I'm not going to sugarcoat it — I bombed this thing twice before I figured out what I was actually doing wrong. First attempt I scored a 64, second time a 71, and I needed a 75 to pass. Both times I thought I was prepared because I'd read through the material, but reading and actually understanding how the questions are framed are completely different things.
What finally turned things around was switching to active recall instead of passive review. I found a solid AIT practice test that simulated the real question style — not just definitions but application-based scenarios — and I drilled those until the format stopped tripping me up. I also built a study guide around the domains I kept missing, specifically the technical compliance and documentation sections. Spent about 3 weeks, roughly 90 minutes a day.
Passed with an 81 on my third try. If you're in the same boat, don't give up — the exam is very passable once you understand what it's actually testing. Happy to share the specific exam tips that helped me most if anyone wants to dig into the details.