Validity and Bridging
A candidate completes the 50-hour RES course under the old syllabus in June 2026. They register for the March 2027 exam. They do not need to retake the 65-hour course or attend a mandatory bridging course, as their certificate is valid until June 2028. However, they will be tested on the new 2027 syllabus topics.
Where candidates go wrong
Assuming the exam format has changed. Candidates often think the addition of new topics means a longer exam or different question types. The format remains strictly 2.5 hours per paper with 60 Section A MCQs and 20 Section B MCQs.
Believing a bridging course is mandatory. Candidates who took the old syllabus may wrongly assume they must pay for and attend a bridging course to sit for the 2027 exam. Bridging courses are entirely optional and self-study is permitted.
Studying removed topics. Candidates using outdated materials might waste time studying Foreign Worker Housing regulations. This topic has been completely removed from the 2027 syllabus.
Miscalculating modular pass validity. Candidates may wrongly assume a syllabus change resets or voids their modular pass. The pass remains valid strictly for two years from the course completion date, not the exam date.
Practise this on ConfirmPass
If you want to test yourself on the 2027 syllabus, ConfirmPass will be updating our mock exams with dedicated question banks for the new Ethics, PMLPFTF and Green Buildings competency units. Check back closer to the changeover date to access the new modules.
Sources
Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) - Prepare for the real estate salesperson examination: https://www.cea.gov.sg/professionals/salesperson-registration-matters/apply-for-the-real-estate-salesperson-examination (Accessed 17 June 2026)