Okay so I've been embarrassed to post this but maybe it'll help someone. I work at a small university's international student office and my supervisor basically told me I need to get certified or I'm going to lose my DSO designation. No pressure, right? I failed the first attempt in January with a 68% and then again in March with a 71%. Both times I just read through the NAFSA materials and figured that would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn't.
What I wasn't prepared for was how scenario-based the questions are. It's not just "what does SEVIS stand for" — they throw these really specific situations at you, like a student drops below full-time enrollment mid-semester, and you have to know the exact reporting window AND the exception categories. I found a solid SEVIS practice test site that actually mimics this format and it made a huge difference in how I approached studying.
Has anyone else struggled with the regulatory exception scenarios specifically? I'm also looking for a good study guide that covers OPT/CPT timelines in detail because that section keeps tripping me up. Would love to hear what worked for others.