Project Managers – Top 5 Tips for Passing the PMP Exam

The Project Management Professional (PMP) label is a useful credential to have because it shows a level of knowledge and professional skill that is invaluable in today’s recessionary economy, and it will differentiate you from your competitors – or at least, keep you on top of the competition.

Before you’ll be able to get the PMP, you must pass a challenging test. The test is ambiguous and many candidates don’t succeed the first time they take the test, but you can be among those who are successful on their first try if you take the following tips to heart:

1. Get plenty of rest the night before taking the test. The test is long, and it is challenging, so you’ll need to be able to think clearly as you ponder the answers – especially since several of the answers may actually be true, but the test will generally ask you for the best answer, and only one answer will qualify as the best answer. You’ll need good judgment and clear thinking to be able to pick out the best from the other good answers.
2. Pace yourself to ensure that you have enough time to answer all the questions – and take all the time you’re allowed for the test. Review your answers to make sure that you read the questions correctly and interpreted them properly (but don’t change answers without a good reason – generally, you’re first answer is the best, unless you’ve mis-read or mis-interpreted the question the first time). If you do decide to change an answer, have a good, specific reason for doing so; e.g.: “I didn’t see the word ‘not’ in the question.”
3. Remember that any answer – again, no matter how attractively they may present it – that suggests “gold-plating” (i.e., delivering more than was agreed upon) is never the right answer. Do not choose it.
4. Remember that any answer – no matter how good it may sound – that in any way suggests that an unethical “shortcut” is the right answer – is automatically, the wrong answer. Do not choose any answer that suggests that bypassing the rules and PMI principles is okay.
5. Take a PMP Prep course. This is the easiest and most effective way to ensure that you’ll be successful (however, it can be costly). These courses are generally brief 3-5 day intensives that are typically held shortly before you are scheduled to sit for the exam. One of the biggest benefits of such courses is the interaction you’ll have with the other participants and the ability to learn and understand how they would approach the situations, along with the rationales for their choices. If you can’t go to a course, buy one of the test software programs, or at least, take every practice test you can find – and clearly understand why any answers you missed were considered wrong by PMI.

If you’ve done all of the above, you should be in good shape to take the test – and to pass it on your first try.

Good Luck!

I’m a PMP, and I’ve found it to be invaluable over the past several years; however, even the PMP is no assurance of constant employment in this recessionary economy. It’s always a good idea to have a fallback plan, or in this case, a second income source. I’ve started working my own online marketing business to give me residual income to carry me through those “in-between” times when I don’t have an active contract. If you’d like to learn how you, too, can make a second income, check out my website:

http://SK.MyIncomeAutopilot.com

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