Failed my first NEX attempt back in February by 4 points. Honestly crushed me. I'd been working in naval exchange retail for almost two years and figured I knew enough to coast through, but the supply chain and inventory management sections completely blindsided me. My score report showed I was decent on customer service stuff but weak everywhere else.
Between attempts I completely changed my approach. I found a solid NEX practice test online that actually matched the real exam's structure — multiple choice with a lot of scenario-based questions, not just definitions. I went through it three times over six weeks, targeting the sections I bombed. Also grabbed a study guide that broke down the procurement and logistics portions in plain English, which helped way more than reading the official materials alone.
A few exam tips that made a difference: don't rush the scenario questions, they're trying to see if you understand the WHY behind procedures, not just what the rule says. Also, anything related to shrinkage and loss prevention showed up more than I expected. Happy to answer questions for anyone in the middle of studying — it's a tough exam but totally passable with the right prep.