PMP Pass Review Part 1: 7 Weeks of Prep, Study Hall Scores in the 60s, and a PASS

Hello! On Friday, July 3, 2026, I took the PMP exam and passed.

While I was preparing, I read pass stories from Korean PMP communities and Reddit r/PMP almost every day. Did people with Study Hall scores like mine pass? How hard was the real exam? What should I bring on the day? Those posts helped me more than I can say.

After months of reading other people's stories, writing my own feels a little strange, and very good. Three months after the exam, I went back through my inbox, pulled out every receipt and email, and rebuilt this post from scratch. If you're worried about your scores or not sure where to start, I hope it works as a small map.

In three lines — I prepared for about seven weeks and passed on July 3, 2026, 32 days after submitting my application. All I paid was $53.90 for Study Hall and $445.50 for the exam (PMI membership not included), and Study Hall Essentials was the only question bank I needed. My mock exams came in at 66% and 65%, with an overall average of about 62%, and I still passed.

My PMP journey at a glance

From the day I applied to my first PDU, here are the dates straight from my inbox.

1. 2026.06.01

   Joined PMI · bought Study Hall · submitted the application

   Study Hall Essentials $49 + $4.90 tax

2. 2026.06.09

   Application approved (no audit)

   About 8 days after submitting

3. 2026.06.12

   Paid the exam fee

   Member price $405 + $40.50 tax = $445.50

4. 2026.06.13

   Eligibility email · booked with Pearson VUE

   Booked 33 minutes after the eligibility email arrived

5. 2026.07.03

   Passed the PMP

   Pearson VUE center in central Seoul, exam taken in Korean

6. 2026.07.04

   Certification email from PMI

   The Credly digital badge follows within one to two weeks

7. 2026.09.03

   First PDU claim approved

   1.00 PDU for watching a PMI webinar

On paper, it was just over a month from application (June 1) to exam (July 3). Approval took 8 days, and I booked my seat in the small hours of the day after I paid. I walk through the application, approval, payment and Pearson VUE booking, with the real emails, in Part 3: From PMP application to Pearson VUE booking. If documenting your experience or a possible audit worries you, start with Part 4.

My results in one table

Item	Details
Exam date	Friday, July 3, 2026, 10:15 a.m.
Format	Pearson VUE test center in central Seoul, exam in Korean
Prep time	About 7 weeks
Main materials	Online course, PMI Study Hall Essentials, error log
Study Hall Full Mock 1	66%
Study Hall Full Mock 2	65%
Study Hall overall average	About 62%
Extra tools	ChatGPT, NotebookLM
Amount paid	$499.40 (Study Hall + exam fee, membership not included)
Result	PASS

What the PMP actually cost me

Search for "PMP cost" and you'll find every number under the sun: different currencies, member and non-member prices mixed together, prices before tax. So here is only what my order emails say.

Item	Date	Price	Tax	Total
PMI Study Hall Essentials (3-month subscription)	2026.06.01	$49.00	$4.90	$53.90
PMP exam fee (member price)	2026.06.12	$405.00	$40.50	$445.50
Total		$454.00	$45.40	$499.40

Both times, tax added 10% to the price (I paid from Korea). Since I paid in US dollars, the final amount in Korean won depended on my card's exchange rate.

Order email for Study Hall Essentials, June 1, 2026: $49 plus $4.90 tax, $53.90 in total. Order number hidden.

Order email for the PMP exam fee, June 12, 2026: member price $405 plus $40.50 tax, $445.50 in total. Order number hidden.

Membership is extra, and it pays for itself

That table leaves out PMI membership. I joined on June 1. Today (October 2026) the list price in PMI's store for Korea is $139. That's the current price, not the amount on my receipt.

The math still favors joining:

• Exam: $405 for members vs. $655 for non-members in Korea. That's $250 off a single attempt, so even after $139 for membership you're $111 ahead.
• Retake: $275 vs. $375, another $100.
• Renewal every three years: $60 vs. $150.
• The PMBOKPMBOKProject Management Body of Knowledge: A collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines compiled by the PMI.Read More → Guide 8th edition PDF is free for members.

Prices vary by region. In PMI's US store, for example, the exam is $425 for members and $675 for non-members, and membership is $164. I show PMI's price screen and the order I did things in Part 3.

Study Hall Essentials was the only question bank I needed

Sooner or later, every PMP candidate wonders how many question banks to buy. My answer: one. I used PMI's own Study Hall Essentials on a three-month subscription, and it was enough.

When I subscribed, Essentials included two full-length practice exams (Full Mocks), 15 mini exams and 200 extra questions. Taking both Full Mocks under timed conditions and turning every miss into an error-log entry is plenty of work on its own. Because PMI writes the questions, the format is close to the real exam. That said, as I explain in Part 2, the real thing felt a lot harder on the day.

I paid for three months on June 1 and sat the exam on July 3, so I used roughly a third of the subscription. The rest simply ran out, and it expired on September 1.

The "Your Online Tools" page in myPMI. The three-month Study Hall Essentials subscription I bought on June 1 expired on September 1, 2026.

If you're buying Study Hall now

Prices and contents have changed a little since then (as of October 2026):

Plan	Price	What you get
Essentials	$59 per 3 months	2 full practice exams (180 questions each), 10 mini exams, 330 extra questions
Plus	$79 per 3 months	3 full practice exams

Members and non-members pay the same, and Study Hall is English only. If you need a translation, PMI points you to the Google Translate browser extension. I still think Essentials is enough. Two mocks done properly and reviewed carefully beat a bigger pile of practice exams.

Scores in the 60s can still pass

My Study Hall scores: 66% on Full Mock 1, 65% on Full Mock 2, and an overall average of about 62%. The result: PASS.

Honestly, those numbers didn't reassure me at all while I was studying. The more high-score pass stories I read, the louder the question got: "Should I really sit the exam with these scores?" So if you're in the same spot, let me say this first. You can pass with scores in the 60s. I did.

The result sheet I received at the Pearson VUE center right after the exam. Overall: PASS. By domain: People Below Target, Process Target, Business Environment Above Target.

People came back Below Target, and I still passed overall. That's just my result, though. It doesn't mean you can work out PMI's passing line from the domain ratings.

Three things that mattered more than the score

Looking back, what mattered most wasn't the number. It was figuring out which habits of thinking kept making me pick the wrong answer. These three questions told me more about my readiness than any score did:

• Am I missing fewer questions for the same reason?
• Can I explain my reasoning without memorizing answers?
• Can I stay focused for the full length of the exam?

Of course, my scores aren't a passing standard for anyone else. The link between Study Hall scores and real results differs from person to person. Still, a number in the low-to-mid 60s is no reason to write off all your preparation.

A wrong answer isn't a verdict that you're not ready. It's a question you now get one more chance to answer correctly before the real exam.

How I studied in seven weeks

My preparation fell into four stages. First, a quick word on what kind of exam the PMP is and why I chose to sit the old version.

What kind of exam is the PMP?

The PMP (Project Management Professional) is a project management certification run by PMI (Project Management Institute). It isn't tied to one industry or one methodology. It tests whether you can handle people, processes and business priorities while leading a project.

It's not a test of how much of the PMBOKPMBOKProject Management Body of Knowledge: A collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines compiled by the PMI.Read More → Guide you've memorized. Most questions describe a situation that could easily happen on a real project and ask what the project manager should do first or next. So learning the order in which to look at a problem, and the attitude PMI expects from a PM, mattered far more than memorizing terms.

To apply, you need a set amount of project experience depending on your education (36 months with a bachelor's degree) plus 35 hours of project management training. I cover eligibility and how to write up your experience in Part 4, and how the PMP compares with CAPM and PMI-ACP in Part 10: PMP vs CAPM vs PMI-ACP.

Why I sat the old exam after seven weeks

I started out planning to take the new exam, so I took my time, and I studied with the PMBOKPMBOKProject Management Body of Knowledge: A collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines compiled by the PMI.Read More → Guide 8th edition.

Then I finished my online course faster than expected, and there were still dates available before the switch. The core principles I'd learned carried over to the old exam just fine, so instead of stretching out my prep, I decided to focus and sit the exam that was live at the time.

The key wasn't that I'd read the newest book. It was that I checked my study against the Exam Content Outline (ECO) and question types of the exam I was actually going to take. Don't decide based on which edition your textbook is. Check the official outline that applies on your exam date first. I also compare the 7th and 8th editions of the PMBOKPMBOKProject Management Body of Knowledge: A collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines compiled by the PMI.Read More → Guide in Part 5.

Stage 1: Get the big picture from an online course

I didn't try to memorize every detail of the PMBOKPMBOKProject Management Body of Knowledge: A collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines compiled by the PMI.Read More → Guide at the start. Through an online course, I got the big picture first: how predictive, agile and hybrid approaches differ, and what role the PM plays in each situation.

On weekdays, I listened to at least a little after work. On days with energy to spare, I binged several lessons; on tiring days, I finished just one short section. Weekends were for reviewing the week's lessons or doing questions.

I've never been someone who can sit and study for hours after work. So instead of hitting a perfect daily target, I focused on having fewer days where I did nothing at all.

An online course was enough for me. At first I wondered whether I needed an expensive in-person class, but building the framework online and then working through Study Hall questions and analyzing my mistakes suited me well. Finishing a course didn't teach me to pick the right option under exam conditions. I got better in the hours I spent answering questions, getting them wrong, and rethinking how I'd decided.

One heads-up for anyone applying soon: from December 1, 2026, the rules for the 35 training hours change. Live classes will only count if they come from a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP) or an accredited higher-education program, while self-paced online courses from any provider still count. Books or practice exams alone never count.

Stage 2: Learn PMI's way of judging with Study Hall

After the basic course, Study Hall was what I used most. Each question showed me right away whether I didn't know a concept, had misread the question, or was escalating too quickly.

At first I only counted correct answers. A low score meant I hadn't studied enough, and reading high-score reviews only made me more anxious. But the more questions I did, the clearer it became that the same score could hide very different information:

• Questions I missed because I didn't know the concept
• Questions where I missed the point of FIRST, NEXT or BEST
• Questions where I assumed things the question never said
• Questions where I went straight to the sponsor or senior management
• Questions where I tried to replace someone before talking to the team
• Questions where I acted on a change before analyzing its impact

Once I sorted my mistakes like this, my score stopped being a report card and became a guide to what to study next.

Stage 3: Survive four hours with a Full Mock

My Full Mock scores were 66% and 65%, as above. But I didn't treat the Full Mocks only as a way to predict whether I'd pass. I used them to check whether I could stay focused for that long, where my pace dropped, and whether I could get back into the questions after a break.

The PMP tests stamina and time management as much as knowledge. If you only ever do short question sets, the exam is the first time you'll feel that kind of fatigue. Before the real thing, time yourself and take a Full Mock from start to finish at least once. I describe spending 80 minutes on the first 60 questions in Part 2.

Stage 4: Error log over new questions

As the exam got closer, I stopped adding many new questions. Instead, I went back over the ones I'd missed and tried to answer two questions:

"Why did I choose this option?"

"Why is this answer better than the others from PMI's point of view?"

When I memorized the right answer, I got it wrong again as soon as a similar question used slightly different words. When I could explain my reasoning, I could apply the same principle to questions I'd never seen. This made the biggest difference of anything I did. My error-log format and a free Word template are in Part 6: PMP error log.

GPT and NotebookLM: study partners, not answer keys

I also used ChatGPT and NotebookLM a lot. Rather than letting AI pick answers for me, I used it as a review partner that explained and compared what I thought I understood. In ChatGPT, I set up a separate project called "PMP 시험공부" (PMP exam study) to keep my error notes and concept questions in one place.

• Comparing two confusing concepts in a table
• Explaining the reasoning behind my answer and having it question my hidden assumptions
• Sorting my mistakes into concept gaps, misreading and Mindset errors
• Having complex concepts re-explained with real project examples
• Turning my notes into short review questions

Instead of asking for the right answer, I asked things like this:

I decided the PM should report to the sponsor immediately in this situation.
Find the assumptions hidden in my reasoning,
and ask me what I should check first from PMI's point of view.
Don't give me the answer; help me decide again on my own.

In NotebookLM, I collected my error notes and review material and used it to find themes that kept coming up. My notebook grew to 155 sources and hit the source limit. The Korean audio overviews (Deep Dives) it generated ran about 12 to 24 minutes each, a good length for one episode per commute. NotebookLM has since been renamed Gemini Notebook (July 2026).

What I mostly used it for:

• Summarizing only the mindset points I kept missing
• Reviewing agile and predictive situations separately
• Comparing confusing topics, like change management vs. conflict management
• Making a short checklist to review right before the exam

When sources pile up, it gets harder to tell what the AI based its answer on. So I kept official material with clear sources and notes I'd checked myself at the center. My ChatGPT setup and NotebookLM notebook are in Part 7, and commute study plus a vocabulary list in Part 8.

The PMP Mindset that helped on exam day

I didn't treat the PMP Mindset as a formula that always applies. Ethics, legal issues, safety and urgent risks can call for immediate action. But in everyday conflict or change scenarios, this order helped me decide:

1. Understand the situation and the cause before acting.
2. If the team can solve it, talk to the team first.
3. Don't escalate or hand it to the sponsor right away.
4. Try coaching, collaboration and conflict resolution before replacing anyone.
5. Look for the root cause, not just the symptoms.
6. Handle change requests through the formal process after analyzing the impact.
7. Support the team and remove obstacles rather than controlling them.

On the real exam, several options often looked reasonable. In those moments, the answer that "understands the situation and helps the team solve it" usually beat the answer that "takes the strongest action right now."

After the PASS

The day after the exam, July 4, at 3:33 a.m. Korean time, PMI's email confirming my PMP arrived. I already knew from the result sheet, but this was PMI's first official congratulations.

The certification email I received on July 4, 2026. It says the Credly digital badge will arrive separately within one to two weeks.

The PMP has to be renewed every three years, which means earning 60 PDUs per cycle. On August 31, I watched the PMI webinar "Why Some Projects Fail: The Sponsor's Role," and my first PDU claim, 1.00 PDU, was approved on September 3. My plan for reaching 60 PDUs is in Part 11: My 3-year, 60-PDU plan.

The story continues after the exam, too. I write about what actually changed in my day-to-day work in Part 12, why I think the PMP is even more powerful for people who aren't PMs in Part 13, and whether the PMP is worth it, salary and hiring included, in Part 14. These days I'm also a member of the PMI Korea Chapter's education committee; that story is in Part 15.

The full series

The PMP Roadmap covers everything from application to passing and beyond in 15 parts. Feel free to jump to whatever you need.

My pass story and the application

1. PMP Pass Review Part 1: 7 Weeks of Prep, Study Hall Scores in the 60s, and a PASS (you're here)
2. PMP Pass Review Part 2: Time Management on Exam Day and Final Tips for Passing
3. From PMP Application to Pearson VUE Booking: Applied June 1, Booked June 13 (Real Emails)
4. Writing Up Your PMP Experience and Handling an Audit: Applied June 1, Approved June 9

Understanding the exam and how to study

5. Everything That Changed in the 2026 PMP Exam, Plus PMBOK 7th vs 8th Edition
6. PMP Error Log: 6 Steps to Turn Wrong Answers into Judgment Rules (+ Free Word Template)
7. GPT for Concepts, NotebookLM Audio for the Commute: My PMP AI Study Routine
8. PMP Study on Your Commute: Short, Frequent Sessions (+ My PMP Vocabulary List)
9. How to Prepare for PMP Case-Study Questions: Reading and Solving the New 2026 Format

Choosing and keeping the certification

10. PMP vs CAPM vs PMI-ACP: Which One Fits You? (2026 Comparison)
11. My 3-Year, 60-PDU Plan to Keep the PMP, Starting with My First Approved PDU

After the PMP

12. What Changed at Work After the PMP: Not My Title, but How I Talk
13. The PMP May Matter Most for Non-PMs: When Developers and Designers Think Like PMs
14. Is the PMP Worth It? An Honest Look at Work, Salary and Hiring
15. From Reading Other People's PMP Stories to the PMI Korea Chapter's Education Committee

Closing Part 1

Over those seven weeks, what changed most wasn't how much I'd memorized. It was the order in which I looked at a problem. Check the situation before acting, talk before replacing people, analyze the impact before changing anything: little by little, it became a habit.

In the next post, I go from the moment I walked into the Pearson VUE center to the 80 minutes I spent on the first 60 questions (and the wobble that came with it), the 10-minute breaks, snacks and stretching, and how I managed time in the final section.

Keep reading: PMP Pass Review Part 2: Time Management on Exam Day and Final Tips for Passing

Frequently asked questions

Is PMI Study Hall enough to pass the PMP?+

It was for me. Study Hall Essentials on a three-month subscription was my only question bank, and it includes two full-length practice exams plus mini exams. I learned the concepts from an online course and spent the rest of my time reviewing mocks and keeping an error log. As of October 2026, Essentials costs $59 for three months.

What Study Hall score do you need to pass the PMP?+

I can only share my own experience. I passed with 66% and 65% on the two full mock exams and an overall Study Hall average of about 62%. That is not a promise that those scores will pass for you. I paid more attention to whether I was missing fewer questions for the same reason than to the score itself.

How much does the PMP cost in total?+

I paid $53.90 for Study Hall Essentials (tax included) and $445.50 for the exam (the $405 member price plus $40.50 tax), so $499.40 in total. PMI membership is extra: the current list price in the Korea store is $139 as of October 2026. I left out course fees because they vary widely.

Do I need a PMI membership to take the PMP?+

No, but it saves money. In Korea the exam costs $405 for members and $655 for non-members, a $250 difference, while membership is $139. Retakes ($275 vs. $375) and renewal every three years ($60 vs. $150) are cheaper too, and members get the PMBOKPMBOKProject Management Body of Knowledge: A collection of processes, best practices, terminologies, and guidelines compiled by the PMI.Read More → Guide 8th edition PDF for free.

How long does it take to study for the PMP?+

I prepared for about seven weeks: a little of the course after work on weekdays, review and practice questions on weekends. The paperwork side, from submitting my application on June 1 to the exam on July 3, took 32 days. How long you need depends on your experience and how comfortable you are with English.

Sources

• PMI: Project Management Professional (PMP)
• 2026 PMP Examination Content Outline (PDF)
• PMI blog: the PMP exam change (July 10, 2026)
• PMI Certification Handbook (PDF)
• PMI Study Hall Essentials
• PMBOK Guide
• PMI CCR Handbook (PDF)