PMP® certification or Project Management Professional is a certification course offered by the Project Management Institute. This PMP Exam Prep Course is globally recognized. A PMP course tests a candidate’s ability to manage the priorities of business along with people and processes in order to deliver a good professional project.
PMP is often considered equivalent to MBA. But it is not so! MBA is a 2 years degree, wherein students are taught the basic as well as complex concepts regarding investment management and business administration, unlike Project Management Professional® Certification Course.
To be eligible for PMP® certification, the candidate has to have 3-5 years of experience in project management. He/ She must have been working/ studying on a project for at least 35 hours. If you fulfill these two criteria, then you are eligible to apply for the course.
PMP is a good career choice if one wants to become a project manager in the corporate world. Obtaining this certification course will prove that you have first-hand experience in project management. It also implies that one possesses various project management techniques that make it easy to make a project a success. According to the Project Management Institute, a PMP® certification can help you build soft and technical skills, thereby helping the company complete its projects within a stipulated period of time and within budget.
Today, the number of candidates for PMP® certification is increasing because of the high-paid jobs in the industry. There are many project-related PMP jobs available that add value to the role of a project manager, thereby providing higher salary and recognition as compared to non-certified ones.
In order to prepare for the PMP exam, there are a few tips that can help you. So, let us have a look at them.
Tips for PMP Exam Success
- Avoid Beginning with a Guide
Some candidates prepare for the exam by beginning with the PMBOK guide. This is an entirely wrong way to start your exam preparation! The Project Management Body of Knowledge contains some important information providing you with an overview of the examination, the types of questions posed to the candidates, the time allotted, etc. In addition to it, the guide also provides detailed information regarding the percentage of questions for every subject, topics to be studied for the exam, etc. This guide helps you in making a constructive exam schedule.
But there are certain terminologies in the guide that may be difficult for you to study and understand. This is the reason why PMBOK must be studied afterwards because it is more of a reference text than the course material for study.
- Create a Study Plan
The PMP exam will test you on three domains, i.e., business priorities, people, and processes. Candidates must make sure that they have enough time to review all these domains in order to crack the exam. With adequate planning and a proper schedule, candidates will be able to excel in the PMP exam.
- Understand More & Memorize Less
PMP is a practical examination that tests your ability to manage small, large, and complex projects. Due to the terminology in the PMP domain, candidates try to memorize their way to success. But one shouldn’t be doing it. Understanding and internalizing the concepts is essential to enhance the knowledge areas.
- Know your Exam Pattern
The best way to attain success, be it in the exam or the external world is to know the challenges you are going to face. Candidates can now know all about the exam and exam pattern on the PMI official website. Candidates will also get links to useful information on the site. Thus, knowing well in advance about how the exam will come will ultimately help the aspirants to study accordingly.
- Exam Preparation Resources
The handbook of PMP displays the exam outline and sample questions. They are available for free downloading as well. Using leverage-free exam preparation resources evaluates and enhances your understanding of all the three domains, thereby covering different subjects.
- Enroll in a Course
In order to prepare for the PMP exam, it is essential to enroll in a course. The certification course provides you with a better understanding of complex concepts. It is essential to have in-depth knowledge of different subjects. Even if the candidates have real-world experience, then also it’s not sufficient. Doing a certification course will help you in better time management. It is an excellent opportunity to clear all your doubts and learn new strategies for excelling in the exam.
- Practice Exams
No candidate can crack the PMP exam without solving some mock papers or practice exams. The practice exams consist of 180 questions that must be answered within 230 minutes. Take your time to understand concepts and make use of every resource available in order to know how and what to prepare for the exams.
- Joining a Community
You will find many communities on the internet that hold discussions on various subjects in the PMP examination. In this discussion, the candidates and the certified professionals share the experiences they had during doing the course. If you are looking for some general advice, posing the question on online platforms can be of great help.
- Prepare a Preparation Plan for the Exam Day
Prepare for your exams in advance and check if your exam kit is ready or not. Candidates must be calm and composed, and must not have any stress regarding the exam. Make necessary arrangements for the exam day 1-2 days before the exam. This will help you remain at peace before the exam happens.
- Have a Clear Mind
In order to clear your mind, be aware of the time. Make sure you have the time to go through every question and attempt it accordingly. Secondly, take time to read every question and understand it. Take time and pay attention to terms such as MOST, NEVER, LEAST, NOT, etc., as they can change the entire meaning of the sentence. Be relaxed and don’t panic. A clear and calm mind will help you solve questions with efficiency.
Takeaway?
Follow these tips to excel in the examination. A PMP® Certification is a great way to advance your career and simultaneously prepare for the exam as well. Knowledgehut provides you with a PMP Exam Prep course. Since the syllabus for this certification is vast, only dedicated students will achieve success. So, plan your way out and excel in the examination by making proper study plans and schedules.
