PgMP Exam: What kind of preparation resources and methods would you recommend for the PgMP Exam Preparation process?
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Hello Community,
I have just started my certification journey towards the highly respected PgMP certification.
Since I am still at the very beginning, I am in the process of planning my preparations and gathering preparation resources.
So far, I have downloaded (as a PMI member)
the current Program Management Standard
the Process Practice Guide
and the current PMBoK Guide
as well as all the resources that can be found on the pmi.org website like the credential Handbook, the Reference List and so on ...
I would also like to purchase a good prep book similar to Rita's for the PMP exam. Which one would you recommend, if any?
In addition, what other books and/or materials do you recommend using?
In terms of the preparation process and methods:
I will be taking a coaching/training program with a well-known PgMP coach.
We will also have a study group that meets regularly.
Is there anything else you can recommend? What procedure do you recommend in order to optimally and, above all, efficiently acquire the learning material, which is quite extensive after all?
I would appreciate any feedback or recommendations!
Thank you in advance and I look forward to your responses.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Markus, glad to hear you are aiming towards earning the PgMP credential. You can find my journey tips and lessons learned in my blog on this platform. Below is the link:
In my opinion, the PgMP guide is more than enough for studying along with the ECO but you need to thoroughly study it. For practice exams, there are a few on Udemy for an affordable price.
Let me know if you have any further questions - Good luck!
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1 reply by Markus Kopko
Oct 14, 2023 11:41 AM
Markus Kopko
...
Great advice, as usual, by you, my friend. Thanks a lot.
Your blog post makes me feel that I am already on a good path here.
However, I would love to get back to you with specific questions if they come up.
We could even do a video call at some point.
Thanks a lot, Rami; highly appreciated.
BR;
Markus
Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Oct 12, 2023 12:28 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
Markus, glad to hear you are aiming towards earning the PgMP credential. You can find my journey tips and lessons learned in my blog on this platform. Below is the link:
In my opinion, the PgMP guide is more than enough for studying along with the ECO but you need to thoroughly study it. For practice exams, there are a few on Udemy for an affordable price.
Let me know if you have any further questions - Good luck!
Great advice, as usual, by you, my friend. Thanks a lot.
Your blog post makes me feel that I am already on a good path here.
However, I would love to get back to you with specific questions if they come up.
We could even do a video call at some point.
Thanks a lot, Rami; highly appreciated.
BR;
Markus
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Oct 15, 2023 2:37 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
You're welcome, Markus. I am sure you will do great and happy to answer any questions you might have as much as I can. Cheers!
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 14, 2023 11:41 AM
Replying to Markus Kopko
...
Great advice, as usual, by you, my friend. Thanks a lot.
Your blog post makes me feel that I am already on a good path here.
However, I would love to get back to you with specific questions if they come up.
We could even do a video call at some point.
Thanks a lot, Rami; highly appreciated.
BR;
Markus
You're welcome, Markus. I am sure you will do great and happy to answer any questions you might have as much as I can. Cheers!
...
1 reply by Markus Kopko
Nov 02, 2023 5:18 PM
Markus Kopko
...
I will definitely come back to this, Rami! ;)
Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Oct 15, 2023 2:37 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
You're welcome, Markus. I am sure you will do great and happy to answer any questions you might have as much as I can. Cheers!
I will definitely come back to this, Rami! ;) Saving Changes...
Ian ChenSenior Project Manager| NoneDouble Bay, Nsw, Australia
Hi Markus I passed my PgMP in July 2023 this year and I self-studied completely. I agree with Rami. I studied by understanding and reading 3-4 times the Standard for Program Management V4 (SPM) and Exam Content Outline (ECO). Study the SPM based on ECO weighting. You have to know the EVM formulas. You don't need to memorise the ITTO as there are no ITTO direct questions - but you need to understand the ITTO application as all questions are scenario based and need to apply ITTO. Dr. Ginger Levin's PgMP exam test prep is the best book for practice exams and it is a lot harder than the real PgMP exam, highly recommend her book as many in PMI community cite her material as best - make sure you understand the answer explanations. Good luck.
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3 replies by Jasmine Miller, Markus Kopko, and Rami Kaibni
Nov 27, 2023 9:44 AM
Rami Kaibni
...
Ian, congrats for passing the exam. Great achievement.
Markus, I agree with Ian and even for the EVM formulas, the questions weren’t that much complicated so you need to understand the formulas more than memorizing them!
Nov 29, 2023 9:57 AM
Markus Kopko
...
Thanks Ian, for your valuable input; highly appreciated.
Oct 08, 2024 6:24 AM
Jasmine Miller
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Hi Ian,
I was interested in your book recommendation - could you share a link or the specific title of the Ginger Levin book, please? I can see a few on Amazon - was this the one you used? https://amzn.eu/d/2dZosci Thanks,
Jasmine
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Nov 27, 2023 6:16 AM
Replying to Ian Chen
...
Hi Markus I passed my PgMP in July 2023 this year and I self-studied completely. I agree with Rami. I studied by understanding and reading 3-4 times the Standard for Program Management V4 (SPM) and Exam Content Outline (ECO). Study the SPM based on ECO weighting. You have to know the EVM formulas. You don't need to memorise the ITTO as there are no ITTO direct questions - but you need to understand the ITTO application as all questions are scenario based and need to apply ITTO. Dr. Ginger Levin's PgMP exam test prep is the best book for practice exams and it is a lot harder than the real PgMP exam, highly recommend her book as many in PMI community cite her material as best - make sure you understand the answer explanations. Good luck.
Ian, congrats for passing the exam. Great achievement.
Markus, I agree with Ian and even for the EVM formulas, the questions weren’t that much complicated so you need to understand the formulas more than memorizing them!
...
1 reply by Markus Kopko
Nov 29, 2023 9:58 AM
Markus Kopko
...
Thanks for the reminder, Rami.
I guess the approach to tackling the questions is not that much different than it was for the PMP Exam, isn't it?
Saving Changes...
Silvia SchuhmannProject Management Officer| Enel North AmericaDenver, Co, United States
Hello Markus, wondering which books/ materials you ended up using for your PgMP preparation? Appreciate any insights that you can share. Danke! Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Nov 27, 2023 6:16 AM
Replying to Ian Chen
...
Hi Markus I passed my PgMP in July 2023 this year and I self-studied completely. I agree with Rami. I studied by understanding and reading 3-4 times the Standard for Program Management V4 (SPM) and Exam Content Outline (ECO). Study the SPM based on ECO weighting. You have to know the EVM formulas. You don't need to memorise the ITTO as there are no ITTO direct questions - but you need to understand the ITTO application as all questions are scenario based and need to apply ITTO. Dr. Ginger Levin's PgMP exam test prep is the best book for practice exams and it is a lot harder than the real PgMP exam, highly recommend her book as many in PMI community cite her material as best - make sure you understand the answer explanations. Good luck.
Thanks Ian, for your valuable input; highly appreciated. Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Nov 27, 2023 9:44 AM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
Ian, congrats for passing the exam. Great achievement.
Markus, I agree with Ian and even for the EVM formulas, the questions weren’t that much complicated so you need to understand the formulas more than memorizing them!
Thanks for the reminder, Rami.
I guess the approach to tackling the questions is not that much different than it was for the PMP Exam, isn't it?