Failed NCA exam twice — what actually helped me pass on third attempt

I'm not going to sugarcoat it — I failed the NCA twice before I finally passed last month, and both times I thought I was ready. The first time I only scored a 68 when I needed a 75, and the second time I barely missed it at a 73. I was devastated and honestly almost gave up on the whole thing.

What finally made the difference was changing how I studied. Instead of just re-reading my outlines, I started doing focused NCA practice test sessions every single day for about 45 minutes. That repetition forced me to actually recognize how the questions are framed, which is completely different from law school exams. I also found a solid NCA study guide that broke down Canadian common law concepts separately from what I already knew — that distinction was huge for me.

My biggest exam tip: don't ignore Contracts and Torts even if you feel confident. Those sections have so many nuances specific to Canadian jurisdiction that tripped me up both times. Anyone else have sections that surprised them? Would love to compare notes.