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...
Thanks everyone for your remarks and comments.
Recently, I have been looking at the PMI Examination Content Outline, It has very valuable information,and will help to navigate through all of extra information contained in the question stems.
Hope this was helpful. Saving Changes...
Johnnetta CurryAdministrative Professional 4| Jobs and Family servicesColumbus, Oh, United States
I wasn't as fortunate to pass the PMP on the first try. The passion that I have for Project Management inspires me to take the necessary steps to succeed. Thank you for your advice. Wish me luck!!! Saving Changes...
Alvine Pete MfouaponProject Eng. Specialist | Lycopodium minerals Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Dec 04, 2015 1:22 PM
Replying to Pawan Premi
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I took the exam few months back and thankfully passed in the first try. The exam is not easy, so do study for it. 1. Read thoroughly the PMBOK guide. The word-to-word definition in the glossary section are often the best answer to many questions. 2. Learn the processes, knowledge areas, tools and techniques and different theories. Focus on the sequence of processes too. 3. I used Rita Mulachy's book - an excellent guide to help answer from the PMI perspective. 4. Practice as many sample questions as you can. Most answer options are correct but the trick is to find the best answer. With practice you slowly start looking for the keywords to help you choose the best answer. 5. Most of the questions are situation based - what would you do as the PM? 6. While taking the exam, even if you want to skip, choose one answer and mark it for review instead. You may not have enough time near the end of the exam to reread the question and all the options. 7. All the Best !!
I took the exam last month and I failed! it was very had to deal with. now I am struggling to start again Saving Changes...
Alvine Pete MfouaponProject Eng. Specialist | Lycopodium minerals Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Dec 07, 2015 4:27 AM
Replying to Markus Kopko
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@Chintan:
You do provide some valuable tipps, like the previous poster also, but there is one thing i like kind to disagree.
It si about your second point regarding the ITTO''s.
I know that this is broadly discussed out there and there are a lot of sources which recommend to train and memorize all the ITTO''s by heart.
But that is exactly what i do disagree about. Imho it is just not necessary and a huge waste of time and ressources just to try.
There are more than 600 ITTO''s related to all the 47 PM processes and i would say it is nearly impossible for 99% o the aspirants to memorize them.
But just more important, it is simply not necessary.
I did the exam back in august this year and i can''t remember not a single question which has asked for an ITTO directly, not one.
And in addition i would say, if you have learned about all the processes and if you have UNDERSTANd how they work and how they are interrelated, than the ITTO''s are coming by nature.
However, for all who are asking themselves if they should learn the ITTO''s by hear or not i would like to recommend this article here:
Step back from it, unless it is an urgent requirement for retaking the exam right away, let at least two months pass.
Take a different approach. Use all available resources which must include the PMBOK 6th Ed and read it from cover to cover several time. The rules of the game has changed and we must tailor our approach to PMI's new domains and realities.
What I am suggesting, is keeping in line with the sentiments of PMP's who are in this forum. Decode each page line by line and find some activity in your own project environment to make sense of the ITTO, as it relates to your current project. Making that connection will help to remove the vale. Be aware that some of the decisions we make in our daily practices are quite different from what PMI define as standard practices.
PMI's Procurement Management and Risk Management has been my two weakest areas. Now I am gaining momentum in those two areas by constantly re reading practice questions and understanding those questions, in the context of the PMOK 6th Ed. and my practice. Understanding what I understand now, I can say with confidence I did not dive deep enough previously. Perhaps, I wanted the achievement without the deep dive that was required. my estimates were all wrong. Do a bottom up estimate of your knowledge base as it relates to the contents contained within PMBOK6th Ed.
In just over one minute, you will have to read and understand each question in terms of its domain, knowledge area, process group and ITTO, and then answer it correctly. Be persistent dive deep and decode. My first attempt was April past, I will retake in November.
Even when you would have rested and began to review again, initially you will rediscover that you thinking processes and experiences would not have change much, and will require time.
Finally, get some help from PMP's in your area talk to them they are a great resource. Schedule approximately six months, two to regroup two to cycle through your reading materials and two to practice test, read PMBOK again and then test some more.
Good luck to us both Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Take time to go through PMBOK multiple times and get an understanding of the content. Also try Rita Mulcahy's PMP guide, it has lots of practice questions after each chapter. After going through PMBOK and Rita's guide, I tried several mock exams online, some are free and some are paid, but it was really worth. Saving Changes...
Cindy BarkerManager, Revenue Services| City of VernonVernon, British Columbia, Canada
I wrote the PMP exam in March and successfully passed the exam the first time. I took a 3 day prep course, which really helped me plan how and what to study. Read the PMBOK once in full and then scanned over what I thought was important topics or areas I felt I needed more study time. I purchased Rita’s book, which was well worth the investiment, along with writing a fair number of online tests which really helped me prepare for the exam format and style; in addition, to helping me with my time management when answering exam questions. I studied heaviely for 2 1/2 months while working full time. It’s a challenging exam and I was pretty focused on my studies during the 2 1/2 months. Good Luck!
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1 reply by Samantha Ohler
Sep 24, 2018 10:04 AM
Samantha Ohler
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Hi Cindy,
Which 3-day prep course did you take?
Saving Changes...
Samantha OhlerIT Program Manager| AMIGDelaware, Oh, United States
Sep 15, 2018 2:08 PM
Replying to Cindy Barker
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I wrote the PMP exam in March and successfully passed the exam the first time. I took a 3 day prep course, which really helped me plan how and what to study. Read the PMBOK once in full and then scanned over what I thought was important topics or areas I felt I needed more study time. I purchased Rita’s book, which was well worth the investiment, along with writing a fair number of online tests which really helped me prepare for the exam format and style; in addition, to helping me with my time management when answering exam questions. I studied heaviely for 2 1/2 months while working full time. It’s a challenging exam and I was pretty focused on my studies during the 2 1/2 months. Good Luck!
Hi Cindy,
Which 3-day prep course did you take?
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1 reply by Cindy Barker
Sep 24, 2018 9:19 PM
Cindy Barker
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Hi Samatha,
I took a prep course through Project Management Centre of Excellence Inc.
Good luck with your studies!
Saving Changes...
Samantha OhlerIT Program Manager| AMIGDelaware, Oh, United States
I took the PMP test for the first time on 9/22/2018 and unfortunately did not pass. I marked slightly below the 'Passing' line.
I don't feel too bad about it because it is a very difficult test and I almost passed on my first try! I do have a much better idea of what type of studying I need to do as I believe my studying technique was definitely off a bit, and plan on retaking before the end of the year (2 to 3 months out)
What courses and practice tests does everyone recommend? I have gone through the PMBOK and the PMI Study Guide, but I need something to help me study more scenario-based instances. Saving Changes...
