I took the PMP in June 2021 and passed with “Above Target” in all categories. The Project Management Institute (PMI) changed the content of the exam and introduced a new syllabus. It’s always a headache when an organization changes the exam because it introduces unknown factors and the question is now “Is the PMP exam harder?”. The general consensus among my peers and after taking the exam I’m here to tell you: No it’s not harder. If anything it seems EASIER.
So you can stop freaking out about your 55% scores on your practice test. Because I’m going to tell you what to do. First put down your flashcards. The exam contains a lot of situational questions so don’t spend your time memorizing anything and instead focus on the mindset of project management.
Agile
You need to understand it. There are a lot of questions about the methodology and how to implement it. Make sure you understand who plays what role in the processes and which role is responsible for what duties. If you already work in an Agile environment, lucky you because you can think about your day to day activities and know who’s responsible for what aspects of the project.
Servant Leadership
More of the exam than I thought was based on EQ. Example”What should you do in this situation?”….I consider myself a smart cookie but for some reason I could never choose between the last two options on the multiple choice because “they both looked right…”. The answer lies in “Servant Leadership “and once you understand the mindset you’ll breeze through the questions.
PMP Ray did already did a great video on this concept and you can check it out here.
Processes Groups
You don’t need to memorize all 49 processes groups for the PMP exam but you should understand how they connect. A project manager should be able to answer: Once you initiate a project what do you do next?…..you plan ect. You as a project manager should understand the next steps for projects in a traditional environment. If the 49 processes groups are still jumbled in your head, I recommend this video. It’s an hour but a friend of mine recommended it to me and it’s worth the time to untangle these groups.
PDU hours
You need to have 35 PDU hours in order to apply for the PMP exam and certificate. Most certified training courses will give you a certificate at the end of the training that you’ll be able to use as your proof of hours. I went through PMtraining.com. My employer was able to foot the bill and I was was able to do 2 weekends of bootcamp plus ~10 or so truncated practice exams and be done with it. A lot of people use Joseph Phillip’s training class on Udemy. The class essentially always on sale so you can get for usually less than $20 and at the end of the course you still get your certified PDU hours. It’s self-paced and A LOT of videos but a more affordable option if your employer is unable to pay.
Applying
If you’re going to get your PMP Exam you’re going to have to apply(duh). But don’t save this step for last minute. You’ll need check to make sure you’re qualified and you’ll need to set aside at least 4 hours to fill out your application. You’ll need to account for 3 years worth of projects and you’re going to have to write what you did for those projects. Remember PMI does randomly audit members, so be thorough and truthful about your contributions.
Don’t stress
Easier said than done I know. While preparing for my exam I was at whits end. I never scored higher than a 78% on my practice test but most of the time my scores were in the 50-60% range. I was moving cross country and on top of that it was the end of the business half so I had a bunch of project at work due. I had already scheduled my exam so I went ahead and took it. Once I submitted the exam a little screen popped up saying I had passed. I was shocked! Not because I had guessed on a lot of questions but because going in, I was SURE I wasn’t prepared. Point being….if I can take the exam while my life is shambles you’re definitely more prepared than you think you are.
If you’ve done the project work and followed the tips in the post I’d say you’re more than prepared. Just take it! and be sure to celebrate after all your hard work!
