My top three tips for passing the PMP Certification exam are
- Sample Questions,
- Sample Questions,
- and more Sample Questions.
Of course, to prepare to take the sample questions, you need to read the PMBOK, attend a course, and then study the course material. However, in the end, what is going to help you the most in passing the exam will be the sample exam questions. And this is because almost 100% of the exam consists of a situational problem, which requires that you understand the material. Also, interpreting the questions correctly is a skill that you can perfect through practice. This practice comes from going over as many sample questions as you can.
Tips for Passing the PMP Certification Exam
The actual PMP exam is not based on memorization; though some are required, it comprehends the PMI project management framework and approach. Therefore, you will be presented with a fictitious but feasible project management situation and asked how you will fix or address the issue. For example, the following question is typical of what you might see on the exam:
You are the project manager on a project that is coming to an end. The previous project manager was reassigned, and, therefore, you have been asked to close down the project and the contracts associated with this project. The client is not pleased with the change in project management staff this far into the project and has voiced her frustration. Therefore, the steps you need to take in the sequential order shown below are as follows.
- Meet with the client, review all contracts, document lessons learned, payout invoices and dismiss the team.
- Meet with the sponsor, dismiss team, document lessons learned, contact client, renegotiate contracts, and submit final invoices.
- Meet with the quality manager to address issues with the client, meet with the client, dismiss the team, and submit renegotiated invoices
- Meet with the team, meet with a sponsor, document lessons learned, and dismiss the team.
The correct answer is d). Although the other answers have valid steps you will need to take, the questions state” …the sequential order below…” plus, it does not state that the answers include ALL the steps, but rather “steps” you would take in the order provided. These are the kinds of tricks in the exam, which many people fall for. Now, you might think, and many do, that this is an unfair approach. However, it is the way the exam is structured, and the purpose is to test your knowledge, the care you take in reading the questions, and your ability to analyze the situation. Also, as you can read in the question, there is much extemporaneous information. For example, the client is unhappy, which some of us might think means we need to address their concerns, but they may be a difficult client in default and have not paid your invoices, etc. There is not enough information there. So, you have to go by what facts you do have.
Again, the best tip is to take as many sample questions as possible, but no less than 1,000 before the exam. You can do this in sets of 25 to 50 or more questions, but get them done. It will help you hone your test-taking skills, learn how to interpret the information provided, and weed out unnecessary facts. Then, once you start scoring 75% to 80% on the practice exams, you will be ready for the exam.
Passing the PMP Certification Exam – Project Management Classes and Online Learning
