Most PMP candidates fail for one of two reasons: they study content without practising situational questions, or they cram inconsistently around a demanding job.
A sustainable plan looks like this: 8–10 weeks, five to seven hours per week, split between structured content (weekends) and question practice (weeknights). The exam tests judgement — 'what should the project manager do NEXT' — so from week three onwards, questions matter more than reading.
Track your domain-level scores. If you're above 75% consistently in people, process and business environment across two full-length timed mocks, you're ready to book.
Finally, don't neglect the application itself; describing your experience in PMI's expected format is a skill. Our PMP Exam Preparation programme includes application review precisely because it's where avoidable delays happen.