November last year kicked off with a resounding success! I conquered the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, securing an 'Above Target' score (Yay, Alhamdulillah!) on my very first attempt after just four months of preparation. It's a journey that demanded strategic planning and dedication, especially while juggling a full-time job, like me.

As I reflect on my adventure, I realize that there was a careful strategy that I have planned and applied throughout my learning journey. So here’s my personal insights as we explore each chapter together.

To make this blogpost easier to digest, I am dividing this blogpost into few small chapters of 0-7 :

1. Chapter 0 : An Overview of PMP Journey (Read here)

2. Chapter 1 : Study Strategy (Current blogpost)

3. Chapter 2 : Study Schedule (Read here)

4. Chapter 3 : Study Materials (Read here)

5. Chapter 4 : Study Progress (Read here)

6. Chapter 5 : Study Tips (Read here)

7. Chapter 6 : Exam Prep (Read here)

8. Chapter 7 : Post Exam (Read here)

Now, let’s dive in to an overview of the PMP exam preparations.

Crafting Study Strategy

Crafting a successful study strategy is the cornerstone of PMP preparation. It's not just about hitting the books; it's about developing a comprehensive plan that aligns with your learning style, goals, and available resources.

Understanding the Exam Format:

Before diving into your study materials, take the time to familiarize yourself with the PMP exam format. Understand the structure of the exam, including the number of questions, types of questions (e.g., multiple-choice, scenario-based), and the time allotted for each section. This knowledge will help you tailor your study approach and allocate your time effectively during the exam.

Assessing Your Proficiency

Do a mock test to see where you stand - this can help you figure out what you need to work on.For example, I scored only 35% from the mock test, so I knew I had some serious studying to do!

I did not rush into committing a date for the exam, but rather spent an extra time to strategise my study plan first.

Finding Your Why

Write down study motivator

Ask yourself why you're doing this. What's your end goal? Knowing your motivation will keep you going when the going gets tough.

Anchor the motivation and dive into SMART Goals.

Setting SMART Goals:

Establish clear and achievable goals for your PMP preparation journey. Use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to define your objectives.

For instance, aim to knock out a certain number of study hours per week, hit a specific score on practice exams (I aimed for 75-80% to feel ready for the exam), or master certain knowledge areas by a set deadline (based on my earlier assessment).

Setting SMART goals will keep you motivated and accountable throughout your study process.

Refer image of my version of SMART Goals : Reference

In order for me to see a continuous improvement and progress, I created my learning rating outcome :

Rating Outcome

Creating a Study Plan:

Once you've got your goals locked in, it's time to make a plan. Break down your study sessions into bite-sized chunks and schedule in review and practice time. Be real about your schedule and tweak it as you go.

But before you do that, map out your study roadmap to keep your eyes on the prize. Divide your study journey into phases, set milestones, and keep yourself motivated.

I've broken down my journey into 4 phases:

1. Phase 1: Get all my resources together and do a deep dive into the PMP syllabus.

2. Phase 2: Study the PMP exam inside and out.

3. Phase 3: Get into mock simulations and analyze my errors and successes.

4. Phase 4: Wrap up my study notes and get ready to crush exam day.

Reference : Watch Youtube Here

Making the Most of Your Resources

Explore a bunch of different study materials to support your goals. Think textbooks, online courses, videos, practice exams, flashcards, and study groups. Find what works for you and don't be afraid to ask questions and get stuck into the PMP community for advice.

We'll dive deeper into this in later chapters of this blog series.

That's it for this week, folks. Catch you in the next chapter of #WawaPMPJourney!

Catch you later, and remember, “Everything is Workable!”"