PMP Study Guide Plan Developed by Me.

I put together a 4 week study plan for anyone interested in taking the Project Management Institutes PMP Exam. Remember that this was my approach and it may or may not be the best fit for you. Feel free reach out with any questions! I am happy to help wherever I can.

Pre-Work

If you are unfamiliar with Project Management and would like to get a start, I recommend these two paths from my experience. All of these paths will satisfy the 35 hours required from the PMI.

Week 1

  • Submit application to PMI for eligibility to take exam:
    It is advisable to dedicate ample time and consideration to completing the PMP application, as failure to adhere to the PMI's specific guidelines may result in an unsuccessful outcome for your application. It helped me really begin my studying since I had a target date for the exam.
    Time: 2 hours

  • Start a test prep tracker:
    I used Google Sheets to track the hours I spent on each item. You can use the Public PMP Study Tracker.

  • Ricardo Vargas PMBOK Flow:
    Take notes and identify areas of improvement. Watch & try to understand this – test your understanding. Watch here.
    Time: 1 hour

  • Ricardo Vargas PMBOK® Guide 7th Edition (updated PMBOK resource):
    Watch & try to understand this. It has some new concepts that did not appear in the prior edition and it is useful. Watch here.
    Time: 1.5 hours

Week 2

  • Free PMP® Practice Exam Questions:
    Take the first 60 questions and then give yourself a 10-minute break before taking the remaining 60 questions.
    Time: 2 hours
    Practice Questions Link

  • David McLachlan’s 200 Agile Questions:
    Extra help with agile-scenario questions. I recommend watching at 2x speed.
    Time: 7 hours (can be shortened with speed-up)
    Watch on YouTube

  • MOST IMPORTANT: PMI PMP Exam 261 Questions:
    The PMI PMP practice exam was very similar to the actual PMP exam. I found the practice exam slightly harder than the real exam. The exam costs $99 on PMI’s website, but you can often find discount codes online.
    Best representation of actual exam questions — makes sense since PMI created it. I recommend breaking it up into three sections to avoid burnout.
    Time: 5 hours
    Udemy Exam Link

  • Take notes on all PMP questions you get wrong:
    Create a spreadsheet and review it in the days before your exam for key concepts you don’t fully know. Do a deeper dive into each missed concept.
    Time: ~0.5 hour per concept missed

Week 3 & 4

  • Continue the same process from Week 2. Focus on deeply understanding the concepts and how they apply in real-world situations.

  • Aim to score at least 75% or above each time you take a practice exam. My own progression:
    65 → 69 → 71 → 76 → 80 → 85.
    It takes time — keep your head up and keep practicing!

My Exam Day

  • Where: Took the exam in person at a Pearson testing center to avoid technical issues.

  • Format: 180 questions in 270 minutes.

  • Strategy:
    First, I read all the questions tied to the reading passage so I know what to look for. Then I read the passage carefully, watching for key details. I try to think of the answer before looking at the choices to avoid getting tricked by incorrect options. I also eliminate clearly wrong answers to improve my odds.

  • After the exam: You receive your performance result immediately (pass/fail).

Reflections

  • Remember that the methods I used may not work for you — develop your own approach that fits your learning style.
  • Breathe — approach the exam with confidence and a clear mind.
  • Best of luck! You can do it! 🎯