First attempt at the CPC exam - which sections hit hardest?

I'm about 8 weeks out from my CPC exam and feeling reasonably prepared on the E/M coding side but genuinely nervous about surgical package rules and global period questions. I've been studying about 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, and my practice test scores have been hovering between 70–74%. The passing score is 70%, so I know I'm technically in range but I don't want to cut it that close.

The anatomy-based coding sections are where I keep dropping points. I can usually get the procedure right but then miss the anatomical modifier or the code for a more specific body region. I've been told the AAPC prep materials are the most aligned with the actual exam, but they're expensive and I'm not sure if the free alternatives are comparable in quality.

For anyone who's recently passed, was the real exam significantly harder than the practice tests you were using? I know there's variance depending on the year and exam form. I've also seen people recommend dedicating real time to cpc certification prep over at least 3 months — is 8 weeks realistic if I push harder?

Open book exam with the code books — does that actually help as much as people say, or do you waste time flipping pages if your tabs aren't set up well?