Pass the PMP Exam On First Attempt

Category: Project Management > PMP Certification

In September 2018, I passed my #PMP exam on the first attempt. Here I would like to share my experience of how I planned my studies and daily routines to achieve this target within 2 months. Here we go.

Don’t Delay it

The longer you take to decide to sit in the exam, the sooner you will lose your passion and interest in preparation. This is very common among the professionals: they start the preparation in a very high spirit, but due to their other involvement in job, family, and friends, they couldn’t keep the same pace. The depth and breadth of the contents result in losing their passion and interest. The best strategy is to book the exam date first and then start the preparation.

Timetable

Dedicate a specific amount of time for the preparation, and stick to it religiously. Skip any other activity, but don’t skip the study hours. Keep it at the highest priority on any other plan during that timeslot. Plan your day accordingly so that you may have isolation and a perfect, peaceful environment for study.

Fix your study place/desk and keep all your notes/books/laptop/stationery there. Make that corner your “Mission Control Room.”

Remove The Distraction

When I start preparation and until the day of the exam, I uninstall all the applications from my phone. This helps me to remove all the unwanted notifications and the addiction of checking the phone unnecessarily after every 10 minutes. This saves you a lot of time, believe me, a lot of time that you can then invest in your preparation.

Squeeze Each Minute of Your Life

You are on a bus or riding in a cab; you can avail this time by reading some article on your phone, taking a practice test, playing with flashcards, or by doing any other study-related activity. There are tons of applications and websites providing free material for preparation on the go.

I used to play with flashcards or attempt practice tests while riding on a bus. Those 40-minute time slots made a great contribution to my preparation.

Networking

Keep in touch with the people who are currently studying or recently passed the exam. Go and meet with them, talk to them, and discuss your and their preparation strategies. The more you are in touch with such people, the longer you will keep your motivation and passion alive. You will keep Feeling it

Start Applying From The Page 1

Don’t wait for passing the exam, having a job as a PM in a high-profile company with a separate cabin/office, and managing multi-million-dollar projects. NO. Wherever you are, wherever you’re working, whatever kind of project you have in hand, start applying your knowledge from the next working day, from page 1 of the book you are studying. Whatever you learn during your study, start trying to apply/practice it in your current projects and your daily routines. The more you feel and apply it, the more you will grasp the concepts. This will help you to learn how the theory is applied in real-world problems.

Start Feeling It

Cover and hide under the feelings that you are in the exam preparation mood. Your thoughts, your schedules, and your lifestyle should start revolving around it. Make it your center of living.

Author Profile

Aasim Naseem

Hey, Thanks for your interest. I’m a PMP, AWS Solutions Architect, and Scrum Master certified professional with 17+ years of hands-on experience leading projects, building teams, and helping organizations deliver software solutions better, faster, and smarter.

Outside of work, I’ve got a deep curiosity for history — especially ancient civilizations like Egypt. I also enjoy reflecting on the everyday moments that shape how we live and work. This blog is my space to share insights, lessons, and thoughts from both my professional journey and personal interests.

Thanks for reading — and I hope you will find something here that matches your interest.