Failed my first attempt with a 68% and needed 80% to pass. Spent about 3 weeks really drilling the Alabama driver manual after that, maybe 45 minutes a day. The road signs section tripped me up the first time because I didn't realize how many specific color and shape combinations they test on.
Second attempt I scored an 87%. The biggest difference was doing timed practice questions instead of just reading the manual. Once I started treating it like an actual test with 25 questions and a clock running, my retention improved a lot.
For anyone preparing, the right-of-way questions make up a huge chunk of the test — probably 8-10 out of 40. Don't skim that section. Also the BAC limits and DUI penalty questions show up more than you'd expect for a written knowledge test.
The DUI questions are surprisingly specific — they want exact percentages and timeframes, not just general knowledge. Make sure you know the implied consent law cold before you walk in.
Same experience here. Failed with a 76% my first time and was honestly shocked because I'd read the manual twice. The practice tests are way harder than just reading, and that's what the actual exam feels like.
The sign recognition section got me too. There's like 6-7 signs that look almost identical but have different meanings depending on color. Once I made flashcards for those I stopped second-guessing myself on test day.
How long did the actual test take you? My DMV appointment is next Thursday and I'm not sure how much time they give. I've been studying for about 2 weeks and scoring around 84% on practice tests consistently.