My Study Plan

Months 1 & 2 – Part-Time Study

• I studied for a couple of hours here and there.

• Read the PMBOK Guide, Agile Practice Guide, and Process Framework.

• Took detailed notes using Google Sheets. Since copy/paste isn’t allowed, I used screenshots as references.

• Googled concepts I didn’t fully understand and added those explanations to my notes.

• Practiced with free mock tests — often scored 50-60%, which felt discouraging.

• When morale was low, I searched online and found Reddit. It helped a lot to see others in the same boat. I also learned that it’s more effective to focus on DM, SH, and T3R than trying to memorize the textbooks.

Last Two Weeks before Exam – Full-Throttle Mode (Midnight Study + No Weekends)

David McLachlan (YouTube, Free)

• Helped me understand the PMI mindset and how to focus on keywords.

• Watched all three of his long videos — paused before he explained, answered on my own, then listened to his reasoning. His “You can do it!” really lifted my spirits.

• Each video is 5-6 hours, but with pauses, it took me double the time.

• Saved key Q&A to my Google Sheets.

Third3Rock (T3R, ~$20)

• Excellent for understanding the exam mindset and key concepts.

• Read it quickly the first time, then re-read it the night before the exam.

• Highly recommend for those new to project management.

Study Hall (SH)

• Only bought this in the final week — wish I’d gotten it sooner!

• Initially had trouble accessing it — emailed support and learned to check the “Not Yet Started” tab.

• Played a few games, but didn’t focus much due to time constraints.

• Reviewed all flashcards — didn’t need to memorize them as I already knew most content, but they’re great for reinforcement.

• Practice questions:

  • 1st try: ~70%

  • 2nd try: ~90%

• Full-length mock exams:

  • Mock 1: 70%

  • Mock 2: 70%

  • Mock 5: 63%

  • Mock 3: 70%

  • Didn’t complete Mock 4 (heard T4 & T5 are harder and more “expert-level” than what’s needed for the actual exam).

• Tried to analyze weak areas using Google Sheets, but results varied by test — not very consistent.

Day Before the Exam:

• Re-read Third3Rock (3 hours).

• Reviewed and highlighted key notes in Google Sheets (3 hours).

• Went through all failed/reviewed SH questions again — hid the answers and tested myself. If I was still wrong, I memorized them.

Exam Day:

• Booked the exam 2 days in advance and chose a test center to avoid potential home distractions (e.g., internet issues).

• Smooth process: no food/drink allowed, bring two IDs.

• Took two short breaks (5-6 minutes each).

• Tip: Bring a small snack or chocolate — I didn’t, and I was starving!

My Experience:

• The actual exam felt easier than the SH mocks — same concepts, fewer words, and clearer answers. Or maybe I was just more prepared!

• Got 6 drag-and-drop questions (be sure to understand those concepts), and 1 simple calculation.

• Used the REVIEW function for flagged questions — finished each set of 60 questions first, then reviewed. I didn’t change many answers, but it gave me peace of mind.

• Finished all 180 questions and reviews with about 50 minutes to spare.

• Practicing long mock exams is important just to build stamina — during early practice sessions, I felt so nauseous I wanted to quit!

• During the real test, especially the second half, I felt my heart racing and even felt like throwing up — but I kept telling myself, "You can do it!"

Result: I passed! Walked out, collected my stuff, and got the “Congratulations!” slip. Received the certificate in a week.

Final Thoughts: Study hard, don’t give up, and lean on the community when you’re feeling low. If I can do it, so can you!