Failed my Level II NDT exam twice — what finally worked for me

by emily_w 23 views3 replies
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emily_wOP
May 27, 2026

So I finally passed my ASNT Level II UT certification last month after two failed attempts, and I figured I'd share what changed. My first two tries I was just reading the SNT-TC-1A standard and doing some random practice questions I found online — honestly thought that was enough. It wasn't. I was scoring around 68% on practice runs and needed 70% to pass, so I kept just barely missing it.

What actually turned things around was finding a structured NDT practice test that matched the actual exam format, especially for the written general and specific exams. I spent about 40 hours over six weeks focusing specifically on ultrasonic theory, calibration procedures, and discontinuity characterization — the areas where I kept dropping points. The NDT study guide I switched to had much better explanations of beam angles and refraction calculations.

Anyone else have experience with the Level II written exams for UT or RT? Curious what resources people found most useful, especially for the practical/hands-on portion. My Level III is a few years out but I want to build good habits now.

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Hannah K.
May 27, 2026
The calibration section is where most people struggle, in my experience. I passed UT on my second try and what helped me was actually drawing out the beam path diagrams by hand instead of just reading about them. Sounds tedious but it forces you to understand the geometry. Also, don't underestimate the codes and standards questions — ASME and AWS stuff shows up more than people expect. Good luck with any future exams.
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priya.test
May 28, 2026
Congrats on passing! Quick question — did you take an employer-sponsored course or study independently? I'm prepping for my RT Level II right now and my company doesn't offer any formal training. I've been using a combination of textbooks and online NDT exam tips but I'm not sure if I'm covering everything. The radiation safety portion especially makes me nervous, there's so much to memorize.
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Carlos B.
May 28, 2026
RT radiation safety is honestly not as bad as it looks once you break it down into dose calculations, inverse square law, and shielding separately. Practice those three areas in isolation first. Took me maybe 15 hours just on that section but it clicked eventually.

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