Cliann SmithManagement| Waste ManagementWestlake, FL, United States
Hey PMI Community! I failed my first attempt at the PMP exam. I reset all my practice exams/ questions in study hall, started watching David McLachlan's YouTube videos and jumped right back in to studying so I don't lose momentum. In doing so, now while I'm taking the practices over again I'm doing worse than before and trying my best not to get discouraged. Not sure where to go from here. All suggestions are welcomed. Congrats to all those who have passed this year!!
Melvin NocheFunctional Manager| GoogleSunnyvale, Ca, United States
Hi Cliann, first, thank you for being open about this. Failing the PMP on the first attempt is far more common than people admit, and it does not mean you are incapable or unprepared. What you are experiencing right now is also very common. After a fail, scores often dip before they improve again. That is not regression. It is your brain recalibrating.
A few important points and a practical reset plan:
Do not immediately restart practice exams the same way
Resetting all questions and jumping straight back into volume mode often reinforces the same decision patterns that led to the first result. Lower scores at this stage usually mean you are questioning your instincts, which is uncomfortable but necessary.
Shift from more questions to better review
For now, reduce quantity and increase depth. For each question, spend time asking why the correct answer was the best PMI choice, what principle was being tested such as stakeholder engagement, risk ownership, servant leadership, or escalation, and why the tempting option you chose felt right at the time.
Expect temporary score drops
When you consciously change how you think, your speed and confidence dip before they rise. This is often a positive sign that you are breaking old habits rather than memorizing patterns.
Rebuild confidence with patterns, not percentages
Track why you miss questions, not how many. Most candidates discover a small number of repeat gaps such as agile versus predictive, escalation timing, stakeholder first, or risk before action. Fixing these has a disproportionate impact.
Separate momentum from burnout
Taking a short, intentional pause, even a few days, often helps more than pushing harder while discouraged. Momentum only helps if it is pointed in the right direction.
This exact phase is what many candidates find hardest and it is also where most breakthroughs happen. When I was preparing, the biggest improvement came when I stopped trying to get questions right and focused on thinking the way PMI expects under uncertainty.
That experience is also why PM Mindset Builder was built. It is designed to help candidates who are close but stuck recalibrate their decision logic through targeted, scenario based practice rather than endless question banks. Many people find this especially helpful between attempts to rebuild clarity and confidence.
You are closer than it feels right now. A first attempt gives you valuable signal and with the right adjustment, your second attempt can be very different. Saving Changes...
Cliann SmithManagement| Waste ManagementWestlake, FL, United States
Kiron BondaleRami KaibniAung Sint Hey Guys just wanted to let you know i passed my exam today! Thanks again for your guidance and suggestions. It is very much appreciated!
Kiron BondaleRami KaibniAung Sint Hey Guys just wanted to let you know i passed my exam today! Thanks again for your guidance and suggestions. It is very much appreciated!
Big congratulations! Welcome to the club! Saving Changes...
Community Champion
