Finally passed my ESA exam after three attempts — here's what actually worked

I'm not going to sugarcoat it — I failed the ESA exam twice before I finally passed last month with a 78. The first two times I went in thinking my field experience would carry me, and it absolutely did not. The exam is way more specific than I expected, especially around code compliance and diagnostic procedures.

What finally clicked for me was switching from just reading the NATE study materials to actually drilling with an ESA practice test until I could do it in my sleep. I found that timed practice sessions exposed huge gaps I didn't even know I had — particularly in refrigerant handling and electrical troubleshooting. I probably put in 40+ hours of focused prep over six weeks for my third attempt.

My ESA study guide recommendation: don't skip the sections on load calculations. I know they feel tedious but I had at least four or five questions directly from that area. Anyone else currently studying for this? Happy to share more specific exam tips if it helps.