Leslie PouilliardPMO Manager| State Universities Retirement SystemChampaign, Il, United States
Hi Everyone! I am considering a 3-day intense (online) PMP Boot Camp, as prep for PMP exam. Comes with a "PMP Pass Guarantee", but I'm skeptical. I do not have my CAPM and am looking for thoughts on jumping right into the PMP vs. taking it slower. I have several years of informal project management experience, and 1.5 years in a more formalized, traditional PM role. Thoughts anyone based on your experiences? Saving Changes...
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Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First of all, I will say that in the past I teached PMP exam preparation course including I prepared all the course materials including it exam questions. Nobady fail the exam when take my couse not for me just for the interaction I tried to promote. With that said, I have to say too: you do not need a boot camp or exam preparation course to prepare for your certification. The value this type of things provide is just to debate with others about the answers to exam questions. But, if you understand that you have to answer what the PMI expect as an answer in the framework of the PMBOK instead of what you do in the real work life in the situation the question presents then you can skip the boot camp. Just my personal opinion. Saving Changes...
Just read PMBOK as many times as possible. My 2 cents!! Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
To add something about strategy, here my recommendations: 1-do not try to memorize the PMBOK. It has no sense. Questions are situational questions. 2-make tons of exam questions (3-4 times the amount of the exam questions). When you get 75%-85% of right answers then you are prepare. 3-critical success factor is to understand the Content Outline document you can find inside the certification web site. 4-The day of the exam do nothing related to the exam except the exam itself. 5-When taking the exam do not waste time in a question. Mark it for review and moving forward to the next. Saving Changes...
Terry EggertEndless Mountain HealthcareScott Township, Pa, United States
I think you need to consider the best form of learning for you. I prefer to go slowly and digest all the material. Perhaps the shotgun method works for you.You will need to know ALL the material in the PMBOK and how all the functions and subfunctions interact i.e. output of one step is the input for the next step. Good luck. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
If the boot camp is close to your exam date, then you might find it a valuable cramming tool.
Personally, I use online courses that come with mock exams. So far, it's worked well for my PMI-SP and PMI-RMP. (Such online courses were available when I took my PMP.) I expect to use the same strategy for my PMI-ACP. Saving Changes...
1. No reputable REP will guarantee a pass - all they will do is provide you the ability to re-take some or all of the class at no cost if you don't pass
2. The PMBOK Guide is only one of 40+ references used when the exam questions are created by volunteers. It was also never positioned to help someone pass the exam. Watch this great webinar for some debunking of standards myths: https://www.projectmanagement.com/blog-pos...Standards-Myths
The choice of whether or not to take a PMP Prep course is an exercise in quantitative risk analysis. You could construct a simple decision tree and leverage EMV to figure out whether to study without any additional costs, use a self-study guide (e.g. RMC) or online pool of questions, or use a prep course.
Different folks learn different ways so know thyself...
Kiron Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear Leslie
Interesting your question
Thanks for sharing
Each person is different.
The important thing is to find out which method is best for you.
How do you learn?
I can share with you how I managed to pass the exam ...
Fortunately ... each person on this forum will give you a different opinion Saving Changes...
What is your learning style? Kinesthetic, auditory, visual? Do you learn best from a classroom environment, reading books, podcasts, video, flash cards, etc?
A PMP prep class, or boot camp, can be helpful to prepare for the exam, as long as you're not expecting to learn anything new about project management. The focus is how to prepare for the exam and what to expect on it.
Have you started the online application to take the exam? If you qualify, or are close to qualifying, to take the PMP exam, skip the CAPM.
My recommendation is that you start the online application for the PMP. This will give you a better understanding of how close you are. It doesn't cost anything to start the application. You don't have to be a titled PM for the experience to count. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Leslie
Taking a boot camp is a good idea but there is nothing 100% guaranteed. They can be as good as they come, at the end it goes down to your understanding and expertise in project management. Most questions are situational.
I confirm, most the questions are situational.
My recommendations :
_ Read Pmbok at least twice to master your understanding
_ Do not waste time to memorize ITTOs, just understand the flow diagrams and the objective of each tool through the key output related to the process.
_ Practice questions after each knowledge area you study
_ Do 200 questions tests to manage your stress and track your progress.
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