Failed CLI exam twice — what finally worked for my third attempt?

by Sarah M. 558 views3 replies
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Sarah M.OP
May 27, 2026

Okay so I've been lurking here for a while and finally made an account because I feel like I owe this community something after all the posts that helped me. I failed the CLI certification in January and again in March — both times hovering around 68% when you need 75% to pass. I was devastated, honestly. I work full-time in supply chain and was only squeezing in maybe 45 minutes of studying a night.

What changed for me was actually switching up my approach entirely. I stopped re-reading the textbook and started doing CLI practice test after practice test, timing myself strictly. I also found a solid CLI study guide that organized the material by domain weight instead of just chapter order, which made a huge difference in how I prioritized my time.

Third attempt last week — 81%. I'm still kind of in shock. Happy to share what resources I used and some exam tips that I think genuinely moved the needle for me. Anyone else here prepping for their first or retry attempt?

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Brian Y.
May 27, 2026
Congrats!! Seriously needed to read this today. I'm scheduled for next month and the domain weighting thing you mentioned is something I've been completely ignoring. I've been treating every chapter equally which is probably why my practice scores are inconsistent — I'll get 78% one day, 64% the next. Which domains tripped you up most on the actual exam? For me it's always the regulatory compliance section.
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Nicole F.
May 28, 2026
The timed practice test approach is so underrated. I passed on my second attempt after bombing the first one badly (62% — oof), and the thing that helped me most was simulating real exam conditions. No music, no phone nearby, strict time limits. The actual exam felt way less stressful because I'd already practiced being uncomfortable. Also definitely don't skip the scenario-based questions in your prep materials, there were more of those than I expected.
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Preethi N.
May 28, 2026
81% on a retry is genuinely impressive. Curious what CLI study guide you used — there are so many out there and some are honestly just recycled content. DM me if you don't want to post publicly. And congrats again, that persistence paid off!

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