Sheri JohnsonProject Manager| Duke EnergySutton, Wv, United States
I have failed the PMP for the second time. I will admit the first time I was not prepared but the second time I attented the PMTI bootcamp for a week and really feel like I knew what I was doing. I am now afraid to take it for the third time because if I fail, I will have to wait another year to reapply. Any advice? Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Sheri
Sorry to hear that but please do not get discouraged. I would advise you to take your time before you take the exam for the third and final time:
- Check your exam results and see which domains you scored low and concentrate on those, but of course do not forget the others too even if you scored high on them because all processes are related.
- Go through the PMBOK in details. Having has a boot camp will help you go through the PMBOK again smoothly.
- Get Rita Mulcahy's Exam prep book and go through it. It is a very useful resource and will help add to your knowledge and open your eyes on some details that are not mentioned in the PMBOK.
- Do a lot of simulation exams. I recommend two resources: PM PrepCast RMC Fast Track
Both resources have questions that mimic the situational exam questions and style. You can chose to concentrate on certain domains, knowledge areas or take a full PMP Exam.
Give yourself two months to do all the above and I am confident you will pass you PMP Exam.
The exam will change in June 2020, you make sure you sit for the exam before then.
How long between exams did you study? How long before the first exam did you study? I would not attend any bootcamps or courses. I would study RMC "PMP Exam Prep" book and follow the PMP "exam content outline" (link below). Also, take "quality" practice exams, again from RMC (called Fastrack) or from Prepcast. People always say go into the second exam asap if you fail the first, and I would tend to agree. But if you failed the second exam, then that approach is clearly not working. You have one shot left and you have up to 12 months? So, increase your chances by taking your time, keep focused on study and regular study at that, do as many practice exams as possible and get over 90% regularly, then sit the exam. I would say spend 2-3 months studying most nights and a good part of your weekend. How serious are you to pass? Your study routine will demonstrate how serious you are. Good luck.
all great advice. Do with confidence. You will clear. The secret is unlearning the practice and stay connected with PMBOK Perspective. Saving Changes...
I can recommend you videos of Varun Anand, PMP on youtube where he explains the concepts leading to choose a particular answer.That helps me a lot. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
I would not wait too long.
First attempt: Real-life practice
Second attempt: Ability to realize struggle areas
Third attempt: Owned the exam and succeeded!
The exam is not to test ones individual experiences. The exam is to test the material. Put into practice your realization pointed out in this thread.
Also, if you take the time to read the question, answer it, the clock is ticking. If you plan to 'skip' til later, decide right away, don't read it first. All questions are worth the same value of points
I did a brain dump, but didn't really use it. Maybe if anything, dump the formula's. Or just a note to yourself as a reminder the exam is not testing your experience.
Be confident, control the test, don't let the test control you (this includes the clock)
GL! Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Would not wait, Sheri, but push thru.
My advise would be to have a set of questions for each Chapter (30-40) and do them until you reach 90% correct. You will remember some answers, but you will fail at some again and again - these are the ones to have deep dives into the PMBoK, Rita and in a PMP Prep site (do you know Linkledin Group 'I want to be a PMP'? Saving Changes...
Jose HarrisChief Executive Officer| Space Environment and Atmosphere Solutions, LLCAlexandria, Va, United States
Sheri, As you analyze your exam performance (https://ccrs.pmi.org/reporting/examanalysis), take a good look at how you performed by domain and the exam content outline (page 7 of the guide Sante Vergini linked) to see where you can make up the most ground.
It’s important to understand that the PMBOK provides general principles that are relevant, though each specific situation we encounter in work, and life in general, requires tailoring.
I practiced daily with the projectmanagement.com PM Challenge (see under Knowledge & Tools at the top of this page), though only about a max of 10 questions at a time. When I missed a question, I looked it up in the PMBOK (electronic version – included in the price of a PMI membership).
I also took a one-month PM Training course (pmtraining.com) – it’s not an inexpensive alternative, but it worked well for my type of learning. They have practice exams as well.
You’re clearly motivated and your desire to succeed is strong; this works to your favor.
All the best Saving Changes...
Jen Jee ChanManaging Director| DotProjects Pte LtdSingapore, Singapore
Hi Sheri,
I have had quite a few PMI certifications and work closely with PMI. The PMP exam has evolved quite a bit from the time I got mine in 2008. My advice to u is not to wait.. PMI is moving and trending towards Agile with a mix to waterfall..
Boot camps don't provide sufficient experience and practice, it is still recommended to go for a REP course, where the REP would distill key pointers of the concepts and make the material easier to study..
Practice tons of questions, use only those endorsed and recommended by PMI..
Let me know if u need further help.. good luck and trust me, it is a very worthwhile journey when u reach the top! Cheers.. Saving Changes...
Raj Shekhar BidikaMaintenance Engineer| Reliance Industries LimitedJamnagar, Gujarat, India
Hi Sheri,
Your will power is really appreciable. Iam sure you will clear this time. Just focus on Pmbok and mock test since most of exam questions comes through Pmbok. Give the exam once you achieve atleast 75-80% in mock tests. Saving Changes...
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