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...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
My recommendation is not wait. To attend to a bootcamp is not useful most of the times. Lot of people prepare itself. My recommendations (perhaps is not new for you) are: 1-remember that questions are situational questions. The guide to understand that is the Content Outline. 2-remember that you have to answer what the PMI expect as an answer in the framework of the PMBOK, not what you do in your daily work or what works for you in the situation stated by the question. 3-make "tons" of questions, perhpas 3-4 times the amount of the exam. When you get 80%-95% of good answers sistematically then you are ready. 4-find questions that covers all the knolwedge areas. 5-day before the exam do nothing related to the exam. The day of the exam do nothing related to the exam except the exam itself.
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1 reply by Sheri Johnson
Nov 20, 2019 9:04 AM
Sheri Johnson
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Thank you for the information, that is great advice. My problem is reading too much into the question and using my "real life" work situations versus what PMI is actually looking for. My question to you is, you don't recommend the "brain dump" on the day of the exam once you get in the testing facility?
Saving Changes...
Sheri JohnsonProject Manager| Duke EnergySutton, Wv, United States
Nov 20, 2019 9:00 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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My recommendation is not wait. To attend to a bootcamp is not useful most of the times. Lot of people prepare itself. My recommendations (perhaps is not new for you) are: 1-remember that questions are situational questions. The guide to understand that is the Content Outline. 2-remember that you have to answer what the PMI expect as an answer in the framework of the PMBOK, not what you do in your daily work or what works for you in the situation stated by the question. 3-make "tons" of questions, perhpas 3-4 times the amount of the exam. When you get 80%-95% of good answers sistematically then you are ready. 4-find questions that covers all the knolwedge areas. 5-day before the exam do nothing related to the exam. The day of the exam do nothing related to the exam except the exam itself.
Thank you for the information, that is great advice. My problem is reading too much into the question and using my "real life" work situations versus what PMI is actually looking for. My question to you is, you don't recommend the "brain dump" on the day of the exam once you get in the testing facility?
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Nov 20, 2019 9:33 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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One of the causes of failling the exam is trying to map the daily work life to the exam. I teached preparation courses from long time then I srop to do that because I was part of the quality assurance group for exam questions. I spent two days at mininum try to help people to shift their minds and to align them to the objective: the objective is not debate about somthing stated in the PMBOK works or not. The objetive is to approve the exam. Regarding the day of the exam, I fully recomend you forget about anything related to the exam (except the exam itself obviouly). Other recommendation: during the exam, if you have a doubt in a question, mark it for revision and move forward.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Nov 20, 2019 9:04 AM
Replying to Sheri Johnson
...
Thank you for the information, that is great advice. My problem is reading too much into the question and using my "real life" work situations versus what PMI is actually looking for. My question to you is, you don't recommend the "brain dump" on the day of the exam once you get in the testing facility?
One of the causes of failling the exam is trying to map the daily work life to the exam. I teached preparation courses from long time then I srop to do that because I was part of the quality assurance group for exam questions. I spent two days at mininum try to help people to shift their minds and to align them to the objective: the objective is not debate about somthing stated in the PMBOK works or not. The objetive is to approve the exam. Regarding the day of the exam, I fully recomend you forget about anything related to the exam (except the exam itself obviouly). Other recommendation: during the exam, if you have a doubt in a question, mark it for revision and move forward. Saving Changes...
Alina ludwigSr Project Manager| Mantis InnovationStevensville, Md, United States
I would start with the test results and work on my lowest score areas. You should definitely not wait for too long to retake the exam but give yourself a bit of room to reinforce your knowledge. Use the fact that you know how the exam goes to your advantage and practice as many similar test questions as you can...Regarding the brain dump methodology, if writing down the formulas or any other information during the first minutes of the exam helps you, follow your instincts, that I think will ease the stress level. Also try not to think too much about "this is my 3rd time", go in knowing you will rock it! Saving Changes...
Marvin EricksonPMP, Sr. Project Manager, Scrum Master| Blue Cross Blue ShieldTopeka, Ks, United States
I just passed my exam after I spent 3 months studying and over 11,000 questions in various simulators... What did I learn? None of those questions really mattered because the exam was different than any simulator. I learned it was all about the PMBOK and Content Outline as well as Rita's PMP Exam Prep tips (back of the book) and her process game. You remove all real-life experience and just follow the guides. Nothing else matters. Saving Changes...
PINAKI BANERJEEProgram Director| ITC INFOTECH USA INC.Plainsboro, Nj, United States
It may be useful if you look at your performance heat map to see which topics/areas you did not score as expected and then focus on those. In addition, I suggest that you look at some additional reference materials (outside of PMBOK). I am saying this since while PMBOK as a book is great, but somehow it is overwhelming to go through and retain all. So something that helps simplify the concepts and make you exam ready may be useful. I personally used some PMP Apps that constantly refreshed my memory and helped me brush up weak areas. I can also suggest some books that I referred (will be great if you reach out separately since it may appear I am canvassing for some specific publication). Lastly, I will definitely recommend that you set a timeline and appear for the exam early instead of deferring it, since once you lose touch with the content, you will have to start all over again. Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Sheri
Interesting this reflection
Thanks for sharing
We are talking about an exam of 200 questions to be answered in 4 hours, ie
1.2 minutes per question.
You have to get quick to answer questions (especially for contextual questions and / or the questions we have to do)
This can only be accomplished by asking many exam-like questions in groups of 200 questions at a time.
With the exam results you received a report about the questions you answered.
By reading this report you can draw conclusions about which processes and / or areas of knowledge you need to improve.
What is important is to gain self confidence.
I am convinced that in the next race will get PASS.
Dear Sheri,
I had my PMP :)
I can give you these advices :
0) Don't spend too much time to brain dump your formulas
1) read carefully all the possible answers.
If the answer is obvious pick it, else do an elimination technique
2)Always follow the process , especially change control process
3)Remember code of ethics of PMI
4)Don't hesitate to make some pauses to relax Saving Changes...
Vincent BoilaPM Consultant| CIBCScarborough, Ontario, Canada
Dear Sheri,
I have passed the PMI and PMI-ACP exams within a span of one year.
My advise to you is do not wait between attempts, as you tend to forget things, especially the formulas. Although practice questions help, but you will find that in the exam, these help you infer some answers not all. If you have not done already please purchase Rita's PMP guidebook, as this gives you all the helpful tips on how to pass the exam, and believe me it works. I hope you find this information helpful Saving Changes...
Carmine BudaProject Manager/Scrum Master,PMP, PMI-ACP, SASM, and CSM Responsive Web| Charles Schwab, Inc.Little Ferry, Nj, United States
Get PMP® CERTIFICATION EXAM, SIMPLIFIED 6TH EDITION (6.0) by Aileen Ellis
I'm assuming that you have read the PMBOK at least once.
Go thru the Aileen Ellis study guide twice. I promise you it's good and nowhere near as dry as reading the PMBOK guide.
Take all of the quiz questions at the end of each chapter and the practice exam at the end. She provides rationales as to why an answer is correct and why it is wrong.
Aileen has a YouTube channel where you can see videos of some of her lessons.
For exam simulator, I used the Project Management Prepcast PM Exam simulator.
I found the questions were difficult enough to prepare me well for the actual exam. It also provides rationales as to the correct and incorrect answer choices.
Hope this helps and good luck to you on the next attempt. Saving Changes...
