Top Ways to Prepare for PMP Credential Examination

If you want to pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, you're going to need a lot of work. It's important that you're prepared in advance because the materials are extensive and there will be a lot of tests involved. Studying for an exam can often be a struggle, but these top PMP exam tips should help you ace your test!

The PMP Exam is a highly valued set of qualifications, but it can be challenging to prepare for due to its vast content.

Ways to Prepare for the PMP Exam

Survey

Gather all the charts, graphs, and headings that you want to cover from both A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) and your prep book. Look over the table of contents and jump in where you feel comfortable. Remember that this gives you a better understanding of what's contained in the book on the whole, so start with the survey and then figure out where to find certain topics in your initial study or brush up. Then arrange information in an organized way in your head.

Motivation

That first day of school is always busy setting up work, a teacher to meet and the biggest struggle of them all—finding your motivation! Whether you're a student or teacher, analyzing what you want to learn from the given material can really set you on the right path. Make sure you know where you are headed by the end of the day by reading the assignment questions or study goals before beginning to work.

Research

This is a great way to ensure that you're learning exactly what you want to learn. Let's say for example that you have a question about some particular chapter in the PMBOK® Guide. You can make a list of every question related to that topic, then review and rewrite each one until it is perfectly clear to use in your study material.

Disengage

When memorizing information, people tend to remember the first and last elements best. Use this tendency to your advantage by breaking up your study sessions into shorter chunks with short breaks in between. Taking a break every 30 minutes will keep you from becoming overwhelmed.

Top Tips to Appear for PMP Exam

Follow the following tips to appear for the PMP exam well-prepared.

The PMBOK® guide

The PMBOK® guide is considered one of the most difficult standards in management, and the only way to conquer it is through a thoughtful study schedule.

While studying for the PMP exam, having a roadmap can really help you stay on track. The PMP guide is based largely on the PMBOK Guide, so use this to your advantage and make it your guidebook. To study the book, plan to study one area of the PMBOK guide every week. Begin with the guide itself and next move on to other books that present different perspectives on the topics studied in the chapter.

It's essential to break down the knowledge areas of the PMBOK® guide and complete one process each day. Doing this will help you prepare an action plan for what to study in your daily and weekly study milestones.

Perhaps the greatest change in the PMBOK guide is that it now includes full 10-k knowledge areas, including Project Stakeholder Management. When working with a project management book, your business could save time by referring to the PMBOK guide to see which changes were noticeable from earlier versions.

Use a good PMP® prep book

The Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is a tough test, which means that studying for it can be challenging. A good PMP® textbook will help you study and understand exactly what the author is teaching in their text. In addition, the materials that accompany the book will help you understand the material and pass your PMP® exam with ease.

The first step in preparing for the PMP® is to identify your processes and understand the reasons why they're used, what they do, and when they're used. By understanding these basics first, you'll have a better understanding of how the processes relate to one another. You don't need to memorize them, which will reduce the time needed to prepare for questions on these topics.

PMP exam preparations workshop

If you're looking for a way to increase your PMP exam preparation, consider attending a project management professional certification workshop. These workshops offer the option of studying in a classroom setting or getting one-on-one help with project management topics. Plus, you'll meet other aspiring project managers and gain new connections throughout your network. And since these workshops usually fulfill the 35-contact hours requirement for working towards an exam, they're also a great way to show off your knowledge and enhance your resume!

Online training courses

PMP training courses online are just as good as their in-person counterparts. They tend to be less expensive and have more flexibility. Do your research, read customer reviews, and choose the option that works best for you.

Utilize exam simulators

They simulate a real PMP exam and are a great way to gauge your level of preparation. While practicing for the actual PMP, you’ll learn how to best handle any timing or pressure situations by repeating the questions in the simulator.

Don’t forget your flashcards

Keeping up with a comprehensive study guide is important. It's where you'll learn about what to expect on the exam, why you should use the study materials and create your own, and how to design your schedule for the project management profession. You can also order feature-rich flashcards from different websites or download them to use with your iPad, computer, or smartphone.

Take part in study group discussion forum or client group community

Participating in study groups and discussion forums can help answer questions and address concerns as well as learn more helpful resources while saving time to prepare for your PMP® exam.

Conclusion

Passing the Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam is not always easy. The right effort, study guides, and motivation are needed to succeed. Use proven strategies that got you through high school and college to help you pass the required PMP exam. Carry your study materials so that you can safely access them whenever necessary. Join a PMP exam study group so you can be pushed harder and keep each other accountable. Focus on areas of weakness and revise your study plan at least five or six times in order to achieve success on the exam.