AT/AT/AT First Attempt; Simple studying.
Hi all. I passed on Friday and I was shocked. This Reddit was so helpful!!! Didn’t wear blue, didn’t read or watch AR. My job pays for exam, so I studied the best I could under my circumstances. And thought well I’ll use this as practice, and go back and take test again. [My circumstances - 2 small children, unsupportive husband, demanding job, started very small business in my home country].
Background: PM by name in Healthcare, but I don’t use any Agile, have no official training in PM. I just make sure projects are completed, and I’m really organized (at work lol).
Here is what I did:
Intro course to PM via American Management Association. I was so lost, but kind of understood basic concepts. (December 2024)
35 hour course via AMA again. Didn’t get much clarity, didn’t pay much attention (my job had me working while I was taking course 🤦🏽♀️). June 2025.
November 2025, Applied to qualify, December 2025 registered for Exam in March.
Started studying in Feb DM video about PMBOK 6 overview. I couldn’t get through video at all, I noticed my ADHD is so bad. Got SH plus, Started taking exams, averaging 40-60 on practice questions, same on Practice Exams. Decided to post pone exam, to May. While taking practice questions and tests I read every right and wrong answer.
April started studying. Decided to purchase Third3 Rock Study notes. THIS IS ALL I READ. It’s 178 pages, surprisingly i finished it! It’s to the point, and drills into your head what to look for to answer the question, or at least Eliminate 2 answer choices. Noticed that all the questions I got wrong made sense.
About 3/4 into the notes started taking practice questions again. Fared better about 70% started doing much better once I finished the notes. I only had about 2 hours every night to study. Starting about 3 weeks before exam. I either read the notes or did questions every night, like half asleep. Also, any free time in the day I did practice questions.
Mindset part really important. Started watching AR mindset, but couldn’t finish it. Learned I can’t do videos to study. lol
Took my only full test exam night before actual test, and got a 74%. Did feel confident but again, wasn’t expecting to pass.
Day of - made sure to follow the rule 180 - 155 - 80 rule. I had 3 mins to spare at the end to review questions. First part I was so confident, second, not so much, third part I for sure thought I failed. But I passed!
I passed AT in all 3.
To summarize:
Read/watch/learn basics
MINDSET is everything. Learn how to eliminate answers.
Learn Agile
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & do the PRACTICE TESTS; read why you got answers right or wrong.
Read or PRATICE everyday.
During test be careful of time.
Day of test:
- Don’t wear complicated clothing. No earrings jewelry nothing. This is Most important when you come back from break. You don’t want to spend so much time doing the pat down.
2 break is 10 min, but only take like 5. Security leaving test and coming back is crazy, took so long!
You got this!