So I want to share my experience because I wish someone had laid this out for me before I started. Failed my first attempt back in March by 11 points — embarrassing, but honestly I hadn't prepared the right way. I basically just read through the manual twice and figured that'd be enough. Spoiler: it wasn't.
For my second attempt I completely changed my approach. I found a solid DLM practice test online and drilled through it probably four or five times over three weeks. That's what actually moved the needle for me. The practice questions showed me exactly where my weak spots were — I was completely bombing the adaptive assessment and accommodation modules, which I hadn't even realized were such a big chunk of the exam.
I also grabbed a DLM study guide that broke down the Essential Elements framework in a way that finally made it click. If you're currently prepping, my biggest exam tip is don't memorize definitions — understand the reasoning behind each standard. The questions are scenario-based, so rote memorization gets you nowhere. Happy to answer questions if anyone's in the same boat I was.