So I just got my results back yesterday and I passed the FAC exam on my second try. First attempt was embarrassing — I went in thinking I could wing it with a few days of reading and got absolutely humbled. Scored a 68 when I needed a 75. That was back in February.
This time I gave myself six weeks and actually committed to a real schedule. The biggest change was using a structured FAC study guide instead of just reading the official materials cover to cover. I also hammered FAC practice test questions every single day, probably 30-40 questions a night. The repetition genuinely works — you start recognizing how the questions are worded and where the traps are. Federal acquisition regulations are dense but the exam tests the same concepts repeatedly.
If you're just starting out, my biggest FAC exam tips would be: don't skip the ethics section (it's worth more than you think), and time yourself on every practice set. I was running out of time on attempt one and didn't even realize it was a problem until it was too late.