u/quidagishodie

• I initially started studying for the PMP in 2024 and just sort of trailed off; I had AR's book (which is, I think, still fantastic) and his Udemy 35 hour course (worth it for the downloads)
• When AR published his updated guide, I ordered a copy from Amazon but it became clear that was not going to work (I hope it works now for folks)
• Instead, I paid ~$18 for the Third3Rock notes: 199 pages of easy to read, succinct material with really helpful charts -- it also comes with an abridged cheat sheet; if you can't get the updated version of AR's book, get this. I printed out all the pages, put them in a binder and spent about 10 days reading and annotating
• I also got Study Hall essentials -- 63 & 71 on the two mocks, and much higher scores on the minis (about 5 100s, 2 60s, and then 80s and 90s); the content is absurd, but the games and tests are super useful
• Ultimately, though, and it can't be emphasized enough, understanding and applying the PMP Mindset is the whole ballgame: you're in the ideal world of PMI now, so you have to think the way they do
• I took the test at the local Pearson center and it was fine (chairs had no arms which was not comfortable)
• There are errors and typos in the questions -- I used the comments feature to note them and called them out in the post exam survey; just be prepared because you can be on a roll, in the zone and then encounter a question with an error and typo and be thrown; just breathe and think, you'll be okay
• The test is, probably, 20-30% easier than the Study Hall tests; for me, the stumbling block continues to be the torturous phrasing and wordiness of the questions. The Case Studies in particular were LONG -- 6-7 paragraphs full of a lot of random info and only 1-2 pieces of useful information.
• Use the tools in the testing app: strikethough and highlight -- slow down, get rid of answers you know are wrong and then apply the PMP Mindset; I tend to read from the last answer up
• I'm a fast reader (English BA for the win!) so I was done, with all breaks taken, in about 2.5 hours

Anyway, good luck to everyone taking the test this year!