How long does it realistically take to study for the LEC?

Really helpful breakdown, thanks for sharing. I'm at week 4 of my LEC prep and the exam prep section is exactly where I'm struggling too. Going to try the approach you described and see if it moves my scores.

Late to this thread but wanted to add — the practice test section trips up more people than any other part. If you're scoring below 72% there in practice, treat it as your only focus for at least a week before moving on. Breadth at the expense of depth in that area is a common mistake.

Good thread. One thing I'd add: don't try to cram the night before. I did 3 hours the night before my LEC and I think it hurt more than helped. Your brain needs consolidation time. Light review or full rest is better.

Congrats on passing! Can I ask — how many questions did the actual exam have compared to what the practice tests simulate? I've seen different numbers online and want to calibrate my timing during practice.

Good thread. One thing I'd add: don't try to cram the night before. I did 4 hours the night before my LEC and I think it hurt more than helped. Your brain needs consolidation time. Light review or full rest is better.

Just passed mine last month, also working full time. Honestly? 10 weeks was enough for me, but I wasted the first three just reading the rulebook cover to cover like it was a novel. What actually moved the needle was drilling questions until I could explain why the wrong answers were wrong, not just recognize the right one. I'd do a set of free lec locomotive operation and control questions every evening after work, maybe 30-40 minutes, and that consistency beat any weekend cram session I tried.

With your background you're probably fine on the 8-10 week end if you're consistent. Don't skip the operation and control stuff even if it feels intuitive — that's where I almost got caught. The test isn't trying to trick you but it's specific in ways that'll surprise you if you've only been skimming.