Excited to say I passed the PMP exam this morning (did it in less than 3 hours). Insights: 1. Ensure you test your system. I had taken then CAPM back in May 2020 (this year) and Windows 7 was support; however, I tested my computer last night and the exam was no longer supported under the old Windows, so I was franticly bought and downloaded Windows 10 last night (took over 2 hours and caused me a lot of stress). 2. Don't study the day before the exam 3. This worked for me - I briefly reviewed my notes an hour before the exam (since I was writing it at 8:15am) I wanted to 'warm-up' my brain. 4. I did 4 mock exams (and the last one was a week before my exam). I do not recommend doing a mock within a week of the exam - you should focus on reviewing and re-ensuring your knowledge Good luck to everyone seeking to write their exams. Saving Changes...
Jessica,
Congratulations on passing the PMP exam! Thank you for sharing some of your strategies. Did you practice and use a "brain dump", where you write formulas and notes on the paper provided at the test center?
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1 reply by Jessica Hogue
Dec 29, 2020 8:47 AM
Jessica Hogue
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Hi Ethan, I did not do a brain dump. I think, as you have probably read elsewhere, that most questions are situational, a brain dump is not worth the time. I was worried like you about remembering formulas, but when I posted a question as to the amount of possible calculation formulas there would be (anywhere from 2 to 10), I decided my time was better spent understanding concepts. To be honest, for EVM formulas, I only focused on the main four: SPI, CPI, CV, SV. It was stressing me out too much trying to memorize the formulas (as I have a learning disability and can't memorize stuff), though I did focus on understanding the concept of the formula.
Saving Changes...
Azhar SiddiquiProject Manager| MarsLondon, England, United Kingdom
Jessica,
Congratulations on passing the PMP exam! Thank you for sharing some of your strategies. Did you practice and use a "brain dump", where you write formulas and notes on the paper provided at the test center?
Hi Ethan, I did not do a brain dump. I think, as you have probably read elsewhere, that most questions are situational, a brain dump is not worth the time. I was worried like you about remembering formulas, but when I posted a question as to the amount of possible calculation formulas there would be (anywhere from 2 to 10), I decided my time was better spent understanding concepts. To be honest, for EVM formulas, I only focused on the main four: SPI, CPI, CV, SV. It was stressing me out too much trying to memorize the formulas (as I have a learning disability and can't memorize stuff), though I did focus on understanding the concept of the formula. Saving Changes...
Congratulations!
Thank you for sharing Saving Changes...
Mirza UsmanPlanner| Vulcain Engineering - UKBristol, United Kingdom
Congratulations Jessica Saving Changes...
James DunnProject Manager| Acres EnterprisesKamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Thanks for sharing and congrats. Did you feel there a decent amount of definition type questions? Ex: What is a WBS? What is Work Performance Data? What is Scope Creep? Things like that?
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1 reply by Jessica Hogue
Dec 31, 2020 6:01 PM
Jessica Hogue
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Hi James, as I mentioned in a previous post; the PMP is focused more on situational questions compared the CAPM which is more definition based.
My insights are based off the 2020 exam and as I understand the format and context of the exam is changing January 2021.
If you are writing the PMP, I would assume you know the basic definitions as you listed above, so I wouldn't worry too much on that.
Thanks for sharing and congrats. Did you feel there a decent amount of definition type questions? Ex: What is a WBS? What is Work Performance Data? What is Scope Creep? Things like that?
Hi James, as I mentioned in a previous post; the PMP is focused more on situational questions compared the CAPM which is more definition based.
My insights are based off the 2020 exam and as I understand the format and context of the exam is changing January 2021.
If you are writing the PMP, I would assume you know the basic definitions as you listed above, so I wouldn't worry too much on that.
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1 reply by James Dunn
Dec 31, 2020 8:11 PM
James Dunn
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Right. I think I did hear that elsewhere as well. Thanks for the reply, very helpful.
I will be doing the 2021 exam in Feb. Although I can still re-schedule to March which I might do.
I hope to share some insight on the new exam just as you have.
Saving Changes...
James DunnProject Manager| Acres EnterprisesKamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Dec 31, 2020 6:01 PM
Replying to Jessica Hogue
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Hi James, as I mentioned in a previous post; the PMP is focused more on situational questions compared the CAPM which is more definition based.
My insights are based off the 2020 exam and as I understand the format and context of the exam is changing January 2021.
If you are writing the PMP, I would assume you know the basic definitions as you listed above, so I wouldn't worry too much on that.
Right. I think I did hear that elsewhere as well. Thanks for the reply, very helpful.
I will be doing the 2021 exam in Feb. Although I can still re-schedule to March which I might do.
I hope to share some insight on the new exam just as you have. Saving Changes...
James DunnProject Manager| Acres EnterprisesKamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Hey Jessica I had another question. One thing I have not left room for in my study schedule I have prepared, is the Role Delineation Study. Is this something you looked at closely or did you review it at all? I'm a little iffy if I understand what it actual is but if it's what I think it is it won't be worth much for the new exam. Can you shine any light on this?
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1 reply by Jessica Hogue
Jan 01, 2021 5:38 PM
Jessica Hogue
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Hi James, The Role Delineation Study is in reference to how the exam measures the test-takers. I did not study that, in fact, I didn't you the outline at all. Since I had taken and passed my CAPM in May, I found it best for myself to study by knowledge area not by process.
Hey Jessica I had another question. One thing I have not left room for in my study schedule I have prepared, is the Role Delineation Study. Is this something you looked at closely or did you review it at all? I'm a little iffy if I understand what it actual is but if it's what I think it is it won't be worth much for the new exam. Can you shine any light on this?
Hi James, The Role Delineation Study is in reference to how the exam measures the test-takers. I did not study that, in fact, I didn't you the outline at all. Since I had taken and passed my CAPM in May, I found it best for myself to study by knowledge area not by process. Saving Changes...
