So I just got my results yesterday and I'm honestly still in shock. Passed on my second attempt with a 78, which isn't glamorous but I'll absolutely take it. First time around I went in way too confident — I've been in marketing for six years and figured my real-world experience would carry me. It did not. The IMM exam has a very specific way of framing questions that trips you up if you haven't actually studied the material the way they present it.
What changed the second time was being way more systematic. I used an IMM study guide that broke down the syllabus section by section, and I stopped skipping the parts I thought I already knew. International trade and the global marketing environment sections are no joke — those alone probably cost me the first attempt.
I also did a ton of IMM practice test questions in the final two weeks. Like, embarrassing amounts. It normalized the question style so I stopped second-guessing myself mid-exam. If anyone is currently preparing, happy to share what resources I used and what topics to prioritize.