Finally passed my RPAL exam after failing twice — here's what worked

by Alex G. 9 views3 replies
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Alex G.OP
May 27, 2026

So I've been trying to get my Restricted Possession and Acquisition Licence for almost eight months now and honestly I was starting to wonder if I'd ever get through it. Failed the first attempt by two questions, then the second time I panicked and blanked on safe storage requirements which I knew cold. Embarrassing doesn't cover it.

What finally made the difference was grinding through a solid RPAL practice test routine every single night for three weeks straight. I mean at least 30-40 questions per session, not just reading the material passively. I also found a proper RPAL study guide that organized the Firearms Act sections in a way that actually made sense — the way the official handbook is laid out just doesn't click for me personally. If you're in the same boat, the structured practice approach is genuinely night and day compared to just rereading the manual.

Anyone else have a rough time with the handling and transportation section specifically? That's where I kept slipping up. Would love to hear what exam tips people used to lock down those rules — there are so many edge cases around vehicles and storage that it felt endless.

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David K.
May 27, 2026
Congrats on finally getting through it! The transportation rules tripped me up too. What helped me was making a simple chart — loaded vs unloaded, restricted vs non-restricted, with/without a vehicle. Once I visualized it that way instead of reading paragraphs, it stuck. I passed on my first try but I put in probably 25 hours of focused prep over six weeks. Don't underestimate how specific the questions get about trigger locks versus locked containers.
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Jordan L.
May 28, 2026
The multiple-failure experience is more common than people admit — nobody talks about it but I'd guess a solid third of people I know needed at least two attempts. Key tip: read every question twice before answering. The RPAL questions love double negatives and "which of the following is NOT" phrasing. Slowing down literally saved me on my second attempt.
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Marcus T.
May 28, 2026
Eight months is rough, I feel that. I'm currently studying for mine and honestly the storage regulations section is where I keep second-guessing myself too. Quick question for you — did you find the actual test questions were pretty close to the practice material you used, or did they throw curveballs? I've heard the wording can be tricky and I want to make sure I'm prepping with something realistic and not just memorizing obvious answers.

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