How to ace the PMP exam on the first try
We all know how much time, effort, and dedication it takes to study for the PMP exam. The Project Management Professional (PMP) exam is more difficult than most, requiring months of dedicated study. To put it another way, you must prepare for the PMP exam! There is a lot of material to absorb in the field of project management, and you’ll need to be able to master the practical applications of that information. If you’ve been in your job for a while, it’s possible that you haven’t studied for an exam in years, and your study skills are rusty. These PMP exam tips will come in handy in this situation.
Top 7 PMP Exam Tips
1. Conquer the PMBOK® Guide
In the PMP exam, the PMBOK Guide is extensively used. Use the guide as a road map for your studies to make the most of it. Study one knowledge area from the PMBOK Guide once a week. Start with the guide and move on to the rest of the study materials. Other study guides frequently rehash content and present the same topic from a different angle, so this will aid your comprehension of each topic.
Break down the PMBOK Guide’s knowledge areas into smaller chunks and focus on one process per day. This will help you create a detailed study plan with daily and weekly study milestones.
It’s not enough to just memorize everything. Make a concerted effort to fully grasp concepts and study them with vigilance and focus. Because the PMP exam will assess your ability to apply these concepts, principles, and ideas, this is critical. Many of the questions are detailed descriptions of a problem in a specific circumstance. They give you enough information to make the best decision, but they also include irrelevant information to intentionally lead you astray.
Before rereading the PMBOK Guide, take a break after finishing a section. You will gain a better understanding of each reading. By the third time, the information will be easier to absorb because the concepts will have already been registered in your mind. Use the most recent version of the PMBOK Guide released by PMI to understand all of the knowledge areas, processes, concepts, and formulas involved in becoming a PMP (the current version is 7)
You’ll also need to stay current on project management concepts and changes since the previous version (PMBOK Guide version 6).
2. Use a Good PMP Prep Book
A good PMP textbook should be mandatory reading. Two of the best authors for PMP candidates are Rita Mulcahy and Andy Crowe. The PMP certification exam is chock-full of difficult questions and answers (here’s a list of PMP sample questions and answers) that will put your knowledge and ability to apply what you’ve learned in challenging real-world scenarios to the test. Exam preparation may take up a significant amount of time and require a high level of dedication. A good study guide will help you understand what to expect and will make studying for the PMP exam much easier.
One of the challenges you’ll face is dealing with the inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs (ITTOs) of each process. Before diving into the ITTOs, many study materials advise PMP candidates to focus on the fundamentals (such as why a process is used, what it entails, and when it is used). If you start with the basics, you’ll be able to see the connections between the processes and gain a better understanding of them. If you don’t memorize the ITTOs, you’ll spend less time preparing for questions on these topics.
3. Try PMP Exam Prep Workshops
If you prefer a classroom setting or need more one-on-one interaction, PMP exam prep workshops are a good option. These are a great way to meet other aspiring project management professionals in your area, in addition to networking through a PMI membership. Another advantage of these workshops is that they typically satisfy the 35-contact-hour requirement for applying to take the PMP exam.
4. Enrol in Online PMP Exam Prep Workshops
Several online PMP exam prep courses are also available. The cost of these online training courses is usually less than that of in-person workshops. Select the option that best fits your learning style. Before you commit to one, do a lot of comparison shopping and read testimonials.
5. Take Advantage of Online PMP Exam Simulators
PMP simulators are online practice exams for the PMP exam. They put the applicant to the test with questions that are formatted in the same way as the PMP exam. They also aim to simulate the exam environment so you can get used to the timing and pressure. They’re a great way to see how prepared you are.
6. Remember Flash Cards
Flashcards, whether paper or electronic, are a low-cost, portable, and tried-and-true method of studying for the PMP exam. Downloadable flashcards can be flipped through or printed on a computer or smartphone. Making your own flashcards can also be extremely beneficial during your preparation.
7. Participate in Study Groups and Discussion Forums
Study groups and discussion boards can be extremely beneficial in helping you prepare for the PMP exam. As an active participant in study groups and discussion forums, you can assist others in passing the exam, have your own concerns and questions addressed, learn more about a variety of useful resources, and cut down on the time it takes to prepare for the exam.
Tips to Get You Started for PMP Exam Prep
The number of PMP exam takers is on the rise, which means more competition for you! As one of the fastest-growing certifications in the world (there are now more than 823,000 holders), the number of PMP exam takers is on the rise, which means more competition for you! But don’t worry: with the right combination of effort, dedication, and guidance, you can still master the entire PMP syllabus. We provide a systematic approach to tackling the PMP certification exam to assist you with this.
· Survey
Examine the material you intend to cover before starting your study session. In both A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) and your prep book, go over all of the charts, graphs, and headings. Gaining familiarity with the topics you want to cover will help you understand where to look in the book for specific topics, both for your initial study and for brushing up. Starting with this type of survey also makes it easier for you to organize information in your mind in a logical and systematic manner.
· Motivation
Find your source of inspiration! Determine what you want to learn from the given material before starting your day’s work. If your study materials include specific study goals or review questions, go over them first so you know where you’re going and what you need to get done by the end of the day.
· Research
Make a list of questions you’d like answered before you start your day’s learning. This will turn you into an active researcher rather than a passive reader, which will be beneficial when studying the PMBOK Guide.
· Disengage
According to research in cognitive psychology, people remember the first and last parts of a study session the best. Break up your study sessions into smaller chunks to take advantage of this tendency. For instance, if your total study time is three hours, divide it into six 30-minute sessions with short breaks in between. Disengaging from studies will help you remember what you’ve learned previously.
What Types of Questions are Asked in the PMP Exam?
After you’ve finished studying the PMBOK Guide, the practice questions will be your next most important task. There will be 200 multiple-choice questions on the exam, which will include complex situational questions, short situational questions, formula-based questions, knowledge-based questions, and interpretive questions. The PMP practice test will show you how to answer each question correctly.
The situational questions will test your ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant content. Because these are often lengthy, it’s important to read each question a couple of times before answering so you can accurately identify the relevant information and leave out the irrelevant information.
More than calculating a median or an earned value is at stake in the formula-based questions. You’ll need to know about 50 PMP formulas, ranging from simple averages to probabilities and depreciations. To get the required grades, you’ll need to make sure your formulas and calculations are correct.
The knowledge-based questions will put you to the test on facts gleaned from the PMBOK Guide. You may be asked where processes belong in the knowledge area, or where inputs, techniques, tools, and outputs belong in which processes. You may be asked to recognize a graph or chart, such as a Pareto chart or a RACI chart, on occasion (also known as a responsibility assignment matrix).
The interpretational questions will put your ability to analyze a situation or a condition to the test.
You’ll also have to answer questions about specific techniques. For instance, you may be asked to examine a network diagram and identify a component, such as a forward or backward pass.
How Will You Know That You Are Ready?
For someone to pass the exam, the PMI does not specify how many questions must be answered correctly. The average person believes that a passing score is 62 percent. It’s a good idea to use the 85 percent rule to determine whether you’re ready or not.
Continue working on sample questions until you can correctly answer at least 85% of them. When you’ve accomplished this, you’re ready to take the exam.
Do not stop studying until the last day for the best results!
A Project Management Star in the Making
It is not easy to pass the PMP exam, but with the right effort, study guides, motivation, and the best PMP Training, you can succeed. Use the tried-and-true strategies that helped you succeed in high school and college. Carry your study materials with you wherever you go so that you can access them at any time. Join a PMP exam study group to be pushed to study more diligently. Concentrate on your weak points, give them time, and revise your study plan at least five or six times.
You’ll want to prepare for your interviews once you’ve passed your certification exam. While every job interview is different, those with a PMP certification will almost certainly be asked some key questions during their interview. Make sure to review the list of common PMP interview topics to ensure that you ace the interview and land the Project Management job of your dreams!
