We are all aware of the enormous amount of time, work, and attention needed to study for an exam. The Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam is more difficult than most, necessitating substantial study over several months to pass. In other words, preparation for the PMP exam is crucial! You must be able to master the practical applications of the vast amount of information you must learn about project management. It may have been years since you last studied for an exam if you are one of the people who has a successful profession already, so your study techniques may be a little rusty. These top exam strategies can help you in studying for PMP.
1. Read about your exam
Although it may seem extremely straightforward, acknowledging the struggle you’ll confront is the first step to success. You can learn the fundamentals of the PMP certification exam on the PMI website. Links to helpful information, including official training providers, test subjects, practice questions, and study materials, will also be provided.
Review the exam material overview to get ready for the PMP certification.
2. Read the PMBOK® Guide
PMBOK Guide is a major source of inspiration for the PMP test. Make the guide the road map for your study by taking advantage of this. Plan to learn about one PMBOK® Guide knowledge area per week. Before moving on to other study materials, start with the actual guide. This will aid in your learning of each subject because other study materials frequently repeat information and present the same subject from other perspectives.
Additionally, divide up the PMBOK® Guide’s knowledge domains into individual processes to study daily. You can create a clear plan for daily and weekly study milestones with the assistance of this.
Just learning everything by heart won’t be sufficient. Attempt to thoroughly comprehend things and study them with attention and concentration. This is crucial since the PMP® exam questions will gauge how successfully you can put these principles, ideas, and concepts into practice. Many questions describe a problem in terms of its context. They purposely offer irrelevant information while also providing you with sufficient information to get the best conclusion. But here arises a confusion that the PMP exam is totally based on PMBOK Guide, in this video you will get to know what is the actual truth.
3. Participate in an exam preparation course
Even though choosing to simply employ a self-study for the PMP approach could seem daring, it might not be the wisest course of action. It’s critical to realize that passing exams necessitate in-depth knowledge of a variety of areas. Even if you have real-world experience, some of it might not be applicable because PMI’s perspective and the tasks you are accustomed to performing in the field may differ greatly.
By enrolling in a certification preparation course to study for PMP, you can spend time with a knowledgeable instructor who has firsthand experience passing the test. If the training is in-person, it’s a great chance to network, share experiences, and get all your questions addressed.
4. Use online PMP exam simulators to your advantage
Online practice PMP examinations are offered by PMP® simulators. They put the candidate through a test with inquiries that mimic the structure of the PMP® exam. Also, try to mimic the exam environment so that you become used to the pressure and time. Are an excellent tool to determine how well you have prepared.
5. Less memorization and more comprehension
The PMP exam is a hands-on test that gauges how well you can apply project management theories and principles to actual work situations. Many people attempt to memorize their way to success due to the extensive language in the PMP domains, only to realize the examination is application-based when it is too late. You can better internalize concepts and apply lessons to practical situations by reading to comprehend. However, any project manager should be able to quickly recall fundamental concepts like process groups, knowledge regions, and standard formulas. These comprise critical route analysis, scheduling and cost management formulae, and more.
6. Use practice tests
No applicant should sit for the exam without using PMI’s PMP practice questions. 180 questions must be answered in 230 minutes on the test.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response, matching, hotspot, and limited fill-in-the-blank questions will all be present. For further information, see the sample questions.
Study thoroughly, and if you have any questions, use all of the resources at your disposal. Your study plan will result in consistent performance on practice examinations by the time it is finished.
7. Recall your flash cards.
Flashcards, whether printed or digital, are a practical, affordable, and tried-and-true method of PMP test preparation. Downloadable flashcards can be printed or browsed through on a computer or smartphone. Making your flashcards can also be a huge assistance when you’re studying.
8. Create a plan that is effective for you.
The majority of those who passed the PMP exam on their first try have a different story to share when you read their success stories. What is the most effective exam strategy? There is no such thing as a universally effective strategy.
No two people are alike. Some people may not respond well to what works for them. For example, some of us learn a lot faster with flashcards. Others choose to learn through visual means. Others find that they learn better in a group setting. Therefore, the key to passing this exam is to be aware of your study habits, strengths, and shortcomings. Examine various strategies in your mock PMP tests.
What can be anticipated from the asked questions?
The most crucial thing you should do after finishing the PMBOK® Guide is to start answering the practice questions. 200 multiple-choice questions, including questions with complex situations, brief situational questions, formula-based questions, knowledge-based questions, and interpretive questions, will be included in the exam. The PMP practise exam will assist you in learning the proper way to respond to each question.
Your ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information will be put to the test by the situational questions. Since they are usually lengthy, it is crucial to carefully identify the pertinent information and omit the irrelevant information before responding to each question.
How can you determine if you’re prepared?
The PMI® does not specify the minimum number of questions that must be answered correctly to pass the test. People typically believe that 62% is the cutoff. Applying the 85% rule is a wise move to determine if you are prepared or not. So far, do you know how to prepare for PMP Certification?
Work on example questions until you can accurately respond to at least 85% of them. You can consider yourself prepared to take the test after you can accomplish this.
Do not stop studying till the final day for the greatest outcomes!
Conclusion
Although passing the PMP test is difficult, you can succeed with the correct effort, study materials, and drive. Use the tried-and-true methods that helped you succeed in high school and college. Take your study materials with you wherever you go so you may access them whenever you have a chance. Join a PMP test study group and PMP boot camps to be motivated to work more on your studies. Concentrate on your weak areas, devote time to them, and make sure to update your study schedule at least five or six times.
Author Bio:- Varun Anand is a veteran mentor of PMP certification. He is certified in Pfmp, PMP, CSM, and PMI-ACP. He has worked as a PMP mentor for over 10 years at EduHubSpot. You can read more of his writings in EduHubSpot blogs
