After failing my licensing exam three times, I was discouraged, burnt out, and close to giving up. But after rethinking my strategy, I finally passed—and here’s how I did it.

To recap, this was my fourth attempt at a very important exam. I had tried different study strategies (time of day, location, various programs, etc.), but still failed three times—my third attempt being the worst score yet.

What I Changed, and What I Kept the Same

I’ve always been a night owl, and I tend to perform best at night. After my third attempt, I was devastated. I called a friend, and she gave me some great advice: go back to what worked for me in school—old-school note-taking (pen and paper), studying in the evenings till 11:30 or midnight, and breaking tasks into smaller chunks. Most importantly, she reminded me to trust my gut when choosing the right time to take the exam, since I had rushed into it during my previous attempts.

I decided to prioritize what was best for me in the long run. I took a break from studying and used the 120-day reapplication period to create a game plan. My associate’s number renewal was due at the end of May, so I made that my goal. That gave me about eight months since my last exam to prepare.

In January, I started studying with a friend (she had her classes to study for), and we committed to meeting once a week at a coffee shop, bookstore, or library. By mid-April, I began studying more frequently. I switched back to the video program I had used during my second attempt. Previously, I was using a book-based program, which I liked for its structure and depth—it gave me grad school vibes. But the video program felt like having a professor lecture me, and I could speed up the playback to match my pace. That feature made a big difference. I could stay focused and avoid getting distracted by slow delivery.

My Study Style: Note-Taking and Organization

Note-taking was a game-changer for me. I retain information best through auditory processing and writing, so I took a more organized approach this time. I used two separate notebooks: one for the book program and one for the video program. During my second attempt, I had used notepads with no labels, which made it very difficult to review later.

As I became more serious about studying, I created a flexible study plan that allowed buffer time to restart or adjust if needed. I gave myself grace—if I was too tired in the evenings, I let myself rest. That was huge. In the past, I would force myself to study just to check off the box, even if I couldn’t retain anything. Allowing myself that flexibility helped reduce pressure. I was already stressed from work; I didn’t need to add more.

I also built daily walks into my routine—either in the morning, afternoon, or before studying—and I listened to music to help me unwind.

Journaling for Accountability and Mindset

I created a journaling template that worked for me. I’m not a long-form journaling person; I prefer short, meaningful reflections. My template included:

• Hope of the day
• Thankful for
• Affirmation of the day
• Study update

This helped me stay grounded and accountable. My main affirmation was: “I am training for a marathon, which is my test.” It helped me stay focused on small, consistent steps instead of giant leaps. I also wrote new affirmations daily. The hope and gratitude sections helped reduce stress. Every evening, I updated my entry—what I studied, how far I got, what I learned or needed to review. If I didn’t study, I wrote down why.

Managing Stress and Burnout

The biggest challenge was reducing my stress levels. While journaling and walks helped, the main source of burnout was my workload. I had taken on too much and struggled to scale it back. So I built a schedule and began gradually reducing additional stressors. I did Sunday resets, prepped simple meals, and carved out flexibility in my weekly plans. Once things lightened at work, I could focus more on studying.

Before the exam, I took a short trip—something I had saved for and truly appreciated. It was local, simple, and focused entirely on studying. I followed my program’s recommendation to take mock exams leading up to the real one. I avoided distractions, used flashcards, reviewed notes, and tested my strategies for breaks—since the exam timer keeps running even during breaks (which sucks). Reviewing mock results and rationales was incredibly helpful.

Test Day

Test day was stressful. My exam was scheduled from 10:00 AM to 2:15 PM—four hours, no pause. I followed my plan:

• Question 35/40: Pause to check in; stretch and close my eyes if needed
• Question 80: Major break—snack and bathroom (this was just a bit after the halfway mark)
• Question 115: Mini break—stretch and deep breaths
• Question 150: Final pause before reviewing flagged questions

I had flagged 27 questions and only 25 minutes left, which flew by. During the test, I even recognized a question from my third attempt and panicked, thinking I’d fail again.

But when I finished and walked out, the proctor handed me my results and said, “Good job!” I couldn’t believe it. I had to double-check. It felt surreal—I was expecting another failure, but I had passed.

Final Thoughts

I finally passed. This journey was long and painful, and I came very close to giving up. But I learned a lot—not just about the material, but about myself. I am also thankful for the support I received from family, friends, and colleagues, as well as the online community that is/was going through the same thing as I.

Have you ever faced a test—or challenge—that pushed you to your limits? Share your story in the comments, or tag someone or share with someone who needs to hear this today.