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

by Hannah K. 531 views3 replies
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Hannah K.OP
May 27, 2026

So I've been lurking here for a while and wanted to share my experience because I wish someone had told me this stuff earlier. Failed the TS exam in November and again in February. I was devastated both times — I'm not a bad student, I just kept studying the wrong way. I was reading through my notes and watching YouTube videos, but the actual exam questions are nothing like what I expected.

What finally clicked for me was switching to a structured TS practice test routine. Like actually timed, simulated exams — not just flashcards. I did at least one full practice test every other day for the last three weeks before my third attempt. I also found a decent TS study guide that broke down the harder sections by topic weight, which helped me stop wasting time on stuff that barely shows up.

Passed last week with an 84. Not perfect, but I'll take it after that journey. Happy to answer questions if anyone's going through the same grind.

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Tom W.
May 28, 2026
Congrats!! I'm in the exact same boat right now, scheduled for my second attempt in three weeks. The practice tests are seriously underrated — I kept skipping them because I felt like I wasn't "ready" yet. But you can't get ready without them. Which sections killed you the most? I'm struggling with anything involving regulations and the procedural stuff.
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Kevin O.
May 28, 2026
This is so encouraging to read. I've been using a TS study guide for about a month and honestly wasn't sure if I was making progress. My practice scores jumped from like 58% to 71% over the past two weeks though, so maybe the repetition is working. Do you remember roughly how many practice tests you did total before you felt genuinely prepared? I keep second-guessing whether I'm there yet.
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Jessica L.
May 28, 2026
The timed practice test approach is the move. Real exam tips from someone who works with test prep: don't just check if you got it right — read the explanation for every wrong answer. That's where the actual learning happens. Good luck to everyone still grinding.

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