How hard is the CEM exam really? Passed second attempt, here's what changed

So I finally passed the CEM last month after failing my first attempt by about 4 points. First time I scored around 67% and you need 70% to pass, so I was gutted. I'd only put in maybe 3 weeks of casual studying before that first sit, which clearly wasn't enough.

Second attempt I committed to 8 weeks at about 90 minutes a day, focusing heavily on fleet management and asset lifecycle sections since those tripped me up most. I also drilled practice questions and honestly working through a solid CEM practice test helped me understand the question format way better than just reading the manual cover to cover.

The cost management section was harder than I expected — probably 20-25% of the questions I saw covered depreciation calculations and total cost of ownership. If you're weak on numbers, spend extra time there. The operational safety modules felt more manageable once I had the formulas locked down.

For anyone prepping, don't underestimate how much fleet budgeting and procurement questions are weighted. That section alone probably costs people a passing score if they skip it.