So I just got my results this morning and I actually passed. I'm still kind of in shock because I failed twice before this and was seriously considering giving up. The first two times I just read through the textbook and figured that would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn't.
What finally made the difference was actually drilling with a good HCA practice test over and over instead of just rereading material I already half-knew. I also found a solid study guide that broke down the clinical procedures section in a way my textbook never did — that section alone was destroying my score. I spent about 3 weeks doing 1-2 hours a night, focusing on infection control and patient safety first since those showed up constantly.
For exam tips: don't ignore the communication and ethics questions. I thought I could wing those and I was wrong both times. They're tricky because multiple answers look right. Anyone else currently studying? Happy to share more about what I used if it helps.