17 May Get ready to pass the PMPⓇ Exam in 1’st Attempt
Everyone who wants to take the PMPⓇ Certification exam has heard somewhere or the other that this is one of the toughest examinations. Almost everyone is worried if they will be able to do it. It is said that the majority of the students fail this examination in their first try. It does not have to be. Absolutely not! Why majority of students fail perhaps is they have not understood what the exam actually expects from them. The PMPⓇ Examination is based on standards and best practices for the project managers. People who take the examination are people who manage projects, in most of the cases, manage them well. Then why do they fail? Are the questions too difficult? Do you have to be an Einstein to pass the PMP Exam? Is it very difficult to study? What is it? Why do people fail? In the last 11 years, we have analyzed these questions and common patterns that result in failure in this examination. For example, many people who fail, have not understood application of the theory described in the standards for project management to practical project management
Following tips should help you to prepare for being successful in passing pmp exam in your first attempt
Tip 1: Understand the PMBOK Guide
The PMBOK Guide as the name suggests is a guide for project managers. It defines, presents standards and best practices used in project management. The idea is, if you implement these standards and best practices on your projects, your project management efficiency will improve. This is what gets tested in the examination too. This is the guide that will make your concepts clear which other books will not. If you want to read only one book for PMPⓇ preparation exam, sticking to this one book should do the trick for you.
The problem is, it is not an easy read! The language, like the language of any other standard, is dry. It is terse. Reading it and understanding the application of that point to the project is what you should be able to do. The best trick to do it, read only 1 to 3 points at a time. For every point, think about a practical example in your life as a project manager. If you cannot find a suitable example, think about the example given by your trainer (that is why you need a senior experienced trainer) Write down the example in the margin of the book. Use different colors.
This is THE BEST tip for PMPⓇ prep.If I wanted to give only one tip for PMPⓇ Prep, this would be it
Tip 2. Commit to study everyday
This is also one very important tip.once you decide to take up PMP Prep, the best thing you can perhaps do is be consistent. Plan and keep a slot out of your entire day to study, preferably 2 hours. Find out which time works the best for you. The PMBOK Guide is a PDF. You can listen to it during your daily commute. These two hours do not have to be continuous. 15 minutes now, half an hour hour later will work beautifully
I know it is difficult to get 2 hours every day, especially if your project is at a crucial stage. What I suggest in this case is, on the day you do not get those two hours, read a minimum 2 paragraphs. This will keep you connected and you will not lose any momentum. It does mean that your life has to be disciplined for the period. Yes, for earning that coveted certificate, this is a big help. Get a blackboard and chalks or a whiteboard and markers. Hang it somewhere you can easily see. Write down the dates in one column. On the day you complete your plan, mark a green tick and a big bold red cross when you don’t. The visual reminder will help you make up the amount of time you have lost
Tip 3. Be Open about your plan
Tell everyone, especially those who know will help you, tell them that you are planning to take the PMPⓇ Exam. Tell them that you are planning to study 2 hours every day. Committing to friends and people will definitely help you stick to the plan
Tip 4. Do NOT read too many books
Reading too many books ends up confusing your mind. Those books will have different ways of explaining, they will have different theories. Too many resources end up confusing a person rather than adding to your preparation. If you read the PMBOK Guide as suggested, one more book is more than enough. My students have always used my notes and the PMBOK Guide.They do not use anything else. These two are suffu=icient to help you pass the PMP Exam in the first attempt. It not only keeps that confusion away, but it also reduces time required for preparation a lot
Tip 5. Solve Practice Questions
This is the tricky one! Solving questions is important. But which questions? Do not solve the questions unless they are from a reliable source. Many of the questions that you easily can get on the internet are not of the exam standard. they , in fact may create a false impression that you are ready for the examination while you are not. Use only questions where you know the source.
Remember, this is a test of your project management skills. This is not your functional ability skills. As a project manager, you need to understand who can solve these problems for you. Therefore the questions that call for in depth functional knowledge will mostly not be a part of the examination (For example, procurement or accounting and investment). It really is not worth spending too much time preparing such questions.
Tip 6. Solve Practice Tests
Again, be sure of the quality of the tests. If the tests are good, you can do each of them, maybe 2 times. Solve the tests in one sitting. By the time you are planning to take tthe PMP examination, you are not used to writing the examination papers. Sitting for 4 hours can be daunting. Use the practice tests for this practice too.
These are general tips for your PMP preparation. It is a good idea to have a pre defined strategy for exam-day. We will see exam day tips some other day
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