RES Exam Abbreviations
Every acronym and abbreviation used in RES Paper 1 & 2 — with English full form, Chinese translation, and exam context.
Personal study notes. Not professional, legal, financial, tax, or investment advice. Verify all rules and rates against the official Singapore agency (CEA, IRAS, HDB, URA, MAS, SLA, CPF Board) before relying.
🏛️Government Bodies & Regulators
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| CEA | Council for Estate Agencies | 房地产中介理事会 | Licenses and regulates all estate agents & salespersons in Singapore → Estate Agents Act guide |
| MAS | Monetary Authority of Singapore | 新加坡金融管理局 | Central bank; sets TDSR/MSR rules |
| HDB | Housing & Development Board | 建屋发展局 | Builds and manages public housing |
| URA | Urban Redevelopment Authority | 市区重建局 | Master plan, private property, land use |
| SLA | Singapore Land Authority | 新加坡土地管理局 | Land registration, state land |
| IRAS | Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore | 新加坡税务局 | Collects stamp duties (BSD/ABSD/SSD) |
| CPF | Central Provident Fund | 中央公积金局 | Savings for housing, healthcare, retirement → CPF for Housing guide |
| BCA | Building and Construction Authority | 建设局 | Building standards and safety |
| MND | Ministry of National Development | 国家发展部 | Oversees HDB, URA, BCA, SLA |
| MOM | Ministry of Manpower | 人力部 | Labour laws; Employment Act |
| MOF | Ministry of Finance | 财政部 | Budget, taxes, fiscal policy |
| AGC | Attorney-General's Chambers | 总检察署 | Government legal advisor; drafts legislation |
| STRO | Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office | 可疑交易举报办事处 | Under Commercial Affairs Department; receives STRs |
| STB | Strata Titles Board | 分层地契局 | Hears disputes for strata properties (condos/commercial) |
🪪CEA, Licensing & Professional Conduct
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| EAA | Estate Agents Act | 房地产中介法 | Main legislation governing estate agents in Singapore → Estate Agents Act guide |
| EA | Estate Agent (the company/agency) | 房地产中介公司 | The licensed agency firm (e.g. PropNex, ERA) |
| RES | Real Estate Salesperson | 房地产营业员 | Individual salesperson registered under an EA |
| CEPCC | CEA Prescribed Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care | CEA职业道德与客户服务守则 | Code of conduct all RES/EA must follow → CEPCC explained |
| CPD | Continuing Professional Development | 持续专业发展 | Mandatory training hours for RES renewal → CPD guide |
| DIY | Do-It-Yourself (private sale without agent) | 自行买卖（不经中介） | Seller lists without engaging an EA |
📄Transaction Documents
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| OTP | Option to Purchase | 购买期权 | Seller grants buyer an option; buyer pays 1% (private) or booking fee (HDB) |
| S&P | Sale and Purchase Agreement | 买卖合约 | Main contract signed after OTP exercised |
| TA | Tenancy Agreement | 租赁协议 | Contract between landlord and tenant |
| LOI | Letter of Intent | 意向书 | Tenant's informal offer before TA is signed |
| HPS | Home Protection Scheme | 居屋保护计划 | CPF insurance for HDB loans; mandatory for HDB flat buyers using CPF |
🧾Taxes & Stamp Duties
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| BSD | Buyer's Stamp Duty | 买方印花税 | Payable by ALL buyers on every property purchase; progressive rate → BSD complete guide |
| ABSD | Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty | 额外买方印花税 | Extra tax based on buyer's citizenship status and number of properties owned → ABSD complete guide |
| SSD | Seller's Stamp Duty | 卖方印花税 | Penalises quick resale within 3 yrs (residential) or 3 yrs (industrial) |
| LSD | Lease Stamp Duty | 租约印花税 | Stamp duty payable when a tenancy agreement is stamped |
| GST | Goods and Services Tax | 消费税 | 9% in 2024; applies to commercial/industrial property, not residential |
🏦Loans & Finance
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| LTV | Loan-to-Value Ratio | 贷款与估值比率 | Max loan as % of property value; drops with each existing loan |
| TDSR | Total Debt Servicing Ratio | 总偿债比率 | MAS rule: all monthly debt repayments ≤ 55% of gross monthly income → TDSR & MSR guide |
| MSR | Mortgage Servicing Ratio | 按揭偿还比率 | HDB-specific: mortgage repayment ≤ 30% of gross monthly income → TDSR & MSR guide |
| HLS | HDB Loan Scheme / HDB Concessionary Loan | 建屋局优惠贷款 | Government loan for eligible HDB buyers; currently 2.6% p.a. |
| SORA | Singapore Overnight Rate Average | 新加坡隔夜利率平均值 | Replaced SIBOR as benchmark rate for bank home loans from 2024 |
| SIBOR | Singapore Interbank Offered Rate | 新加坡银行同业拆借利率 | Old benchmark rate; phased out, replaced by SORA |
| FDR | Fixed Deposit Rate (peg) | 定期存款利率挂钩 | Some bank packages peg their loan rate to FDR (e.g. DBS FHR) |
| EMI | Equated Monthly Instalment | 每月等额还款额 | Fixed monthly payment combining principal and interest |
🏘️HDB-Specific
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| MOP | Minimum Occupation Period | 最低居住期限 | Must live in HDB flat before you can sell in open market or buy private; 5 yrs standard → HDB MOP guide |
| BTO | Build-To-Order | 预购组屋 | New HDB flats built after enough applications; apply then wait 3–5 yrs |
| SBF | Sale of Balance Flats | 剩余组屋销售 | Unsold BTO flats re-offered; shorter wait, immediate or near-ready |
| ROF | Re-Offer of Balance Flats | 再次出售剩余组屋 | Walk-in selection for immediate-availability flats |
| EC | Executive Condominium | 执行共管公寓 | Hybrid: private-developer built, HDB rules apply for 10 years then fully privatised |
| DBSS | Design, Build and Sell Scheme | 设计、建造与销售计划 | Discontinued HDB scheme built by private developers; treated as HDB flat |
| EHG | Enhanced CPF Housing Grant | 加强公积金购房补助 | Income-based grant; replaced AHG + SHG from Sep 2019 |
| PHG | Proximity Housing Grant | 邻近住房补助 | Grant for buying HDB resale near parents/children; up to $30k |
| CPF OA | CPF Ordinary Account | 普通账户 | Can be used for housing down payment, monthly mortgage, BSD |
| ACV | Assessed Capital Value | 评估资本值 | Annual value assessed by IRAS for property tax |
| AV | Annual Value | 年值 | Estimated annual rental income of property; used to compute property tax → Annual Value explained |
💰CPF Accounts
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| OA | Ordinary Account | 普通账户 | 2.5% p.a.; used for housing, education, insurance → CPF for Housing guide |
| SA | Special Account | 特别账户 | 4% p.a.; locked for retirement (note: SA also = Salesperson in agency context) |
| MA | Medisave Account | 保健储蓄账户 | 4% p.a.; for medical expenses and insurance |
| RA | Retirement Account | 退休账户 | Created at 55 by combining OA + SA up to Full Retirement Sum |
| FRS | Full Retirement Sum | 全额退休储蓄 | CPF target sum at 55 for monthly payouts from 65 |
| BRS | Basic Retirement Sum | 基本退休储蓄 | Half of FRS; for those who pledge property |
⚖️Legal Terms
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| JT | Joint Tenancy | 联名持有（均等份额） | Co-owners share equal undivided interest; right of survivorship applies |
| TIC | Tenancy in Common | 分权持有（份额可不同） | Co-owners hold defined separate shares; no survivorship; can will their share |
| ISA | Intestate Succession Act | 无遗嘱继承法 | Determines who inherits if someone dies without a valid will |
| LPA | Lasting Power of Attorney | 持久授权书 | Appoints donee to make decisions if donor loses mental capacity |
| POA | Power of Attorney | 授权书 | Authorises someone to act on your behalf (does NOT survive mental incapacity) |
| LTA | Land Titles Act | 土地所有权法 | Governs registration of land titles in Singapore (not Land Transport Authority here) |
| LTSA | Land Titles (Strata) Act | 土地所有权（分层）法 | Governs strata developments (condos, commercial malls) |
| BMSMA | Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act | 建筑维护与分层管理法 | Rules for MCST, sinking fund, by-laws in strata developments |
| MCST | Management Corporation Strata Title | 分层地契管理法团 | Body corporate managing a strata development (elected by subsidiary proprietors) |
| MC | Management Corporation | 管理法团（MCST的简称） | — |
| CLA | Civil Law Act | 民事法律法 | Covers privity of contract, assignment, and various civil matters |
| CLPA | Conveyancing and Law of Property Act | 产权转让与财产法 | Governs property transactions, implied covenants in leases |
🏗️Property Types & Planning
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| CCR | Core Central Region | 核心中央区 | Prime districts 9, 10, 11 + Marina Bay + Sentosa; highest prices → Singapore Districts |
| RCR | Rest of Central Region | 中央区其余地区 | City fringe; mid-tier private market → Singapore Districts |
| OCR | Outside Central Region | 中央区以外地区 | Mass market; suburban private and EC → Singapore Districts |
| GPR | Gross Plot Ratio | 总容积率 | Max allowable GFA divided by land area; higher = more floors allowed → GFA calculator |
| GFA | Gross Floor Area | 总楼面面积 | Total enclosed floor area of a building → GFA calculator |
| NLA | Net Lettable Area | 净出租面积 | Usable area tenant actually pays rent on (excludes common areas) |
| PSF | Price Per Square Foot | 每平方英尺价格 | Common metric in Singapore property transactions |
| PSM | Price Per Square Metre | 每平方米价格 | Metric equivalent; 1 sqm = 10.764 sqft |
| QC | Qualifying Certificate | 合格证书 | Required for foreign developers buying land; must develop and sell within deadline |
| DC | Development Charge | 发展费 | Tax paid to SLA when land use is upgraded (e.g. from landed to condo) |
| JTC | JTC Corporation | 裕廊集团 | Manages industrial estates and develops industrial land |
🔍AML / CFT
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| AML | Anti-Money Laundering | 反洗钱 | Rules to prevent criminals hiding illegal money through property transactions |
| CFT | Countering the Financing of Terrorism | 反恐怖融资 | Rules to prevent money flowing to terrorist groups |
| KYC | Know Your Customer | 了解你的客户 | Process of verifying client identity before doing business |
| CDD | Customer Due Diligence | 客户尽职调查 | Standard KYC check: identity, address, source of funds |
| EDD | Enhanced Due Diligence | 加强尽职调查 | Deeper checks for high-risk clients (e.g. PEPs, unusual transactions) |
| STR | Suspicious Transaction Report | 可疑交易报告 | Filed with STRO when RES suspects money laundering or terrorism financing |
| PEP | Politically Exposed Person | 政治公众人物 | Senior government officials, politicians — require EDD automatically |
| FATF | Financial Action Task Force | 金融行动特别工作组 | International body setting global AML/CFT standards |
📌Other Common Acronyms
| Abbrev | English Full Form | 中文 | Notes / Exam Context |
|---|
| PR | Permanent Resident | 永久居民 | SPR in full; affects ABSD rates and HDB eligibility |
| SPR | Singapore Permanent Resident | 新加坡永久居民 | — |
| SC | Singapore Citizen | 新加坡公民 | — |
| HFE | HDB Flat Eligibility Letter | 组屋购买资格函 | Required before applying for BTO or resale HDB (replaced AHG/SHG letters) → HDB resale eligibility |
| AIP | Approval In Principle (for bank loans) | 贷款原则上批准 | Bank's conditional agreement to lend; not a final offer |
| IPA | In-Principle Approval (HDB loan) | 原则性批准（建屋局贷款） | HDB's conditional loan approval; valid 9 months |
| MRT | Mass Rapid Transit | 地铁 | Proximity to MRT is a major price factor in Singapore |
| FSR | Floor Space Ratio | 楼面面积比率 | Another term for GPR/FAR used in some contexts |
| TYS | Ten-Year Series (past exam papers) | 十年系列考题 | Common exam prep material; do NOT reproduce copyrighted questions |
🔗 Official Sources
Always verify the latest policy details directly from these regulators before any exam or real transaction.
- Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) ↗
Estate Agents Act 2010, CEPCC, RES licensing & disciplinary register.
- Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) ↗
Buyer's / Additional Buyer's / Seller's Stamp Duty (BSD / ABSD / SSD).
- Housing & Development Board (HDB) ↗
HDB Standard / Plus / Prime, MOP, CPF housing grants, resale rules.
- Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) ↗
Master Plan, private residential rules, conservation guidelines.
- Singapore Land Authority (SLA) ↗
Land Titles Act, State Lands (Protection) Act 2022, registration.
- CPF Board ↗
CPF Ordinary Account housing use, Withdrawal Limit, age-95 rule.
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) ↗
TDSR, MSR, residential property loan limits, mortgage stress test.
- Singapore Statutes Online ↗
Authoritative copies of Estate Agents Act, BMSMA, CPFTA, PMLPFTF, etc.
Content compiled from publicly available official sources (CEA, IRAS, HDB, URA, SLA, MAS, CPF Board). Not affiliated with any exam provider, CEA, or any government agency. Verify all policy details against official sources before exam.