So I've been lurking here for a while but figured I'd finally share my story since I wish someone had told me this earlier. I failed the AF exam twice — once in March and again in June — mostly because I thought I could just memorize the regs and call it day. Spoiler: that doesn't work.
What actually turned things around for me was combining an AF practice test routine with focused reading on the sections I kept bombing. I was scoring in the high 60s on mocks and needed a 70 to pass, which sounds close but felt impossible. I'd do 30 questions every morning before work, review every wrong answer, then spend 20 minutes on my weak areas from the study guide. Did that for about 5 weeks straight.
Third attempt I walked out with a 78. Not a blowout, but I'll take it. Biggest exam tips I can offer: don't skip the scenario-based questions in practice, they're way closer to what you'll see than the straight recall stuff. Anyone else here study for AF this way? Curious what worked for others.