IL Notary Practice Test

The IL notary public commission is issued by the Secretary of State. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside or work in Illinois, and purchase a $5,000 surety bond. While a formal IL notary course is not mandatory for traditional notaries, it is highly recommended to study the IL notary handbook thoroughly.

IL Notary Exam at a Glance

What changed for IL Notary in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility (course and exam requirement) changed to Approved course plus passing exam required since Jan 1, 2024 (previously State-approved course plus final exam required since Jan 1, 2024).^[5]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 50 questions drawn from a bank of at least 100 (previously Final exam drawn from a bank of 100+ questions).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Time limit (course instruction) changed to 3 hours (180 min) of instruction; max 30 days to finish (previously 3 hours of instruction (180 min); max 30 days to finish).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Renewal changed to Renewal notice ~60 days before expiry; renew online (previously Notice ~60 days before expiry; renew online).^[4]

According to Illinois Secretary of State, “Students must complete a final examination at the end of the course, which shall consist of 50 questions from a test bank of a minimum of 100 questions.”^[1]

Worked examples: how to reason through IL Notary questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: When performing a verification upon oath or affirmation (jurat) in Illinois, what step is mandatory before the signer signs the document?

1. The notary must affix the seal to the document first
2. The notary must administer an oath or affirmation to the signer
3. The notary must obtain approval from the document preparer
4. The notary must verify the document's legal accuracy

Answer: B. The notary must administer an oath or affirmation to the signer

Explanation:

The correct answer is that the notary must administer an oath or affirmation to the signer. A jurat is a sworn statement: the signer swears or affirms that the contents are true, and that is what turns the signature into a sworn act. The notary has to do this before the signer signs.

Affixing the seal first is wrong because the seal comes at the end, once the act is complete. Getting approval from the document preparer is wrong because the preparer has no role in the notarial act. Verifying the document's legal accuracy is wrong because a notary does not judge whether a document is legally correct or give legal advice.

Rule to remember: a jurat means oath or affirmation first, then signature, then certificate and seal. If no oath is given, it is not a proper jurat.

Example 2

Question: If an Illinois notary performs RON using a platform that has not been approved by the Secretary of State, the notarization is:

1. Valid if all other procedural requirements were satisfied
2. Invalid and subject to potential disciplinary action against the notary
3. Conditionally valid pending retroactive platform approval
4. Valid if a licensed attorney witnessed the session

Answer: B. Invalid and subject to potential disciplinary action against the notary

Explanation:

The correct answer is that the notarization is invalid and the notary may face disciplinary action. Remote online notarization depends on a platform that meets the state's requirements, and approval by the Secretary of State is part of that. Using an unapproved platform is a defect in the act itself, not a paperwork slip.

Valid if all other steps were followed is wrong because the other steps cannot repair an unapproved platform. Conditionally valid pending retroactive approval is wrong because there is no such mechanism to fix the act afterward. Valid if a licensed attorney witnessed the session is wrong because an attorney's presence does not stand in for platform approval.

Rule to remember: check that the platform is approved before the session starts, not after.

Example 3

Question: A signer requests that an Illinois notary use a backdated date on the notarial certificate. The notary must:

1. Comply if the signer provides a written explanation for the request
2. Refuse, as the certificate must reflect the actual date the notarial act was performed
3. Use the requested date but record the actual date in their private records
4. Contact the Illinois Secretary of State for guidance before deciding

Answer: B. Refuse, as the certificate must reflect the actual date the notarial act was performed

Explanation:

The correct answer is to refuse, because the certificate must show the actual date the notarial act was performed. The date is part of what the notary is certifying, so putting a different date on it makes the certificate false.

Complying when the signer gives a written explanation is wrong because no explanation makes a false date acceptable. Using the requested date while noting the real one in private records is wrong because the official certificate would still be untrue, and a journal entry does not cure that. Contacting the Secretary of State for guidance is wrong because there is nothing to decide: the rule is already clear.

Rule to remember: the certificate records what actually happened, on the day it happened. Decline any request to change that, politely and without exception.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the Secretary of State's notary pages and your course provider's lessons so you know the rules you are being tested on. Then use the practice sets to find where you are weak.

Take a first pass through each topic set without notes, such as oaths and affirmations, acknowledgments versus jurats, journal record-keeping and electronic and remote notarization. Write down every question you miss and the rule behind the right answer.

Next, go back to the official text for each missed topic and read it again before retrying the set. Reading the explanation is not the same as knowing the rule, so retry after a break and see whether the answer comes without a hint.

Cover the fee and commission topics too, using the fee schedule set and the bond and commission set. Check current figures on the official site, not from memory.

In the last days before your final exam, repeat only the sets where you still miss questions, and finish with state laws and regulations. Ask your course provider about its retake process before you sit the exam.

Expect to spend approximately $100 - $150 total to become a notary in Illinois, covering the application, bond, and essential supplies.

Start Your IL Notary Career Today

Join thousands of successful notaries in Illinois. Pass your exam, get your commission, and start earning as a mobile notary or loan signing agent.

Submit your il notary renewal application at least 60 days before your current commission expires to avoid a gap in your authority.

Sources & last verified

1. ilga.gov — number of questions, passing score, retake policy (official source). “Students must complete a final examination at the end of the course, which shall consist of 50 questions from a test bank of a minimum…” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
2. ilga.gov — time limit (official source). “The course must allow a maximum of 30 days for a student to complete the course;” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. Illinois Secretary of State — exam fee (official source). “Every applicant for a commission as an electronic notary public shall pay to the Secretary of State a fee of $25. This fee is in…” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
4. Illinois Secretary of State — validity, renewal (official source). “Illinois notaries are commissioned for 4 years. Non-resident notaries are commissioned for 1 year.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
5. ilga.gov — eligibility (official source). “Beginning January 1, 2024, applicants seeking a commission as either a notary public or an electronic notary public must first successfully complete a course of…” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.