Finally passed my ABE exam after two attempts — here's what actually worked
So I just got my results back and I passed! Honestly didn't think it was going to happen after I failed the first time by like 8 points. That first attempt I just kind of winged it, figured my years of adult ed work would carry me through. Nope. Big mistake.
What changed the second time around was actually committing to structured prep. I spent about 6 weeks this time, probably 45 minutes to an hour each evening. The thing that helped most was working through a solid ABE practice test repeatedly — not just once, but going back to the ones I got wrong and understanding WHY. I also found a study guide that broke down the instructional strategies section, which was my weakest area.
If you're just starting out, my biggest exam tip: don't underestimate the reading foundations questions. They look simple but have a lot of nuance. Happy to answer questions if anyone's prepping right now — wish I'd found a community like this before my first attempt.