[YVEYANT]

It is not that difficult honestly if you study hard and don't miss any classes, I mean any.
I highly recommend taking the course for a short time period so you retain all the info and take the state test right after that if you can manage. My schedule was
Oct. 19th to Oct. 26th Monday to Friday from 9 to 4:30 (1 Hour lunch) after that class was over I had to take a 100 question test in class which was very pressuring because if I failed that one more than twice I believe I would have to take the whole course over again. Thank God I passed it on my first shot. After the class, I studied for a few days till the state exam. State exam was on Novemeber 2nd. All my info was still fresh in my head. I waited for almost two weeks then I got the letter in the mail saying I passed. That is the way I did it and past on my first shot. The state exam beilieve it or not is not as pressuring as the class test because you can fail that one a million times and not have to repeat anything.
Just so you know, you can take the state exam first if you just want to see how you do. I didn't know that until I got to class. If by some miracle you pass it, that is one less pressure on you while you are taking the class, that part will be done already.
My Dad took his class over a period of two or three months and failed because he forgot everything he learned being that it was spread out plus he did not read every answer option being that he was a REALTOR years ago and thought he could just fly throught the test, wrong. Read every answer option before you make your decision, they are tricky. He passed on the second shot after I reviewed with him and realized he was answering the questions before I was even done giving him all the answer choices. Everything I learned was still fresh in my head and it took me a little less than an hour.
I also recommmend having the sample test in the back memorized. In the back of the book you will have a 100 question test sample. I had every question/answer memorized and that really helped me.
Along with the book, your current course facility usually will offer a quick study guide for about $30 which summarizes that entire book and makes for a lot less reading to review. I highly recommend that as it goes through every chapter in a few pages.
I bought the big book in advance and used to read only each chapters summary (one page each) while on the throne as it was the only place I could be alone.
It helped when I got in class. I had an idea what they were talking about and had a jump on the material.
If there is anything else I can do to help, let me know.