Passed the CISM today on the second attempt
I won't make this too long because I do not know my score yet, but I received my provisional pass about 30 mins ago, roughly 30 days after failing my first attempt by 15 points.
Long story short, I recently got my CISSP, and I believed what everyone said about having the CISSP and then taking the CISM, and I did not do a great job preparing the first time...lesson learned.
u/icy-shine-6621 sums it all up here..I had the same mindset originally: https://www.reddit.com/r/cism/comments/1slj3jl/passed_on_2nd_go_lessons_learned/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
The second time, I used Hemand Doshi's course (some was outdated, but it helped with CISM mindset and questions), I went through all 1138 QAE Database questions (averaged 80% but studied any area where I had a 70 or below), did both practice tests, scoring 93 and 88, and just deep dived into why I got questions wrong and why my thinking was causing me to get not understand the ISACA mindset and get 50/50 questions wrong.
All in all, it was a better experience. I did have one moment during the test when my internet just randomly went out...it scared the life out of me (ATT or Netgear owes me a new set of underwear). I was doing well on the test and feared I would "be failed" or lose the use of my voucher. Luckily, it came back up after a quick restart, and I just had to reperform the environment scan and authentication. Normally, I would elect to take the test at an on-site testing center, but there were none in my area, and it would have required a lot of logistics to get to one. That being said, my goal is always to use the testing center specifically so I don't have to worry about those types of issues.
TLDR: Trust the QAE, ISACA/CISM mindset over everything, test at a center if you can, and just give the CISM the respect it deserves.
Good luck to everyone, trust your process, you got this...now a very long ten-day wait.