When my tahajjud prayers for the exam didn't seem answered

I've been praying tahajjud, seeking Allah's help to pass my nursing license exam on the second try. My mother and grandmother joined in, with my mom even offering long Isha prayers for me-yet I still failed, finding out on the same night during Ramadan. I put in a lot of dua and studied hard, and I've always heard that prayers during tahajjud are answered, so I'm confused about where I might be going wrong. Honestly, this setback has made me feel distant from Allah, especially with financial struggles like credit card debt and student loans now adding interest, and no job in sight. Since my father passed away, I can't turn to family for help, and passing this exam was my hope to start working soon. It's tough, but I still try to be charitable even when I have little. This Ramadan has been hard, and while I'm fasting, I feel disconnected and lack the heart to pray regularly. I'm sharing this openly, not to complain, but to seek understanding and advice. I know nursing is my calling-Allah wouldn't have led me through school for nothing-and I trust that with patience, maybe the third attempt will be successful, insha'Allah.