Okay so I've been lurking here for a while and wanted to share my experience because I wish someone had told me this stuff before I went in the first two times. I'm a deputy at a mid-sized county department and my supervisor basically said get the FDC certification or don't expect a promotion. No pressure, right? Failed the first attempt with a 68 (passing is 75) and the second with a 71. I was devastated.
What finally clicked for me was actually slowing down and being honest about my weak spots. Fire behavior and building construction were killing me — I kept rushing through those sections thinking I had them. I found a solid FDC practice test online that mimicked the actual format pretty closely, and I made myself do timed runs without looking anything up. That discipline alone probably added 8 points to my score.
If you're just starting out, don't skip the study guide phase. I know it feels slow, but mapping out the topic domains first saved me from wasting time on stuff that barely shows up. Happy to answer questions — third time's a charm, scored an 81.