Okay so I've been lurking here for a while but I finally have to post because I want to help anyone else who's been where I was. I failed the Series 7 in January (missed by 4 points) and then again in April (missed by 2 points, which honestly felt worse). I was using a major test bank that shall remain nameless and just grinding questions without really understanding why I was getting things wrong.
What actually turned things around was switching up my approach completely. I started doing timed FINRA practice test sessions in 50-question blocks to simulate the real format, then reviewing every single wrong answer before moving on. I also found a study guide that broke down options strategies visually instead of just definitions — that was huge for me. Suitability questions were my weak spot and I didn't realize it until I started tracking by topic.
Ended up passing with an 84 last week after about 6 weeks of the new method, studying roughly 2 hours a night. Happy to share what worked if anyone wants specifics.