Earning the PMP certification was one of the most rewarding — and challenging — goals I set for myself.
Like many of you, I had a full-time job, was helping manage a family business on the side, and juggling personal responsibilities when I started my PMP journey in January 2024.
Fast forward to August 10th, I took the exam. On Monday the 12th, I saw the result: Above Target overall.
Despite average practice exam scores, I delivered when it mattered. Here’s how I did it — and how you can too.
Know your why
Before you even open a book, get clear on why you want the PMP.
For me, it wasn’t just about adding another certification. I was already leading tech projects and managing teams. The PMP was about sharpening my thinking, strengthening my decision-making, and proving — to myself and the industry — that I was ready for bigger challenges.
When motivation dips (and it will), your why keeps you going.
Build a focused study stack
There’s no shortage of PMP resources, which can quickly become overwhelming. Here’s the exact mix I used:
Udemy — Andrew Ramdayal’s PMP Course. Structured, PMI-aligned, and easy to follow. I watched most videos at 1.5x speed to save time.
David McLachlan’s YouTube Videos. Excellent for building the PMP mindset, especially for scenario-based questions.
PMI Official Materials — PMBOK Guide (7th Edition), Agile Practice Guide, Process Groups: A Practice Guide.
PMI Study Hall. More expensive than expected, but worth it. The questions were harder than the real exam, which made the actual test feel manageable.
Don’t memorize processes. Focus on how a good PM thinks. The exam rewards judgment, not rote learning.
Make a realistic, consistent plan
I listed all chapters and modules and spread them across my calendar, committing to finishing at least one module per day.
Weekdays meant one to two hours after work. Weekends I kept for review only — going back over the concepts I hadn’t fully grasped and spending more time on the areas I was weakest in. The goal was never to log more hours; it was to make the hours I had count for more.
Learn from mistakes, not just scores
My Study Hall scores weren’t impressive. I was consistently landing in the 65–70% range.
Instead of obsessing over scores, I analyzed every wrong answer. Did I misread the question? Was it a mindset issue? Did I jump to a solution too quickly?
That reflection paid off. In the real exam: People — Target. Process — Above Target. Business Environment — Above Target.
Protect your energy to avoid burnout
At the time I was working as a Project Manager, supporting IT and operations for a bakery business, and trying to maintain personal interests like photography and gardening.
What helped was keeping the study sessions short (Pomodoro-style), taking power naps, saying no to distractions I could avoid, and stepping away completely when my energy dipped rather than pushing through. Over a stretch this long, protecting my recovery mattered as much as finding extra hours to study.
Final thoughts
If you’re working full-time and preparing for the PMP, it’s doable. My own mock scores never got impressive, and I never managed to study all day, so I don’t think either is required. What carried me was a solid grasp of the fundamentals, a focus on how a PM actually thinks, and steady, consistent effort over the months it took — and that’s within reach of most people already holding down a demanding job.