After failing my first attempt by just 4 points, I was honestly pretty discouraged. I'd spent maybe three weeks casually reading through the official materials and figured that'd be enough. It wasn't. The questions on the actual exam go way deeper into association governance and contract law than I expected — especially the stuff around fiduciary duties and reserve funding.
Second time around I completely changed my approach. I found a solid CAI practice test online and ran through it probably four or five times, timing myself each section. I also picked up a dedicated study guide that broke down the CM exam content areas, which helped me stop memorizing and start actually understanding the logic behind things like collections policies and meeting procedures.
Biggest thing I'd tell anyone preparing: don't underestimate the financial management section. I spent way too much of my first attempt studying community relations and not enough on budgeting and reserves. If you're sitting for this in the next 60 days, lean hard into that content area. Happy to answer questions about my timeline or what resources I used.