So I finally got my CAB certification last week after failing the first time back in February. Honestly the first attempt I went in way too confident — I'd been in banking compliance for four years and figured I knew enough. I did not. The exam covers a lot more on regulatory frameworks and risk assessment than I expected, especially the BSA/AML sections.
Second time around I actually committed to a real study plan. I used a CAB practice test site to benchmark where I was every two weeks, which helped me stop wasting time on stuff I already knew and focus on my weak spots (internal controls, I'm looking at you). I also went through a proper study guide cover to cover instead of just skimming the parts I thought were relevant.
My biggest exam tips: don't skip the ethics and governance sections thinking they're easy, time yourself on practice questions from day one, and give yourself at least 8-10 weeks if you're studying part-time. Happy to answer questions if anyone's prepping right now.