Certification Insider

The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

Why is it important to have a Project Charter?

A) It tracks the progress of the project.
B) It formally authorizes the project.
C) The project charter is the necessary basis for all work packages to be performed.
D) It is the collection of all subsidiary project documents.
 

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The answer is B.

How would you feel if you fail the PMP Exam by just one question? Avoid this by using your exam time wisely. Here is one such strategy:

Four hours is plenty of time for you to read and re-read all questions. You should be able to go through all questions in your first pass in about two to three hours. During this first pass you will probably not know all answers to all questions. That's OK because that's what the "mark" feature is for. Use it to mark the questions you are unsure and then use the remaining time to review all those questions in detail that have stumped you at first.

Another strategy is to concentrate on the easier questions first (those that you feel you'll find the right answers for quickly) and then come back for the harder questions in your second pass. In this way, if you are confronted with a particularly puzzling question, you will simply mark it and move on to the next. Many test takers report that sometimes, a succeeding questions provides a clue or gives you the "nudge" that you need to figure out the difficult ones you have skipped.

Remember also, that some questions will appear to have two right answers. In this case you have to answer the question by trying to think like the PMBOK Guide. So if you have studied and understood the concepts from your PMBOK Guide, then there is really not much to fear before going into the exam room. And don't be surprised to come across questions that are framed in an unusual way or use terms that are unfamiliar to you. In these cases the examiners want to know that you understand the processes rather than just memorized them.

Last but not least: Remember to check, check and check again that you have answered all the questions. Make sure not a single one of them is unanswered. There is no penalty for answering a question incorrectly. So go ahead and guess on those questions where you really have no idea. Who knows... that might just be the question that lets you see "Pass" instead of "Fail" on the screen.

The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

"You are managing a software development project. During the middle of the project, you find out that you are way behind your project schedule. Your company has invested a lot in this project and ff you do not deliver the project on time, it will be a total disaster for your company. You analyze your project schedule to adjust it so that you may be able to complete the project on time with the existing resources. You find out that you have a lot of discretionary dependencies in your project schedule. "

What is the best way for you to adjust the schedule so that you may be able to complete the project on time?

A.Leave the discretionary dependencies intact and apply crashing.
B.Leave the discretionary dependencies intact and apply fast tracking.
C.Remove the discretionary dependencies and apply crashing.
D.Remove the discretionary dependencies and apply fast tracking.

Hint:

You need to find a way out of this problem with your existing resources."

All our free questions are updated to the latest PMBOK® Guide standard. Sign up here to receive the questions via email. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.

 

Answer:  D

A reader of The PDU Insider Newsletter asked "What's the least time consuming way to obtain PDUs?".

To me, this question translates to "I hate having to earn PDUs. I only do it because PMI is making me do it and I want to get it over with as quickly as possible." I understand that many people may feel this way probably because they cannot see earning PDUs as something rewarding, enjoyable, and as something that helps them grow as a project manager. But let's face it. The fact of the matter is that you are required to earn them, and if we can make it more fun for you then you might enjoy it more.

So let's make it more fun for you.

The definite least time consuming way to earn PDUs are from those 3 PDU categories in which you get them "just because": In category 2H you earn 5 PDUs every year just because you are employed as a project manager (we talked about that in an earlier issue). In category 2-SDL you earn up to 15 PDUs in 3 years just because you like to read books or listen to podcasts about project management. And in category 5 you earn PDUs just because you like to be a volunteer in your local project management organization. Yes, there is a time investment, but most of us are involved in these 3 activities anyway and earning the appropriate PDUs is like the cherry on top.

Then there are some categories where you never know how much time you are going to have to invest into it. For instance you'll get 40 PDUs for writing a book, but it takes hundreds of hours to do. Or you get 10 PDUs for giving a presentation at a symposium but you might easily spend 20 hours preparing and travelling.

If you are looking for a clear 1-to-1 benefit, then taking courses in project management is the clear winner. That is because every 1 hour that you spend for instance in a classroom or watching an online webinar will give you exactly 1 PDU (Check out our sponsor for this).

In the end, it all boils down to this: The trick is to know and understand all the categories from your credential handbook and then pick those that offer what you consider to be the best return and the most fun for you.