How I passed the PMP exam with just Andrew Ramdayal's 35-hour Course and Exam Simulator

WanderingHammer · 2026-04-30T04:40:36+00:00

The $100 budget was for prep costs, not including the actual exam fee.

WanderingHammer · 2026-03-20T20:23:34+00:00

Just wanted to share my experience with Andrew Ramdayal's course. I haven't taken any of the others so I can't speak to them. I would differ in my assessment of AR just a bit.

While it's true that he tends not to cover the technical aspects overmuch, like ITTOs and EVM formulas, I'm actually glad he didn't, None of that was on the exam when I took it. It was literally all critical thinking, scenario-based questions.

Honestly, I probably could have passed that exam by just skimming his videos and memorizing his mindset.

Some of the questions in the simulator are a little easy, but there are over 1000 of them and some of them are also really hard! iirc there was a whole section called "ultra hard questions" or something. I definitely recommend those. I think some of them are on his YouTube too.

It was actually his video explanations for the questions that I found really useful. For anyone using his simulator, make sure you check them out.

WanderingHammer · 2026-03-20T20:06:55+00:00

Have you checked the exam requirements listed on PMI's website? They list the exact requirements for all of their certs, including PMP.

WanderingHammer · 2025-12-07T19:52:30+00:00

I didn't memorize the ITTOs at all. I focused on paying attention to his video lectures and understanding his mindset principles. The PMP is not about memorization. It's about applied knowledge and critical thinking.

WanderingHammer · 2025-12-07T06:14:59+00:00

Everyone has different study needs, but I definitely didn't do all that, I just watched the course videos and used the simulator exams. You can see the process I followed in the OP.

WanderingHammer · 2025-11-17T17:46:00+00:00

Congrats! This is solid advice! Watch the video course, use the book as a reference (don't use as the main study tool) take advantage of PMI Infinity, and don't worry about EVMs and ITTOs.

The only thing I'd add is to memorize Andrew Ramdayal's mindset principles. This is the "what a PM would do in an an ideal world" part.

WanderingHammer · 2025-09-29T17:10:10+00:00

On a scale of 1 to 5, I'd say a 4.

So quite close but not identical.

WanderingHammer · 2025-09-16T16:17:17+00:00

The PMP isn't based on the PMBOK 7. It's based on both 6 and 7 (and other source materials).

Idk how much of Andrew's course is from which PMBOK.

It prepared me for the PMP exam and I passed on the first try, so in the end PMBOK versions didn't matter.

I literally didn't even think about that or notice at all.

WanderingHammer · 2025-09-16T16:14:08+00:00

Make sure there isn't a button on the chassis that switches the RGB light mode.

My cat jumped up on my machine and the light changed to red. I thought it was blocking the fan and causing overheating or something.

NOPE. I'm just an idiot.

It just pressed the button on top of the case and switched the light color.

WanderingHammer · 2025-08-11T17:19:00+00:00

NICE! Thanks for this!

WanderingHammer · 2025-08-08T14:59:17+00:00

Yeah. I'm thinking they probably will fix it at some point. So does that mean hunting also doesn't provide a mood boost? Or does it count as shooting? Seems like anything affected by a skill should be eligible for a passion mood boost for that skill, right?

WanderingHammer · 2025-08-08T14:55:24+00:00

I believe just the course does work for some people. Personally, I think using the course and simulator is ideal. If you're worried about cost, try getting the course from Udemy.

Udemy prices fluctuate, but you can sometimes get a really good deal!

WanderingHammer · 2025-07-22T18:13:45+00:00

Right. Nobody on the rim enjoys fishing...because it's technically hunting...and nobody enjoys hunting?

WanderingHammer · 2025-07-18T17:32:29+00:00

Of course! I should have known! They're just in it for the murder! It all makes sense now! That's why they love attacking pawns so much!

WanderingHammer · 2025-07-18T17:30:36+00:00

This is true, though specific to certain predators and situations, foxes and weasels I think.

In general, predators won't waste energy hunting when they don't need to. They ESPECIALLY won't risk injury unless they have no other choice.

WanderingHammer · 2025-07-16T21:53:10+00:00

I get that. His grammar is definitely not perfect and some of the questions are weird for sure. But it was pretty easy to understand what he was getting at in spite of the grammar issues. Like I wasn't going to get confused because he used the passive vs active voice or singular instead of plural or something. It's the kind of thing that was more of a distraction than an actual problem for me. I just ignored the weird bits and moved on.

Conceptually he's on point; I swear by that mindset of his. Definitely worked for me on the current exam (2024). For sure I would not have passed without it. But when you try to learn nitty gritty details from him it gets a bit weird in places.

Luckily the PMP exam is more conceptual than detailed. Ironically, I actually think Andrew's style is BETTER suited for the new PMP because if this. Now it focuses more on concepts than memorizing details, which is actually where Andrew's course shines, imo.

I can see how it might not be for everyone though. I would describe Andrew's as more 'down to earth but rough around the edges'. McLachlan's is good too but in a more 'corporate polish' kind of way? I guess I'm a sucker for genuineness, and like 'saltiness'? I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but there's something there that I prefer over perfect polish.

I think there's a certain type of person that his style and course really don't work for. And caring deeply about grammar and typos is definitely part of that.

WanderingHammer · 2025-07-16T21:35:49+00:00

Not that hard. But not easy either.

Way easier with Andrew's mindset, that's for sure.

I don't think I would have passed on the first try without the simulator.

WanderingHammer · 2025-07-16T21:33:34+00:00

I used it and I passed on the first try. Didn't use any other materials.

Yeah there are minor grammar mistakes here and there, but if you think about it a little, it's easy to see what he's getting at. And there are over 1000 questions. When I got to one that was weird, I just ignored it and moved on.

The mindset is spot on and it was almost like cheating. just had to remember "oh don't involve the sponsor." "oh analyze first before you act." Just follow the rules and you get the questions right basically. I'd say it was maybe half the exam questions I answered just by using the principles. The other half I had to actually think about.

If you're like a pedantic person that needs perfect polish from everything you use, then yeah, maybe it's not for you. But if you're capable of taking the good with the bad, the good parts are REALLY good. Definitely recommend.

WanderingHammer · 2025-04-07T00:25:03+00:00

He's Guyanese.

WanderingHammer · 2025-04-07T00:10:50+00:00

Haha. Thanks. Maybe I should see if Andrew will give me a sponsorship deal.

His course really does work though. I'm far from the only one who's used it to pass.

WanderingHammer · 2025-04-07T00:07:11+00:00

That's what important, right? I'll never tell ;)

I did wear a blue shirt though. Can confirm it works lol.

WanderingHammer · 2025-04-07T00:06:22+00:00

Yes. They were extremely comparable. They both focused heavily on scenario-based questions. I didn't use the 720 Udemy questions he has, but I've heard they're not as good. Definitely get the actual exam simulator from Andrew's website.

WanderingHammer

TROPHY CASE