I've been trying to get my CRD certification for almost a year now and honestly I was starting to think it just wasn't going to happen for me. Failed with a 68 my first time, then a 71 second time — both below the 75 passing score. I work full-time in dietary services so studying around my schedule has been brutal.
What finally clicked was ditching the textbook-only approach. I started doing a CRD practice test every single day for three weeks straight, then reviewing every wrong answer in detail instead of just moving on. The practice questions exposed gaps I didn't even know I had, especially in foodservice systems management and MNT for renal patients — two areas I thought I had down cold.
Passed with an 82 last month. If you're prepping right now, I genuinely think consistent practice testing beats passive reading. Happy to share what my study breakdown looked like if anyone wants it.