Everyone has a unique approach to preparing for examinations, and the same applies to the PMP® exam. I have shared my preparation journey in another article titled “The Motivational Fire.” In that article, two PMP exam experiences were discussed; one was mine, and the other was a friend’s. My friend made a few mistakes during his preparation; however, he shared those lessons with me, which helped me identify several “things not to do.” Using those insights, I structured my preparation accordingly, and the process went very smoothly. I enjoy sharing these lessons in the hope that they may benefit other PMP aspirants as well.

Be Disciplined

Discipline is the most critical factor in PMP exam preparation. You should define a minimum daily study duration and adhere to it consistently. There should be no off-days. Avoid all forms of distraction during your study time so you can build a strong habit of focused learning. Ideally, schedule your study session early in the day, preferably in the morning, when your mind is fresh and more receptive to absorbing information.

Set the Exam Date

Equally important is committing to a preparation timeline and officially scheduling your exam date. I generally recommend two months of regular and focused preparation. Setting the exam date plays a vital role because true motivation and discipline tend to emerge once the exam is formally scheduled.

Divide the Preparation Content

Divide your preparation into two distinct phases.
The first phase should focus on reading PMP preparation books multiple times. A serious candidate should study at least three to four different PMP reference books. This approach helps build strong foundational knowledge and familiarity with PMP terminology and concepts.

The second phase should be entirely dedicated to practice questions and mock exams. Numerous books and online question banks are available for this purpose, including timed practice exams. Start with shorter sets of 30–40 questions and gradually increase to full-length exams of 200 questions. After each attempt, carefully review incorrect answers to understand the rationale behind them. This significantly improves your ability to interpret and apply PMP-style questions.

Avoid relying on a single practice source, as question styles and difficulty levels vary across platforms. To confidently assess your readiness, you should complete at least two to three full-length mock exams under conditions similar to the actual exam.

Get Familiar with the Exam Environment

Practice exams also help you become comfortable with the exam interface and its functionalities. Familiarity with on-screen tools and navigation reduces anxiety on exam day. Be especially cautious with buttons such as “End Exam,” as some candidates have accidentally clicked it and prematurely ended their exams.

Revise Formulas Daily

Throughout your preparation period, begin each day by writing down all key processes and formulas. Even if you are confident in your memory, maintain this routine consistently. This exercise should take no more than 15 minutes and helps reinforce retention.

Manage Time per Question

Effective time management during the exam is essential. If you believe you can answer a question correctly but find yourself spending too much time on it, mark it for review and move on. It is common for nerves to take time to settle at the beginning of the exam, so marking some early questions for later review is normal.

Lengthy questions should also be marked and revisited later to save time initially. Similarly, questions you answered but feel uncertain about should be reviewed at the end. Do not panic if many questions are marked, having more than 50% marked for review is not unusual.

Always Select an Answer

From the first pass, ensure that every question has an answer selected, even if it is marked for review. If unsure, choose a standard default option (for example, option B) or randomly select one of the remaining choices and mark it. Since there is no negative marking in the PMP exam, leaving questions unanswered only reduces your chances of scoring.

Review Marked Questions

After completing the first pass, reviewing marked questions becomes much less stressful, as most of the exam is already behind you. Ensure that you reserve at least 20–30% of your total exam time for this review phase.

Read the Full Question Carefully

Before making a final decision, always read the entire question. Some questions include misleading information in the first part, while the actual requirement appears later. A complete and careful reading is essential to selecting the correct answer.

Prepare diligently, stay focused, and best of luck with your PMP exam.