Project management is indeed a tough job in the corporate world. A project manager requires many top-tier skills necessary for managing a project. But to get a project management job easily, your best bet is to earn a certificate in project management. And so, the PMP® certification exam is crucial for almost anyone wishing to get a job as a project manager.
However, the PMP® exam is quite challenging with low chances of passing, and one must put a lot of effort into studying to pass the examination.
Even project managers with a lot of field experience have failed to pass the PMP® certification exam. Because experience alone was not enough.
However, that doesn’t mean you should sign your life away to pass the exam. We’re not asking you to study twenty-three hours a day. More often than not, studying smart works better than studying hard.
The average passing rate of PMP® exams is less than 68%. Most candidates point out the reason behind their failure as the shortage of time or lack of preparation.
So, to do well in the PMP® certification exam, it is best to prepare a study plan and have a strategy in place.
7 Ways on How to Study for the PMP® Certification Exam
Enroll in the PMP® Boot Camp by ExamsPM
ExamsPM offers a series of boot camps led by expert instructors to ease your road to becoming a certified project manager. A PMP® Boot Camp helps one prepare for the examination in the best possible way by providing benefits such as:
- Reviewing the exam syllabus: A candidate can get to know what sort of questions might come in the exam from the PMBOK® guide. However, to do well, an instructor would be much better than just a guidebook. The instructor knows what kind of questions might come and can help the candidates prepare.
Instructors are provided for those who join the Bootcamps, which helps them take preparation in an even better manner.
- Forming a strategy for the exam: This is another important reason for joining a PMP® Bootcamp. One can meet professionals who could give them insightful advice from their own past experiences about tackling various questions in the exam.
- Building A Network: Another good thing about such workshops is that it helps various individuals to meet and work in groups. This helps develop friendships as well as provides the opportunity for people to do networking by getting to know each other.
To study for the PMP® certification exam, it is best to first join a specific program dedicated to helping candidates prepare for the PMP® certification exam. In this case, getting enrolled into the PMP® Bootcamp by ExamsPM is a fantastic idea.
ExamsPM offers a comprehensive guide through their PMP® Bootcamp to anyone interested in getting a certificate as a project management professional by training them for the exam in just six weeks.
Through this workshop, ExamsPM provides tips and tricks on passing the PMP® exam on the first attempt.
Our training course also includes advice on filling up the application form and writing project descriptions. There is even a mind map available for the PMBOK® 6th Edition.
Most importantly, ExamsPM provides a study plan to pass the exam in just 6 weeks and updates candidates of any new changes to the exam content outline (ECO).
Thus, it is, without a doubt, an amazing platform for any candidate seeking PMP® certification.
Purchase One or More Of The Certification Books
To prepare for the PMP® certification exam, one must study hard, and it is always best to read various books based on PMP® certification to increase your chances of success. Without a doubt, high-quality resources like the best books increase the scope of passing the exam.
Here are the top 10 best PMP® Certification books a candidate might need while preparing for the PMP® certification exam. All these books discuss various important topics which are related to the PMP® certification exam. So, you definitely should purchase these certification books.
PMI publishes a guide called the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®® Guide). Perhaps the most challenging aspect of clearing the PMP® examination is gaining all the knowledge from the whole PMBOK® guidebook. Though there are several books available on the market, none could ever replace the official guidebook. You’ll also find the book’s summary on ExamsPM for free.
Rita Mulcahy’s PMP® Exam Prep book is known as the second-best book for the PMP® exam. This book also acts as a perfect companion for the PMBOK® guide.
If you are looking to do well in the examination, you better buy some of these books and start preparing yourself properly. You might at least try reading 4-5 such books to fully equip yourself with all the concepts of the PMP® certification.
Solve Practice Problems
Another important thing a candidate must keep in mind is how to solve practice problems. Practice problems are essential for a candidate to do well in the main exam.
The majority of PMP® exam questions are based on different types of scenarios. As a result, simply understanding the theory does not ensure that one can use that particular knowledge in real life. This is why solving the practice problems comes in handy, as it helps one understand various contexts.
Furthermore, when you analyze various issues, you realize that they fall into various types of categories. A few practice problems are brief and to the point, while others are more in-depth.
Certain problems are based on different formulas. Others are based on scenarios. There are also the ITTO questions that ask about techniques and tools related to project management.
So, practicing such problems is necessary if you want to prepare yourself for the PMP® certification exam. You also need access to the right resources and study materials that will help you grasp every necessary concept.
You’ll find plenty of valuable resources on ExamsPM to help you get going!
Take Practice Exams
Mock tests are important. When most candidates who failed the PMP® certification exam are asked why they could not do well, they usually state the shortage of time or the lack of participation in mock tests or practice exams.
You will almost certainly fail the PMP® exam if you approach the examination solely based on knowledge. Time management is extremely crucial in the PMP® exam, and there is no better way to know how much you can complete without mock tests.
It is not easy to solve almost 200 questions in just four hours sitting for the exam on the first attempt. You must prepare beforehand to get used to such a type of exam.
Remember that it is necessary to understand the layout of the questions and which type to answer first. Understanding time management will help you save time for revision to eliminate any silly mistakes.
Also, if you take mock tests and keep scoring more than 80%, it’s going to be a huge confidence boost. You’d be able to rest assured that you can pass the main exam without much hassle. Mock tests will also help you develop the perfect strategy for the main test.
After all, practice makes perfect.
So, if you are a candidate preparing for the PMP® certification exam, make sure you don’t miss out on mock tests at any cost.
Form a study group
Having a great study group can be extremely beneficial. Studying alone can get boring quite quickly. Once you start studying in a group, it can be extremely interactive and helpful for all the parties involved. Also, studying in a group may give rise to healthy competition, which keeps you motivated to study.
Discussing personal experiences in project management can be quite beneficial in solving questions based on different scenarios.
The most significant benefit would be that it helps you stick to a routine. Moreover, group studies can be really fun. You can decide to study for one hour at a stretch and then take a break to do something fun. It really helps keep the monotony away.
Manage Your Time (Don’t Procrastinate)
Managing time is important for preparing for almost any exam. Procrastination during this period is truly harmful to the candidate.
Make sure you manage your time while preparing for the examination as well as during the examination. While practicing, it is natural to get stuck in a few of the questions. But make sure you don’t spend too much time mulling over those. Ask a friend or take help from an instructor if necessary, but do not waste the entire day thinking about unresolved questions.
One more point to note. The majority of individuals that take the PMP® test are professional. As a result, you must balance your work commitments with time to prepare for examinations. A relaxing break may appear to be a nice plan. However, if you schedule it within your time to prepare, you risk losing control of the overall progress made so far.
Since the examination demands a significant amount of time dedicated to practicing questions and participating in mock examinations, time management is critical. Only prioritize high-priority tasks during the time of preparation.
It is crucial to note that it is unlikely for you to pass the test if you end up skipping more than one-fifth of the questions, i.e., about forty questions.
You will get 1.2 minutes for each question. Each question usually needs almost 1 minute to complete. If you take breaks during an examination, there will be even less time available.
And due to these reasons, please be careful when giving the exam or preparing for the exam. Do not waste time. Also, make sure never to procrastinate. Here are a few tips you could use while giving the exam for time management:
- Determine how much time you would like to devote to each question. A suitable time restriction is 90 seconds. Try to mark the ones you would be reviewing after reaching this time limit while moving on to the next one.
- Keep the difficult questions for solving later and aim for the easy ones first.
- Limit taking breaks as much as you can.
- Make sure to keep some time in the end to try and answer questions you might have avoided.
- Try and revise the answers once before submission. Allocate 5-7 minutes at the least.
Choose training provided by Registered Education Providers
One more important thing to remember is that it is necessary to choose training provided by only registered education providers. A trusted education provider can always help you get proper training and also ensure the best preparation for the PMP® certification examination.
Ones that are following the guidelines of the Project Management Institute (PMI) should only be trusted. Do not enroll yourself in training courses that non-registered education providers are providing. That would not only waste your time but money as well.
Only registered ones who follow the PMI’s latest PMBOK® Guide can provide proper training courses.
ExamsPM is a registered education provider that provides not only proper training for the PMP® exam but also necessary study materials that will help you understand basic concepts. They even have a free training program.
Besides, ExamsPM offers a study plan, 35 hours of training based on project management, and an ITTO guide while also guaranteeing pro-level support.
Final Words
The road to becoming a certified project manager is not easy. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t have anyone to guide you along the way.
To learn how you can pass your PMP® certification exam in the next 6 weeks, sign up for a free class to get a study plan + valuable tips & tricks!