I’m happy to share that I passed the PMP exam on my first attempt (Above Target in both People and Process Domains, Below in Business). The Business Environment domains was a surprise for me as during the exams simulations it was always Above Target... .
My preparation lasted around three months, with a three-week break in between. I mainly relied on the PrepCast, the PMP Exam Simulator, the PM Formulas guide, and the StudyCoach.
The Exam Simulator quickly became my reference point. I worked through all the questions, and each time I reviewed my mistakes carefully to understand what I was missing. That process was just as valuable as getting the answers right. One tip that helped me a lot: if you’re not 100% sure about a question, mark it and come back later — the explanations will really deepen your understanding.
Over time, I grew more confident and consistently scored above 80% on quizzes and exams, often finishing under three hours.
On exam day, though, it was a different story. I needed almost the full 3h53, and I really had to manage my time in the last hour. Another surprise was the wording — the real exam used more ambiguous phrases than the simulator, which required extra focus.
Looking back, I strongly recommend the Exam Simulator and the PM Formulas, alongside the PrepCast. They were critical factors in my success. The simulator, in particular, is a must-have — not only for practicing questions, but for training your mindset, your time management, and your exam endurance. The PM Formulas is so interesting, giving good understanding and confidence.
I'm French and I didn't hesitate when selecting the PMP exam language. The preparation went so well in English , that I choose English as exam language. For me it would have been a huge mistake to prepare fir the certification in English and then pass the certification in an other language.
Thanks Cornelius for the valuable preparation.
