Failed CAA exam twice — what actually helped me pass on attempt three

I've been trying to get my Certified Apartment Associate credential for about eight months now and honestly I was starting to wonder if it was even worth it. Failed the first time with a 68 (need a 70 to pass), then a 69 on my second attempt. At that point I wanted to throw my laptop out the window. My property manager kept saying "just read the materials" but clearly that wasn't cutting it for me.

What finally clicked was switching up how I was studying. I stopped just re-reading the NALP coursebook and started actually doing a CAA practice test every few days to find my weak spots. Fair housing and lease execution were killing me — I'd get cocky about the stuff I knew and totally blank on the details under pressure. Timed practice made a huge difference for simulating the real thing.

If anyone's struggling with this exam, I genuinely think the right study guide matters more than raw hours. I spent 40+ hours on my first two attempts and maybe 20 hours before my third — but smarter hours. Happy to share what worked if anyone's deep in prep mode right now.