This is the 35-point checklist I give my own PMP students. Work through it from top to bottom: when every box is ticked and you are scoring 75% or higher on full practice exams, you are ready to sit the exam.
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Eligibility and application
- ☐ 01. Confirm you meet the experience requirement for your education level. Use the free PMP Eligibility Checker if you are unsure.
- ☐ 02. Complete your 35 contact hours of project management education, or hold an active CAPM.
- ☐ 03. Decide whether to join PMI before you apply. Members pay a lower exam fee.
- ☐ 04. Write each project description in PMI's structure: objective, outcome, your role, responsibilities and deliverables.
- ☐ 05. Keep evidence of your experience and education ready in case your application is audited.
- ☐ 06. Submit the application and note the one-year eligibility window once it is approved.
- ☐ 07. Book your exam date, at a test centre or online, as soon as you are approved so you have a fixed deadline.
Study plan and resources
- ☐ 08. Download the current PMP Exam Content Outline from PMI and use it as your syllabus.
- ☐ 09. Choose one main prep course and one question bank. Avoid collecting too many resources.
- ☐ 10. Set a study plan of 8 to 12 weeks with fixed weekly study hours in your calendar.
- ☐ 11. Read the PMBOK Guide and the Agile Practice Guide alongside your course, not instead of it.
- ☐ 12. Keep one notes document of your mistakes and the reason behind each correct answer.
- ☐ 13. Tell your manager and family your exam date so your study time is protected.
- ☐ 14. Review progress every week and shift time to your weakest domain.
Knowledge coverage
- ☐ 15. Understand the three domains, People, Process and Business Environment, and their current weightings.
- ☐ 16. Know predictive, agile and hybrid approaches and when each one fits.
- ☐ 17. Master servant leadership, team development and conflict resolution for the People domain.
- ☐ 18. Know the earned value formulas (CV, SV, CPI, SPI, EAC, ETC, VAC, TCPI) and what each result means.
- ☐ 19. Practise critical path, float and schedule compression calculations.
- ☐ 20. Be comfortable with risk responses for threats and opportunities, and with integrated change control.
- ☐ 21. Understand stakeholder engagement, communication planning and the channels formula n(n−1)/2.
Practice and readiness
- ☐ 22. Complete at least 500 practice questions across all three domains.
- ☐ 23. Read every explanation, including for the questions you answered correctly.
- ☐ 24. Take at least two full-length, timed mock exams in one sitting.
- ☐ 25. Score 75% or higher on full practice exams before you sit the real exam.
- ☐ 26. Practise the PMI mindset: assess the situation, collaborate and follow the process before escalating.
- ☐ 27. Practise multiple response, matching and hotspot questions, not only multiple choice.
- ☐ 28. Plan your pace per question and when you will take your optional breaks.
Exam day
- ☐ 29. Check that the name on your ID matches your PMI application exactly.
- ☐ 30. For an online exam, run the system check and prepare a clear, quiet room in advance.
- ☐ 31. For a test centre, plan your route and arrive early.
- ☐ 32. Sleep well and stop heavy studying the day before.
- ☐ 33. Read each question for what it actually asks, especially words like first, best and next.
- ☐ 34. Flag hard questions, move on and come back rather than losing time.
- ☐ 35. After you pass, note your certification cycle and start logging PDUs for renewal.
Free tools to help you tick these off
- PMP Eligibility Checker for points 1 to 3
- Free PMP Study Guide for your study plan
- 200 Free PMP Practice Questions for points 22 to 27
- EVM Calculator and Critical Path Calculator for points 18 and 19
- PMP Cost Guide and PMP Renewal Guide
Check current fees, exam format and eligibility rules on pmi.org before you apply. PMP and PMBOK are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.