Tips and Guidelines to help you with the PMP exam prep

The Project Management Professional (PMP) is one of the 8 prestigious project management credential sponsored by the Project Management Institute (PMI).  It is one of the most respected and recognized certification that requires each applicant to have an extensive PMP exam prep and to meet the educational and experimental established by the PMI, to obtain the certification.

The applicant must also demonstrate the basic knowledge and understanding of the methodology of project management concepts. The PMP exam course tests the applicant’s ongoing professional commitment to the project management field by developing the skills and techniques require to successfully complete a project.

What are the tips on taking the examination?

The PMP exam is a computer based examination and is majorly based on the domains and knowledge areas of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide.  The PMBOK provides an outline of the topics that are covered in the four-hour exam which consists of 200 multiple-choice questions out of which 175 are scored and the rest 25 unscored.

The applicant must score approximately 137 questions (68.5%) of the questions correctly to qualify for the PMP certification. The exam focuses on 5 domains of project management processes and areas, as mentioned below.

·         Initiating – 17 questions.

·         Planning – 47 questions.

·         Executing – 47 questions.

·         Controlling – 46 questions.

·         Closing – 14 questions.

·         Professional Responsibility – 29 questions.

Below are some tips for taking the PMP training and examination.

1.       There are certain questions in the examination that contain additional information. Avoid using this information to solve the questions, as they are mostly irrelevant.

2.       Each question has one correct answer. Make sure you go through each of the four options, before choosing the right one.

3.       You must attempt the entire question paper, from a PMI perspective, and not you own.

4.       Make flash cards while going through the PMP exam prep; memorize all the formulas and terminology of the PMBOK guide and other study materials.

5.       Leave the doubtful questions for the end. Don’t get stuck on one question for too long. If you don’t know an answer, mark it and move on to the next one. Solve all the marked ones in the end.

6.       Make sure you use well-judged metrics to track you project status as the reports not only show where the project stands but moreover allows the project managers to determine the project’s future progress and direction.

7.       Irrespective of the experience you hold, PMP training is essential. There is a 35 contact hour training that is required in order to attend a PMP Certification exam. The training offers you to get a formal education and learn the best project management practices, which can be helpful during your examination.