> "...it becomes extremely hard to do so later on because people start assuming you must have already tried and failed so aren't at the right standard."
One person is saying it's hard because of ageism/bias against old applicants.
One person is saying it's hard because you have to study.
The disagreement is not about it being hard, it's about why and it's a pretty substantive difference.
The comment that replied to you said you can study and pass without your age being held against you.