On 23rd July 2021, I've passed my PMP Exam on first attempt.
It was a 3 weeks preparation, while doing a 9-5 job and taking care of my baby. I spent 2 hours at night studying on the weekdays. Gratefully, here was my results: Above Target for 3 domains-- "people", "process" and "business environment".
At the time of my exam, the reference PMBOK guide was the 6th edition. According to PMI website, by Aug'21, exam takers should refer to the pmbok guide 7th Ed.
Here are some tips from personal experience after taking the exam:
1. Tip #1: Generally, most of the questions (90%?) are situational questions, where they describe a situation/ scenario, and ask what would you and react as a project manager.
The answers are not straight forward at all, and it could seem like all answers are correct, and you need to pick the best answers. For such questions, having watched the video from Aileen Ellis helped me, and the method recommended is by eliminating the least likely answers, and work your way to the best answer.
Check out Aileen's youtube video: https://youtu.be/MQ0f7WLYTlI
I do not recommend to hard memorize the processes and documents word by word because there wasn't simple question that ask you which document is produced at which phase. With that said, you will sill need to be very familiar with the entire big picture; and know at which process steps, what is generally being performed. And this brings me to tip#2.
2. Tip#2: Get familiar with your process flow and what is required to be done at each step
For this I watched ricardo vargas video, and it gave me an understanding of the process flow in sequence, which helped me to solidify the learning process!
I recommend watching this video from Ricardo Vaggas: https://youtu.be/GC7pN8Mjot8 But again, do not just focus on the waterfall method, adaptive method should receive equal attention.
3. Tip #3: Focus on communication and stakeholders engagement.
How do you communicate when such scenario happens, and how do you engage your stakeholders or react during another scenario?
For example, while running a company wide project that should be used and adopted by the whole company, how would you approach the communication method? There are so many ways to approach this and could be all correct. The difference is probably which method is the most effective and fastest.
4. Tip #4: Alot of mental and physical strength is needed during the 280min exam, so rest well and eat well leading to this exam.
Apart from the expensive money that the exam requires, the preparation took so long and the stress to pass it at first attempt can be huge. On top of that, the questions were difficult (for me an 8 out of 10 difficulty), where my confidence level of passing exam before I knew my results was probably at 30% (yes I am unsure if I'd pass). And in the middle of the exam, the brain juice used up was so much that at the 2nd hour I was taking the exam relying on my mental power/ determination. Therefore, be mentally prepared for the stress, and persevere on. For online proctored exam, you get one break in between, the first 10min break is at 120min mark, therfore utilize the break time and get rested (feed on food, wash your face, get refreshed!) the break significantly helped me to sustain for the 2nd part of the exam.
5. Tip #5: Get your knowledge on Agile.
When I took this exam though it was based on pmbok guide 6th, there was already big portion on agile (abt 75%?).
6. Tip #6: bank on your experience running a project, as your intuition when choosing the correct answers.
Towards the 3rd hour of my exam I was so mentally drained, and I approached the questions using my common sense or intuition, e.g. In my daily work life as project manager, what approach will I take to make things smooth, effective, and efficient? And I just choose that as an answer without too much over analysis.
7. Tip #7: Another common understanding is that, as much as possible project managers should not escalate a problem to your project owner, if you can solve most items independently.
8. Tip #8: know about change management!
This is a recurring theme, not only for exam takers, but also when you run projects.
That's all the tips I have from my experience taking the exam! Those other tips that are commonly mentioned are:-
-do practice exams. There are tonnes of free exam questions out there, but I do notice that sometimes the answers are conflicting from one provider to another provider, therefore make your judgement and don't simply take in all answers guide. Study until you get a score close to 75%.
-do not need to read pmbok guide from cover to cover, as I mentioned the questions are mainly situational, reading word by word didn't help much
Hope these tips are helpful to you, and I wish you all the best for your exam! Apart from passing the exam was an achievement milestone, I have gained so much knowledge from the preparation process, and I hope it's the same to you too!
