DO…. • DO Read the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBoK)… more than once.

• DO Get Study Guides…more than one. Read them… more than once. I used:

• PMP EXAM Simplified-5th Edition- (PMP Exam Prep 2013 and CAPM Exam Prep 2013 Series) Aligned to PMBOK Guide 5th Edition, Aileen Ellis

• PMP Exam Prep, Eighth Edition: Rita's Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam, Rita Mulcahy

• DO know the PM Process Group & Knowledge Area Mapping table on page 61 of the PMBoK 5th Edition

• DO know the PM Process Interactions map on page 421 of the PMBoK 5th Edition

• DO eliminate answers by asking yourself… • What process am I in? Where am I in the lifecycle? • Is this a tool & technique (process or activity) or an Input or Output (typically

documentation, OPA’s or EEF’s)

• DO create a Brain dump and practice writing it often

• And if you can afford it, DO take a prep course

PM Process Interactions Map p. 421, PMBoK

PM Process Group & Knowledge Area Mapping Table

p. 61, PMBoK

DO…. Practice Testing! There are a multitude of great resources (free and paid) available for practice testing: • Oliver Lehmann offers a listing of resources categorized by their level of

difficulty including: • 75 question simulated test • 175 question PDF test with answers and references • Access to over 3,000 sample questions if you are a PMI member • http://www.oliverlehmann.com/sample-questions-pmp-self-tests.html

• PMTraining.com (paid) offers over 25 pre-made tests and the ability to custom make tests

• Practice testing in:

• Noisy and distracting locations like a busy coffee shop • Really cold or really warm locations

• Statically people who achieve 80% or higher on three consecutive tests

typically pass the test

What’s a Brain dump?

DON’T… • Not enough time spent practicing simulated testing

• Testing for 4 hours is both mentally and physically tiring

• Assuming that just studying the PMBoK or just studying definitions will be enough • Questions are mostly situational and more so require an understanding of

process rather than memorization of a definitions • Reading questions too quickly

• Look for key words like “except”, “not”, “none”, “all”, “only”, etc.

• Not reading all answers before selecting one • Many questions contain all right answers, you need to determine the best

answer

• Ask not “What would I do?”

Ask “What would PMI do?”

Tips for Test Day • Stop studying the day before, relax and get a good night’s sleep

• Don’t assume the testing center will be quiet • Bring soft earplugs to the test center

• Don‘t assume the testing center will be a comfortable temperature • Thin long sleeved shirt and a comfortable open front sweater

• Be Sure to Eat, A Growling stomach is distracting

• Use the tutorial time to brain dump

• There are going to be questions you absolutely do not know the answer to… that is OK!

• Before starting the test take a few minutes to

breathe and try to relax

Remember: Passing the PMP Exam the first time is difficult, but

It Is Not Impossible. With due preparation you too

can pass on your first try.

REFERENCES Ellis, A. (2013). PMP EXAM Simplified (5th Ed.). Colorado

Springs,CO: AME Group inc. Lehmann, O. (2014). Sample questions for PMP exam preparation.

Retrieved from http://www.oliverlehmann.com/sample-questions-pmp-self-tests.html

Mulcahy, R. (2013). PMP Exam Prep (8th Ed.). United States: RMC Publications.

Project Management Institute. (2013). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide), fifth edition. 5th ed. Newtown Square, Pa.: Project Management Institute.