Preparing for the PMP Exam
The PMP exam tests your ability to comprehend industry standards through situational awareness, concept comprehension and problem solving. It takes 4 hours to pass. The exam may even challenge the tester by asking questions about concepts not covered in the PMBoK. Unexpected questions and events can throw people for a loop, but there are simple preparation techniques that can help you stay on the right track.
Learn from other people’s lessons
It is important to realize that the test is not easy without help. They will often give back their help after the exam by sharing their “lessons learned” and what happened during the exam. I encourage you to read their stories. People can offer great advice and suggestions about what study material was most effective, as well as for any questions that may arise during the experience. It’s almost like getting help from a Consumer Reports article.
Learn more about the “Extras”.
Sometimes people will mention the “extras” they learned from their lessons learned. I am referring to the fact that there are questions that are not covered in the PMBOK that are included on the PMP exam. The PMBOK only provides 75% of the exam’s content. There are many ideas or philosophies it doesn’t cover. The test might cover Six Sigma theorists in the quality knowledge area, or old scheduling techniques like AOA and AON. This kind of material can be picked up at a good PMP workshop.
Reconnaissance
Find out the layout of the exam site by being strategic. Within a week of taking your exam, you can drive to the site. You should arrive at the testing site at least half an hour before the exam. If you are able to get there earlier, then you can study in your car. You should arrive at the testing center no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled exam time.
Get Prepared
Don’t forget to bring any government-issued identification such as a driver’s license, to your exam. Social security cards do not allow you to show identification. Also bring the confirmation notice and unique PMI identification code.
Do a Brain Dump
After the test is completed, you will receive instructions for how to navigate the exam in 15 minutes. It will show you how to navigate the exam by using the buttons to go to next, back, flag, and other buttons. I would recommend skimming to the end of the page before you start the exam. Then, take the time to write down any important information that might help you. Anything written should serve a purpose and allow for efficiency while taking the exam.
Time and Question Management
Some test takers may finish in a short time, while others will not. My test took me four hours to complete. I used the clock to keep track of every third of the time. I wanted to complete 60 questions in 80 minutes. I like to give each answer my best shot and flag/mark the questions that I am not sure of. There were some tricky questions (look out for tricks in the test), and there were others that I felt multiple answers could be correct. It was important that I kept my pace steady and did not stop for a break. There was enough time to go back over the questions I was still unsure of. We learned from the PMP that the future events we plan to attend are not yet happening. It is important to take things one-by-one and analyze the potential consequences so that we can manage the future with a greater purpose. To prepare for the unknown, follow these steps to get started.
Author – Gregory Morrow