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How I Passed the PMP Exam My Way

  • Writer: Mercedes Grzimek
    Mercedes Grzimek
  • Oct 6
  • 5 min read

Updated: Oct 9


When I finally decided to study for the PMP exam, I was unemployed, uncertain, and honestly scared to fail. The test had always felt like a mountain I wasn’t ready to climb. But what I realized was that waiting for the “perfect time” only built regret. So instead, I decided to start studying for it this summer. I told myself that even if I didn’t pass, I’d at least be moving forward building momentum, purpose, and confidence again. In essence it became a project of it's own.


Finding My Rhythm

I gave myself two and a half months. Every day started at 5:00 a.m., before emails or other distractions. Those quiet hours became sacred... just me, my black tea, and my study tracker. I learned early that consistency mattered more than intensity. So I built both long days and light days into my schedule. On heavy study days, I’d dive into practice exams and concept modules. On lighter ones, I’d use flashcards for 30 minutes and review missed questions from my previous practice exams and call it a win.

To stay accountable, I created a detailed study tracker with space for quiz scores, formulas to review, and key takeaways from each mock exam. Watching those boxes fill in was motivating. It turned a massive goal into something tangible, one cell at a time. To keep it fun, I made sure to reward progress with trail runs in Henry Cowell or along West Cliff drive, quality time with quality people, or small moments of rest. Those rewards mattered as much as the study itself.



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Choosing What Actually Worked

Like many aspiring PMPs, I tried a bit of everything whether it be Udemy, YouTube, Coursera, and PMI materials. I quickly realized not all content is created equal. Some were too dry, too dense, or filled with fluff that didn’t connect. I needed something I could absorb, not just read.

The Technical Institute of America (TIA) course became my foundation. It was visual, auditory, and concise. It encompassed everything I needed as someone who already worked in project management and just needed a structured, digestible approach. I listened to the lectures at 1.5x speed, a small hack that kept me engaged and efficient.

Their PMP Simulator from TIA became my anchor. I took one full-length mock exam every week and reviewed every question I missed. Most of my errors came not from lack of knowledge but from rushing due to not slowing down enough to read the question fully. Over time, my scores climbed: 72% on early mocks, 80%+ on quizzes. When I could sustain that level, I knew I was ready.


Additionally I noticed that I struggled with remembering all of the 49 processes. Ricardo Vargas was a genius in that he broke these down into one visual flow. I watched this twice and it helped me connect the dots across the knowledge areas. I then solidified this with the PMAspirant mapping game.

On lighter days, I turned to Belinda Goodrich’s PMP Flashcards, especially for weak areas from the day before. Those 30-minute review sessions gave me small wins that prevented burnout.



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Learning in Motion

One of the best decisions I made was to merge studying with movement. I started downloading the course audio to listen to while trail running.

Research backs this up: aerobic exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which strengthens neural connections and improves long-term memory. In simpler terms, learning while moving can literally help your brain wire in information more effectively.

I’d listen to mindset lectures and concept overviews while on the trails, then recap at night by playing the same material before bed, sometimes even while falling asleep with my headphones on. Studies show that auditory exposure during light sleep can improve memory consolidation, helping your brain reinforce what it recently learned.

It wasn’t traditional studying, but it worked. It kept me engaged, prevented fatigue, and wove the material into my daily rhythm.

Simulating the Real Thing

Mock exams were where the real learning happened. The PMP exam is nearly four hours long, and nothing prepares you for that mental endurance except simulation. I always took my practice exams first thing in the morning, when my mind was fresh. I’d recreate real test conditions by having no phone, no interruptions, just focus. I do admit however that the hummingbirds and crows would speak to me from time to time outside my window.

The fatigue was real. By the end of each mock, my brain felt drained. But that exhaustion was part of the conditioning. I learned when to take breaks, how to pace myself, and how to reset my focus after difficult sections.

When it came time to take the real exam, I chose to do it virtually. For me, that reduced test anxiety by having no commute, no stress about traffic or other test takers. I could set up my own quiet, comfortable space, just like my early morning study sessions.

Mindset Over Memorization

Despite all the prep, the real exam felt different. I ran out of time in some sections, and the phrasing of questions were different than the simulator (which was expected). As someone who’s worked in project management for years, it was humbling to realize that experience can actually make the test harder. To pass the PMP, you have to unlearn habits, detach from how you do projects in the real world, and instead think like PMI wants you to. If you go into this thinking in PMI's way of structured, idealized, and standardized your progress will accelerate.

What I’d Tell Anyone Afraid to Start

If you’ve been putting this off, start. You don’t need to feel ready you just need to begin.Tell people your goal. Block time in your calendar. Treat it like a project.

Even on days you only manage 30 minutes, that still moves you forward. In my experience, it takes about 10–18 hours a week for six weeks to prepare effectively, more if you’re balancing work and family, less if you can focus deeply.

If you’re completely new to project management, consider taking the CAPM first to gauge your interest. And if you’re already experienced, remember that this isn’t about proving what you know it’s about training your brain to think in PMI’s structured language.

For me, earning the PMP wasn’t just about a credential. It was a quiet victory. It reminded me that discipline and self-trust compound over time and that even when you’re between chapters, you can still build something that lasts.

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