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

So I finally got my Certified Funeral Service exam out of the way last month and honestly I'm still a little in shock. Failed my first attempt by 11 points back in February, which was brutal after months of prep. The problem was I'd been studying way too broadly — trying to memorize everything instead of focusing on the sections that actually carry weight on the test.

Second time around I completely changed my approach. I found a solid CFS practice test that helped me identify exactly where my weak spots were (embalming chemistry and state law were killing me). I also started timing myself because the real exam moves faster than you'd expect. Spent about 6 weeks, roughly 90 minutes a day, and drilled practice questions almost daily the last two weeks.

Curious if anyone else has gone through this twice or is currently prepping. What study materials did you find actually useful? I feel like the official study guide left a lot of gaps, especially on the business and funeral directing side.