So I finally got my General Radiotelephone Operator License last month after failing my first attempt back in March. Honestly I was pretty demoralized after that first test — I'd been cramming for about three weeks using random YouTube videos and figured that was enough. Spoiler: it wasn't. The RF propagation and antenna sections absolutely wrecked me.
What turned things around was switching to a structured FCC practice test routine. I'd do a timed 50-question block every morning before work, then review every wrong answer before bed. That gap-analysis approach was way more effective than just re-reading the study guide cover to cover. I also found that drilling the math — specifically the power/resistance calculations — separately from the conceptual stuff helped a lot because my brain kept mixing them up under pressure.
For anyone starting out, don't underestimate the GROL elements. Element 1 is deceptively easy and people skip reviewing it, then lose points on rules questions they assumed were common sense. I put in about 6 weeks total, maybe 45 minutes a day, and scored an 82 on the real thing. Happy to answer questions if anyone's prepping right now.