Hey everyone!
Just wanted to share my PMP exam experience, especially for those who are preparing for the new 2026 version or are nervous about taking it.
I took my first exam on July 3rd and unfortunately didn't pass. My results were:
- Business Environment: Above Target (AT)
- Process: Below Target (BT)
- People: Above Target (T)
I retook the exam yesterday, October 15, and PASSED WITH ABOVE TARGET IN ALL THREE DOMAINS!! 🎉
And honestly, having experienced both exams, I wanted to share a few things.
1. The new exam felt MUCH easier to me
Seriously, MUCH easier.
Of course, I studied a lot more for my second attempt, so that probably played a big role. But even taking that into consideration, I felt a huge difference between the two exams.
My first exam felt extremely focused on memorization, terminology, and knowing very specific concepts by name.
This one felt much more practical and connected to the real world. The questions were about actual situations a project manager would face, and the answers felt much clearer and more logical.
There was definitely still terminology involved, but I felt like I was being tested on my ability to manage projects rather than just memorize definitions.
Maybe it's just my perception, but the difference was HUGE.
2. Exam structure and question types
My exam was divided into three sections:
- Questions 1–40: Mostly long case studies, followed by a 10-minute break.
- Questions 41–110: 70 questions, followed by another 10-minute break.
- Questions 111–180: The final 70 questions.
The first section had some REALLY long business cases.
My biggest tip: READ THE ACTUAL QUESTION FIRST!
Seriously, don't waste time reading an entire massive case study before you even know what you're looking for.
Go straight to the question at the end, understand what they're asking, and then go back and skim the case to find the relevant information.
Obviously, don't completely ignore the scenario because sometimes the answer is hidden in the details. But reading everything word for word right from the beginning can be a huge waste of time.
The second and third sections were completely different for me. Most questions were much shorter, more direct, and easier to understand.
I also had:
- A drag-and-drop question about identifying risks vs. issues.
- Quite a few charts and graph interpretation questions.
- Some performance index questions where you had to interpret the information and decide what action to take.
- ZERO calculations. Not a single one.
Obviously, this was just my experience, so your exam might be different.
3. AI questions
I had quite a few questions related to AI, and honestly, I found them pretty straightforward.
Most were about how AI should be used in project management, validating AI-generated information, not blindly trusting outputs, using AI for automation, etc.
Nothing particularly complicated. Mostly common sense and understanding how to use AI responsibly in real project situations.
4. TIME MANAGEMENT IS EVERYTHING
This is probably my biggest takeaway from both attempts.
During my first exam, I spent WAY too much time on the earlier questions. By the time I reached the final section, I was rushing through everything because I was running out of time.
This time, I was much more conscious of the clock and actually finished with 12 minutes remaining!
My advice is to keep track of your time throughout the exam, especially when you reach each break.
Before starting your break, check how much time you have left. That way, you can estimate how much time you can afford to spend per question in the next section.
Don't get stuck on one question for too long. Make your best decision and move on.
I genuinely feel that time management is one of the hardest parts of the PMP exam.
5. Final thoughts
If you're preparing for the exam and feeling nervous, TRUST YOUR PREPARATION!
I know how frustrating it is to fail the first attempt. But I also want to say that, at least in my experience, the new exam felt much more logical, practical, and focused on real project management.
If you've studied and understand the concepts, a lot of the questions become pretty intuitive.
And PLEASE, manage your time. I can't stress that enough!
Good luck to everyone ❤️