December 17, 2025
Exam Preparation
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How to Prepare PMP Exam

Background: I never had formal project management training, but I did quite a few projects.  I hope to learn the project management knowledge, and here is how I studied and passed the exam in three months.  (My start and end times are more than three months; the net study time is three months).

Tips: Continue small portions every day, even for 30 minutes; Take a break (one or two days) when you feel tired (or every two/three weeks); Master the mindset.

The Key:

  1. Mindset is essential: Mindset videos are here (watch it twice, one after month 1, one after month 2)
    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFi9gWOhZK4 (20 minutes)
    2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t87OdSsL3A (34 minutes)
  2. Repeat practice exams at least two times to understand the mindset and logic

The process:

Month 1

  1. Register on the PMI website, fill out the application, don’t submit yet
  2. Read the PMP exam contents outline: please note that after July 2026, the new contents outlines are here, you only need to know what your target/goal is
  3. Go to Udemy, select a course to study the 35 DPU prerequisites. I used

https://www.udemy.com/course/ultimate-project-management-pmp-35-pdus/ it’s $19.00 when I purchased. Use about one month to finish the videos and mock exams here: OR you can buy this book, and it offers a 35 DPU online class for free ($39.00 check for updated book)

Month 2

  1. Submit the certificate to PMI and wait until it is reflected in your exam status as qualified for the exam. Read the book in one week; understand the big picture; there is no need to take too much time. Understand why the PMP is structured this way by watching this video (96 minutes) to understand the PMBO guide – the big picture view (search for updated videos if any)
  2. Buy the Study Hall for the $79 three-month version (three weeks)
    1. Do not use their knowledge study or flashcards
    2. Go directly to the practice exam by topics, work it out 1st time
    3. Go to mock exams, finish 21 exams for the 1st time

Month 3

  1. Schedule your exam
  2. Do practice and mock exams 2nd time in Study all (your score should be 65% overall ranking)
  3. To enhance the exam passing rate, buy this mock exam $14.00. Do it twice (pass the min score requirements)
  4. Take exams