If you want the dots to connect in the future, you have to make sure you form dots in your brain. The only way you form dots is by learning, doing, making mistakes, reflecting, or anything you can do to feed your brain with the input it needs to give you the output you want.
A major reason why I skipped my examination attempts was my failure to recognize the fact that all the info. that I have revised will automatically be recalled while I am attempting the paper. I underassessed my brain's capability to connect the dots that I've registered during my preparation.