Congrats on your successful QXC, not long until you can start learning in earnest, huh? Just one comment:
A report of traffic, 10 o'clock, 5 miles, same level, closing track, and seeing nothing due to the above for what seemed about 5 mins, but was actually 30 seconds or so.
From 5 miles you aren't going to see anything until it's 2 miles away - unless it's an A380 ;-) I can't remember the number of times my PCAS has told me there's something 3 miles away, but I know it's pointless trying to spot it unless it's 2NM or closer....