PMP study plan: 10 weeks to the July 2026 exam
Last checked October 23, 2026 · Sources: PMI’s new PMP exam page and July 2026 Examination Content Outline (PDF) (domains, question count, time, approach mix). The week-by-week schedule is our suggestion; study length varies with experience.
A PMP study plan has to fit the exam PMI introduced on July 9, 2026: 180 questions in 240 minutes across People (33%), Process (41%) and Business Environment (26%), with about 40% of questions on predictive approaches and the rest on agile and hybrid. The 10-week plan below assumes you already have, or are earning, the 35 contact hours, and gives Business Environment the time its new weight deserves.
A 10-week PMP plan (our suggestion)
Read PMI's July 2026 content outline, take a short diagnostic, and schedule your exam date so you have a deadline.
Work through your course with a focus on scenario logic: what PMI expects a project manager to do first, and why. Do practice questions on each topic as you go.
Spend a full two weeks on Business Environment: benefits and value delivery, compliance, organizational change, and the newer themes PMI added, such as sustainability and AI.
Practice agile and hybrid scenarios, which make up roughly 60% of questions, alongside predictive ones.
Take two full-length timed mocks of 180 questions in 240 minutes, reviewing every question you missed.
Review weak areas, take one last mock early in the week, then rest and prepare for exam day.
Practice at exam pace
240 minutes for 180 questions is about 80 seconds a question, by our arithmetic. The exam now opens with case-based questions, so practice reading a scenario once and answering several questions from it. Full-length mocks are what build that stamina; a video course alone won’t.
What to study with
Start with PMI’s free content outline and sample questions. For the hours and teaching, Andrew Ramdayal’s course (updated for July 2026, per its listing) is our top pick at 4.5 / 5 with his TIA simulator; PMI’s own course and Study Hall rate 3.9. Avoid PM PrepCast unless you’ll test before December 4, 2026, when all its access ends. See best PMP prep.
Common questions about PMP study plans
How long should I study for the PMP?
Many candidates study for two to three months alongside work; this plan assumes about 8 to 10 hours a week for 10 weeks. Adjust to your experience and diagnostic.
How much should I study Business Environment?
Give it real time: it rose from 8% to 26% of the exam on July 9, 2026, and older courses may under-teach it.
How many practice exams should I take?
At least two full-length timed mocks of 180 questions, plus topic practice throughout.
Do I need the 35 hours before I start studying?
Yes. You need 35 contact hours (or a current CAPM) to apply, so most candidates complete a course first or during the early weeks.
See also PMP exam changes, PMP exam day and free PMP resources. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with PMI.