Failed OBT twice — what finally helped me pass on attempt three

by Nicole F. 476 views3 replies
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Nicole F.OP
May 27, 2026

Okay so I've been putting off writing this but I think it might help someone. I failed the OBT back in October and again in January. Both times I walked out thinking I had a decent shot and both times got the email saying I didn't make the cut. Honestly it was demoralizing. I'd been studying with just the official materials and some random YouTube videos, which clearly wasn't enough.

What changed for my third attempt was being way more systematic. I started using an OBT practice test site to actually simulate test conditions — timed sections, no breaks, the whole thing. I also found a solid study guide that broke down the behavioral assessment piece specifically, which I'd been underestimating. That section wrecked me on attempt two.

Ended up passing with a 78 in early April. If you're prepping right now I'm happy to share more about my timeline and what topics I focused on. Anyone else been through multiple attempts?

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Sofia R.
May 28, 2026
Three attempts is more common than people admit, nobody talks about it. I passed mine last summer on attempt two. My exam tips that made a real difference: do at least one full-length timed practice run every week, not just section drills. Also read every wrong answer explanation, not just the correct one. That's where most of the learning actually happens honestly.
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Nicole F.
May 28, 2026
This is really encouraging, thanks for posting. I'm on my first attempt prep right now and the behavioral section is exactly where I'm struggling too. Can I ask — how many weeks did you spend on that third round of studying? I've been giving myself 6 weeks but I'm not sure if that's enough given I'm also working full time.
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Jessica L.
May 28, 2026
78 is a solid score, congrats! That behavioral piece trips up so many people because there's no obvious right answer. Definitely worth dedicating at least 40% of your study time to it specifically.

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