Took my second shot at this last month and finally got through it. First time I scored around 68%, which wasn't enough, so I spent another 6 weeks going through the core modules more carefully. The electrical and plumbing sections tripped me up more than I expected — probably 40% of the questions I missed were in those two areas.
My study routine was about 1.5 hours a day on weekdays and a solid 3-hour block on Saturdays. I found a NCCER practice test that matched the actual exam format pretty closely and used it to identify my weak spots before I retook the test. The carpentry questions were actually more straightforward than I anticipated once you know the terminology cold.
One thing I'd tell anyone preparing: don't skip the safety and tools identification portions. I almost did because they seemed too easy to bother with, but there were more of those questions than I thought there'd be. Budget about 8–10 weeks total if you're working full-time and studying on the side.
Overall I'd say the exam is fair but it definitely tests practical knowledge, not just memorization. Ended up scoring 79% on the second attempt. Good luck to everyone else prepping for this one.
Congrats! That 79% is a solid score. I passed on my first attempt a few months back with 74%, and honestly the safety module questions were worth every minute I spent reviewing them — probably saved me 4–5 points on the actual exam.
That electrical section is no joke. I scored 71% on my first try and almost all of my missed points were in electrical and HVAC basics. Spent an extra two weeks on those modules and passed with 77% on attempt two. Congrats on getting through it.
I'm scheduled for my first attempt in three weeks. Did you find the written portion or the hands-on component harder? I've been splitting my time 50/50 but wondering if I should shift focus.
Roughly how many total questions were on the written section when you took it?
Good to hear six weeks of focused studying was enough for a passing score. I've been at it for four weeks and hovering around 72% on practice sets, so I think I need at least two more weeks before I'm ready. The plumbing diagrams are what's killing me.