Top 5 Tips to Crack the PMP Exam in Your First Attempt
We had a PMP Exam open day the previous month where the trainer handled various questions from the prospects.
Ben said that two of his friends who had attempted two mock exams failed terribly. This forced him to attend the open day to understand how he can crack the exam without failing on his first attempt.
The trainer mentioned that apart from studying PMBOK Guide that provides advanced information, it is also important to read blog posts and reference books.
Every person wants to pass an exam on the first attempt but if you look at the statistics, you will realize that 2 out of 5 candidates fail on the first attempt.
Well passing a PMP Exam is not easy and the reason why many people fail is that they fail to prepare well for the mock tests, they run out of time during the exam or they don’t know the right approach to handle some questions.
So, does it mean that the exam is very difficult to crack? Some people will say ‘yes’ but the key is to understand the steps for you to pass.
Here are the top 5 tips
1. Master the PMBOK Guide
A Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) gives you conceptual clarity and knowledge. It will build the foundation for your preparation hence it is important to you revise it at least twice before the test.
The trainer mentioned that some professionals find the guide lengthy and boring to read hence they prefer other versions which may not provide full information.
2. Have a Schedule
Before you sit down to study, it is important to define your goals and plan how you can achieve them. Without a clear roadmap in place, you can get lost because you have no idea of where you are going.
“Some of the important things to put into consideration when preparing a plan are your time and resources you need. How many hours will you take to prepare, will you be studying on daily basis morning hours or evening? Figure out what works for you and give yourselves timelines to complete them” said the trainer.
3. Manage Your Time Before And During Exam
Professionals who work as they prepare for the PMP exam need to strike a balance between their responsibilities and their study time. When preparing for the PMP exam and planning your time is paramount.
The trainer said that some professionals complain that they don’t get enough time to complete the test. Well, the problem is a lack of time management on exam day. If you leave out more than half of the questions unanswered, you are unlikely to pass.
3. Create A Strategy That Works For You
When Ben mentioned his two friends who failed the PMP exams in the first exams, it doesn’t mean that everyone can fail in the first attempt which is the same case with success stories. Those who passed the PMP test in the first attempt have different stories to tell. They all use different strategies hence you need to identify the ones that work for you.
People are different and what works for you may not work for others. For example, some people can learn well using a visual mode while others study best in groups. So, the best way to crack the PMP exam is to understand your strengths and zero in on one that works the best for you.
4. Learn To Manage Your Nerve
Most professional fail not because they don’t know but because their nerves got better of them which affect their performance.
So how can you handle stress during the exam?
Go through various mock tests as you prepare for the exam. Talk to yourself to be confident despite the most difficult questions that you might come across during the exam.
To Sum It Up
An exam is like a project that requires you to define the goals and identify the resources. Break down the syllabus into tasks as you evaluate your progress and make changes to your strategy.
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