PMP Exam - have failed twice HELP

Here my recommendations: 1-put focus on understanding the dynamic for answering the questions. Remember that is not about what you did or you do in your project management career. Is about what the PMI think you must do when performing project management. 2-make more than 1200 exam questions and when you get 75%-85% of accuracy systematically then you are ready. 3-questions to solve must be situational questions not terms definition. 4-day before the exam and the day of the exam do nothing regarding to study for the exam.

Hello Caryl,

You can also try Rita Fast Track Exam Simulation. It has as much as question (1,500+) needed to pass the exam.

All The Best.

Hi Caryl,

Sergio is spot on! I failed my first attempt and passed on the second. The difference was that I put my focus on what PMI says you should do and not on what I would typically do in that circumstance.

Sorry for that.

I would recommend you first, analyzed why you didn't pass? and which KA did you failed?

For example is not the same, if you were nervious or ansious before the text...then my recommendation will be don't grab a book 2 days or 3 before the test. On the other hand...did you try to memorize, because memorize is not an aproach for the test.

Track your leassons learned for the two fails and improve your study method for the next time, using all previous tips.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Hi Caryl,

Very sorry to hear the news. You mentioned you took 3 simulated exams. Did you score in the 70% on those exams before you sat for the actual exam? I would recommend you shoot for 70% on those simulated exams. Identify which questions you could not answer correctly and WHY. This will help you focus on the areas where you may need to improve. As mentioned already, the exam is not about memorizing; but knowing how to answer the situational questions.

All the best,

Hi Carly,

Sorry to hear.

I am going to take slightly different view. I tried to use Rita's book on risk to prep for the RMP certification. I didn't find it very helpful when it came to the practice test questions. At the time I had already completed the PMP exam. The reason I didn't find it helpful was the way the questions were phrased. I used the practice questions from another on-line training I took.

Sergio is correct in that focusing on what the question is really asking. The PMP is only about PMI processes and knowledge areas. When I studied for the exam I focused on knowing all the inputs and outputs for all of the elements of the knowledge areas. I also focused on all of the formulas. My instructor also really stressed the ethics element of the exam.

All of the questions on the exam give you a reference point on a project. In answering the question you will need to either know the exact steps of how you got to that point OR what the exact steps that come next. There are usually two close answers, but only one is correct.

I also found this tip from my mentor that was very helpful in avoiding missing the point of the question; Execuscanning, which is equivalent to only sort of reading our emails or memos to get the jist of what is being said. You can't do that with the PMP exam. When I took the test I read the question then read the answers and before I picked an answer I read the question a second time to make sure I was understanding what the true meaning of the question.

Lastly, several months ago there was an article or blog on this site about test questions. There were some really good pointers about free on-line questions and how to not waste your time using the ones that will not help you practice well for the exam. In practicing, you want to make sure you are scoring 80-85% on the practice questions before sitting for the exam.

I wish you all the best.

Thanks for your recommendations Segio. Helps a lot. I was only getting 62% on my simulations , and was studying very hard the day before the exam. I wasn't prepared enough, and was also burnt out from studying the day before.

thanks for the advice Rami. Yes I tried Rita's simulation exam, I got a CD with the exam guide book. it was only 25 questions. I see there is on online subscription on Rita's website, that has a lot more questions.