Moloy ChakrabortyPrincipal Project Manager| WSP UK LTDHigh Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
What are you preferring while PMP exam preparation – studying by Process Group or Knowledge area?
PMBOK begins with knowledge area wise but PMP exam split by Process Group wise
As per PMP Handbook examination blueprint
Initiating – 2 Process – 13% (percentage of the question)
Planning – 24 Process – 24% (percentage of the question)
Executing – 10 Process – 31% (percentage of the question)
Monitoring and controlling – 12 Process – 25% (percentage of the question)
Closing – 1 Process – 7% (percentage of the question)
Hence 13 process (from Initiating, Executing, Closing) account for 51% of the PMP exam weight
Its mean 26% of the process (from Initiating, Executing, Closing), account for 51% of the exam.
My actual question is it really follow the above reference in the exam?
Are we really distinguish all the question by Process group as they are overlapped / interrelated? Saving Changes...
Go by knowledge area first and then the second round to connect dots go by process group.
PMBOK last part will help you to review in process groups. Saving Changes...
Prefer studying knowledge area wise. Makes more sense when you read chapters or knowledge areas in the order provided in PMBoK. Saving Changes...
Mark HofmannOperational Development Manager - PMP| Jamaica BearingsLong Island, Ny, United States
They can overlap, I recall questions based on both. “Which of the following does not need to be performed before ‘this’ can be done?” type of thing. The answer may be something that is in a different (non-dependent) Knowledge Area OR Process Group.
I found that memorizing the Process Groups and Knowledge Areas Matrix and practicing creating it on a blank piece of paper over and over until I could draw the whole thing in under 5 minutes really helped me. You don’t have to write out every word, you can make up initials that you will understand. At the test, the first thing that you do at the beginning of the exam is to do a “Brain Dump” and create the PG/KA Matrix on one of the pieces of paper (or whiteboard) that they provide. On another paper (or whiteboard) write down some of more important math formulas that you have memorized (CV, SV, CPI, SPI EAC and so on). It may not seem smart to spend the first 8 minutes of the exam not looking at any questions, but it really worked for me.
Good luck!
Knowledge Area.
However, it is necessary to understand the process groups alongside as it will help you in mind mapping and understanding how the processes of Knowledge Area "X" interact with the processes of Knowledge areas "Y" and "Z". Saving Changes...
Mark EckmanSenior Project Manager, PMP| VeoliaEmporia, Va, United States
I agree with our colleagues that the knowledge areas should be looked at first then go back through the process areas. For me, it was a more logical approach.
Rita Mulcahey's PMP Exam Prep book also helped tie everything together. Saving Changes...
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