Walking into the PMP exam room is an experience. This is the moment you’ve worked toward for months. You’ve invested years of effort in work experience, courses and exam preparation. You have even read through the PMBOK Guide more than once. After all that work, are you ready? Only you can know the answer for sure.

However, there is one secret method that the most successful PMP exam takers to pass right away. Moreover, the best part? You don’t have to create any study resources on your own – you can leverage existing resources on the marketplace. One of the best resources to use are PMP practice tests. Once you complete a course to get your contact hours, practice tests give you the chance to check whether you have knowledge gaps.

Introducing PMP Practice Tests

Reading over PMP study materials over and over again is not enough to get ready for the exam. Why? That is a passive learning method. It does have value. It is best to supplement it with active learning techniques.

According to Queen’s University, “Rather than being a passive recipient of information, the active learner puts knowledge to use.” That’s exactly what you want to do when it comes to the PMP. After all, you should aspire to both pass the exam and make progress toward your long-term goals of becoming a better project manager.

In the short term, you need the capability of applying your knowledge to the PMP exam itself. While you will not be expected to write essays, critical thinking and problem solving using project management concepts are still vital. There are even some expectations that you use math.

Are You Ready For The Exam Environment?

 

When you sit at home and study the PMBOK Guide, it’s easy to become confident. You also need to check if you can apply that knowledge in an exam setting. By using a practice test, you will test your knowledge under exam-like circumstances. Specifically, can you still apply your knowledge when you have many questions to answer in a limited time frame? The best way to find out is to use a PMP practice test and make sure to give yourself limited time.

 

Tip: If you have been out of school for some years, your test-taking skills may be getting rough. To give yourself the best chance of passing, take care of yourself by getting a full night’s sleep before the exam and avoid cramming. Regularly studying for 30-60 minutes per day over a matter of weeks is far more effective than attempting to learn everything in a weekend.

 

Which PMP Practice Test Resource Should You Use?

 

There are many PMP practice exams on the marketplace. How do you know which one to choose? There are two criteria I recommend you use.

Do They Have A Free PMP Practice Test?

Check if the provider has a free PMP practice test so that you can experiment to see if you find it helpful. The quantity and quality of the practice exam questions provided matters. Ideally, you will want to complete 200 questions on a practice test. Why 200? That’s the current number of questions you can expect to see on the PMP exam. Regarding quality, keep track of whether or not the exam questions covers all of the knowledge areas in the PMBOK Guide.

What PMP Study Preparation Products Do They Offer?

A single free PMP practice test will probably not be enough to guarantee your success. That’s why I recommend looking for a provider that can provide a complete solution – a study course, practice questions and more. Is it possible to use study resources from multiple providers and still succeed? Sure. The only challenge is that you will be switching back and forth between different instructional methods which means your productivity will suffer.

What To Do If You Have Poor PMP Practice Test Results?

Here’s the harsh reality: you might fail the first PMP practice test you choose.
Before you give, keep the following points in mind. Studying for the PMP certification exam requires careful preparation. You need to get used to the types of questions that are used. You also need to master quite a few different formulas. Many experienced project managers struggle with the exam because it is different from the ways projects are managed at their organization.

Fortunately, you have some options to recover from failing a practice test. Let’s get started:

 

• Pre-Application. If you took the practice test to see how you would perform in the exam, congratulations! You have used the practice test to detect gaps in your knowledge, and you can prepare accordingly. If you scored under 50%, I recommend giving yourself three to four months to study assuming you have about 5 hours of weekly study time. If you scored higher than that level on the practice test, you could consider a more aggressive schedule. Just remember to keep in mind your other responsibilities as you plan your exam study schedule.
• 45-90 Days From Exam Date. As a general rule, I recommend achieving 80% or higher on a practice test as a measure of your readiness. If you are still scoring before that level, you have two options. You can either double your study efforts or reschedule the exam to a later date so that you have more time to study. In some cases, you may want to consider taking a vacation day off from work to further your studies.
• 45 Days Or Less. At this point, you have probably been studying for some weeks or months already. For the areas where you have weakest scores, some targeted memorization work may be your best bet. If you are not a natural numbers person, you may find it helpful to memorize the formulas and other numeric data points.

The solution you choose will depend on your level of motivation and how much time you have left to study for the exam. If you have more than 30 days from your exam, stay the course by working on the knowledge areas you find most difficult.

 

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You know you need the PMP certification training to get that next promotion at work. However, finding the time to study isn’t easy. Then you have to face the question of which resources to leverage. Let’s cut through the complexity by looking at a few simple ways to get PMP certified faster.

1) Know Your Why For PMP Certification

Take 5 minutes to journal about why you want to pursue this certification. Is it a prerequisite for your career goals? Do you want to fill in gaps in your knowledge? Take your time here – knowing your why is essential to staying motivated during your studies. Here are some popular reasons for taking the PMP:

• Career Advancement. As the PMP becomes a standard requirement, you may hit the ceiling on your career goals unless you earn the PMP certification.
• Increase Your Confidence. You probably have a few techniques you use to stay organized on your projects. However, personal organization tips and tricks are not enough to manage large projects. To operate at that scale, the tools and methods covered in the PMP certification will help.
• Maintain Competitiveness. If you skip investing in your career, you put yourself at a disadvantage. As the PMP becomes more popular in project management, it may not be optional.

Your Action Step: Take 5 minutes and write down 3-5 reasons why you are interested in earning the PMP certification.

2) Know The PMI Requirements Before You Apply

Do you know why the PMP certification is so widely respected in the market? It is challenging to obtain, and it requires considered work experience hours. Before we go any further, take the time to check if you are eligible for the certification.

Note: The PMP certification is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). If you have a question on whether you are eligible, it is best to contact PMI directly.

• Work Experience. The amount of work experience required for the PMP depends on whether you have a degree. Take note that the application will ask for a detailed breakdown of your experience hours (4500-7500 hours) and contact information for references. Remember that PMI can audit your application and request proof from your references.
• Project Management Training. You must complete an accepted project management training course. Fortunately, there are many options available including intense weekend courses and online self-study courses.
• Application. You need to complete the PMP application. Once it is approved, you will have the option to schedule your PMP exam date.
• Exam. PMP certification exams are multiple choice tests based on the PMBOK Guide and other resources. The good news? Most major cities have several testing centers so you can choose a time that suits your schedule.

3) Leverage A Proven Study System

What was the last exam that you studied for and passed? If you are taking the PMP exam, your university years are probably a distant memory. With your career advancement goals on the line, do yourself a favor: use a proven study system. You could ask your coworkers for recommendations, but they may have taken the exam years ago in a classroom. Instead, I recommend looking for online options that fit with your schedule.

When you select a PMP certification training resource, look for the following features:

• Practice Exam Questions. Reading PMP exam books is helpful. How do you know if you are truly learning what you read? The only way to tell is to take a practice exam. The best PMP certification training providers include practice questions so you can evaluate your knowledge.
• Contact Hours. Under current PMI requirements, you must complete a certain amount of “contact hours” to be eligible to take the exam. Make sure the resource you choose fulfills this requirement.
• Case Studies. If you’re like me, you can only read the PMBOK Guide so much before you ask “how does this work in practice?” That’s why I recommend looking for industry case studies in your certification training.
• Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). This special status quickly tells you whether or not a training provider has registered with PMI. If a PMP certification training has this status, it is a good sign you are working with a reliable provider.
• Training Format. In essence, you have two ways to take PMP training: online or in a classroom. I used both methods when I earned my PMP certification. If I had to do it all over again with limited resources, I would focus on an online course option.

4) Discuss Your Plans With Your Manager

If you have been following along so far, you have already made some substantial progress toward earning your PMP certification. Now it is time to reach out to your stakeholders at work. To keep this simple, let’s focus on your manager. I recommend scheduling a one on one meeting with your manager to discuss your PMP goals. Ask for their advice and support in pursuing your studies.

Note: If your organization tends to fund professional development, ask your manager for funding before you pay for anything.

5) Connect With Your PMI Chapter

Studying by yourself is critical to PMP certification success. To reinforce your learning, connecting with others is helpful. If your area has a PMI chapter, I recommend joining and asking about PMP study groups. Joining an in-person study group is an excellent way to grow your network while you learn.

Resource: Visit this webpage for a list of PMI local chapters to find one located near you.

6) Commit To A Study Schedule

In my first job, I used to try to squeeze professional development into my work day. When 4 pm arrived, I would open my materials and start studying. As you might guess, this studying approach was slow and didn’t work well. That’s why I recommend you commit to a study schedule. Skip TV twice per week or cut back on a volunteer role to give yourself the study time you need.

7) Leverage Deadlines By Scheduling Your Exam Date

Until you have a specific PMP certification exam date, your study efforts will be unfocused. That’s why I recommend scheduling your exam date as soon as you can. To the degree possible, schedule your exam to avoid known holiday plans, work busy periods and so forth. Once you have a date in mind, build a high-level schedule to organize your studies.

Here is a sample three month study schedule that assumes you have about 5-10 hours per week to study:

• Month 1. Complete your contact hours course. Read through the PMBOK Guide.
• Month 2. Complete two or more practice exams. Focus your studies on areas where you have low scores. Attend one study group session.
• Month 3. Write up your notes using The Feynman Technique for areas where you need to sharpen your understanding. Take more practice questions. Visit the exam location a few days in advance to confirm you know how to get there.

 

 

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