Finally passed my CDR exam after two attempts — here's what worked

by Brian Y. 10 views3 replies
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Brian Y.OP
May 27, 2026

So I just got my results yesterday and I officially passed the CDR exam on my second try. Honestly I was devastated after failing the first time in March — I scored a 63% and needed a 72% to pass. I thought I'd studied enough but I seriously underestimated the MNT and research methodology sections.

What made the difference the second time around was being way more strategic. I spent about 6 weeks studying this time instead of 3, and I used a proper CDR study guide that broke down the domain areas by weight. The nutrition assessment questions are heavily tested and I'd been glossing over them. I also did a ton of CDR practice test questions — probably 800+ across different question banks — which helped me get comfortable with how they phrase things.

My biggest exam tips: don't skip the research and evidence-based practice domain, time yourself on practice sets from day one, and actually review your wrong answers instead of just counting your score. Anyone else here studying for the CDR? Happy to share more about what resources I used.

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Marcus T.
May 28, 2026
Two attempts doesn't mean anything bad about you — honestly the CDR exam is harder than people expect coming out of internship. I passed on my first try but barely, and I know people way smarter than me who needed two or three attempts. The wording on some of those questions is genuinely tricky. The research domain killed me too, almost failed because of it.
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Nicole F.
May 28, 2026
Congrats!! I'm sitting mine in July and this is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been worried about the MNT section too — it feels so broad. Can I ask which practice test bank you used? I've been using one that a friend recommended but the questions feel outdated and I'm not sure they match the current exam blueprint.
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priya.test
May 28, 2026
800 practice questions is the move. I did something similar and the repetition just rewires how you read the answer choices. Also seconding the timed practice sets — I started doing full 145-question timed simulations the last two weeks before my exam and it made a huge difference for pacing.

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