Finally passed SWANA exam after two attempts — here's what actually helped

So I just got my results back yesterday and I'm honestly still in shock — passed with a 78 on my second attempt. First time around I went in way too confident, figured my eight years in solid waste management would carry me through. Spoiler: it did not. Failed by four points and spent the next three months actually preparing properly.

What made the difference this time was treating it like a real study campaign. I found a solid SWANA practice test online and drilled it probably a dozen times, paying attention to which topic areas kept tripping me up — for me it was collection operations math and the regulatory/compliance questions. I also picked up the official SWANA study guide and made flashcards for anything landfill-related since that section is heavier than you'd expect.

My biggest exam tip: don't skip the financial and budget sections even if you've never touched that side of operations. They show up more than the outline suggests. Anyone else here working toward the CSWM or another SWANA certification? Happy to share notes on what I used.