Finally passed my STP exam after two attempts — here's what actually worked

So I just got my results back and I passed with an 84. Honestly didn't think I'd make it after failing in March by 6 points, which was brutal. The second time around I completely changed how I studied — less time reading the manual cover to cover and way more time doing practice questions under timed conditions.

The biggest game-changer for me was finding a good STP practice test that actually matched the style of questions on the real exam. Multiple choice sounds easy until you're staring at two answers that both seem right. I also grabbed a STP study guide that broke down the suspension and alignment sections, which is where I kept losing points. Those two areas alone are probably 30% of the exam.

For anyone prepping right now, my honest exam tips: don't skip the brake system theory even if you feel confident wrenching on them daily. The written knowledge questions are way more specific than you'd expect. I spent about 6 weeks studying, maybe 45 minutes a night, and that felt like the right pace without burning out. Happy to answer questions if anyone's in the middle of prep right now.