Rebecca BraglioCommunity Engagement Specialist II| Project Management InstituteNewtown Square, Pa, United States
Have you taken the exam? Passed? Failed? Failed and then passed?
Help out a fellow project manager and post your tip on studying for and taking the exam. Here are some we''ve gathered from members so far:
J.l Laroche: Try not to try to absorb all the PMBOK content by heart, focus on the main stream of processes and knowledge, the tools and the results and you will be fine don''t worry. remember to get first through all questions, answering the evident ones and flagging the others and then get back to the flagged ones, and think of it, even if you''re unsure of the answer, always, always pick one, if you''re wrong you will not loose points and you have 1 on 4 chances to get it good...
M. Hartsough: When reviewing those questions you flagged, don''t start second-guessing yourself. IMO, in all probability your initial answer was correct. Don''t change your original answers unless you definitely found a better one. Remember to answer from the "PMI Perspective". The PMI Perspective isn''t necessarily how you or your organization manages projects.
F. McCaskell: take a break every 50 questions - no matter if you don''t think you need it. This will prevent you from being burned out at the end.
C.Tong: don''t think the exam is easy or you won''t prepare yourself well Saving Changes...
Pamela PenningtonIT Director| Ride ConnectionPhoenix, Az, United States
I attended a class at University of Arizona that gave me PMP exam prep. I also was very active in my PMI chapter and most chapters have PMP exam preps that you can sign up for. I found the class to be helpful. I also used the Rita Mulcahy Exam Prep book and Head First Labs online exams. But one big lesson learned is that the exam is based on logic. If you know the principles from the PMBOK, you need to answer the questions in an ideal PMI world based on the principals, not necessarily how you see it done at your current workplace - most places don't do things by the book like that (dang it!!! lol) Saving Changes...
Lakshmikandan GanesanPMP Certified| QD-SBG, PO BOX 19386, Doha-QatarDoha, Doha, Qatar
I hope you know the rule of PMI. If You not success continually three (3) times in a year...then you cant give exam fourth time in next year.. PMI will give one year gap. So my suggestion is if you are more confident you can give your 3rd Attempt june month. Otherwise get prepare well and give third Attempt with new application (you need to submit) which wil give three(3) new Attempts once your eligibilty has expired. Saving Changes...
Failed PMP for the 2nd time. I plan on sitting for my 3rd and last attempt. I would like suggestions on how to prepare for the 6th edition if possible. (I know it's early) My eligibility period ends June 14 so I need to sit for the exam before then. I ran out of time. I saw that I had 30 minutes to answer 70 questions and I freaked out and my heart started beating quickly, I was skimming questions. I was very close to target passing but unfortunately the last 30 minutes were a deal breaker for me and I didn't pass.
I have also plan for third attempt but i have time. Just read the article about change. Use the high ranking exam simulator, like http://www.pm-exam-simulator.com/ and so on.
Now i am starting read book(6th) 2 to 3 week and try to understand change(5 to 6) Saving Changes...
BJ MooreStrategic Business Manager| ONeil & AssociatesTipp City, Oh, United States
When selecting an answer keep in mind the right choice is based upon what would PMI say is the right action. Sometimes this is very different than what your years of experience in the field may dictate. The test cannot replicate the multiplicity of factors and nuances of real life so don't try to read too much into the questions. Saving Changes...
Amir AliProject Manager| Northbay Solutions Pvt LtdLahore, Punjab, Pakistan
I passed my exam in first attempt. I think candidate just try to get the concepts with mindset how it will help in his/her professional life. This ultimately will also help to pass the exam as well because it is all about concepts in exam.
Secondly, need to take it serious. If someone will try to seek shortcuts or not giving adequate time then it will be hard to pass the exam.
Lastly, get full sleep, relax and be energetic before exam. Presence of mind will matter a lot during exam. Saving Changes...
Farhan AneesProgram Manager| Johnson Controls (I) Pvt. Ltd.Bengaluru, Bengaluru, India
HI Friends,
Cleared PMP exam last week in my first attempt.
Exam pressure does build up in the last week before exam but practising the credible mock and checking our gaps is the key to be succesful in Exam.
The foundation of study should be one full read of PMPBOK.
Go for classroom traning, where you will be able to corelate the concepts of PMBOK.
Read and understand the complete RITA book with all the exercises very sincerely.
Take one more Round of PMBOK followed by RITA to clear all the concepts.
Start with mocks like Simplilearn, Headfirst, PM Prepcast, Fitcher, Oliver Lehmann to check your level of knowledge and gaps in understanding for each wrong answer.
With this you will be confident enough to take the exams once you start scoring 75 to 80 percent in the mock test. anything above 70 is also a good score in mocks.
After an intensive one month study I miserably fail the exam way far below the target! According to my observation, I went through Rita intensively and cross checking PMBOK while scoring up to 70% in 4 RMC mock exams. Last mock started like with a feeling like I haven't study any thing! I can't remember where things are,, but any way this is in past I am still not giving up, any advice you have with this new restructured material format?
Thx
Cleared PMP exam last week in my first attempt.
Exam pressure does build up in the last week before exam but practising the credible mock and checking our gaps is the key to be succesful in Exam.
The foundation of study should be one full read of PMPBOK.
Go for classroom traning, where you will be able to corelate the concepts of PMBOK.
Read and understand the complete RITA book with all the exercises very sincerely.
Take one more Round of PMBOK followed by RITA to clear all the concepts.
Start with mocks like Simplilearn, Headfirst, PM Prepcast, Fitcher, Oliver Lehmann to check your level of knowledge and gaps in understanding for each wrong answer.
With this you will be confident enough to take the exams once you start scoring 75 to 80 percent in the mock test. anything above 70 is also a good score in mocks.
All the best
After an intensive one month study I miserably fail the exam way far below the target! According to my observation, I went through Rita intensively and cross checking PMBOK while scoring up to 70% in 4 RMC mock exams. Last mock started like with a feeling like I haven't study any thing! I can't remember where things are,, but any way this is in past I am still not giving up, any advice you have with this new restructured material format?
Thx Saving Changes...
Cleared PMP exam last week in my first attempt.
Exam pressure does build up in the last week before exam but practising the credible mock and checking our gaps is the key to be succesful in Exam.
The foundation of study should be one full read of PMPBOK.
Go for classroom traning, where you will be able to corelate the concepts of PMBOK.
Read and understand the complete RITA book with all the exercises very sincerely.
Take one more Round of PMBOK followed by RITA to clear all the concepts.
Start with mocks like Simplilearn, Headfirst, PM Prepcast, Fitcher, Oliver Lehmann to check your level of knowledge and gaps in understanding for each wrong answer.
With this you will be confident enough to take the exams once you start scoring 75 to 80 percent in the mock test. anything above 70 is also a good score in mocks.
All the best
Congratulations, Farhan. This is a great achievement. Take time to celebrate this momentous occasion. Saving Changes...
Utilize the first 15 minutes which is given to get familiarized with the system to write down all the important formulas/things which you can''t remember for a long time on the paper so that you can free up your mind and concentrate on the questions.
Congratulations Samuel, well don.
You provided very valuable insights with special emphasis, all about Stakeholders, Stakeholders, Stakeholders, Stakeholders...
Apparently, I must of had the same test as you.
Perhaps, stating it more dramatically, it was a barrage of Stakeholder questions.
I was not successful in my first attempt.
My first attempt was based on limited resources primarily, Ritas 5th Edition and very little PMBOK 5th Edition. That was a mistake on my part.
After reading about your test preparation material resources, I have decided to acquire Head First by Andrew. I plan to use Head first in conjunction with the 6th Edition of PMBOK and Rita.
Any advice?
How many simulations did you complete in preparation for the PMP Exam, and did you consistently score in the 75% - 80% range before you commit to taking the test?
I appreciate all additional comments and insights, as I plan a strategy to pass the
Stanford Moss
For your question ( How many simulations did you complete in preparation for the PMP Exam, and did you consistently score in the 75% - 80% range before you commit to taking the test? )
Practice with
Head First 79%
Exam Central ( it is no so difficult ) 93%
MyPMP 89%
Simpli learn 85%
oliver lehmann ( the most difficult for me ) 71%
Andy Crowe It has 200 test in my first attempt 81% then I re-take it 92%
One thing you can do now is to check those mock , to see if they already change to the 6th edition.
Then take the PMBOK 6th study it at least one and if you buy the Andy Crowe or whatever you chose study it.
Then you start taking those mock and write down your grades to see where you are , and then go back to study and then re take the mock until you get good grades. And always write down how long it takes you to finish.
Another thing that I notice was that with the MOCK I Always finish those in less than 3 hours , but the day of the test I finished just 5 minutes before...
So I think that is good indicator , if it takes you 4 hour to finish a Mock, the real exam could be difficult for you...
But like a mention before , you have to eat the PMBOK, specifically Scope ( Change Management Plan ) , Time , cost and Stakeholders.
