Failed my security cert twice — what actually worked for me on attempt 3

So I finally passed last month after two pretty demoralizing failures and I wanted to share what actually made the difference, because I wasted a lot of time on the wrong stuff. First two attempts I was grinding through flashcards and reading the official material cover to cover. Scored a 68 and then a 71 — close but not close enough. The passing threshold where I tested was 75.

What finally clicked was shifting to scenario-based practice instead of just memorizing definitions. I spent about three weeks doing timed Technology Certifications Threat Detection & Incident Response practice questions every morning before work, like 30-40 minutes tops. Honestly that daily consistency beat my old marathon weekend study sessions. The exam throws you into real situations and you have to apply the concept, not just recognize it.

Anyone else prepping right now? Curious what study guide or resources you're using for access control and network topics specifically — those were my weakest domains both times I failed.