I've been lurking here for months and figured it was time to actually contribute something. I failed the HDR exam in October and again in January — both times I thought I was ready and both times I hit that 70% cutoff and just couldn't clear it. The clinical decision-making section absolutely wrecked me. I'd memorized protocols but when the questions twisted the scenario, I'd second-guess myself into the wrong answer.
What changed for attempt 3 was how I studied, not how much. I found a solid HDR practice test that mimicked the real question style — not just recall, but application. I did timed sets of 30 questions every other day for six weeks and tracked which domains I kept missing. Turns out I was weak on dosimetry calculations and source calibration, which I'd basically skipped in my HDR study guide because they felt straightforward on paper.
Passed with an 81% last month. Happy to share my full breakdown if anyone's prepping right now — especially the exam tips that actually moved the needle for me versus the stuff that just felt productive.