Failed ETC by 3 points — what should I change?

by ExamWeekSurvivor 548 views4 replies
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ExamWeekSurvivorOP
April 24, 2026

Just got my score back. So close it hurts.

I felt okay going in but clearly there were gaps. Looking back at my prep, I spent a lot of time on "ETC" but I think I underestimated how deep they go on ETC exam.

The weird thing is I scored fine on the concept questions but tanked on the application ones. Like I understood the theory but when it came to scenario-based questions I kept second-guessing myself.

For anyone who's failed and then passed — what changed? Did you switch study materials? More practice tests? Different time of day?

Also curious whether the ETC score report tells you which sections you were weak in. Mine just shows an overall score and I have no idea where exactly I lost points.

If you're looking for a starting point, the free etc technical design engineering principles is worth trying — the questions closely match what you'll see on test day.

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JustPassed
April 25, 2026

Quick data point: I spent 6 weeks studying, 1-3 hours a day, and passed with a 75%.

The section on ETC exam took me the longest to feel confident about. Eventually I just drilled practice questions until I could answer them without hesitation.

What testing center did you end up booking? Some of them have much shorter wait times than others right now.

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TookItTwice
April 26, 2026

For what it's worth from someone who's been through it:

The ETC is one of those exams where the practice tests really do prepare you well. The style of questioning is pretty consistent. If you're comfortable with "ETC" material under timed conditions, you'll be fine.

The one thing I'd add: read the question stems very carefully. They sometimes add a qualifier that completely changes the right answer and it's easy to miss when you're going fast.

Also check whether you need to schedule the exam in advance — some testing centers book up 2-3 weeks out.

J
JennaB
May 31, 2026

Quick update: just cleared 92% on my most recent ETC practice set using etc etc surveying site measurement 2. Sitting for the real thing in 3 weeks. Feeling cautiously optimistic.

C
CramSession
May 31, 2026

Coming back to this thread — just passed my ETC yesterday. Everything about the etc practice test section is accurate. For anyone still studying, the etc etc surveying site measurement 2 was the closest thing to the real exam I found.

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