We all know that studying for an exam requires tremendous effort, time, and diligence. The Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam is tougher than most, requiring extensive preparation over the course of many months to pass. In other words, your PMP exam prep is critical! There is a lot of material to absorb in the area of Project Management, and you will need to be able to master the practical applications of that information. If you are among those who are already well established in your career, it may have been years since you last studied for an exam, so your study skills may be a little rusty. That’s where these top PMP exam tips come in.
Top PMP Exam Tips
1. Conquer the PMBOK® Guide
The PMP exam is based largely on the PMBOK® Guide. Use this to your advantage and make the guide the roadmap for your studies. Plan to study one knowledge area of the PMBOK® Guide every week. Begin with the guide itself and then move on to other study material. This will help you improve your understanding of each topic, as other study guides often rehash the content and present the same topic from a different angle.
Going further, break down the knowledge areas of the PMBOK® Guide and study one process each day. Doing this will help you prepare a clear plan for daily and weekly study milestones.
It is not enough to just memorise everything. Put in the effort to understand concepts well, and study them with focus and concentration. This is critical, as the PMP® exam questions will test how well you can apply these concepts, principles, and ideas. Many questions are situational descriptions of a problem. They contain enough information for you to arrive at the best answer, but they also include irrelevant information to deliberately throw you off course.
After you finish a section of the PMBOK® Guide, take a break before rereading it. You will understand it better with each read. By the third time, the information will become easier to absorb, as the concepts will already be registered in your mind. Be sure to use the latest version of the PMBOK® Guide that is released by PMI® (current version is 5) to understand all the knowledge areas, processes, concepts, and formulas involved in being a PMP.
You will also need to stay current with project management concepts and changes that have been made since the previous version (PMBOK® Guide version 4). Appendix X1 in the PMBOK® Guide version 5 has a detailed list of changes made from the PMBOK® Guide version 4. Some of these changes include an increase in the number of knowledge areas from nine to 10 (including the addition of a knowledge area called Project Stakeholder Management) and an increase in the number of processes from 42 to 47
2. Use a Good PMP® Prep Book
A good PMP® textbook is a must. Top authors for PMP® aspirants are Rita Mulcahy and Andy Crowe. The PMP® certification exam is loaded with difficult questions and answers (here is the list of PMP sample questions and answers that test your knowledge and your ability to apply your learning in difficult real-life scenarios. Studying for the exam could take up a significant amount of your time, and will require a great deal of commitment. Good preparation material will help you know what and ease your PMP exam preparation.
For instance, one of the challenges that you will face is dealing with the inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs (ITTOs) of each process. Many study materials recommend that PMP® aspirants work on the basics (such as why a process is used, what the process is all about, and when the process is used) before delving into the ITTOs. By working on the basics first, you will be able to see the connections between the processes and understand them better. You need not memorise the ITTOs, which will reduce the time required to prepare for questions on these topics.
3. Try PMP Exam Prep Workshops
PMP exam prep workshops are a good choice if you prefer a classroom setting or need more one-on-one interaction. In addition to networking through a PMI® membership, these are a great way to meet other aspiring project management professionals in your area. Another benefit of these workshops is that they usually fulfil the 35-contact-hours requirement that’s a prerequisite for applying to take the PMP exam.
4. Try Online PMP Exam Prep Workshops
Several PMP exam prep courses are also available online. These online training courses tend to be less expensive than in-person workshops. Choose the option that best suits your study style. Do plenty ofF comparison shopping and read testimonials before you commit to one.
5. Take Advantage of Online PMP Exam Simulators
PMP simulators are practice PMP exams hosted online. They test the applicant with questions that follow the same format as the actual PMP® exam. They also aim to replicate the exam environment so you become comfortable with the timing and the pressure. They are a great way to gauge your level of preparation.
6. Remember Flashcards
Paper or electronic flashcards are a cost-effective, portable, and tried-and-true way of studying for the PMP exam. Downloadable flashcards can be flipped through on a computer or smartphone, or they can be printed. Creating flashcards on your own also can be immensely helpful during your preparation.
7. Participate in Study Groups and Discussion Forums
Study groups and discussion forums can greatly help you prepare for your PMP® exam. As an active participant in study groups and discussion forums, you can help others pass the exam, get your own concerns addressed and queries answered, learn more about several useful resources and significantly reduce the time required to prepare for the exam.
What to Expect from the Questions Asked?
Once you are done studying the PMBOK® Guide, your next most important activity will be diving into the practice questions. The exam will include 200 multiple-choice questions, including complex situation questions, short situational questions, formula-based questions, knowledge-based questions, and interpretive questions. The PMP practice test will help you understand how to correctly answer each question.
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