What is better? Trying to crack PMP exam as fast as you can OR study (and i mean really STUDY) the PMBoK Guide and other preparation materials intensivly with the goal PMP certification but also for
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
I am very active not only here at pm.co but also in various other project management and PMI certification related communities.
And really often the question " How long do i need for becoming a PMP?" or similar is been raised.
The answers to this question are as vary as the people who wrote them.
The most often recommended time frame is pending between 8 to 12 (may be 14) weeks. Some says more and even more recommend less time.
I have seen people who are telling they did "crack" the PMP exam within 3 to 4 weeks and even 10 days was one of the answers.
Well, of course - depending on the previous education and experience - it is possible to crack the exam in a short time frame, but is this useful?
This post is inspired by another posting what i have seen shortly, where a experienced PMP trainer and well known expert ( i think so) has recommended an PMP aspirant who has just started his preparation to take the exam within the next 2 months's ...
Well, i do understand that there can be a situation where someone needs to obtain the PMP certification as fast as he/she can (for hiring reasons or whatever), but shouldn't we recommend each aspirant to take the time he/she needed to study, really study all the PMBoK Guide and other material in depth and really intensively, so he/she would not only pass the exam by flying by but also benefit their whole work life and experience for becoming a better project manager/expert?!
My personal opinion is, somebody who is learning let's say 10 days full time just for obtaining PMP might be successful (but often will not i guess), but he/she will have forgotten most of the knowledge right after passing the exam. Not really useful from my perspective ...
no offense, but it was not my intention with this posting - and i am not sure if this is a good idea at all - to promote such offers here.
From my perspective such offers more or less all not serious.
Regards,
Markus
Markus, I agree. That was not a promotion. All I was thinking, how is this possible?
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1 reply by Markus Kopko
Oct 21, 2016 8:33 AM
Markus Kopko
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OK, sorry; i misunderstood you then.
Unfortunately yes, it can be possible, depending on the previous education and experience of the aspirants.
BUT, i am convinced, someone who did a five day boot camp and then goes for the exam might be successful (if he got lucky), but he would have learned NOTHING for his job and his life He will have forgotten 95% of the stuff the day after the exam.
Regards,
Markus
Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Oct 21, 2016 8:18 AM
Replying to Anupam
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Markus, I agree. That was not a promotion. All I was thinking, how is this possible?
OK, sorry; i misunderstood you then.
Unfortunately yes, it can be possible, depending on the previous education and experience of the aspirants.
BUT, i am convinced, someone who did a five day boot camp and then goes for the exam might be successful (if he got lucky), but he would have learned NOTHING for his job and his life He will have forgotten 95% of the stuff the day after the exam.
I joined my company PMP study group. We met over a six-month period. I took my exam a month after the last meeting.
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1 reply by Markus Kopko
Oct 24, 2016 3:53 AM
Markus Kopko
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Hi Stephane,
this is a great way of PMP preparation and studying. A lot of people do prefer to learn in a real life learning group and the interaction between the participants.
I am convinced that you can benefit most of it in this way not only for the PMP exam.
Regards,
Markus
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
To study the PMBOK guide has no sence from the point of view to pass the exam. Making lot of questions, situational questions mainly, is the way you will pass the exam.
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2 replies by Markus Kopko and Sergio Luis Conte
Oct 24, 2016 3:57 AM
Markus Kopko
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Hello Sergio,
thanks for your comment. You know that i do like and respect you a lot as an expert in many fields here on pm.com.
But i have to disagree with you here or may be i did not well understand your comment.
Since the PMBoK Guide is the foundation for PMP and the exam is based (about 85%) on the content of it, how could it have no sense?
I do agree with you in the aspect of doing a lot of practicing, but on which base those questions should be answered if not on the PMBoK Guide?
May be you could elaborate a bit more of what you meaning?
Regards,
Markus
Oct 24, 2016 8:56 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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Thank you very much for your words Markus. English is not my first language so I used an expression that perhaps is not right. PMP credential certification exam is based on situational questions. In my opinion, while those questions are based on the PMBOK to remember the whole guide, each input and output, each process, has no sense. While I agree you have to read and understand the PMBOK the thing that will help to pass the exam is to make a lot of exam questions mainly situational questions. In fact, I believe that when you get 80%-90% of right answers systematically then you are prepare.
Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
I joined my company PMP study group. We met over a six-month period. I took my exam a month after the last meeting.
Hi Stephane,
this is a great way of PMP preparation and studying. A lot of people do prefer to learn in a real life learning group and the interaction between the participants.
I am convinced that you can benefit most of it in this way not only for the PMP exam.
Regards,
Markus Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Oct 21, 2016 12:16 PM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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To study the PMBOK guide has no sence from the point of view to pass the exam. Making lot of questions, situational questions mainly, is the way you will pass the exam.
Hello Sergio,
thanks for your comment. You know that i do like and respect you a lot as an expert in many fields here on pm.com.
But i have to disagree with you here or may be i did not well understand your comment.
Since the PMBoK Guide is the foundation for PMP and the exam is based (about 85%) on the content of it, how could it have no sense?
I do agree with you in the aspect of doing a lot of practicing, but on which base those questions should be answered if not on the PMBoK Guide?
May be you could elaborate a bit more of what you meaning?
Regards,
Markus Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Oct 21, 2016 12:16 PM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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To study the PMBOK guide has no sence from the point of view to pass the exam. Making lot of questions, situational questions mainly, is the way you will pass the exam.
Thank you very much for your words Markus. English is not my first language so I used an expression that perhaps is not right. PMP credential certification exam is based on situational questions. In my opinion, while those questions are based on the PMBOK to remember the whole guide, each input and output, each process, has no sense. While I agree you have to read and understand the PMBOK the thing that will help to pass the exam is to make a lot of exam questions mainly situational questions. In fact, I believe that when you get 80%-90% of right answers systematically then you are prepare.
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1 reply by Markus Kopko
Oct 24, 2016 9:29 AM
Markus Kopko
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Hi Sergio,
you are most welcome.
Well, now i understand better what you mean.
I do totally agree with you that it is not useful to try to memorize PMBoK Guide and it's content.
Nevertheless it is tha basis for PMP and also for other PMI certifications and it's content has to be understood by the PMP aspirants.
Therefore there are a lot of helpful other materials like prep books, courses, flash cards and whatever else.
Most important prep tool from my perspective is a professional online exam simulator where an aspirant can train and simulate the exam and all those situational questions intensively.
So in the end we are closely together i think.
Regards,
Markus
PS: English is also not my nature language ... ;)
Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Oct 24, 2016 8:56 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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Thank you very much for your words Markus. English is not my first language so I used an expression that perhaps is not right. PMP credential certification exam is based on situational questions. In my opinion, while those questions are based on the PMBOK to remember the whole guide, each input and output, each process, has no sense. While I agree you have to read and understand the PMBOK the thing that will help to pass the exam is to make a lot of exam questions mainly situational questions. In fact, I believe that when you get 80%-90% of right answers systematically then you are prepare.
Hi Sergio,
you are most welcome.
Well, now i understand better what you mean.
I do totally agree with you that it is not useful to try to memorize PMBoK Guide and it's content.
Nevertheless it is tha basis for PMP and also for other PMI certifications and it's content has to be understood by the PMP aspirants.
Therefore there are a lot of helpful other materials like prep books, courses, flash cards and whatever else.
Most important prep tool from my perspective is a professional online exam simulator where an aspirant can train and simulate the exam and all those situational questions intensively.
So in the end we are closely together i think.
Regards,
Markus
PS: English is also not my nature language ... ;) Saving Changes...
Praveen MalikIndependent Consultant| Independent ConsultantNew Delhi, India
**PMP Timeframe** PMP is not akin to a 100m sprint. It needs some a/m of study, perseverance and hard work. The time-frame required for PMP certification depends on lot of factors. e.g. 1. candidate's background & experience 2. How much time can the candidate devote for prep on a daily basis? 3. How well does the candidate understand formal project management? I have seen people completing PMP certification in 7–10 days after taking 35 contact hour training but they are usually outliers. I have written an article to find answer for "how much time is needed for the exam prep". The article is based on a poll that I had conducted. In my experience one should take the PMP exam within 12 weeks of starting the preparation - beyond that confidence & motivation goes down. You can stretch it to 14-15 weeks but not beyond that. **The Knowledge** Again depending on many factors, I think, 6-8 weeks is a reasonable time period for deep study & understanding. ps. you can one more non-native English speaker to the list. :)
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2 replies by Markus Kopko and Praveen Malik
Oct 25, 2016 1:59 AM
Markus Kopko
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Hello Praveen,
thank you for youre comment.
But the question was not about what is a good time frame for stdying for the PMP exam;
the question was more about the reasonableness to study in a rush just with the intention for cracking the exam (what of course can be done in a vary short time frame, depending also on all the factors you have mentioned).
From my perspective PMP is a certification for already professionals with the goal to become even better and more professional especially in the field of project management.
And if i am right here then the studying should be done within a reasonable time frame which allows the aspirant to study intensively and deeply so he/she can gain all the knowledge in a way that it benefits all the future work of the aspirant.
And i am convinced this could NOT be done within a time frame of several days.
Regards,
Markus
Nov 10, 2016 8:09 PM
Praveen Malik
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Thanks Markus,
As I wrote earlier, I think, for an regular Joe 6-8 weeks is a reasonable time period for deep study & understanding.
I suppose it all depends on why you want the PMP? Do you want it to demonstrate you have a good knowledge of project management, or just to get the PMP to get a job? If the latter then this will eventually devalue the PMP and employers will not see it as a differentiator for hiring decisions.
