The Countdown to PMP Exam Success
On this page: 10 Steps to Pass | Comments
10 Steps to Pass on the First Attempt
Passing the PMP (Project Management Professional) exam requires a combination of thorough preparation, strategic study habits, and a deep understanding of project management principles.
Here are some key strategies to help you succeed:
- Follow the Guidance of an Experienced Trainer or Coach
Attend a training class or coaching program that introduces you to terminology, methods, and the overarching ‘philosophy’ of project management, as it is understood inside PMI. Use the seminar or coaching to collect your 35 contact hours as a pre-requisite for exam eligibility.
Then create a realistic study schedule that fits your lifestyle and stick to it. Break down the material into manageable sections, and set goals for each study session. Discuss the plan with your trainer or coach.
- Recommendation:
My support as a trainer includes mentoring until the exam. This is not true for all trainers. Be picky!
- Recommendation:
- Understand the Exam Structure
Familiarize yourself with the format of the PMP exam. It consists of 180 questions covering three domains:
– People
– Process
– Business Environment.
Knowing the structure helps you manage your time effectively during the exam.
- Recommendation:
My PMP prep class tightly follows this structure.
- Recommendation:
- Study the Source Literature
The Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) provides the #1 reference for project management and the contents you’ll be tested on.
- Recommendation:
Join PMI as a member to download the books for free.
- Recommendation:
- Use Additional Study Materials
While the PMBOK Guide is essential, it’s also necessary to use additional study resources such as the Agile Practice Guide, the Process Groups: A Practice Guide, practice exams, study guides, and courses focusing on areas where you might need more understanding.
- Recommendation:
Follow the Reading Plan. Once you have joined PMI as a member, you will not need to invest money in literature.
- Note:
My students receive the PMP Study Workbook, which includes a compact compilation of all knowledge from the three books above needed to pass the exam.
- Recommendation:
- Join a Study Group
Participating in a study group can provide support, enable knowledge sharing, and help clarify difficult concepts. Discussing topics with peers can enhance your understanding and retention.
- Recommendation:
A very large study group with over 250,000 members can be found at LinkedIn’s Project Management Certification Central public group.
- Recommendation:
- Practice by Answering Prep Tests
Regularly taking practice exams can help you get used to the format and time constraints of the actual test. Analyze your results to identify areas where you need more focus.
- Recommendation:
Find Tons of Practice Questions at https://oliverlehmann.com/free/free-pmp-practice-questions. - Note:
My students have additional access to a PMP simulator with over 2,000 practice questions.
- Recommendation:
- Focus on Understanding, Not Memorization
While memorization might help with some aspects, understanding the concepts and being able to apply them in various scenarios is crucial for passing the PMP exam.
- Recommendation:
PMI’s source literature (and PMI in general) focuses on internal projects and ignores the existence of project business, where customer projects are profit centers and project managers have responsibility for the project’s profitability and cash flow. However, the authors of exam questions are practitioners and write questions based on their backgrounds. Many of them manage customer projects, so expect situational questions in a project business context despite the sources’ silence on the topic.
- Recommendation:
- Stay Updated
The field of project management and the PMBOK Guide evolve. Ensure your study materials and methods are up-to-date with the latest version of the PMBOK Guide and the PMP Exam Content Outline.
- Recommendation:
Follow the links to the current version of the PMP Exam Content Outline and the PMBOK Guide.
- Recommendation:
- Take Care of Yourself and Ask Your Employer to Do that too
Don’t underestimate the importance of good physical and mental health during your exam preparation. Get enough sleep, eat well, and take breaks to keep your mind sharp.
Ask your employer for support to allow you to focus on your exam preparation.
- Recommendations:
- Go to https://oliverlehmann.com/free/pmp-employer-support for an overview of sponsoring options for employers.
- More support options are described in https://oliverlehmann.com/wp-content/uploads/PMP_Sponsoring_Opportunities.pdf.
- Recommendations:
- Manage Your Exam Time Wisely
During the exam, keep track of time and pace yourself. Make sure you have enough time to review your answers, especially for the more complex situational questions.
- Recommendation:
Use the PMP practice questions to train yourself for speed.
- Recommendation:
By following these recommendations, you can enhance your chances of passing the PMP exam and advancing your career in project management. Remember, persistence and dedication are key to conquering this challenging certification.
Comments
41 responses to “The Countdown to PMP Exam Success”
-
We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on many of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome site!
-
I am now not positive where you’re getting your info, but great topic. I must spend a while finding out much more or figuring out more. Thank you for great info I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
-
I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this information for my mission.
-
Very clear web site, appreciate it for this post.
-
Respect to author, some fantastic entropy.
-
Thanks on your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will come back later in life. I want to encourage you to continue your great writing, have a nice weekend!
-
I was curious if you ever considered changing the page layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?
-
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks However I am experiencing problem with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone getting similar rss drawback? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
-
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website in web explorer, would test this?K IE still is the marketplace chief and a large component of other people will miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.
-
very good post, i definitely love this website, keep on it
-
You actually make it seem so easy along with your presentation but I to find this topic to be actually something which I believe I might by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking ahead on your next submit, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!
-
Thank you for the good writeup. It in truth used to be a leisure account it. Look complex to more introduced agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
-
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one these days..
-
I’ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you put to create this kind of fantastic informative website.
-
Loving the info on this site, you have done great job on the posts.
-
I?¦ve read a few just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you put to make this type of fantastic informative site.
-
Thank you, I have just been searching for info about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered so far. However, what about the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
-
I believe other website owners should take this web site as an model, very clean and superb user friendly pattern.
-
Very efficiently written story. It will be useful to everyone who utilizes it, as well as myself. Keep doing what you are doing – for sure i will check out more posts.
-
I gotta bookmark this internet site it seems handy very helpful
-
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays..
-
I just could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often to check up on new posts
-
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
-
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole community will be thankful to you.
-
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve have in mind your stuff prior to and you’re simply extremely excellent. I actually like what you’ve obtained here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which during which you say it. You are making it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is actually a tremendous site.
-
I wish to show my admiration for your kindness in support of visitors who actually need help with in this area. Your special dedication to getting the solution along was incredibly powerful and have continuously empowered some individuals much like me to get to their desired goals. Your amazing warm and helpful guide denotes a whole lot a person like me and additionally to my office workers. Thanks a lot; from everyone of us.
-
cs9oa9
-
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
-
I like the helpful info you provide for your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and test once more right here regularly. I am quite certain I’ll be informed many new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the following!
-
You are my breathing in, I have few blogs and rarely run out from to post .
-
This is top-notch! I wonder how much effort and time you have spent to come up with these informative posts.
-
Bookmarked, so I can continuously check on new posts!
-
Отличный источник. Спасибо!
-
Thank you for sharing your precious knowledge. Just the right information I needed.
-
Hey, I enjoyed reading your posts! You have great ideas.
-
Hey, I enjoyed reading your posts! You have great ideas.
-
Оливер, я только что сдал экзамен. Ваши материалы были действительно полезны!
-
I‘ll have my exam next week.
Thank you for providing this last-minute resource.
Kumar
-
Helpful. 👍👍👍
-
Great source. Thank you, Oliver F. Lehmann!
-
Yes.
-
Leave a Reply