I walked into the CAPM exam far from confident. The night before, I was still grinding through practice tests. I didn’t even finish my second mock exam from PrepCast. On the way to the test center—and even right up to the locker where I had to store my things, I was still flipping through notes. I even forgot to review the formula guide I made for myself.
During the actual exam, I flagged 48 out of 150 questions. That’s 32% where I wasn’t sure of the answer. Only a few questions felt familiar enough that I could connect them directly to the PMI reference materials. For the rest, I relied heavily on process of elimination and gut instinct.
The entire time, I had no idea if I was doing well. I kept remembering my PrepCast quiz scores, which usually hovered between 60% and 70%. I was mentally bracing for the possibility of having to retake the test.
So you can imagine my shock when the results showed “Above Target” in all four domains.
I passed and not just passed, but exceeded expectations. I never saw that coming, especially since there was always at least one domain in my practice exams where I’d score around 50-60%.
Passing this exam means more to me than earning a credential. For a long time, I kept putting off the CAPM because I was afraid to fail. I was afraid that failing would confirm my deepest fear that I wasn’t cut out for project management anymore.
But now, holding this certification in hand, I feel a new kind of confidence. This is my green light – a reminder that I can find my way back into the field I care about. I’m stepping forward with renewed purpose and hope that the right project management opportunity is out there, waiting for me.
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