I passed the PMP Exam on my first try. Here is how you can do it too!
Passing the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification Exam from PMI is a daunting task. With a pass rate of around 60% on the first try, it is no wonder the exam is renowned for its difficulty. Indeed, the examination tests not only your Project Management knowledge, but also requires you to apply these principles and tools in real-life scenarios.
But fear not! With the right strategies in place, you can ace the exam and add a new, shiny credential to your name. After applying at the Project Management Institute website to take the exam (and after your application has been accepted, of course!), your eligibility will be confirmed and you will be ready to schedule the exam.
Before taking the exam, however, here are my 10 tips and tricks I would recommend to follow — or at least these worked for me. 📚
- Understand the Exam Structure:
- 180 Questions
- 230 Minutes
- There is no clear pass % provided by the Project Management Institute. (For practice purposes, aim to get around >75% in mock exams and/or exam simulators)
- A typical PMP exam question contains 4 choices with only one correct (or best!) answer. Less frequent question formats include: multiple-response, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, and hotspot.
2. Avoid the Never-Ending Syllabus:
The Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam is notorious for its extensive syllabus and study materials. The most complete resources to study for the exam are the PMBOK® Guide and Agile Practice Guide from PMI.
Try not to get overwhelmed: You don’t need to buy every course, read every book, and know every single little detail to pass the exam.
Here are the basics:
- 5 Process Groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.
- 10 Knowledge Areas:
1. Project integration management
2. Project scope management
3. Project time management
4. Project cost management
5. Project quality management
6. Project resource management
7. Project communications management
8. Project risk management
9. Project procurement management
10. Project stakeholder management
- PMBOK Guide Process Groups & Knowledge Area: Processes Mapping. Check the ITTO (Inputs, Tools, Techniques, and Outputs) from each process: for example here.
- Knowledge Domains (and % of Questions): Process (50%), People (42%), and Business Environment (8%).
3. Find the Ideal Preparation Course:
As an experienced Project Manager (> 5 years leading transnational teams in complex technical projects), I am not the biggest fan of taking lengthy courses on “topics I already know” — or so I thought. Yet, taking an online course with an experienced, knowledgeable tutor was key to my success.
Although preparation courses are not necessary (and can get quite pricey), they can give you a great starting point and a feel of what to expect from the exam. For instance, I have heard several success stories from Udemy PMP course takers.
4. Get only the Books you actually need:
There are a myriad of books available. Don’t buy all of them. In fact, you may get away without buying any of them...
Fun fact! I bought two of these books and didn’t read a single page…
If you must, here are the ones to look out for:
- PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition (official PMI)
- PMBOK® Guide 7th Edition (official PMI)
- Agile Practice Guide (official PMI)
- PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy (not official PMI, includes sample questions and question tricks)
- PMP Exam Prep Simplified by Andrew Ramdaya (not official PMI, 500 exam like questions, full-length mock exam, and exam tips)
5. Use the Best Study Resources:
This is where it gets interesting… You will be surprised how many ***free study resources*** you will find online.
My absolute saviour was David McLachlan with his YouTube videos on Project Management concepts (Agile, Waterfall) and PMP Sample Questions (shout-out to David!).
6. Create a Realistic Study Plan:
Develop a realistic study plan tailored to your needs, your experience and your schedule. In my case, I had the luxury to be able to allocate a few working hours to prepare for the exam. I also bring over 5 years of PM experience and previous certifications (PRINCE2 Practitioner). I spent 2 intense weeks studying, reviewing, and practicing exam questions. Thankfully, that was enough!
Consistency is key. So, whatever study plan works for you, make sure you stick to it.
7. Practice, Practice, Practice!
PMP exam simulators are your best friends. Aim to practice in real exam conditions: find a quiet spot, set a timer, and no peeking at your notes. As frustrating practice exam can be, they are an excellent way to evaluate your knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Wherever you mark the wrong question, try to figure out what the right response is and most importantly why!
My Favourite FREE PMP Exam Simulators:
- PM Exam Simulator: Free PMP® Exam Simulator (7 days access)
- Project Management Academy: Free PMP® Exam Practice Questions
- SimpliLearn: Free PMP® Exam Prep Practice Test
- PM PrepCast: Free PMP® Practice Exam Questions
- PMP Practice Exam: Free PMP Practice Exams
- TechCanvass: PMP® Practice Exam Questions
- Exam Topics: PMI PMP Exam Actual Questions
8. Consider using PMI Study Hall™:
I did not use the PMI Study Hall™ tool myself, but have heard great things about it! It will help you identify your strengths and target weaknesses through practice exams, flash cards, and games. Both PMI Study Hall™ ESSENTIALS and PMI Study Hall™ PLUS are available options.
9. Last Tips before the Exam:
- Read each question carefully (especially for situational questions): Is it a predictive / agile project? What project stage / process are we in? Is there any urgency to the presented issue?
Put yourself in the shoes of the Project Manager – What would you do?
- Narrow down responses: In a typical 4 choice question, you will usually find you can cross out at least 2 responses. Analyse the remaining 2 responses. Which one is better (even if you still have some doubts)?
- Search for key words: co-location, sprints, information radiators? This is probably for an agile project. Fast-tracking, project tracking, critical chain management? This is probably a resource levelling technique.
10. On Game Day…
I scheduled the exam in person at a Pearson Vue In-Person testing centre. I highly recommend taking the exam in person, it gets you in the right mindset. During the exam, take care of the following:
- You will get a locker to keep your belongings in. No watch, pen, pencil, or paper is allowed in the exam room.
- Take both breaks! Use the time to rest, refresh, have a snack and gain some energy back.
- Be aware of time. Remember how much time you have remaining, you will see that time flies during the test. Keep calm and carry on.
And that’s a wrap!
These are my 10 tips and tricks for the PMP Certification Exam. This is what personally worked for me, but everyone’s previous experience, skills and study methods are different.
Whichever way you prepare, I wish you the best of luck in the exam! 👏
