Making 60 Days Work for SHRM Exam Prep
Sixty days is a tight but workable timeline for SHRM exam preparation. This plan requires approximately 15 hours of study per week and assumes you have some foundational HR knowledge. If you are brand new to HR, consider the 90-day plan instead.
The key to success in 60 days is efficiency. Every study session must be purposeful, and you need to prioritize high-impact activities over passive reading.
Week 1: Diagnostic and Planning
- Take a full diagnostic practice exam on Day 1 (do not study beforehand)
- Score your exam and identify your strongest and weakest content areas
- Organize your study materials and create your detailed weekly schedule
- Begin reviewing your weakest content area immediately
- Time commitment: 12 hours
Weeks 2 and 3: Behavioral Competencies
Core Content Coverage
- Leadership and Navigation: influencing, building consensus, managing conflict
- Ethical Practice: professional integrity, corporate governance, handling ethical dilemmas
- Business Acumen: understanding financials, strategic alignment, business operations
- Consultation: advising leaders, project management, change management
- Critical Evaluation: data analysis, evidence-based decision making, metrics
Daily Study Pattern
Each day during this phase should include 45 minutes of content review followed by 45 minutes of practice questions. On weekends, extend sessions to 3 hours each day with a mix of content review and practice tests.
Weeks 4 and 5: Knowledge Domains
Core Content Coverage
- People: talent acquisition, employee engagement, learning and development, total rewards
- Organization: structure, effectiveness, technology, workforce management
- Workplace: employment law, employee and labor relations, safety and health, corporate social responsibility
Accelerated Learning Techniques
- Use the SQ3R method: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review
- Create mind maps connecting related concepts across domains
- Teach concepts to a study partner or record yourself explaining them
- Focus on understanding principles rather than memorizing isolated facts
Weeks 6 and 7: Practice and Remediation
- Take a full-length practice exam at the start of Week 6
- Analyze results and create a prioritized list of topics to revisit
- Spend 60% of study time on practice questions and 40% on content review
- Focus heavily on situational judgment question strategies
- Take a second full-length practice exam at the end of Week 7
Situational Judgment Focus
By this point, you should be practicing SJIs daily. For each question you get wrong, write down why the correct answer was better than your choice. Look for patterns in your mistakes, such as being too aggressive, too passive, or overlooking legal considerations.
Week 8: Final Review
- Days 1 to 3: intensive review of remaining weak areas
- Day 4: final practice exam under strict test conditions
- Day 5: light review of flashcards and key concepts only
- Day 6: rest and prepare logistics for exam day
- Day 7: exam day (or rest day if exam is later)
High-Priority Topics for 60-Day Candidates
When time is limited, prioritize these frequently tested areas:
- Employment law fundamentals (Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA)
- Performance management processes
- Talent acquisition best practices
- Total rewards and compensation strategies
- Employee relations and conflict resolution
- Organizational development and change management
- HR metrics and data-driven decision making
Time Management During the Exam
With 134 questions in 4 hours, you have approximately 1.8 minutes per question. Practice this pacing during your timed exams. Do not spend more than 2.5 minutes on any single question. Flag difficult questions and return to them if time permits.
Staying Motivated on a Tight Timeline
Sixty days of intensive study can be mentally draining. Build in small rewards after hitting weekly milestones. Connect with other SHRM candidates through online forums or study groups. Remember that the short-term sacrifice will lead to a long-term career benefit.