Everyone knows what is one's own most effective learning path: some prefer group training over self-study, other prefer visual material over textbooks... but the most effective way to prepare for the PgMP exam is to practice mock exams. And to do at least one in exam conditions (computer based & timed). But because of the small -but steadily growing- number of candidates, they are very few recent & realistic mock exams.

Having chosen the self-study path myself to minimize study time, the one thing I found challenging during the exam was not the knowledge (all contained within the SPM) nor the PMI logic, but the length of the exam itself & the fuzziness of the questions asked.

My experience of the 4h 170 MCQ PgMP exam was 40% easy questions (taking less than 1 minute to answer), 40% difficult questions (due to length, multiple valid answers or fuzziness) taking about 2 minutes to answer and 20% silly questions. Which means that at least 80% of the exam is manageable with a good strategy, the right approach and without over-studying.

Indeed, studying PMI material is tedious & keeping up the motivation is not easy so you really should plan for the shortest possible study path that works best for you.

You should also allow enough time for your brain to digest the information. Opt for quality study time and reasoning vs quantity and memorizing: the PgMP is an altogether different exam than the PMP.

Those people who are studying 100+ hours over 12+ months to get this certification are missing the point: they painstainkingly build up knowledge to make up for a lack of understanding of PMI logic & principles. 

If your only tool is a hammer then every problem looks like a nail... 

Overstudying (that is spending more than 60h to prepare for the exam) & procrastinating (that is taking more than 6 months to sit the exam) should be banned.

I have compiled top exam hints & tips that clearly highlight essential PMI logic & principles into a realistic online mock exam with unique features that should really be taken by any candidate regardless of study path to self-assess readiness for the exam and succeed on first attempt.