I’m still riding the high from seeing that “Congratulations” message flash across the screen. I just passed my PMP exam in-person with a T/T/AT (Target/Target/Above Target) score, and I wanted to share my journey while it’s still fresh. My background is in Human Resources, so I didn’t come from a traditional project management role. For me, projects were things that happened alongside my primary duties, without the formal structure or terminology of the PMBOK® Guide. The path was challenging, filled with moments of serious self-doubt and more than a few tears shed over practice questions. But if I can do it, I know you can too. This guide is my way of paying it forward and hopefully making your path a little bit clearer.
Table of Contents
1. Self-introduction and personal background
My professional life has been rooted in HR for nearly a decade. I’ve managed internal projects like implementing new HR software, rolling out company-wide policy changes, and organizing annual performance review cycles. I was what you might call an “accidental project manager.” I was good at organizing tasks and communicating with stakeholders, but I always felt like I was missing a foundational framework. I didn’t know the formal processes, the correct terminology, or the established best practices. I saw colleagues with PMP credentials leading initiatives with a confidence and structure that I aspired to have. My experience was practical but unstructured, and I knew that to advance my career and take on more significant, strategic roles, I needed to bridge that gap between my informal experience and the globally recognized standard of project management.
2. Why did I take this exam?
My decision to pursue the PMP certification was driven by a desire for professional validation and growth. In my HR role, I was increasingly tasked with leading cross-functional teams on complex initiatives. While I could get the job done, I often felt like I was reinventing the wheel on every project. I lacked a systematic approach to planning, managing risk, and engaging stakeholders effectively.
I saw the PMP as more than just letters after my name; I saw it as a toolkit. It was an opportunity to learn a structured methodology that I could apply to make my projects more efficient and successful. I wanted to speak the same language as the dedicated project managers in my organization and contribute to strategic conversations with greater credibility. Furthermore, I knew the certification would open doors to leadership opportunities, not just within HR but across the entire organization. It was a strategic investment in my skills and my future, a way to formalize the experience I had and equip myself with the knowledge to lead with true authority and competence.
3. The exam journey, or exam preparation process, or exam strategy
My exam journey was a rollercoaster. It began with me trying to find the right training to earn my 35 contact hours. I initially tried a few different self-paced video courses, but I found listening to hours of lectures wasn’t engaging for my learning style.
My first structured step was enrolling in a PMI-Authorized 3-week course I found on the PMI website. It provided accountability and access to instructors who could answer questions, which was helpful. However, the learning portal felt outdated, and for the high price tag, I’m not sure it provided the value I expected. The practice tests contained older PMP questions, which, while challenging, didn’t appear on my actual exam.
After completing the course in December, I was approved to take the exam and scheduled my in-person test for February 10th. This gave me about a month for focused, intensive study. That’s when I turned my full attention to PMI Study Hall. Let me be clear: Study Hall is designed to humble you. The questions are tough, often trickier and more convoluted than the real exam. There were days I’d score poorly on a practice quiz and spend hours on Reddit comparing my scores to others, just trying to find reassurance.
Alongside Study Hall, I built my own “master guide.” I compiled all my key learnings into a single binder—notes on processes, visual aids for concepts, and, most importantly, the principles of the project manager mindset. I found that having everything in one physical place was a game-changer. I would review this binder constantly, even on the morning of the exam. This homemade guide became my single source of truth.
If I had to do it all over again, my strategy would be simpler: find a basic course to understand the fundamentals and earn the 35 PDUs, then dive headfirst into PMI Study Hall and dedicate every single day to it. The key is mastering the mindset. The exam doesn’t just test what you know; it tests how you think as a project leader. The correct answer almost always boiled down to analyzing the situation, collaborating with the team, and communicating with stakeholders.
4. Exam-taking advice
First and foremost, trust your Study Hall scores. The real exam felt significantly more straightforward. I was scoring between 72% and 80% (without Expert questions) on my full-length Study Hall exams. If you are consistently scoring above 70%, you are in excellent shape. My advice is to completely IGNORE the “Expert” questions in Study Hall. They are unnecessarily complex and will only damage your confidence. Focus on mastering the Easy, Moderate, and Difficult questions.
Endurance is critical. Staring at a screen for nearly four hours is mentally draining. You must build up your stamina. At least two weeks before your exam, take multiple full-length, 180-question practice exams. Simulate the real experience by taking your two 10-minute breaks after the first and second blocks of 60 questions. Use these breaks to stretch, drink water, and eat a quick snack. You’ll need the energy.
On exam day, the clock is your biggest enemy. Those 230 minutes disappear incredibly fast. I wrote “230 / 180 / Breathe” on my whiteboard as a reminder to manage my time across the three sections (roughly 75 minutes per section) and to stay calm. I finished with 45 minutes to spare, but that time was spent anxiously re-reading questions. Fight the urge to second-guess yourself too much. Trust your initial instinct if it’s based on the PMP mindset.
5. SPOTO dumps helped me with my exams
After grinding through the official material and feeling humbled by Study Hall, I wanted a final confidence check. I needed to see how my knowledge would hold up against a different set of questions that were designed to mirror the real exam experience. That’s when I decided to use SPOTO’s PMP exam questions as my final validation tool.
Using SPOTO in the last couple of weeks was invaluable. Their questions captured the situational ambiguity of the real exam perfectly. It wasn’t about memorizing answers; it was the ultimate test of my ability to apply the servant-leader mindset under pressure. Working through the SPOTO questions helped solidify my understanding, calmed my pre-exam jitters, and gave me the final boost I needed. I walked into the testing center feeling prepared not just on the content, but on the style of the exam. It was the perfect final step to my preparation.
6. Encouragement for other candidates
I know how stressful this process is. I see the posts from people who seem to pass effortlessly, and I remember how much that magnified my own anxiety. Please, do not compare your journey to anyone else’s. I cut out everything—the gym, seeing friends, any semblance of a social life—to dedicate myself to studying. I was completely overwhelmed.
But I promise you, the hard work pays off. The feeling of seeing that passing score is worth every single sacrifice. Trust the process. Put in the hours. Master the mindset that you are a problem-solver who empowers your team. You are more prepared than you think you are. Stay dedicated, believe in your ability to succeed, and walk into that exam room with confidence. You can and you will do this!
P.S. I wore head-to-toe blue for good luck—yoga pants, jacket, everything. Maybe it’ll work for you too! You’ve got this! 💪
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