I've been lurking here for a while but finally made an account because I want to share what actually worked for me after two failed attempts. Failed in July 2024 (score: 262) and again in February 2025 (266 — so close it hurt). I was using the same big-name commercial prep course both times and just grinding through flashcards without really understanding the underlying concepts.
What changed for round three: I ditched the passive review and started treating every session like an active retrieval exercise. Found a solid MA BAR practice test bank and committed to timed question sets every single day — no exceptions. I also built a study guide that was actually mine, not a pre-packaged outline. Writing out MBE and MEE rules in my own words made them stick in a way that re-reading never did.
Passed in July 2025 with a 278. Didn't change how many hours I studied (still around 10 hrs/day for 9 weeks), just how I was using that time. Happy to share specific exam tips that helped me on the MA essays if anyone wants to dig into it.